I've seen the trailer of this last December and now it has English subs. It was out in theaters last December so I'm wondering now if there's a DVD out already. I checked YesAsia but sadly it wasn't there but the OST is already available. I tried searching if there's a download for the movie already but found nothing. Hopefully the DVD would be out soon. I'm so excited to finally see this movie. I truly love the book, it's a masterpiece and I think the movie was made exceptionally too.
EVERYTHING SUPERNATURAL
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Jay Chou in the cover of Time Magazine - March 3, 2003
This is an old issue of Time Magazine where dear Jay was on the cover. I just read a few days ago the very long article about him and his story was beyond inspirational. How his teacher thought he was retarded and how everyone thought that music wasn't for kids from Linkou. Reading the story gave me lots of beautiful things that I discovered about our favorite Jay.
I want to have this issue but then I don't know if it's even possible to get a copy of this now. I wish I can go back in 2003 and get myself a copy of this when I was graduating high school.
This is a must-have for every Jay fan. Imagine he was only three years in the music industry during this time and he's already the KING. And to be a cover of Time Magazine at such a young age of 24 and only three years that time in the industry is truly one of a kind and only Jay can do that.
Cool Jay
Before the satin bedsheets and Ducati motorcycles, before the screaming groupies fainting at his shows and the teenage girls making pilgrimages to stroke his piano bench, there was this narrow stretch of blond floorboard between the leather sofa and the teal walls of Alfa Music's studio in a gray, concrete high-rise in eastern Taipei. This was Jay Chou Chieh-lun's world back then, a crawl space where he would curl up and crash between sessions, where he would dream and then redream his melodies and lyrics, where the songs would come to him as snatches of somnambulant soundtrack, and then he would rouse himself, stumble over to the keyboards and transpose those nocturnal audioscapes onto music sheets and demo tapes. For nearly two years Chou worked as a $600-a-song contract composer and rarely left that seventh-floor soundproof chamber where he cranked out melodies for less-talented, better-looking sing-ers. He would write out the verses, the chorus, scratch the lyrics down on the back of a takeaway menu and then, exhausted by the work, by the unburdening of his musical subconscious, he would go back to sleep among the dust bunnies to conjure up another hit. Subsisting on ramen and fried chicken, he dreamed not of being a pop star but of making music.
The Beatles had the Cavern Club, Elvis had Sun Studios, the Sex Pistols had the 100 Club; for Chou, this studio was his musical proving ground, where he tried out his ideas, tested theories of what made a hit, worked out how to structure a song and make it memorable and soulful and where—rare for a budding Mando- or Canto-pop star—he came to understand that it was the music that mattered, more than the looks and the moves and the image. He saw them come and go, pretty boys who could barely carry a tune, divas who had the attitude but not the talent, boy bands whose members were chosen for their dance steps instead of their voice chops. He saw that what made a performer memorable—what could make him, Jay Chou, special—were the songs themselves.
And that, in the music biz as it's practiced from Taipei to Hong Kong to Singapore, was a novel idea. In the cynical, insta-pop industry of prepackaged icons that dominates greater China, it is a wonder that Jay Chou the anti-idol, now 24, exists at all. Male Canto- and Mando-pop stars are supposed to be born with connections, grow up with money and emerge in adolescence as lithe, androgynous pinups, prefabricated and machine-tooled for one-hit wonderdom and, if they're lucky, lucrative B-movie careers and shampoo commercials. How did a kid with an overbite, aquiline nose and receding chin displace the Nicholases and Andys and Jackys to become Asia's hottest pop star? The explanation starts somewhere back in that stuffy studio, with the discipline and the songs and the revolutionary idea that the music actually matters. "Even when my female fans approach me, they don't tell me that I'm handsome," Chou explains. "They tell me they like my music. It's my music that has charmed them."
Since the release of his debut album, Jay, in November 2000—10 brooding, soulful, surprisingly sensual ballads and quiet pop tunes delivered with a poise that would make Craig David stand up and take notice—Jay Chou's music has ruled, and may be transforming, the Asian pop universe. Although he sings and raps only in Mandarin, Chou's CDs routinely go double or triple platinum, not only in his native Taiwan but also in mainland China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. Recently he was voted Favorite Artist Taiwan at MTV's Asian Music Awards, adding to a haul of more than 30 entertainment-industry honors he has won in the past two years. The Hong Kong media has anointed him a "small, heavenly King" (though Chou insists he hates the title). He recently played the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to an audience of more than 10,000. Major companies have come calling for his endorsement, from Pepsi in China to pccw in Hong Kong. Panasonic has even stamped his profile on one of its cellular phone models—a high compliment in mobile-mad Asia even greater than being known as diminutive celestial royalty.
As a boy, Chou was called retarded. Stupid. Yu tsun. Ellen Hsu, his high school English teacher, figured Chou had a learning disability: "He had very few facial expressions; I thought he was dumb." The kid couldn't focus on math, science, didn't bother with his English homework. But his mother, Yeh Hui-mei, noticed that the quiet, shy boy seemed to practically vibrate when he heard the Western pop music she used to play. "He was sensitive to music before he could walk," she recalls. Yeh enrolled him in piano school when he was four. And the kid could play. He practiced like a fiend, focusing on the keys the way other children his age focused on a scoop of ice cream. By the time he was a teen, he had developed a knack for improvisation way beyond his years. "One time he sat down and started playing the Taiwanese national anthem," says his high school piano teacher Charles Chen. "It's usually very solemn but Chou was riffing and turned it into an interesting piece of music, one that sounded like a pop song."
Outside the practice room, Chou was stubbornly average, caught up in the same kung fu movies and video games as the rest of the suburban teens who played baseball around Linkou's ferroconcrete housing blocks. While other kids were cramming for the joint-college-entrance exam, Chou was skipping school and putting in more time on the ivories. The kid looked like he was going nowhere. Music? If you are middle-class and Taiwanese, math, science, engineering, computer programming—that's how you make a living. But music? That was for rich kids with famous parents, who grow up with silver chopsticks in their mouths. Not kids from Linkou. Not Chou. He flunked his exam and was about to be disgorged into the real world, a gawky kid stumbling toward a future pumping gas or maybe, if he was lucky, helping you pick out a new Yamaha upright and then sitting down at the bench and completing the sale by playing a few bars for you.
But the music, remember, is all that matters in Chou's life. It saves him. It defines him. It's his salvation, his luck. It's the only thing he has. It interceded even when Chou himself had wandered off course, when Chou didn't yet know the true value of his harmonic birthright. Some girl, a junior—Chou barely knew her—filled out an application for Chao Ji Xin Ren Wang (Super New Talent King), Taiwan's version of American Idol. The show's staff got in touch with a surprised Chou and asked if he would perform. No way. Not solo.
He ended up playing piano, accompanying an aspiring singer. And they stunk. The show's host, legendary Taipei funnyman and all-around entertainment impresario Jacky Wu, was always on the prowl for new talent, but he took one look at the nervous kid at the piano and the croaking vocalist and thought, forget it, back to the burbs for this duo. "I really wasn't impressed," says Wu. "The friend's singing was lousy." Then he saw the music. "I took a look at the musical score over the judge's shoulder and I was amazed. It was complex and very well done." After the taping, Wu, who at that time owned Alfa Music, headed backstage to meet Chou, who was wearing a baseball cap pulled down over his eyes. "My first impression of Jay was that he was so shy, so quiet," Wu recalls. "I thought he was retarded."
But Wu was swayed by the music. He had seen dozens of sneering pretty boys with slicked-back hair who could barely read a high C, and here was this shy, awkward pianist who seemed like he could scrawl a symphony in his sleep. Wu would do more than write him his first checks as a songwriter—he would also inadvertently give the kid a place to crash between hits, would allow this suburbanite to turn an unused space behind a sofa into a miniature pop-music factory as he wrote tunes for late-'90s acts such as PowerStation and Taiwan-ese diva Valen Hsu. "Jacky is like my elder brother," says Chou. "He taught me how to be an artist, to be professional and to be dedicated to my career." But Chou was doing more than transcribing catchy little ditties at six bills a pop (hit)—he was inadvertently helping to define a sound, an emerging Taiwanese pop presence and style that would, within three years, transform the island into the epicenter of Chinese pop.
But the master still doubted his apprentice could be more than a songwriter. "I didn't think Chou could make it as an entertainer," Wu admits, "because he's not so handsome." It wasn't until Wu handed over the reins of Alfa Music to his friend and fellow singer J.R. Yang nearly a year-and-a-half later that Chou would go from being idol-maker to idol.
"I asked him if he'd written anything for himself," Yang explains. Chou played him Ke Ai Nu Ren (Lovely Woman), a song he had already recorded on borrowed time—hanging around the studio 24-7 did have its advantages. "After four minutes the song finished, and I asked, 'What are we waiting for?'" The kid was living in the studio anyway. Recording the first album in three months was practically a vacation.
Chou kicks back on that leather sofa today, wearing an off-white wool cap pulled low over his brooding, brown eyes, and a black velour tracksuit. He went from being studio geek to pop star overnight, almost too quickly, and he carries the emotional and psychological vestments of that fame and success uneasily. He's all straight answers, monosyllabic responses, yes ma'ams and no ma'ams. Grunts. Nods. Evasive eye rolls. Where is the smoldering sexuality and boy-misses-girl pathos, the mannish lad who gives his soul ballads depth and feeling?
Then he begins talking about the music, and you remember, yes, the music. Take that away and you're left with this slab of a boy who looks like he wants to climb back over that sofa and hunker down in his old, creative lair. My music, he explains, my music should be like magic. It should have variety. It should be ephemeral, changing, evolving. He goes off on musical theory and Chopin and how the cello is different from the violin and Chinese five-tone versus Western 12-tone melodies. "It's my magic," he says again, shaking his head, looking at you all earnest and sincere as if he needs you to understand.
And then he opens up, revealing his yearning to find a girlfriend, his own shyness that has him growing his hair long over his eyes so he isn't distracted by his fans' staring.
Finally, he leans in close: "Let me tell you about diao."
Diao is a Taiwanese slang usually translated as "cool" or "outrageous." It literally means "penis."
"It's my personal philosophy," he explains, "but it has nothing to do with religion. It means that whatever you do, you don't try to follow others. Go your own way, you know?"
He sits back, shakes his hair out of his eyes and nods. This is serious. This is deep. This is the metaphysical mechanism that he feels explains his pop stardom, as opposed to his musical talent. "It's like, the ability to shock. The way I think of shocking people is to do things that people don't expect in my music, in my performances. Like during my first Taipei show last year, I was performing Long Quan (Dragon Fist) [Chou's favorite tune from his Eight Dimensions CD] and I took off on a harness and flew out over the audience. That was diao."
Diao is an internal process, a mystical path that makes extreme demands and forces stringent measures. It requires, mysteriously, that Chou forgo wearing underwear, a lifestyle choice that is endlessly vexing to his mother. "He used to wear underwear as a child," she sighs. "Maybe it is something he started since working with Jacky Wu." Chou himself will not elaborate. The diao that can be spoken of, apparently, is not the eternal diao.
