Fans of Faye Wong (
For Wong, whose fans can be found throughout Asia, it is only her second concert in Taipei. The last time she performed here was five years ago, soon after she starred in Wong Kar-wai's (王嘉衛) acclaimed film Chongking Express (重慶森林). This time, the Beijing-born singer will perform songs mainly from her newly released album, Fable (寓言).
Wong's unique voice and exotic lyrics, mixed with indie, alternative music arrangements, have always been her musical trademark and her vocal style is often favorably compared to the singers from the Cranberries, the Cocteau Twins and Bjork.
The album Fable is consistent with Wong's earlier style, but also adds electronic music, proof that Wong is never far behind the latest trend. Wong's colorful outfits -- heavily retro 1970s style -- promise to be another attraction at the concert, along with Wong's ever-changing hairdos -- sometimes she wears it long and straight, sometimes fluffy, like a lions mane. But don't expect a flashy dance routine a la Madonna, because another of the pop star's trademarks are her introspective stage performances, which fortify her image as an icy cool, yet glamorous superstar.
On the evening of June 1, Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) apologized and resigned in disgrace. His crime was instructing his driver to use a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon. The Control Yuan is the government branch that investigates, audits and impeaches government officials for, among other things, misuse of government funds, so his misuse of a government vehicle was highly inappropriate. If this story were told to anyone living in the golden era of swaggering gangsters, flashy nouveau riche businessmen, and corrupt “black gold” politics of the 1980s and 1990s, they would have laughed.
This is a deeply unsettling period in Taiwan. Uncertainties are everywhere while everyone waits for a small army of other shoes to drop on nearly every front. During challenging times, interesting political changes can happen, yet all three major political parties are beset with scandals, strife and self-inflicted wounds. As the ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is held accountable for not only the challenges to the party, but also the nation. Taiwan is geopolitically and economically under threat. Domestically, the administration is under siege by the opposition-controlled legislature and growing discontent with what opponents characterize as arrogant, autocratic
When Lisa, 20, laces into her ultra-high heels for her shift at a strip club in Ukraine’s Kharkiv, she knows that aside from dancing, she will have to comfort traumatized soldiers. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion, exhausted troops are the main clientele of the Flash Dancers club in the center of the northeastern city, just 20 kilometers from Russian forces. For some customers, it provides an “escape” from the war, said Valerya Zavatska — a 25-year-old law graduate who runs the club with her mother, an ex-dancer. But many are not there just for the show. They “want to talk about what hurts,” she
It was just before 6am on a sunny November morning and I could hardly contain my excitement as I arrived at the wharf where I would catch the boat to one of Penghu’s most difficult-to-access islands, a trip that had been on my list for nearly a decade. Little did I know, my dream would soon be crushed. Unsure about which boat was heading to Huayu (花嶼), I found someone who appeared to be a local and asked if this was the right place to wait. “Oh, the boat to Huayu’s been canceled today,” she told me. I couldn’t believe my ears. Surely,
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