Spanish as well. And I am trying to sort out a surprise for you (laughing). I hope I will make it.
TT: Yes, I heard you are preparing a Taiwanese song for us.
NM: Well, when I go to some place I think it's a nice way to say, "Thank you," by singing a local song to the audiences there. I was advised to sing a Taiwanese folk song and I hope it's a good one.
TT: Is the song called White Peony (
NM: Yes, it is. I do not plan to do a popular song there. So, is it a folk song?
TT: Yes, and it's a very popular one. By the way, I found a rather interesting coincidence. The song White Peony was first released in 1936 and it's the year you were born.
NM: Really? The idea is to have a favorite folk song that everybody sings, even at school. Well, I am now very excited, emotionally. What I'll do is to ask the audience to help me with the lyrics, which is hard, and to have them singing along with me. The other day, when I was in New Zealand, I sang a Maori song and the audience sang along with me. At the end they sang a farewell song to me. I was completely overwhelmed by it.
TT: It's a shame that you can afford only a little time to stay here. Otherwise, you'd be able to see more of Taiwan.
NM: Well, I could come here on my holidays next time. I can do some benefit concerts for the needy children in Taiwan. I am interested in helping children with problems all over the world through projects such as providing them with homes or assisting them to receive proper education.
TT: On your tour of Asia, what would interest you the most -- in addition to promoting children's causes?
NM: The development of each country. I believe it's very important for people in Asian countries to look after their own culture, instead of getting too influenced by the Western world. The Western world is growing old and it needs fresh ideas from Asia to change itself. I always love the fact that people in Asia believe in hard-work and care very much for their own future. Asia is not spoiled, like the Western world is now.
TT: Is it true that you are going to devote most of your time to work with UNICEF after your retirement?
NM: Yes, humanitarian causes in particular, through UNICEF. I have done a lot of work in Africa and South America for those causes.
TT: Finally, what parts of your career are you especially proud of? Do you have any regrets after four decades as a well-loved artist?
NM: I am very proud of having a career as a singer. I am always very honest with my singing. I feel proud of the fact that I followed my own road. I did not want to be a star, just a good singer. But for some reason many people have supported me. As to the regrets, I have not tried to hurt anybody. If I had to do it all again, from the very beginning, I'd do it the same. So, I could say I do not have regrets in my life. I try to give love to people and, in the right way, I receive love from them in return. For my entire life, I have been singing songs about love, tolerance, peace, hope and dreams. You may say dreams are part of hope, but dreams are very important. They give people optimism. Even if you do not hold solutions to their problems, dreams can lead people to see those problems in healthier and optimistic ways.
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