The diao, of course, has made him wealthy, a millionaire, but he insists all that is a distraction. His mother manages his huge income. His managers run his business and take care of his lucrative endorsements. Though Alfa Music has given him a tony, Taipei bachelor pad, Chou prefers living at home with mom in his childhood bedroom with its single mattress, gray sheets and royal blue walls. Ignore, for a moment, the complimentary Pepsi fridge with Chou's likeness molded on the door and the dozens of music trophies and awards, and it's a typical boy's room. And his home, despite his parents' divorce when he was 14, was, he insists, a happy place. But then where, if he had a contented childhood and then a quick apprenticeship as contract songwriter, did the sadness and pathos that could inform a precocious, soulful R. and B. singer come from? How could a happy kid write lyrics about a drunken father who beats his wife and child as he does on Ba Wo Hui Lai Le (Dad, I Have Come Back), a jilted lover on the brink of suicide as on Shi Jie Mo Ri (End of the World)? "I hear stories and I use them," he shrugs. "I make them up. I go to see a movie or look at the elements of a music video."
Chou is a sponge when it comes to music, absorbing styles and trends and then seamlessly incorporating them into his Oriental-flavored R. and B. "He mixes Western instruments with Chinese instruments, like the di (Chinese flute) and the three-string sanxian," explains Chou's friend and fellow musician Rex Jan. "He's also adopted Chinese five-tone melodies as opposed to Western ones."
It's not as if Chou introduced R. and B. to the region—David Tao and Wang Lee Hom have both been around for a while—but it wasn't until Chou's debut that waves of Mando-rappers and crooning R. and B. singers took over MTV Taiwan. "Chou is definitely setting musical trends," says Hong Kong-based Ming Pao Weekly music critic Fung Lai-chi.
His success as a singer-songwriter has already inspired dozens of imitators eager to achieve a similar mixture of street cred and sales sizzle. "The trend is toward more singer-songwriters," says Mark Lankester, managing director of Warner Music Hong Kong. It seems every pretty boy with a guitar is taking up composing; even Canto-pop bad boy Nicholas Tse is now scribbling his own tunes. And then there's Anson Hu, Hong Kong's junior soul man who recently won Best New Artist at the Commercial Radio awards ceremony. "He's copying Jay," says Fung. "He's even being called the new 'Chinese Jay.'"
What makes Chou's music successful, and distinctive from all the boys who would be Jay, is that when he sings that he is hurting or yearning or that he needs you so bad, you believe him. His delivery is Boyz II Men-smooth, and he hits those notes with a conviction born of having proved himself as a songwriter. Remember, he spent nearly two years in that studio watching and hearing what worked and what didn't, and the results of that dues paying are a confidence and a swagger that comes across on disc. On CDs like Jay, Fantasy Life and Eight Dimensions, you're listening to a man who believes in the musical choices he is making, who knows he is right. He is not singing what some manager in an office somewhere has told him will be a hit; he is singing his heart out, right now, for you.
Chou wants the ball. He's a hoops fiend, and he swears that the only two places he's comfortable are in the studio and on the basketball court. He takes a break from the 64-track and heads out to Taipei's Ta An Park, where he and a few friends have a regular game. It's concrete-court, no-holds-barred pickup—tall guys banging under the rim, small guys at the top or on the wing. Everyone launching jumpers. The only pass anyone wants to make is the one to inbound the ball. But even here Chou seems different. John Stockton-skinny with mad dribbles, he's a point guard among other players, who, no matter where they are on the court, seem perpetually out of position. The game, even at this level, flows through him. He hits open threes, makes behind-the-back dribbles to the rack for easy layups. Chou knows exactly what he wants to do with the ball.
So there's this, too. You see it when he plays. He's a control freak. That's why he doesn't like interviews or awards ceremonies, why he's shy and awkward around his fans, because he doesn't know how to control those settings. But on the court, in the studio, he's the show runner.
No other ethnic-Chinese idol enjoys the level of artistic and creative control over his or her albums and videos that Chou does. According to those who work with him, Chou knows exactly what he wants when it comes to his sound, and he is relentless about achieving it. In order to write one of his hits, Shuan Ji Gun (Nunchaku), he actually taught himself to use the martial art weapon and then appeared with it in the video. Kuang Sheng, who has directed the majority of Chou's videos, says he follows the star's instructions: "Chou has more control than other artists over his own videos. And over time, he is only becoming more controlling."
A month later and Chou is lounging in a swanky Chinese restaurant after his packed-house performance at the MGM Grand. Still wearing his sweaty tank top and carefully scuffed jeans, he seems contemplative, as if he is finally impressed by the enormity of his own achievements. There are a few more worlds for this show-biz Alexander to conquer: TV, movies, going global and hitting the U.S. charts. But Chou seems indifferent to learning English, unconcerned with the producers who beseech him to make a film and, finally, more comfortable and less anxious with the demands of his celebrity. He is growing into the role now, his diao, apparently, has taken him this far and he has learned to trust it. There will be enormous demands placed on this 24-year-old, forces of commerce tugging at him to do this commercial, that magazine shoot, this action picture. Kung fu master or rogue cop? R. and B. or hip-hop? Nike or Adidas?
He shakes his head. The first thing he's going to do is head back to that Taipei studio, to that little nook behind the sofa, where he will lie back, take a nap, and dream up a few more tunes.
I want to have this issue but then I don't know if it's even possible to get a copy of this now. I wish I can go back in 2003 and get myself a copy of this when I was graduating high school.
This is a must-have for every Jay fan. Imagine he was only three years in the music industry during this time and he's already the KING. And to be a cover of Time Magazine at such a young age of 24 and only three years that time in the industry is truly one of a kind and only Jay can do that.
Cool Jay
 | His teacher thought he was dumb. Idolmakers thought he was ugly. But Jay Chou has become Asia's hottest pop star | |
| |
Before the satin bedsheets and Ducati motorcycles, before the screaming groupies fainting at his shows and the teenage girls making pilgrimages to stroke his piano bench, there was this narrow stretch of blond floorboard between the leather sofa and the teal walls of Alfa Music's studio in a gray, concrete high-rise in eastern Taipei. This was Jay Chou Chieh-lun's world back then, a crawl space where he would curl up and crash between sessions, where he would dream and then redream his melodies and lyrics, where the songs would come to him as snatches of somnambulant soundtrack, and then he would rouse himself, stumble over to the keyboards and transpose those nocturnal audioscapes onto music sheets and demo tapes. For nearly two years Chou worked as a $600-a-song contract composer and rarely left that seventh-floor soundproof chamber where he cranked out melodies for less-talented, better-looking sing-ers. He would write out the verses, the chorus, scratch the lyrics down on the back of a takeaway menu and then, exhausted by the work, by the unburdening of his musical subconscious, he would go back to sleep among the dust bunnies to conjure up another hit. Subsisting on ramen and fried chicken, he dreamed not of being a pop star but of making music.
The Beatles had the Cavern Club, Elvis had Sun Studios, the Sex Pistols had the 100 Club; for Chou, this studio was his musical proving ground, where he tried out his ideas, tested theories of what made a hit, worked out how to structure a song and make it memorable and soulful and where—rare for a budding Mando- or Canto-pop star—he came to understand that it was the music that mattered, more than the looks and the moves and the image. He saw them come and go, pretty boys who could barely carry a tune, divas who had the attitude but not the talent, boy bands whose members were chosen for their dance steps instead of their voice chops. He saw that what made a performer memorable—what could make him, Jay Chou, special—were the songs themselves.
And that, in the music biz as it's practiced from Taipei to Hong Kong to Singapore, was a novel idea. In the cynical, insta-pop industry of prepackaged icons that dominates greater China, it is a wonder that Jay Chou the anti-idol, now 24, exists at all. Male Canto- and Mando-pop stars are supposed to be born with connections, grow up with money and emerge in adolescence as lithe, androgynous pinups, prefabricated and machine-tooled for one-hit wonderdom and, if they're lucky, lucrative B-movie careers and shampoo commercials. How did a kid with an overbite, aquiline nose and receding chin displace the Nicholases and Andys and Jackys to become Asia's hottest pop star? The explanation starts somewhere back in that stuffy studio, with the discipline and the songs and the revolutionary idea that the music actually matters. "Even when my female fans approach me, they don't tell me that I'm handsome," Chou explains. "They tell me they like my music. It's my music that has charmed them."
Since the release of his debut album, Jay, in November 2000—10 brooding, soulful, surprisingly sensual ballads and quiet pop tunes delivered with a poise that would make Craig David stand up and take notice—Jay Chou's music has ruled, and may be transforming, the Asian pop universe. Although he sings and raps only in Mandarin, Chou's CDs routinely go double or triple platinum, not only in his native Taiwan but also in mainland China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. Recently he was voted Favorite Artist Taiwan at MTV's Asian Music Awards, adding to a haul of more than 30 entertainment-industry honors he has won in the past two years. The Hong Kong media has anointed him a "small, heavenly King" (though Chou insists he hates the title). He recently played the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to an audience of more than 10,000. Major companies have come calling for his endorsement, from Pepsi in China to pccw in Hong Kong. Panasonic has even stamped his profile on one of its cellular phone models—a high compliment in mobile-mad Asia even greater than being known as diminutive celestial royalty.
As a boy, Chou was called retarded. Stupid. Yu tsun. Ellen Hsu, his high school English teacher, figured Chou had a learning disability: "He had very few facial expressions; I thought he was dumb." The kid couldn't focus on math, science, didn't bother with his English homework. But his mother, Yeh Hui-mei, noticed that the quiet, shy boy seemed to practically vibrate when he heard the Western pop music she used to play. "He was sensitive to music before he could walk," she recalls. Yeh enrolled him in piano school when he was four. And the kid could play. He practiced like a fiend, focusing on the keys the way other children his age focused on a scoop of ice cream. By the time he was a teen, he had developed a knack for improvisation way beyond his years. "One time he sat down and started playing the Taiwanese national anthem," says his high school piano teacher Charles Chen. "It's usually very solemn but Chou was riffing and turned it into an interesting piece of music, one that sounded like a pop song."
Outside the practice room, Chou was stubbornly average, caught up in the same kung fu movies and video games as the rest of the suburban teens who played baseball around Linkou's ferroconcrete housing blocks. While other kids were cramming for the joint-college-entrance exam, Chou was skipping school and putting in more time on the ivories. The kid looked like he was going nowhere. Music? If you are middle-class and Taiwanese, math, science, engineering, computer programming—that's how you make a living. But music? That was for rich kids with famous parents, who grow up with silver chopsticks in their mouths. Not kids from Linkou. Not Chou. He flunked his exam and was about to be disgorged into the real world, a gawky kid stumbling toward a future pumping gas or maybe, if he was lucky, helping you pick out a new Yamaha upright and then sitting down at the bench and completing the sale by playing a few bars for you.
But the music, remember, is all that matters in Chou's life. It saves him. It defines him. It's his salvation, his luck. It's the only thing he has. It interceded even when Chou himself had wandered off course, when Chou didn't yet know the true value of his harmonic birthright. Some girl, a junior—Chou barely knew her—filled out an application for Chao Ji Xin Ren Wang (Super New Talent King), Taiwan's version of American Idol. The show's staff got in touch with a surprised Chou and asked if he would perform. No way. Not solo.
