Zhang hits high note,aims to sustain it
By Chen Nan (China Daily)
2009-07-15 16:52
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Former Super Girl winner Zhang Liangying recently won the Most Popular Female Singer Award at the 9th China Media Music Awards and plans to be even more popular.
Zhang received critical and commercial acclaim after releasing her self-titled debut album in 2006.
Though she has signed a contract with an international record company, she said she has no plans to further her career abroad: "I still put my focus on the Chinese market. Singing in English and releasing English albums are just ways to develop my career."
Xu Wei, a veteran rocker from Xi'an, took the Most Popular Male Singer Award; while Beijing-based indie band, Glamorous Pharmacy, won the Best Band Award.
"It is rare to see an alternative rock band get a mainstream award. We feel happy," said lead vocalist and guitarist Xiao He.
The band was formed in 1999 and has been active at Beijng's small live venues. "I believe there can be a balanced market for pop singers and indie rockers," he added.
Meanwhile, Taiwan singer-songwriter Sandee Chan and Hong Kong newcomer Khalil Fong were crowned Best Mandarin Male and Female singers, respectively, despite their low profiles on the Chinese mainland. Chan earlier won the Best Female Singer award at the 20th Taiwan Golden Melody Awards. "I was surprised to win this award because I am a new singer for the mainland," she said.
One of the most controversial indie singers and songwriters from Taiwan, Chan has signed with a local music company and promoted her latest album, If There's An Important Thing, at her first solo concert in Beijing this May.
Fong, who was born in Hawaii and moved to Shanghai with his family in the early 1990s, has risen to fame because of his soulful sound.
His remake of pop diva Faye Wong's classic song, Red Beam, is a big hit. He first gained recognition, however, with his debut album, Soul Boy, in 2005.
He is scheduled to release his fifth album, Reprise, this August, on which there will be seven English tracks and three Chinese songs.
Hong Kong veteran pop singer Anthony Wong won the Best Cantonese Male Singer award, and Hong Kong Cantopop singer Kay Tse won the Best Cantonese Female Singer award.