Westerners react to the music of Jay Chou (
However, on listening closely a Mando-pop first can be heard: the successful marriage of East and West.
Chou was trained in classical music and has combined this with Western elements -- R 'n' B, pop, rap, heavy metal and experimental genres.
This winning formula isn't something he aims to change. His awards number in the hundreds. This year alone he's won 58.
He's been awarded the accolades of best Asian male singer, best songwriter in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China (to name just a few) and has appeared on the cover of Time. But for Chou, "Sales are more important than awards."
Not bad for a 27-year-old from Linkou (
The release last week of Chou's sixth album, November's Chopin (十一月的蕭邦) was awaited by millions. Named after his favorite musician, the album is another cultural fusion and includes five torch songs crafted specifically for the KTV market.
Sony BMG is already pleased with the album's pre-sales, 1.5 million in Asia.
Jay's total artistic control over his work was earned after years of composing, gaining rights to his own music, managing his image, and directing music videos.
For Hair Like Snow, Alpha Music wanted to pursue a
traditional Chinese music style.
Jay only agreed to do the song after the label promised that it would break with tradition.
With lyrics written by Vincent Fang (方文山), Chou composed the melody, using an eight-tone Chinese "hook." Then an imperial-style set was rented for the music video that cost NT$1.5 million and which Chou directed.
His manager, Yeung Jin-long (楊峻榮), trusts Chou's creative judgment, saying he "doesn't care what Jay does with the money, because good music is money."
"Director Chou" is using the experience to vault into film and music production.
He's been nominated for the Best New Performer award at this year's Golden Horse awards for his role in the film Initial D (頭文字D).
Chou plans to direct a movie,Bangka (艋舺), and has even announced his intention of starting a music studio to foster other people's talents when he hits 30.
Jay exercises the same sensational effect the Beatles had on the West in the 1960s.
Yet when asked who his favorite Beatle is, he said "everybody loves them," and said he couldn't name one in particular.
In Taiwan, every telephone shop, tabloid or passing public bus seems to carry his image and every 7-Eleven and hair salon seems to play his music.
Referred to as the "young heavenly king," (
Some say he's the best Taiwanese artist to emerge in decades, if not ever -- a raw talent becoming ever more refined.
All those years spent daydreaming in class, learning the ropes from former manager Jackie Wu (吳宗憲), and crashing on the couch at the recording studio have finally paid off -- big time.
Jay is the pride of Taiwan, although he may deny it. He wisely ducks politics, enabling him to tour China, something his compatriot, singer A-mei (張惠妹), has had trouble doing.
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