He ended up playing piano, accompanying an aspiring singer. And they stunk. The show's host, legendary Taipei funnyman and all-around entertainment impresario Jacky Wu, was always on the prowl for new talent, but he took one look at the nervous kid at the piano and the croaking vocalist and thought, forget it, back to the burbs for this duo. "I really wasn't impressed," says Wu. "The friend's singing was lousy." Then he saw the music. "I took a look at the musical score over the judge's shoulder and I was amazed. It was complex and very well done." After the taping, Wu, who at that time owned Alfa Music, headed backstage to meet Chou, who was wearing a baseball cap pulled down over his eyes. "My first impression of Jay was that he was so shy, so quiet," Wu recalls. "I thought he was retarded."
But Wu was swayed by the music. He had seen dozens of sneering pretty boys with slicked-back hair who could barely read a high C, and here was this shy, awkward pianist who seemed like he could scrawl a symphony in his sleep. Wu would do more than write him his first checks as a songwriter—he would also inadvertently give the kid a place to crash between hits, would allow this suburbanite to turn an unused space behind a sofa into a miniature pop-music factory as he wrote tunes for late-'90s acts such as PowerStation and Taiwan-ese diva Valen Hsu. "Jacky is like my elder brother," says Chou. "He taught me how to be an artist, to be professional and to be dedicated to my career." But Chou was doing more than transcribing catchy little ditties at six bills a pop (hit)—he was inadvertently helping to define a sound, an emerging Taiwanese pop presence and style that would, within three years, transform the island into the epicenter of Chinese pop.
But the master still doubted his apprentice could be more than a songwriter. "I didn't think Chou could make it as an entertainer," Wu admits, "because he's not so handsome." It wasn't until Wu handed over the reins of Alfa Music to his friend and fellow singer J.R. Yang nearly a year-and-a-half later that Chou would go from being idol-maker to idol.
"I asked him if he'd written anything for himself," Yang explains. Chou played him Ke Ai Nu Ren (Lovely Woman), a song he had already recorded on borrowed time—hanging around the studio 24-7 did have its advantages. "After four minutes the song finished, and I asked, 'What are we waiting for?'" The kid was living in the studio anyway. Recording the first album in three months was practically a vacation.
Chou kicks back on that leather sofa today, wearing an off-white wool cap pulled low over his brooding, brown eyes, and a black velour tracksuit. He went from being studio geek to pop star overnight, almost too quickly, and he carries the emotional and psychological vestments of that fame and success uneasily. He's all straight answers, monosyllabic responses, yes ma'ams and no ma'ams. Grunts. Nods. Evasive eye rolls. Where is the smoldering sexuality and boy-misses-girl pathos, the mannish lad who gives his soul ballads depth and feeling?
Then he begins talking about the music, and you remember, yes, the music. Take that away and you're left with this slab of a boy who looks like he wants to climb back over that sofa and hunker down in his old, creative lair. My music, he explains, my music should be like magic. It should have variety. It should be ephemeral, changing, evolving. He goes off on musical theory and Chopin and how the cello is different from the violin and Chinese five-tone versus Western 12-tone melodies. "It's my magic," he says again, shaking his head, looking at you all earnest and sincere as if he needs you to understand.
And then he opens up, revealing his yearning to find a girlfriend, his own shyness that has him growing his hair long over his eyes so he isn't distracted by his fans' staring.
Finally, he leans in close: "Let me tell you about diao."
Diao is a Taiwanese slang usually translated as "cool" or "outrageous." It literally means "penis."
"It's my personal philosophy," he explains, "but it has nothing to do with religion. It means that whatever you do, you don't try to follow others. Go your own way, you know?"
He sits back, shakes his hair out of his eyes and nods. This is serious. This is deep. This is the metaphysical mechanism that he feels explains his pop stardom, as opposed to his musical talent. "It's like, the ability to shock. The way I think of shocking people is to do things that people don't expect in my music, in my performances. Like during my first Taipei show last year, I was performing Long Quan (Dragon Fist) [Chou's favorite tune from his Eight Dimensions CD] and I took off on a harness and flew out over the audience. That was diao."
Diao is an internal process, a mystical path that makes extreme demands and forces stringent measures. It requires, mysteriously, that Chou forgo wearing underwear, a lifestyle choice that is endlessly vexing to his mother. "He used to wear underwear as a child," she sighs. "Maybe it is something he started since working with Jacky Wu." Chou himself will not elaborate. The diao that can be spoken of, apparently, is not the eternal diao.
The diao, of course, has made him wealthy, a millionaire, but he insists all that is a distraction. His mother manages his huge income. His managers run his business and take care of his lucrative endorsements. Though Alfa Music has given him a tony, Taipei bachelor pad, Chou prefers living at home with mom in his childhood bedroom with its single mattress, gray sheets and royal blue walls. Ignore, for a moment, the complimentary Pepsi fridge with Chou's likeness molded on the door and the dozens of music trophies and awards, and it's a typical boy's room. And his home, despite his parents' divorce when he was 14, was, he insists, a happy place. But then where, if he had a contented childhood and then a quick apprenticeship as contract songwriter, did the sadness and pathos that could inform a precocious, soulful R. and B. singer come from? How could a happy kid write lyrics about a drunken father who beats his wife and child as he does on Ba Wo Hui Lai Le (Dad, I Have Come Back), a jilted lover on the brink of suicide as on Shi Jie Mo Ri (End of the World)? "I hear stories and I use them," he shrugs. "I make them up. I go to see a movie or look at the elements of a music video."
Chou is a sponge when it comes to music, absorbing styles and trends and then seamlessly incorporating them into his Oriental-flavored R. and B. "He mixes Western instruments with Chinese instruments, like the di (Chinese flute) and the three-string sanxian," explains Chou's friend and fellow musician Rex Jan. "He's also adopted Chinese five-tone melodies as opposed to Western ones."
It's not as if Chou introduced R. and B. to the region—David Tao and Wang Lee Hom have both been around for a while—but it wasn't until Chou's debut that waves of Mando-rappers and crooning R. and B. singers took over MTV Taiwan. "Chou is definitely setting musical trends," says Hong Kong-based Ming Pao Weekly music critic Fung Lai-chi.
His success as a singer-songwriter has already inspired dozens of imitators eager to achieve a similar mixture of street cred and sales sizzle. "The trend is toward more singer-songwriters," says Mark Lankester, managing director of Warner Music Hong Kong. It seems every pretty boy with a guitar is taking up composing; even Canto-pop bad boy Nicholas Tse is now scribbling his own tunes. And then there's Anson Hu, Hong Kong's junior soul man who recently won Best New Artist at the Commercial Radio awards ceremony. "He's copying Jay," says Fung. "He's even being called the new 'Chinese Jay.'"
What makes Chou's music successful, and distinctive from all the boys who would be Jay, is that when he sings that he is hurting or yearning or that he needs you so bad, you believe him. His delivery is Boyz II Men-smooth, and he hits those notes with a conviction born of having proved himself as a songwriter. Remember, he spent nearly two years in that studio watching and hearing what worked and what didn't, and the results of that dues paying are a confidence and a swagger that comes across on disc. On CDs like Jay, Fantasy Life and Eight Dimensions, you're listening to a man who believes in the musical choices he is making, who knows he is right. He is not singing what some manager in an office somewhere has told him will be a hit; he is singing his heart out, right now, for you.
Chou wants the ball. He's a hoops fiend, and he swears that the only two places he's comfortable are in the studio and on the basketball court. He takes a break from the 64-track and heads out to Taipei's Ta An Park, where he and a few friends have a regular game. It's concrete-court, no-holds-barred pickup—tall guys banging under the rim, small guys at the top or on the wing. Everyone launching jumpers. The only pass anyone wants to make is the one to inbound the ball. But even here Chou seems different. John Stockton-skinny with mad dribbles, he's a point guard among other players, who, no matter where they are on the court, seem perpetually out of position. The game, even at this level, flows through him. He hits open threes, makes behind-the-back dribbles to the rack for easy layups. Chou knows exactly what he wants to do with the ball.
So there's this, too. You see it when he plays. He's a control freak. That's why he doesn't like interviews or awards ceremonies, why he's shy and awkward around his fans, because he doesn't know how to control those settings. But on the court, in the studio, he's the show runner.
No other ethnic-Chinese idol enjoys the level of artistic and creative control over his or her albums and videos that Chou does. According to those who work with him, Chou knows exactly what he wants when it comes to his sound, and he is relentless about achieving it. In order to write one of his hits, Shuan Ji Gun (Nunchaku), he actually taught himself to use the martial art weapon and then appeared with it in the video. Kuang Sheng, who has directed the majority of Chou's videos, says he follows the star's instructions: "Chou has more control than other artists over his own videos. And over time, he is only becoming more controlling."
A month later and Chou is lounging in a swanky Chinese restaurant after his packed-house performance at the MGM Grand. Still wearing his sweaty tank top and carefully scuffed jeans, he seems contemplative, as if he is finally impressed by the enormity of his own achievements. There are a few more worlds for this show-biz Alexander to conquer: TV, movies, going global and hitting the U.S. charts. But Chou seems indifferent to learning English, unconcerned with the producers who beseech him to make a film and, finally, more comfortable and less anxious with the demands of his celebrity. He is growing into the role now, his diao, apparently, has taken him this far and he has learned to trust it. There will be enormous demands placed on this 24-year-old, forces of commerce tugging at him to do this commercial, that magazine shoot, this action picture. Kung fu master or rogue cop? R. and B. or hip-hop? Nike or Adidas?
He shakes his head. The first thing he's going to do is head back to that Taipei studio, to that little nook behind the sofa, where he will lie back, take a nap, and dream up a few more tunes.
The Elvis Factor
Big King, little king
The similarities are eerie and undeniable. Both launched their careers by borrowing styles liberally from black musicians. Both played Vegas. Elvis is the King. Chou is known as a "small, heavenly King." Elvis transcended conventional musical boundaries, and Chou does too, boasting a strange power over fans' lives. Consider a story posted in an Internet chat room by a group of Taiwanese nurses who swear that Chou's music is the sole connection a comatose six-year-old patient has with the conscious world. "The only thing holding him up is Jay Chou," they write. "He'll respond to Jay's songs by trying to open his eyes or lifting his legs a little bit."
Of course, Chou can't fly (neither could Elvis), but his tunes sure get around. The Taiwanese singer doesn't speak anything but Mandarin, yet more than 200 websites—some based in such counterintuitive locales as Michigan and Australia—have been established by zealous fans. Foreigners give him awards: MTV Japan last May named him Best Asian Artist for 2002.
Even in Hong Kong, which has an oversupply of homegrown pop stars to worship, Chou is a phenomenon. In January the local television station TVB overlooked his citizenship and nominated him as Hong Kong's Most Popular Artist of 2002. Perhaps more tellingly, all 37,500 tickets for Chou's recent Hong Kong concert dates were snapped up in just 45 minutes—the fastest sellout for a Hong Kong tour ever. College-age girls who were waiting in line, upon hearing that all tickets were gone, burst into tears. "Jay is different from other Hong Kong artists, who just look good and wear beautiful things," says Joyce Ho, a 33-year-old assistant in a law office who refuses to buy music by anyone else. "I hear his songs and forget all unhappy things." Even Ho's four-year-old cousin can relate. He changed his English name from Christopher to Jay as a tribute. "He says he'll love Jay even after he dies," Ho says. See? Chou really is Elvis.
