Outspoken singer refuses awards

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-31 09:09

Veteran Chinese rocker Zheng Jun was the biggest winner at the 15th East Radio Shanghai Chinese Top Ten music awards on Saturday, but he refused to accept any honors, and announced the night would be his last awards presence.


Rock singer Zheng Jun attends the 15th East Radio Shanghai Chinese Top Ten music awards at the Shanghai Grand Stage on Saturday, March 29, 2008. The singer won three awards but refused to accept any honors. [CRIENGLISH.com/Sina.com] 

The annual awards show was held at the Shanghai Grand Stage, where Zheng Jun won awards for the Best Singer-songwriter and Best Composed Song categories as well as an award for one of the year's top ten hits for "Chang'an Chang'an," the title song on his latest album.

But when the singer took to the stage, he refused to accept the awards and later told reporters backstage that the trophies meant nothing to him, according to a report in Shanghai Youth Daily.

"I have enough trophies back home," the 40-year-old was quoted as saying. Zheng Jun's recent wins include five awards at the Beijing Pop Music Awards in January, where he was also the biggest winner. He also won an MTV Video Music Award in 2002.

"New singers, particularly those from the singing competitions, might want to win these awards to get recognized," Zheng Jun said, according to the report. "My music might not be the best, but I need no awards recognition."

Zhou Bichang, one of the winners of the 2005 Super Girl singing competition, was the night's Best Female Artist.

Zheng Jun lambasted what he called a phenomenon among Super Girl-like singers where they focus on the fame brought by singing instead of singing itself. He has reportedly criticized the Super Girl winners in the past and recently called their songs "trash."

On Saturday, Zheng Jun began to target the singers' agents, accusing them of misleading young singers.

"I hope new singers can grow to be proud musicians; I hope they excel me," he said, according to the report.

Zheng Jun said in the future his fans will be able to see him only in live shows instead of at awards ceremonies.



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