If you ask who the top female singers are for love songs, diehard Mando-pop fans will almost certainly tell you Faye Wong (王菲) and A-mei (張惠妹 a.k.a. Chang Hui-mei). Then, there’s Sandy Lam (林憶蓮), who rose to prominence before Wong and A-mei, and continues to exert a lasting influence.
Lam will perform the Taipei leg of her latest world tour, Sandy Lam MMXII Concert (林憶蓮演唱會MMXII台北站), at the Taipei Arena (台北小巨蛋) on Aug. 18. In contrast to her 2008 concert held at the Taipei International Convention Center, which had an intimate and laid-back vibe, the Hong Kong superstar said that this time around she’ll up the tempo.
“This concert will be more dynamic and energetic as I wish the audience to move with me,” Lam told the Taipei Times in an e-mail interview. “In fact, I think I have never danced this much in any of my concerts before.”
Photo credit: Universal Record
Lam ventured into the Mando-pop market in 1990 with Falling for a Person Who Doesn’t Come Home (愛上一個不回家的人), a smash hit that instantly established her status as a Mando-pop queen. A long string of hit albums such as Don’t Care Who I Am (不必在乎我是誰) and Love, Sandy cemented her status as the spokesperson for love songs. Her hit song When Love Vanishes (當愛已成往事) is also featured as the theme song for Chen Kaige’s (陳凱歌) masterpiece Farewell, My Concubine (霸王別姬).
Jolin Tsai (蔡依林) and Freya Lim (林凡) have both done covers of Lam’s songs, while her signature hit At Least I Have You (至少還有你) continues its hold on Taiwan’s top-10 KTV chart 12 years after its release.
“Love obviously does a lot for my life,” Lam said. “It (romance) is a mixed bag of emotions, but mostly I am very grateful.”
In addition to love songs, Lam is also a pioneer of dance tunes. Too Soon (匆匆) and What You Give Me is not Love (妳給我的愛不是愛) were early experiments in what has become a staple in today’s Mando-pop market.
“I enjoy dancing more and more these days, but I don’t think I am a naturally energetic person,” Lam said. “If the lyrics and melody fit, it will have its own rhythm and energy that makes it easier for me to interpret the dance song.”
Lam plans to release her upcoming as-yet-untitled Mandarin album in September and is currently shooting music videos.
“The music and the style is quite a departure from my previous mandarin albums ... I would even describe some tracks as experimental,” she said.
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