The similarities are eerie and undeniable. Both launched their careers by borrowing styles liberally from black musicians. Both played Vegas. Elvis is the King. Chou is known as a "small, heavenly King." Elvis transcended conventional musical boundaries, and Chou does too, boasting a strange power over fans' lives. Consider a story posted in an Internet chat room by a group of Taiwanese nurses who swear that Chou's music is the sole connection a comatose six-year-old patient has with the conscious world. "The only thing holding him up is Jay Chou," they write. "He'll respond to Jay's songs by trying to open his eyes or lifting his legs a little bit."
Of course, Chou can't fly (neither could Elvis), but his tunes sure get around. The Taiwanese singer doesn't speak anything but Mandarin, yet more than 200 websites—some based in such counterintuitive locales as Michigan and Australia—have been established by zealous fans. Foreigners give him awards: MTV Japan last May named him Best Asian Artist for 2002.
Even in Hong Kong, which has an oversupply of homegrown pop stars to worship, Chou is a phenomenon. In January the local television station TVB overlooked his citizenship and nominated him as Hong Kong's Most Popular Artist of 2002. Perhaps more tellingly, all 37,500 tickets for Chou's recent Hong Kong concert dates were snapped up in just 45 minutes—the fastest sellout for a Hong Kong tour ever. College-age girls who were waiting in line, upon hearing that all tickets were gone, burst into tears. "Jay is different from other Hong Kong artists, who just look good and wear beautiful things," says Joyce Ho, a 33-year-old assistant in a law office who refuses to buy music by anyone else. "I hear his songs and forget all unhappy things." Even Ho's four-year-old cousin can relate. He changed his English name from Christopher to Jay as a tribute. "He says he'll love Jay even after he dies," Ho says. See? Chou really is Elvis.
Jay Chou's new J Girl? Jaycee Fang: he stole my girlfriend!
Source: ChinaYES
Jay Chou's got a new girl! He stole good friend Jaycee Fang's girlfriend? On the net a photo of Jay Chou and a cute little girl has been making the rounds, Jaycee Fang complained: "Jay Chou stole my girlfriend."
According to reports, this young girl is actually the sister of Jay Chou's assistant, because she's got a cute face it has cause the two big men to fight over her; the two actually have a very good friendship, a few days ago Jaycee Fang called her "little Fang" on his blog, he announced to the world she was his new girlfriend, who could have known that Jay Chou and her photo would be put online, this caused much discussion among netizens, a lot of Jay Chou admiring fans were very envious of this little girl, they said smiling, even if she's just a child, it's hard to resist the charm of this international super star!
There were netizens who compared Jay Chou and Jaycee Fang: "Jay suits her more, you should just back down!" The two started the battle on KUSO, he could make it into a film. Some netizens even said Jay Chou should get married early and have children.
Jay Chou's got a new girl! He stole good friend Jaycee Fang's girlfriend? On the net a photo of Jay Chou and a cute little girl has been making the rounds, Jaycee Fang complained: "Jay Chou stole my girlfriend."
According to reports, this young girl is actually the sister of Jay Chou's assistant, because she's got a cute face it has cause the two big men to fight over her; the two actually have a very good friendship, a few days ago Jaycee Fang called her "little Fang" on his blog, he announced to the world she was his new girlfriend, who could have known that Jay Chou and her photo would be put online, this caused much discussion among netizens, a lot of Jay Chou admiring fans were very envious of this little girl, they said smiling, even if she's just a child, it's hard to resist the charm of this international super star!
There were netizens who compared Jay Chou and Jaycee Fang: "Jay suits her more, you should just back down!" The two started the battle on KUSO, he could make it into a film. Some netizens even said Jay Chou should get married early and have children.
Jay Chou writes song for SJ-M album, member KyuHyun: didn't know him before
Kyu-hyun and the rest of Super Junior-M, you should know how lucky you guys are because Jay Chou wrote a masterpiece for you. I can't wait to listen to the song! Super Junior-M should give justice to the song.
Source: 163
Recently Super Junior-M held a press conference for the release of their Chinese album, Jay Chou was mentioned because one of his works was in the album, member KyuHyun revealed that he didn't actually know him before.
The Chinese album "Perfection" not only includes works written by Henry and Zhou Mi but they also got Jay Chou and Vincent Fang to write the new song "Love Is Sweet"; KyuHyun expressed that he did not know Jay Chou before, since watching "Secret" he started listening to his songs, later he got the opportunity to meet and greet him at an event.
Source: 163
Recently Super Junior-M held a press conference for the release of their Chinese album, Jay Chou was mentioned because one of his works was in the album, member KyuHyun revealed that he didn't actually know him before.
The Chinese album "Perfection" not only includes works written by Henry and Zhou Mi but they also got Jay Chou and Vincent Fang to write the new song "Love Is Sweet"; KyuHyun expressed that he did not know Jay Chou before, since watching "Secret" he started listening to his songs, later he got the opportunity to meet and greet him at an event.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Music videos from Jay Chou's The Era album
I'm so in love with Jay's new album. However, I will only be posting the songs that I like from the album. Well I like 8 out of the 11 tracks from the album.
Track 2 Said Goodbye - Theme song from the movie starring Jet Li Ocean's Heaven
Track 3 Fireworks Cool Easily
Honestly, I don't like the music video but I so love the song so here I'm including it.
Track 5 Long Time No See
I love the song and MV looks cute.
Track 4 Free Instructional Video
I love the video, it's just so adorable! I wonder why I didn't include this song in my iPod when it's actually good.
Track 6 It Rains All Night
Love the music video and love the song. I think he's so interested with time traveling that he often incorporates it in his music videos or anything related to him.
Track 7 Hip Hop Air Hostess
Oh my HOLY!!! I didn't like this song the first time I heard it but listening to this music videos, it's kinda catchy though. And the music video is hella sexy! Too many girls there Jay, you want me join them? Haha! My oh my, he's so hot though.
Track 9 Love's Flight Diary
One of the best songs in the album. I love the song and music video is good.
Track 10 Directed and Acted by Yourself
One of the best and one of my favorite this album too! I like the music video, it's so sensual! Again, he's making blood pressures rise here with all those touchy scenes with the girl. Oh my God! Why so hot Jay?!
Track 11 Superman Can't Fly
I really love this song too and the music video is just so cute. It's a superhero themed music video and his bat mobile is also in this video! I didn't notice the first time, that was the bat mobile he was talking about with Seth Rogen. It's like saying that anyone can be a superhero even in the simplest ways.
Korean pic "Haunters" sold to 7 countries
Film "The Haunters" [Zip Cinema]
Current Korean box office topper "Haunters" has been sold to seven countries, according to the film's producer Zip Cinema.Zip stated through a press release that "Haunters", which opened in theaters just last week, has been sold to Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Final negotiations are under way for the pic to be sold to China and Japan and buyers are discussing on the rights to be sold in the United States, Zip added.
The pic starring actors Kang Dong-won and Ko Soo had been presold to several countries in Asia after its actors and story line were revealed at the Asian Film Market held concurrently with this year's Pusan International Film Festival last month.
Additional deals came after a promotional four-minute clip of the film was shown at the annual American Film Market (AFM) held in early November.
"Haunters" is about a duel between two men, one with a super natural power and the other who can resist it.
The film has been popular so far, securing the highest number of advance ticket sales in four years and attracting over one million viewers within a week of its premiere.
Reporter : Heidi Kim heidikim@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>
Source : 10.asiae.co.kr/Articl...
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Poor Kobe gets beaten by Jay Chou, breaks the basket
Source: WeNews
A few days ago young heavenly king Jay Chou and NBA star Kobe filmed a soda commercial together, in the commercial Director Chou beats Kobe, he fearlessly dunks above him. Director Chou especially wrote a commercial song for this "Battle of Heaven and Earth", he invited Kobe to provide voicing. Kobe firstly says to Director Chou: "Do you know how to play B-ball?" Director Chou responds: "Heh! Of course!"
In the latest soda commercial, the two play basketball against each other, Kobe beats Director Chou hands down, but at the end Director Chou turns the tide, he does a Jay style move and flies over Kobe's head dunking successfully, Kobe is left shocked.
Jay Chou is gradually becoming more and more like an international super star, his Hollywood movie "The Green Hornet" has been doing well in the box office, his acting has also been acknowledged. Now he's working with Kobe. One is a genius from Asia's music industry, the other is an international basketball star, the two have produce a different sort of spark. The song they duet together "Battle of Heaven and Earth", mixes in NBA elements, netizens praised it as a new Jay style song.
But there were also netizens giving criticism to the new song saying the arrangement is better than the actual melody. Netizen nickrora stated: "The arrangement in there seems a lot like a certain song of a certain Korean group." Netizen TWFEDERER expressed: "I think this song relies on the arrangement to stand out, the melody is too similar to singles from movies, it's inevitable that it will be criticised." But loyal fans still supported Director Chou, netizen xinxinll3 said: "It's not a bad thing that the arrangement is better than the actual melody, if you give birth to a child you need to dress it well to make it look even better. I'm so proud of him, I think he's really getting closer to international." No matter the views of the netizens, Director Chou's new move has indeed successfully generated a topic.
A few days ago young heavenly king Jay Chou and NBA star Kobe filmed a soda commercial together, in the commercial Director Chou beats Kobe, he fearlessly dunks above him. Director Chou especially wrote a commercial song for this "Battle of Heaven and Earth", he invited Kobe to provide voicing. Kobe firstly says to Director Chou: "Do you know how to play B-ball?" Director Chou responds: "Heh! Of course!"
In the latest soda commercial, the two play basketball against each other, Kobe beats Director Chou hands down, but at the end Director Chou turns the tide, he does a Jay style move and flies over Kobe's head dunking successfully, Kobe is left shocked.
Jay Chou is gradually becoming more and more like an international super star, his Hollywood movie "The Green Hornet" has been doing well in the box office, his acting has also been acknowledged. Now he's working with Kobe. One is a genius from Asia's music industry, the other is an international basketball star, the two have produce a different sort of spark. The song they duet together "Battle of Heaven and Earth", mixes in NBA elements, netizens praised it as a new Jay style song.
But there were also netizens giving criticism to the new song saying the arrangement is better than the actual melody. Netizen nickrora stated: "The arrangement in there seems a lot like a certain song of a certain Korean group." Netizen TWFEDERER expressed: "I think this song relies on the arrangement to stand out, the melody is too similar to singles from movies, it's inevitable that it will be criticised." But loyal fans still supported Director Chou, netizen xinxinll3 said: "It's not a bad thing that the arrangement is better than the actual melody, if you give birth to a child you need to dress it well to make it look even better. I'm so proud of him, I think he's really getting closer to international." No matter the views of the netizens, Director Chou's new move has indeed successfully generated a topic.
Director Chou writes theme song for charity to depict the desert
Source: Sohu
Being an entertainment star Jay Chou has crossed into the sports world. Being the good friend of marathon world champion Kevin Lin, Jay Chou attended the launch ceremony for the "Silk Road Journey". Worth mentioning is that Jay Chou is the joint organiser of the event and has also especially written a theme song.
