Anyone who's anyone in Mando-pop was in Taipei last Saturday for the 14th Golden Melody Awards -- the music industry's annual orgy of self-congratulation that claims to recognize the best Chinese-language music released over the past year. Whatever the event's purpose, it's a convenient excuse for the whole pantheon of Chinese music celebrities to dress up to the nines and high-five each other all night.
Pop Stop showed up early for the red carpet extravaganza and, as in years past, this was probably the most exciting part of the show because of the thousands of screaming fans crushing the barricades for a view of their idols. Of course, the clothes worn by the stars is what generates most of the hoopla and this year there were good reasons to blush, drool and reach for a doggie bag.
Judging from the reactions in the post-event fashion analyses of local papers and with Pop Stop's complete concurrence, Little S (
It was also impossible not to notice that the ladies this year were showing more flesh than in recent memory.
As for the men, it seemed like they had collectively raided Pablo Escobar's wardrobe, cleaning it out of all its white double-breasted suits. Jay Chou (
But being one of only a handful of presentably dressed men at the show wasn't enough to earn Jay an award. After cleaning house last year at the Golden Melodies by taking the best songwriter, best producer and best album awards, he came up empty this year and has since been quoted in papers whining about the "unfair" judge panel.
Harsh words have also been directed at the judge panel by the three nominees of the best male Taiwanese singer award: Tsai Hsiao-hu (
The dignified losers of the night were A-mei (
The only surprise winners of the night were Goth rockers Chthonic (
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