Singer/songwriter Anthony Neely (倪安東) will be at the head of the class this weekend when the rising heartthrob performs his debut solo concert in Taipei.
Neely, who will perform at Legacy Taipei (傳音樂展演空間) on Sunday in the Anthony Neely A Room A Dream Concert (倪安東A Room A Dream音樂會), captured the public’s imagination when he appeared on the hit TV talent show One Million Star (超級星光大道) last year as a challenger and received seven consecutive scores of 20 or above.
The Taiwanese American set a record by receiving a through-the-roof 33-out-of-25 total score (several judges were so besotted with Neely’s performance that they awarded him six or seven points despite the “perfect” score of five) for his spell-binding delivery of Damien Rice’s trademark folk song The Blower’s Daughter.
Photo courtesy of HIM
“It’s a song that has a simple melody and simple lyrics but really powerful emotions,” Neely told the Taipei Times last week. “This song has such a strong aura that it grabs audiences and they have to connect with you.”
The 24-year-old released his debut album Lesson One (第一課) to wide acclaim in November. The album roams the pop spectrum of rock, folk-pop and Mando-pop ballads, and Neely penned the lyrics for the first single, Sorry That I Loved You.
“This song says that we had some good times, but because we ended so poorly, I wish I could turn back time and save you the pain of me,” Neely explained. “It’s so real because it came from my emotions.”
Photo courtesy of HIM
Neely was born in Taiwan to a Taiwanese mother and an American father. The family moved to the US after his birth. Neely, who only visited Taiwan twice as a child, returned to Taiwan to study Chinese while pursuing a career in singing after he graduated with a degree in drama from the University of California in San Diego.
“My mom told me to come to Taiwan so that in case my career didn’t work out, I would at least learn Chinese,” Neely said.
For those who think he is a dreamboat, Neely says he was obese in California and only managed to lose weight in Taiwan while preparing for One Million Star.
As a new media darling, Neely has taken on endorsements (including McDonald’s and Far EasTone) with lightning speed since releasing Lesson One.
“Nothing can prepare you for a singer’s career,” Neely said. “It’s a complete bombardment of new exciting things.”
Neely said the concert’s title, A Room A Dream, was inspired by his single Nightmares (惡夢).
“The audience will enter into a private room of what’s in my head and my music,” Neely said. “I am at my most honest when I am in a dream. That’s our concept — to show the honest me with music.”
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