Jay Chou is the joint organiser of the event, he's participating in the sports event as an entertainment star, he says it's a "cross boundary collaboration". Not long ago, Jay Chou filmed a commercial with an NBA star. Jay Chou frankly said he likes sports, but there's no way he could do such an extreme sport, "This requires perseverance, it requires a determined effort, this is a very meaningful and tiring event. This isn't something a human can do, it's something a super human can do, it's a challenge of life, I'm very honoured to be able to be witness to this new miracle." But Jay Chou expressed he could give it a try, "I'll be doing a 1 hour hike, when they reach the final destination (September), I'll fly directly to Xian to wait for them."
Even though he's not personally participating in the desert crossing event, Jay Chou uses his own method to give support, he especially wrote a theme song for the event. "The inspiration this time came from U2, last time U2 wrote the theme song for Kevin Lin's crossing of the Sahara desert. They put the sound of wind at the beginning of the theme song, the shot at the front is of the desert, they used electric guitars in the song, it felt like the storm was getting closer. This time's song won't be like a love song, because this is an event that challenges the limits." He revealed, at present the theme song is not finished, after he finishes producing it it will be included in the new album to be released in July.
Being an entertainment star Jay Chou has crossed into the sports world. Being the good friend of marathon world champion Kevin Lin, Jay Chou attended the launch ceremony for the "Silk Road Journey". Worth mentioning is that Jay Chou is the joint organiser of the event and has also especially written a theme song.
Jay Chou is the joint organiser of the event, he's participating in the sports event as an entertainment star, he says it's a "cross boundary collaboration". Not long ago, Jay Chou filmed a commercial with an NBA star. Jay Chou frankly said he likes sports, but there's no way he could do such an extreme sport, "This requires perseverance, it requires a determined effort, this is a very meaningful and tiring event. This isn't something a human can do, it's something a super human can do, it's a challenge of life, I'm very honoured to be able to be witness to this new miracle." But Jay Chou expressed he could give it a try, "I'll be doing a 1 hour hike, when they reach the final destination (September), I'll fly directly to Xian to wait for them."
Even though he's not personally participating in the desert crossing event, Jay Chou uses his own method to give support, he especially wrote a theme song for the event. "The inspiration this time came from U2, last time U2 wrote the theme song for Kevin Lin's crossing of the Sahara desert. They put the sound of wind at the beginning of the theme song, the shot at the front is of the desert, they used electric guitars in the song, it felt like the storm was getting closer. This time's song won't be like a love song, because this is an event that challenges the limits." He revealed, at present the theme song is not finished, after he finishes producing it it will be included in the new album to be released in July.
Director Chou to switch to Thai language for "Against War"?
Source: Chinatimes
Jay Chou's new movie "Against War" was set to start filming at the end of the month, but director Dante Lam has delayed it until the middle of March. Jay Chou is partnering Nicholas Tse, the female lead has been confirmed as Mainland China actress Bai Bing. The Hong Kong movie database is introducing this movie as in Thai language, it makes you wonder that Director Chou, who just finished his English nightmare, is not just risking his life in Jordan to film the movie but will also be speaking Thai? JVR said they are making sure Director Chou is safe, they haven't heard anything about the Thai matter.
Director Chou's friends say he thinks of filming as a hobby, he's happy to try different things and challenges. Hong Kong EMP is investing HK$2 hundred million to film "Against War", they are very secretive about the details, according to investigations, the plot involves an international mystery case and a search for a relative, Director Chou and Nicholas Tse become heroes of the people, they fight across countries, Bai Bing is the beauty the two are aiming to rescue.
At present Director Chou has 10 commercials he is spokesperson for, from the start of the year till now there's been 4 new commercials appearing, he made use of his free time during the promotion of "The Green Hornet" to film them as his schedule is full, he can direct and act so does that mean he can film commercials faster? His friend said, he respects every director's creativity, he spends many days filming a commercial, but he will give his opinion during suitable times to make the commercial resonate even more with the audience. His partner Vincent Fang's mother's public memorial service was held yesterday, Director Chou took his mother along, the song Vincent's mother loved "Sound of Falling Rain" was broadcast.
Jay Chou's new movie "Against War" was set to start filming at the end of the month, but director Dante Lam has delayed it until the middle of March. Jay Chou is partnering Nicholas Tse, the female lead has been confirmed as Mainland China actress Bai Bing. The Hong Kong movie database is introducing this movie as in Thai language, it makes you wonder that Director Chou, who just finished his English nightmare, is not just risking his life in Jordan to film the movie but will also be speaking Thai? JVR said they are making sure Director Chou is safe, they haven't heard anything about the Thai matter.
Director Chou's friends say he thinks of filming as a hobby, he's happy to try different things and challenges. Hong Kong EMP is investing HK$2 hundred million to film "Against War", they are very secretive about the details, according to investigations, the plot involves an international mystery case and a search for a relative, Director Chou and Nicholas Tse become heroes of the people, they fight across countries, Bai Bing is the beauty the two are aiming to rescue.
At present Director Chou has 10 commercials he is spokesperson for, from the start of the year till now there's been 4 new commercials appearing, he made use of his free time during the promotion of "The Green Hornet" to film them as his schedule is full, he can direct and act so does that mean he can film commercials faster? His friend said, he respects every director's creativity, he spends many days filming a commercial, but he will give his opinion during suitable times to make the commercial resonate even more with the audience. His partner Vincent Fang's mother's public memorial service was held yesterday, Director Chou took his mother along, the song Vincent's mother loved "Sound of Falling Rain" was broadcast.
Jiang Xin Xin says Jay Chou might star in "Mainland China version of Young and Dangerous"
Some latest news about Jay. He's being considered to star in a Chinese movie.
Source: 022China
Since director Jiang Xin Xin announced the filming of "Mainland China version of Young and Dangerous", there have been many rumours and happenings, but the focus of everyone's attention is the cast, there were rumours of Jordan Chan, Roy Cheung, Hu Ge, Le Geng, Wen Zhang, Wallace Huo, Fiona Sit and Huo Si Yan taking on leading roles. Sun Hong Lei, Francis Ng and Anthony Wong would guest star. But the news has never been confirmed or a direct response made.
The surprising thing was that director Jiang Xin Xin revealed that Jay Chou has a chance of appearing in "Mainland China version of Young and Dangerous". He said they've already sent crew members to contact Jay Chou's agent company, at present they arte till discussing fees and the problem of Jay Chou's schedule, but the most important thing is that Jay Chou himself has great interest in this movie, because beforehand "Monga" tried inviting Jay Chou but was turned down.
Source: 022China
Since director Jiang Xin Xin announced the filming of "Mainland China version of Young and Dangerous", there have been many rumours and happenings, but the focus of everyone's attention is the cast, there were rumours of Jordan Chan, Roy Cheung, Hu Ge, Le Geng, Wen Zhang, Wallace Huo, Fiona Sit and Huo Si Yan taking on leading roles. Sun Hong Lei, Francis Ng and Anthony Wong would guest star. But the news has never been confirmed or a direct response made.
The surprising thing was that director Jiang Xin Xin revealed that Jay Chou has a chance of appearing in "Mainland China version of Young and Dangerous". He said they've already sent crew members to contact Jay Chou's agent company, at present they arte till discussing fees and the problem of Jay Chou's schedule, but the most important thing is that Jay Chou himself has great interest in this movie, because beforehand "Monga" tried inviting Jay Chou but was turned down.
Darren star in Jay Chou MV It Rains All Night
Jay Chou directed and starred in the MV for his new song "It Rains All Night", but he's only playing the role of the story teller. He's given the male lead role to Darren from The Drifters, to star in a love story in this life and the past life. However, he didn't let his buddy taste the "sweetness", the intimate scene with the female lead was completed by using angles.
In Jay Chou's new song, from the lyrics, the melody to the scenes in the MV, he goes from the present to the 20s and 30s, he went from playing the cello to playing the erhu wearing a gown. The big crew went to 100 year old Taipei Guest House to get shots. His singing went from R&B to the singing found in Beijing Opera; he subtly joins together the love from the past to the present.
In the MV Darren sees his beloved female lead marry someone else, and he couldn't stop crying. It was his first time filming a crying scene, he cried very miserably. He couldn't stop crying even after Jay Chou shouted "cut". Jay Chou said: "He really knows how to act, a man crying for love, it really moves me!" Jay Chou's singing and signing session for his album "The Era" will be in Gaoxiong, Taichung on the 22nd, and on the 23rd he'll be at Shimen in Taipei.
Source: China Times
Translated by: http://www.jaychoustudio.com
Jay Chou Album The Era breaks record
Awesome! Purely genius! Well what else is expected from a Jay Chou album.
Jay Chou's new album was released across Asia today, and Hong Kong sales have already surpassed 70,000 copies, smashing his previous album sales record. In the MV for his second title track 'The Era', Jay turns into a handsome vampire and it also features a special custom-made piano that cost $620,000rmb, again smashing his personal record for the most amount of money spent on an MV. And for his third title track 'Raining All Night', Jay continues to travel through time, and transforms into a traditional Chinese man, playing er hu. The most special thing about this MV is that it actually led to a very happy event. During filming, one of the male actors suddenly proposed to his girlfriend, who was also one of the female actors, making her very surprised but happy. And this whole process was also recorded.
Sales for Jay's new album have already surpassed 70,000 copies, breaking the record for his previous album 'November's Chopin'. And to achieve the visual effects, the album comes in a 3D metal box, evidently displaying the amount of money spent.
Source: 022net
Translated by: Sarah @ http://asianfanatics.net
Jay Chou's new album was released across Asia today, and Hong Kong sales have already surpassed 70,000 copies, smashing his previous album sales record. In the MV for his second title track 'The Era', Jay turns into a handsome vampire and it also features a special custom-made piano that cost $620,000rmb, again smashing his personal record for the most amount of money spent on an MV. And for his third title track 'Raining All Night', Jay continues to travel through time, and transforms into a traditional Chinese man, playing er hu. The most special thing about this MV is that it actually led to a very happy event. During filming, one of the male actors suddenly proposed to his girlfriend, who was also one of the female actors, making her very surprised but happy. And this whole process was also recorded.
Sales for Jay's new album have already surpassed 70,000 copies, breaking the record for his previous album 'November's Chopin'. And to achieve the visual effects, the album comes in a 3D metal box, evidently displaying the amount of money spent.
Source: 022net
Translated by: Sarah @ http://asianfanatics.net
Jay Chou Promote The Green Hornet in Beijing
"I really do need a girl who would support me," Taiwanese singer Jay Chou said in a recent interview.
The multi-hyphenated Taiwanese was in Beijing to promote his latest film The Green Hornet, when he graciously talked about his love life. Not only did he admit to having some chemistry with Taiwan's top model Lin Chi-ling, he also said that he needed a girl "who would support him".
Jay revealed that he would be performing magic tricks at CCTV Spring Festival Gala. However, he's unclear about the arrangement details as he has not had the chance to rehearse the routine.
When asked who his partner for the magic routine would be, Jay admitted that he has chemistry with Chi-ling and even called the Taiwanese model "the best candidate". The singer added that their height differences was not a problem, and insisted later "we're the same height, really".
Jay took the chance to deny the rumour that his latest love interest is Hong Kong singer Alan Tam's female disciple and stated his criteria for a J Girl (a nickname given to Jay Chou's love interest).
The Taiwanese singer said that the girl "must at least understand my music and we can communicate". He also confessed that he felt lonely because he had been single for a long time now.
"For someone like me, who puts an emphasis on my career, I really need a girl who will support me. I hope there is such a girl, apart from my mother," said Jay.
He added that it did not matter if his girlfriend is from showbiz or not.
http://oriental-news.blogspot.com
Jay Chou attend The Green Hornet with Jessie Chiang
Jay Chou attended the premiere of his Hollywood debut movie, "The Green Hornet" in Los Angeles on local time Jan. 11. Paparazzi spotted Chou standing together with a Chinese girl, who looked like his rumored girlfriend, Jessie Jiang or Jiang Yuchen.
Director Michel Gondry led the main cast, Seth Rogen, Jay Chou and Cameron Diaz to attend the ceremony. Chou accepted an interview by a local press in English and greeted his fans in Chinese. The movie was highly-anticipated by Chinese audiences not only because it will be Chou's first big-screen work in Hollywood but his character in the movie was once portrayed by kung-fu legend Bruce Lee.
Jay Chou's popular song, "Nunchakus" ("Shuang Jie Gun"), which is labeled by the singer as a tribute to Bruce Lee, has been chosen to be the ending song of "The Green Hornet".
Jay Chou sing for Jet Li movie Ocean Heaven
The song chosen to be the theme song for Jet Li's movie is Say Goodbye from Jay's The Era album. I love that song a lot, one of the best songs in the album and probably one of my favorite of his songs ever. About the film, it's quite surprising to see Jet Li portray a role where he's not kicking ass or something. He should do serious roles like this once in awhile you know. You're never a real actor if you just do action movies.
Here's the music video of the song featuring some clips from the movie.
BEIJING, May 29 -- Jay Chou, Taiwan's pop king, will sing the theme song for Jet Li's new movie "Ocean Heaven." It will be their second collaboration since Chou sang for Li's 2006 movie "Fearless." Guey Lunmei, Taiwan's star and leading actress in the movie will also sing for the movie.
Dubbed as Jet Li's first non-action work in his career, the movie tells a touching story between a father and his only son. When the father finds out that he is terminally ill, he decides to teach his only son, who is autistic, to live on his own.
Though viewed as a non-mainstream piece, it has attracted a group of big names to take part, including Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi and award-winning cinematographer Christopher Doyle.
Source: Xin Hua
Here's the music video of the song featuring some clips from the movie.
BEIJING, May 29 -- Jay Chou, Taiwan's pop king, will sing the theme song for Jet Li's new movie "Ocean Heaven." It will be their second collaboration since Chou sang for Li's 2006 movie "Fearless." Guey Lunmei, Taiwan's star and leading actress in the movie will also sing for the movie.
Dubbed as Jet Li's first non-action work in his career, the movie tells a touching story between a father and his only son. When the father finds out that he is terminally ill, he decides to teach his only son, who is autistic, to live on his own.
Though viewed as a non-mainstream piece, it has attracted a group of big names to take part, including Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi and award-winning cinematographer Christopher Doyle.
Source: Xin Hua
Takeshi, Zhou Xun and Jay Chou in The Smiling Proud Wanderer
Woah Jay Chou and Takeshi Kaneshiro both to star in a movie! Two bias in one movie, that's so cool. But I'm not sure if this movie really did push through since it says in the news below that it will start production probably after Lunar New Year 2010.
Renowned director and action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping is busy trying hard to raise S$40million to shoot the wuxia remake of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, plus cast his dream team of actors in including actor Takeshi Kaneshiro as Linghu Chong, actress Zhou Xun as Ren Yingying, and singer Jay Chou as Dongfang Bubai.
The new remake of the classic novel by Louis Cha is slated to begin filming at the start of 2010 after the Lunar New Year festivities. In the meantime, Yuen does not plan to accept any other directing jobs in order to concentrate wholly in producing the series.
Yuen has expressed that 36-year-old Kaneshiro best fits the role of the lead character, Linghu Chong. Both parties are currently engaged in talks and if the actor agrees, Yuen plans to send him to Beijing for martial arts training sessions. As the show concentrates heavily on martial arts, Yuen hopes that the main actors will receive martial arts training before filming begins to present a more lifelike portrayal of the story.
He also has plans to invite Chinese actress, Zhou Xun, to take up the female lead role as Ren Yingying. He was so impressed by her acting chops and gracefulness in his previous collaboration with her, True Legend, and decided to work with her again.
As both Kaneshiro and Zhou previously collaborated as lovers in the movie, Perhaps Love, he feels that they have enough tacit understanding of each other to bring out the best of their lovebirds characters onscreen.
Apart from these, Yuen hopes that Jay Chou will take on the last remaining lead role as Dongfang Bubai in the show. The chance of Yuen gaining a nod of agreement from Jay lies relatively high as the latter is in awe and respect of the director. The Taiwanese performer also previously agreed to guest star in Yuen’s movie, True Legend.
The new remake of the classic novel by Louis Cha is slated to begin filming at the start of 2010 after the Lunar New Year festivities. In the meantime, Yuen does not plan to accept any other directing jobs in order to concentrate wholly in producing the series.
Yuen has expressed that 36-year-old Kaneshiro best fits the role of the lead character, Linghu Chong. Both parties are currently engaged in talks and if the actor agrees, Yuen plans to send him to Beijing for martial arts training sessions. As the show concentrates heavily on martial arts, Yuen hopes that the main actors will receive martial arts training before filming begins to present a more lifelike portrayal of the story.
He also has plans to invite Chinese actress, Zhou Xun, to take up the female lead role as Ren Yingying. He was so impressed by her acting chops and gracefulness in his previous collaboration with her, True Legend, and decided to work with her again.
As both Kaneshiro and Zhou previously collaborated as lovers in the movie, Perhaps Love, he feels that they have enough tacit understanding of each other to bring out the best of their lovebirds characters onscreen.
Apart from these, Yuen hopes that Jay Chou will take on the last remaining lead role as Dongfang Bubai in the show. The chance of Yuen gaining a nod of agreement from Jay lies relatively high as the latter is in awe and respect of the director. The Taiwanese performer also previously agreed to guest star in Yuen’s movie, True Legend.
88news.net
Asian King Jay Chou ready to go international!
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| Compilation of Jay's album covers from Jay in 2000 to Capricorn in 2008 |
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| THE ERA 2010 |
Having been in the industry for 10 years, 30-year old Asian King Jay Chou recalls his road to success and he makes a promise: cannot be complacent but will never lose confidence in himself!
In the past 10 years, what are some of your successful achievements?
Stepping on the cover of ‘Time’ magazine. At the time, many people told me I was not easy, but I only thought: “Isn’t it just an English magazine?” And getting a wax statue in Madam Tassaud’s Wax Museum; many foreigners helped me tailor a statue, at the time I also didn’t think much of it. But now looking back, I feel that I have created a few records for us Chinese. Getting ‘Best Newcomer’ in the Golden Horse Awards for ‘Initial D’ gave me a lot of encouragement for my cross-cutting. And ‘The Secret That Cannot Be Told’ granted my wish of becoming a director before 30.
The years before you became popular, was it tough? Did you vow that you must make something out of yourself?
I want to clarify, it’s actually different from what the outside world believes. My biggest setback is not getting into university, I really did try very hard to get into music at university, and I even got tutoring, but after 2 tries, my other grades were not good enough. Afterwards, my juniors helped me sign up for a talent show, giving me the opportunity of entering this industry.
Is turning 30 of special significance to you?
It’s like a threshold, a cross-border. I now begin to think about things I didn’t care about before. It’s not about being greedy, but this big expansion, wanting to go higher, further. Like before I would think that my English is not good enough so I wouldn’t want to act in Hollywood films, but now when Hollywood scripts are sent to my company, I’ll take a look. If I can use films to step out of Asia, and bring my music to the whole world, I think this is every artist’s dream.
After being in the industry for 10 years, you give yourself 95%. Why is the final 5% because of ‘too many rumours’?
My mum often says: ‘We must be humble.’ I can’t be complacent, this 5% is the space for my improvement, but over the years, I do feel that rumours have affected me.
Is it because you’re often photographed with J-girls?
I really do not understand the paparazzi. Like the incident a few days ago with ‘Pandaman’ female lead Tang Yan. At the time, I was working, filming a driving scene. And of course, when everyone is free, we’ll all go out and eat together, but it really is not how the ‘Weekly Times’ reports.
You once said that ‘arm around the shoulder means girlfriend’. Is this still the case?
Yes, like that year with Miss Hou. I feel that that is the seriousness towards a relationship, and giving a sense of security to the female. Even though I know I’ll be photographed, I’m not afraid of the outside world, and am willing to openly come out.
This year you are 30, did your mum say anything to you?
Ha, she wants me to turn religious (Christian)
Is there anything you want to say to yourself?
Thinking about the past, when I could go to the night market to eat, dressed in shorts and slippers, with whoever I wanted and wouldn’t get secretly photographed, now I can’t. Now, I’ve lost my freedom, but I can give a more comfortable life to my family, I am willing. Sometimes I really miss the past, but only one or two hours, and then I will return to the present and tell myself: I can’t go back, can only keep going.
Being 30 now, do you feel pressure?
I will tell myself: If you’ve reached a certain status, you won’t be scared of falling anymore. Like Chow Yun-Fat and Jacky Cheung, it doesn’t matter anymore whether they receive awards or not, as long as they step out, they have their applause and status. What I want to achieve is to never lose confidence in myself and never disappoint those who love me.
Source: UDN
Translation: Sarah @ http://asianfanatics.net
Seeing each other day and night, Jay Chou: Chi Ling is like a buddy
Chang Hong Channel Film and Video Company has invested 1 billion rmb into filming "Ci Ling", they spent 10 million building 4 massive sets in Wuxi, they are all important scenes in Jay Chou and Lin Chi Ling's treasure hunting, yesterday Jay Chou filmed action scenes under the scorching sun, he was only wearing a t shirt underneath his filming clothes, he revealed his muscles, he was very MAN.
Jay Chou said: "In the past I was 65kg, now I've gone up top 70kg, I don't even dare to eat starch, oh how come, I can't lose weight even if I wanted to." Actually Jay Chou is only gaining muscles, there are a lot of action scenes in "Ci Ling", as he fights his muscles increase in size, but you might not know, Jay Chou can't lift his left hand up now because he injured his muscle when doing fight scenes with wiring, he'll have to look after that well after the filming is over.
But he's been very happy filming "Ci Ling", Jay Chou did some magic for everyone there, he's improved a lot since "Secret", he said: "The hand gestures are very important so I try to learn them when I have time."
In a lot of instances, after relaxing, Jay Chou will become serious and say: "Actually my view of life, the more times goes by the more regrets you have, I watched "Departures" as recommended to me by Rou Yi (Lin Chi Ling's agent), I think a lot of things in life are out of your hands, you have to take control of the present." Jay Chou revealed, he wants to film a warm little movie like "Departures", it doesn't have to be about an encoffineer, but something that can be enlightening to life.
Jay Chou said: "After being the industry for 10 years, in the future I want to do some things outside of entertainment, give something back to society, for example my song "Fragrance of Rice", I hoped to encourage everyone not to feel down in our current economic climate." Jay Chou is this year's big winner at the GMAs in terms of nominations, but on the day of the awards, he's already agreed to hold a concert in Ji'an, he said: "If I don't go and they still give me an award, then it will show the fairness."
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Jay Chou praises Lin Chi Ling as an angel, uses "Chang'e" to describe her beauty
Source: NowNews
Translated by: http://www.jaychoustudio.com
The director of "Ci Ling" Zhu Yan Ping expressed, "Ci Ling" is a movie made for the cast, the actress Lin Chi Ling has found her way, Taiwan is about to gain another international superstar; another actress Miao Pu has the flavour of Michelle Yeoh, she has brought a lot to the scenes.
Jay Chou expressed, in the movie he departs from Lin Chi Ling before reuniting with her later, they have the bond of growing up together. When asked his feelings towards Lin Chi Ling, he said she is like an angel, she is a very great girl, they've got along well, at the end he even used "Chang'e" (goddess of the moon) to describe her beauty.
In the past few weeks his left hand has gradually become quite sore because in the fight scenes with Will Liu he has to wear heavy weapons and it is all wired as well, he couldn't lift his hand up, he's only gotten better since seeing a doctor when he returned to Taiwan, even though the fight scenes were tough, but it was very satisfying for him.
Lin Chi Ling expressed, both her and Jay Chou are workaholics, they are passionate about work, they both have optimistic personalities, even if things are going rough they won't speak out. She thinks Jay Chou won't let himself make mistakes when doing things, he has very high demands on himself, in the collaboration this time the two are becoming more and more in tune, they are like buddies, privately they like to argue, and due to this interaction it has helped the filming progress since they have a lot of scenes together.
Lin Chi Ling said when she was filming this movie, she felt relaxed and happy, director Zhu's humour also put her into a good mood, her character has a silly personality with a bit of naughtiness, it is quite close to her real personality, she didn't forget to praise Jay Chou's fighting character as having the flavour of Bruce Lee, the two are often fighting with each other like school kids, they cheer on each other filming in a tough environment.
Source: UDN
Translated by: http://www.jaychoustudio.com
Monday, February 21, 2011
Jay Chou The Era World Tour Live in Malaysia this March 4th and 5th!
I found out that his The Era World Tour isn't done yet when I came to read a blog post from welovejaychou.net. However there were no more details about the other remaining stops of his tour. God, I really want to go. I watched his 2007 World Tour last night and oh my his concert is beyond amazing. It's just purely genius. I want to be part of that crowd and experience the genius of Jay Chou's music. But then sadly, there's no way I can attend this leg of his tour since I'm totally broke. Sob. Sob. Sob. If I only knew last year that he will be on tour, I should have just spent my money I spent for my second SS501 concert with a Jay Chou concert instead. Oh well, I'm sure there will be next time and next time I won't let it pass before me.
I should make myself available for tons of photos, videos, updates on these dates. I'm excited!
I should make myself available for tons of photos, videos, updates on these dates. I'm excited!
| Event Name | : | Jay Chou |
| Event Date | : | 4 & 5 March, 2011 |
| Event Time | : | 8:30pm |
| Event Venue | : | Putra Indoor Stadium Bukit Jalil |
Mark your calendars as on 4 & 5 March 2011, Asia’s undisputable king of R&B and hip hop Jay Chou will promise to bring on stage two-night ecstatic live music concerts in Malaysia.
Expected to cover 40 venues, this world tour named “The Era World Tour” kick-started with its first performance in Taipei in June 2010 and continues to earn rave reviews as the most impressive concert production ever launched in Asia. The unprecedented stage design using over 2000 strips LED screens and completed with sophisticated 3D animations and stunning lighting and action effects simply surpasses the world standard in visual stage sensory! It has also set the record of being the fastest selling concert in history.
Organized by Speedy Entertainment, this much-awaited concert scheduled to heat up Putra Indoor Stadium, Bukit Jalil will see the heavenly king Jay Chou belting out his beautifully crafted songs and maneuvering different musical instruments on stage.
Having more than 350 music awards under his belt, Jay’s songs fuse R & B, rock and pop genres covering issues such as domestic violence, war and urbanization to subjects such as tender love. His use of meaningful, emotionally- rich lyrics, hits right at the heart and has solidified his status as a pioneer and a unique pop singer.
Ticket launch will take place on 27 November at KL Sogo (main entrance) with concert merchandizes up for grab! A 10% discount will be offered for ticket purchase between 11am to 6pm. Ticket holders will further enjoy discount privilege on selected items offered by Carlo Rino boutique at the mall. Internet booking will get a 5% discount as well. All discounts are valid for the first 1500 tickets only, on a first-come-first-served basis.
Concert tickets are priced at RM760 (rock zone), RM480 (VIP), RM330 (PS1), RM230 (PS2) and RM130 (PS3) (Prices exclude RM3 processing fee). Both shows will start at 8:30pm.
Buy your tickets HERE
Jay Chou to film Secret 2 in 3D
I'm so excited for the Secret 2. I'm really delighted there's a part 2 since I watched it last week because I'm dying to know how the story is going to be. Will the story continue from the past or will Xiang-lun be able to go back to the present? It's really nice too that the movie will now be in 3D. Oh gosh, if the first one was so beautiful already what more for the part 2 if it's 3D. But sadly, he won't be with Guey Lun-mei anymore; there will be a new leading actress. Well he said, she's pretty so let's hope she and dear Jay looks good together and have chemistry.
So if you're excited read on!
Recently Jay Chou has been busy with his world tour, but in recent days a Taiwanese cinematographer Kiven revealed on his blog the plans of Jay Chou's new movie "Secret 2", the female lead has been exposed early. According to cinematographer Kiven: "After Jay Chou is finished with his concert next year, he'll film the sequel to Secret. At present the script is already being planned, this time it's going to be a bit more sci-fi, and also bits of it will be in 3D."
When Jay Chou was filming "Secret" he already had ideas for "Secret 2", it was just because he was busy with other things afterwards that nothing came of it. The script for the new movie has already been in the works since the start of last year, it's been confirmed now that they will start filming in September next year. Earlier Jay Chou revealed to the media, besides the background crew for the movie not changing, the majority of the male cast will also be the same, but for the female cast he wants to "change things". He's worried that the audience have too deep of an impression of Guai Lun Mei and Alice Tzeng, so with a newcomer it will give the movie a different feeling. And about other details of the movie, Jay Chou has been unwilling to reveal any information.
But cinematographer Kiven leaked quite a lot of Jay Chou's "secrets" on his blog; just like last time "Secret 2" will be about time travelling, it's just that this time there'll be more creative scenes and stories. In Director Chou's new album "The Era" he has been plugging the "time travelling" songs, this time's "Secret 2" female lead, Man Qi, was recommended to Jay Chou by a good friend. The female lead is pretty and pure, her sweet temperament is in line with the style of people Jay Chou uses. The different thing to "Secret" is that this time in "Secret 2", it will be about "time travel" between now and the future, due to the fact the male and female leads are from different eras and have different technologies, a lot of exciting stories arise from it. The male lead is a high school student, the female lead is from the technology-advanced future, very sci-fi, for this time Jay Chou will use 3D in the movie and make a music love story with the "Hollywood" style grand feeling.
Reporters asked for further confirmation about the details revealed by Kiven about "Secret", and they got into contact with JVR staff. Staff member Mr Wang did not deny plans about "Secret 2", but he declined to comment about further details.
Source: Sohu
Translated by: http://www.jaychoustudio.com
So if you're excited read on!
Recently Jay Chou has been busy with his world tour, but in recent days a Taiwanese cinematographer Kiven revealed on his blog the plans of Jay Chou's new movie "Secret 2", the female lead has been exposed early. According to cinematographer Kiven: "After Jay Chou is finished with his concert next year, he'll film the sequel to Secret. At present the script is already being planned, this time it's going to be a bit more sci-fi, and also bits of it will be in 3D."
When Jay Chou was filming "Secret" he already had ideas for "Secret 2", it was just because he was busy with other things afterwards that nothing came of it. The script for the new movie has already been in the works since the start of last year, it's been confirmed now that they will start filming in September next year. Earlier Jay Chou revealed to the media, besides the background crew for the movie not changing, the majority of the male cast will also be the same, but for the female cast he wants to "change things". He's worried that the audience have too deep of an impression of Guai Lun Mei and Alice Tzeng, so with a newcomer it will give the movie a different feeling. And about other details of the movie, Jay Chou has been unwilling to reveal any information.
But cinematographer Kiven leaked quite a lot of Jay Chou's "secrets" on his blog; just like last time "Secret 2" will be about time travelling, it's just that this time there'll be more creative scenes and stories. In Director Chou's new album "The Era" he has been plugging the "time travelling" songs, this time's "Secret 2" female lead, Man Qi, was recommended to Jay Chou by a good friend. The female lead is pretty and pure, her sweet temperament is in line with the style of people Jay Chou uses. The different thing to "Secret" is that this time in "Secret 2", it will be about "time travel" between now and the future, due to the fact the male and female leads are from different eras and have different technologies, a lot of exciting stories arise from it. The male lead is a high school student, the female lead is from the technology-advanced future, very sci-fi, for this time Jay Chou will use 3D in the movie and make a music love story with the "Hollywood" style grand feeling.
Reporters asked for further confirmation about the details revealed by Kiven about "Secret", and they got into contact with JVR staff. Staff member Mr Wang did not deny plans about "Secret 2", but he declined to comment about further details.
Source: Sohu
Translated by: http://www.jaychoustudio.com
Jay Chou on Readers Digest
Photo credits: http://caroline-ho.blogspot.com/2011/02/jay-chou-on-readers-digest.html
I found out about Jay's story on Reader's Digest Asia through Ate Yollie. She knows I love Jay Chou so she sent me a message that there's a story about Jay Chou on this month's Reader's Digest. I wanted to buy the magazine right away because I wanted to see Jay's story but then I hesitated a bit when I was at the bookstore because it's Php 160.00. I thought that maybe I can just searched the story online so I can post it. But still I ended up buying the Php160.00 magazine even though I'm close to being broke.I asked Ate Yols to search the story online and she found it with the same pictures from the magazine but small ones though.
I was just too happy that he has a story on Reader's Digest Asia. However, when I got home I found out that there's another version of the cover. I wanted my hands on that Jay Chou cover. I found out that it's available in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and other Asian countries I guess but sadly not the Philippines.
I also watched The Green Hornet purely because of Jay Chou nothing more and nothing less. I first seen Jay's acting in The Green Hornet then Initial D which was his acting debut then most recently Secret. If I were to compare his acting from Initial D to Secret and then The Green Hornet, his most recent foray into acting; he definitely improved a lot on his acting prowess. I loved his performance in Secret although critics says that he's not the best option as a romantic lead. Maybe it was still a bit lacking that time but I felt the emotions of his character but he still has lots to give on that character though. As for Initial D, I can't really say if his acting was good or not there since the character calls for it. So people couldn't really judge his acting performance there. But still I'm happy that he got the role to play Kato than Stephen Chow portraying it. It was really for him. I just wished though that there were more scenes of Jay displaying his extraordinary musical skills in the movie.
For me, it's okay if he goes doing Hollywood movies once in awhile but I don't want him to be immersed too much in Hollywood. I don't want him to be influenced by how things are working there. Gladly, he said that he will be going back to his music because he is the KING of ASIAN MUSIC and no one can ever come close.
Here's some photos from the magazine:
I got this from Salt and Vinegar blog too.
I found out about Jay's story on Reader's Digest Asia through Ate Yollie. She knows I love Jay Chou so she sent me a message that there's a story about Jay Chou on this month's Reader's Digest. I wanted to buy the magazine right away because I wanted to see Jay's story but then I hesitated a bit when I was at the bookstore because it's Php 160.00. I thought that maybe I can just searched the story online so I can post it. But still I ended up buying the Php160.00 magazine even though I'm close to being broke.I asked Ate Yols to search the story online and she found it with the same pictures from the magazine but small ones though.
I was just too happy that he has a story on Reader's Digest Asia. However, when I got home I found out that there's another version of the cover. I wanted my hands on that Jay Chou cover. I found out that it's available in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and other Asian countries I guess but sadly not the Philippines.
I also watched The Green Hornet purely because of Jay Chou nothing more and nothing less. I first seen Jay's acting in The Green Hornet then Initial D which was his acting debut then most recently Secret. If I were to compare his acting from Initial D to Secret and then The Green Hornet, his most recent foray into acting; he definitely improved a lot on his acting prowess. I loved his performance in Secret although critics says that he's not the best option as a romantic lead. Maybe it was still a bit lacking that time but I felt the emotions of his character but he still has lots to give on that character though. As for Initial D, I can't really say if his acting was good or not there since the character calls for it. So people couldn't really judge his acting performance there. But still I'm happy that he got the role to play Kato than Stephen Chow portraying it. It was really for him. I just wished though that there were more scenes of Jay displaying his extraordinary musical skills in the movie.
For me, it's okay if he goes doing Hollywood movies once in awhile but I don't want him to be immersed too much in Hollywood. I don't want him to be influenced by how things are working there. Gladly, he said that he will be going back to his music because he is the KING of ASIAN MUSIC and no one can ever come close.
Here's some photos from the magazine:
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| He looks a lot like his mommy! He's so cute! |
I got this from Salt and Vinegar blog too.
To quote 8 days (entertainment magazine) :
Then : We had four heavenly kings
Now: Jay Chou versus his multi-hyphenate self (Singer, Composer, actor, director, talk-show host). A choice! We used to have a choice!
Jay Chou on the cover of Bazaar magazine - old issue
I found this magazine cover with Jay Chou on the cover along with Guey Lun-mei, his leading lady in the movie Secret in 2007. They look good together. I want this magazine but this was last 2007, I don't know if there's still some place online where I can buy it. There's probably lots of Jay Chou photos inside and with Guey Lun-mei from the movie.
One more thing, the other cover on the right is the same cover of this month's issue of Reader's Digest Asia magazine with Jay on the cover. The background of Reader's Digest Asia is just different but it's the same photo. I love the photo, he looks handsome and cool.
Taiwan pop singer/actor/director Jay Chou (Zhou Jie-lun) graces the cover the famous fashion magazine Bazaar in June. Also on the cover is the leading actress Gui Lunmei who stars in Jay’s directing debut movie “Unspeakable Secret” which will be open this summer. The movie is based on Jay’s first love in school.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Taiwan's Jay Chou spices up 'The Green Hornet'
Taiwanese pop king Jay Chou says his appearance in the action comedy "The Green Hornet" fulfilled a childhood dream to imitate Bruce Lee's kung fu genius and bring his musical talent to the silver screen.
The film is a reprise of the 1966-67 television series in which Lee starred as the sidekick to masked Los Angeles crime fighter Britt Reid, a newspaper publisher who spends his nights fighting crime in a quest for vigilante justice.
It opened this month to mixed reviews but an exceptionally strong box office. Chou's performance was praised by some, derided by others, with many commenting on his poor command of English.
The Taiwan-born Chou and leading man Seth Rogen were in Taipei on Thursday to promote the film.
"I tried hard to get this role," Chou told The Associated Press. "I worship heroes. I admit I'm pretty childlike in my inner side and I like Batman and Iron Man. When I got a chance to play a hero, I told myself I couldn't give up."
This is the first Hollywood film for the 32-year-old Chou, whose fame as a rap and R&B artist is mostly confined to Asia. In recent years, he has appeared in a number of Chinese-language films, one of which he also directed.
Chou said his "Hornet" role as Reid's assistant Kato was not meant to mirror Lee's one-dimensional kung fu approach, but to be "more normal and closer to reality" and to provide a showcase for his musical talent.
"I hope to show Western audiences that Asians don't just do kung fu, but also sing, write songs and play the piano," he said. "So I put the musical element into my Kato."
Chou said he initially wanted to make his first appearance in the film playing the bongo drums, but eventually yielded to director Michel Gondry's suggestion that he come in riding a motorcycle instead.
Still, Chou did get a chance to play the piano in the film and said he was pleased that it ended with the "The Nunchucks," a Mandarin language song he wrote 10 years ago about the martial arts weapon made famous by Lee.
Chou said Sony Pictures has decided to make a sequel to "The Green Hornet" and that he will reappear in the same role.
However, that appearance will mark the end of his Hollywood career - at least for a time."After this, I will not do another Hollywood film but rather go back to my music," he said.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2014049753_apasfilmtaiwangreenhornet.html?syndication=rss
Associated Press
Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com
TAIPEI, Taiwan —
Taiwanese pop king Jay Chou says his appearance in the action comedy "The Green Hornet" fulfilled a childhood dream to imitate Bruce Lee's kung fu genius and bring his musical talent to the silver screen.The film is a reprise of the 1966-67 television series in which Lee starred as the sidekick to masked Los Angeles crime fighter Britt Reid, a newspaper publisher who spends his nights fighting crime in a quest for vigilante justice.
It opened this month to mixed reviews but an exceptionally strong box office. Chou's performance was praised by some, derided by others, with many commenting on his poor command of English.
The Taiwan-born Chou and leading man Seth Rogen were in Taipei on Thursday to promote the film.
"I tried hard to get this role," Chou told The Associated Press. "I worship heroes. I admit I'm pretty childlike in my inner side and I like Batman and Iron Man. When I got a chance to play a hero, I told myself I couldn't give up."
This is the first Hollywood film for the 32-year-old Chou, whose fame as a rap and R&B artist is mostly confined to Asia. In recent years, he has appeared in a number of Chinese-language films, one of which he also directed.
Chou said his "Hornet" role as Reid's assistant Kato was not meant to mirror Lee's one-dimensional kung fu approach, but to be "more normal and closer to reality" and to provide a showcase for his musical talent.
"I hope to show Western audiences that Asians don't just do kung fu, but also sing, write songs and play the piano," he said. "So I put the musical element into my Kato."
Chou said he initially wanted to make his first appearance in the film playing the bongo drums, but eventually yielded to director Michel Gondry's suggestion that he come in riding a motorcycle instead.
Still, Chou did get a chance to play the piano in the film and said he was pleased that it ended with the "The Nunchucks," a Mandarin language song he wrote 10 years ago about the martial arts weapon made famous by Lee.
Chou said Sony Pictures has decided to make a sequel to "The Green Hornet" and that he will reappear in the same role.
However, that appearance will mark the end of his Hollywood career - at least for a time."After this, I will not do another Hollywood film but rather go back to my music," he said.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2014049753_apasfilmtaiwangreenhornet.html?syndication=rss
Friday, February 18, 2011
Haunters (DVD) (2-Disc + OST) starring Kang Dong-won and Go Soo is open for pre-order on YesAsia!
Cr: YesAsia
I'm so psyched about this!!! Finally, I've been waiting and I only found out about it today. I want this of course the original is the best as this one also has a bonus CD with lots of features inside. Okay, now I really need to sleep because I'm about to fall anytime.
Pre-order now HERE!
Popular actors Kang Dong Won (Secret Reunion) and Ko Su (White Night) face off in the supernatural action thriller Haunters. Topping Korea's box office for two consecutive weeks, Haunters is the first directorial feature from The Good, The Bad, The Weird screenwriter and assistant director Kim Min Suk, and the last film for Kang Dong Won before entering army service. The intense thriller lives up to its name by harnessing the powers of the mind into a slick, haunting, adrenaline-charged battle that gets under the skin and into the eye of evil.
Taking a rare villain role, Kang Dong Won plays the film's haunted anti-hero Cho In, a crippled man with the ability to control minds. Scarred by an abusive childhood, he lives at the edge of society, using his powers at will on those around him. One day while robbing a pawn shop, he encounters Kyu Nam (Ko Su), the first man to be able to resist his mind control. Cho In ends up killing the pawn shop owner (Byun Hee Bong), who is the closest thing Kyu Nam has to a family. Thus begins the dangerous collision of two men with nothing to lose and powers beyond imagination.
This edition comes with the Soundtrack CD and a bonus disc containing pre-production, making-of, special effects featurette, deleted scenes, outtakes, premiere, still gallery, poster shoot, and trailer.
I'm so psyched about this!!! Finally, I've been waiting and I only found out about it today. I want this of course the original is the best as this one also has a bonus CD with lots of features inside. Okay, now I really need to sleep because I'm about to fall anytime.
Pre-order now HERE!
| Product Title: | Haunters (DVD) (2-Disc + OST) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version) Haunters (DVD) (雙碟裝DVD+OST) (初回限量版) (韓國版) Haunters (DVD) (双碟装DVD+OST) (初回限量版) (韩国版) 超能力者 （DVD2枚組+CD） （初回限定版） （韓国版） |
| Also known as: | Psychic 超能力者 超能力者 Psychic |
| Artist Name(s): | Kang Dong Won (Actor) | Ko Su (Actor) | Byun Hee Bong 姜東元 (Actor) | 高修 (Actor) | Byun Hee Bong 姜东元 (Actor) | 高修 (Actor) | Byun Hee Bong カン・ドンウォン (Actor) | コ・ス (Actor) | ビョン・ヒボン |
| Release Date: | 2011-03-10 |
| Language: | Korean |
| Subtitles: | English, Korean |
| Country of Origin: | South Korea |
| Picture Format: | NTSC |
| Disc Format(s): | DVD |
| Region Code: | 3 - South East Asia (including Hong Kong, S. Korea and Taiwan) What is it? |
| Publisher: | KD Media |
| Other Information: | 2DVDs+1CD |
Popular actors Kang Dong Won (Secret Reunion) and Ko Su (White Night) face off in the supernatural action thriller Haunters. Topping Korea's box office for two consecutive weeks, Haunters is the first directorial feature from The Good, The Bad, The Weird screenwriter and assistant director Kim Min Suk, and the last film for Kang Dong Won before entering army service. The intense thriller lives up to its name by harnessing the powers of the mind into a slick, haunting, adrenaline-charged battle that gets under the skin and into the eye of evil.
Taking a rare villain role, Kang Dong Won plays the film's haunted anti-hero Cho In, a crippled man with the ability to control minds. Scarred by an abusive childhood, he lives at the edge of society, using his powers at will on those around him. One day while robbing a pawn shop, he encounters Kyu Nam (Ko Su), the first man to be able to resist his mind control. Cho In ends up killing the pawn shop owner (Byun Hee Bong), who is the closest thing Kyu Nam has to a family. Thus begins the dangerous collision of two men with nothing to lose and powers beyond imagination.
This edition comes with the Soundtrack CD and a bonus disc containing pre-production, making-of, special effects featurette, deleted scenes, outtakes, premiere, still gallery, poster shoot, and trailer.
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