Malaysian Artists (Chinese)

It's been sometimes I had not post some chinese music stuffs. This time, I am introducing some local Malaysians artist that gets on my playlist a lot.

Jovi Theng is a famous producer/songwriter who finally waited his time to release his album for 21 years? I guess maybe its a late spring for him. It's a surprise that he can sing very well and rock!!! His lead single "Crazy 疯" from the his debut album "Insane 疯了" is a heart-tearing emotional stretch kinda of song which best describe as from its title itself, "crazy". His album also includes a cover from his famous written "Qing Fei De Yi 情非得已" to the low esteem, light-folk "Clown 小丑" This album had targeted right at the most commercial point of the market. He is a real genius in music business. Sadly til now its still available as digital music in Taiwan market.

Karen Kong is the lastest sensation from our shore to Taiwan's. She was a top 5 finalist from Malaysia Idol and since then released 2 album, a malays and mandarin's. She is the first chinese artist releasing a Malay Language album as a debut act, and her chinese album got from no retailer keeping it to second re-press edition. Now she had successfully taken her mandarin album, repackage again(3rd time) to release at Taiwan. Adding 2 new tracks, a cover of The Tings Tings's signature track into "a-e-i-o-u", a typical taiwanese cute version. This reminds me of YuHeng's earlier Taiwanese release, "Happy Day". Oh and she is Karen Kong,龚柯允.

The slow part of the album are the ballads, from the homesick song "离岛" to regular's heartbreak song "舔伤". All showcase her power vocal in a doll voice. She is a rare beautiful and yet talented, songstress that comes out in recent years from Malaysia. After repackage 2 times, the whole album gets a very balance touch for all type of tempo.

Exporting from Malaysia to Hong Kong this month, I have another local canto hip-hop band, ManHand. Comprise of 4 members with the lady vocalist, much similar to Black Eyed Peas, where they write their own songs but in cantonese language. From their debut album, they had surprise the market with they canto hip-hop songs which can match Hong Kong's LMF, and the second album, ShowHand, which delivers to Hong Kong market, proves that they can last longer than I once think they are.

Here in Malaysia, their singles had been heavy rotation on the radio playlist. "Hey Yo", "Travel The World 慢游世界", "Showhand", and "咩人" gain good reception and its upbeat tempo and witty lyrics are about the society and their exitstance in the entertainment line. The latest single plug, "Latido" is a differ appraoch, a slow hawaii-like swanging track.

The female vocalist sounded very alike HK's Kay Tse, and she is a real asian "Fergie"-like. Album out now in Malaysia for RM29.90.....

British Invasion 09-Pixie Lott

Oh !! Uh Oh, Uh Oh......

That's a sign of a popular pop song. [As like E-La..E-La.. in Rihanna's Umbrella and Jordin Spark's No Air er ..er..er...er] This tune that is hitting me hard recently is another newcomer, Pixie Lott's Mama Do(Uh Oh, Uh Oh). This uh-oh already been no 1 on the UK chart and adding to credit, it still stays there at the top 40. To be hot on heels, 2nd single, "Boys and Girls" and debut album "Turn It Up" is soon to follow-up in August and September 09, respectively.

Seen the video? It's very britney-pop. Go to youtube to check it out or http://www.pixielott.com/ and she is just 18. I have a remix here to share, which its a better listener than the radio edit. MaMa Do(Bimbo Jones Vocal Mix) is one of my favourite dance mixes.

British Invasion 09-Agnes

She is this year's biggest export from Sweden, I guess. I group it under British Invasion of coz its effect it had done on to the UK Charts before hitting the Internet and else where. Agnes Carlsson, aka Agnes alone, (record company hoping another superstar like Mariah, Whitney) had scored Top ten in number of Europeans countries like France, Denmark, Germany and UK with her debut international single "Release Me". She was the Swedish's Idol winner back in 2005. No doubt she can sing very well.

Her first international single release, RELEASE ME, is accompanied by her third solo album, Dance Love Pop, which makes a more dance-orientated approach compare to her previous efforts. This album contains tracks not only hot dancefloor fillers and also included R&B ballads, pop which she used be more R&B/Pop. I feel this album its like something between Madonna's dance track and Whitney R&B ballads.

At her home Sweden, this album already released back at Oct 08, almost a year she manage to cross to find international fame. I hope she can make it big. Listen to the remix of her huge hit, Release Me (DJ Rebel Mix). I think its better than the original album version.

Get the album "Dance Love Pop" at iTunes(UK) sites around the world.

British Invasion 09- La Roux

La Roux( pronounce as le ru) is the lastest dance sensation hitting our shores, noticable pricing at RM29.90 in record stores, for their debut album, La Roux. This is absolutely another hit from the wave of electro-pop, after Lady Gaga had does her part in U.S., La Roux had making it big in UK with their no 1 hit, "Bulletproof" and no 2 "In For The Kill".

Compare to Lady Gaga, La Roux are more Synthpop and less poppy, R&B, hip-hop. Image potrayed more David Bowie influenced, and very retro, as in Bulletproof music video. Hard Recommendations:-
In For The Kill
Bulletproof
Quicksand

British Invasion 09

For me, British pop had been the second stage for world's international music. Last year I wrote a similar blog post introducing Adele, Duffy, Leona Lewis and Sharleen Spiteri. All except one (Sharleen) had made it big as follow up to 2007's Amy Winehouse. This year the trend told me that the blues, soul and Jazzs are taking a break from the mainstream scene. Taking over the chart by storm are the usual genres, pop. Big breaks emerge from dance tracks, electro pops, and so all co-related ones. Here I introducing a few of the interesting British acts/ Euro acts, are come taking the music blogs by storms in the e-world.

The Saturdays -Chasing Lights
A 2008 release, but reached our shores at 2009. They are a 5 sexy pieces of girl group. Scoring 4 top ten hits on UK singles charts with "If This Is Love", "Up", "Issue" & a charity COMIC RELIEF single "Just Can't Get Enough". Final single from Chasing Lights, "Work" might not be a top ten in UK, but already a fans' favourite here and internet.


These girls had been tipped as the next biggest girl group in UK, after Sugababes & Girls Aloud. If you wonder, 2 of them come from the S Club 8, a kids version of S Club 7. Currently working on a new album for the November release this year, sure you can see more of them in time to come.

Click this to listen :-
If This Is Love(Moto Blanco Mix Radio Edit)
Issues(Digital Dog Remix)
Work(Cahill Radio Mix)


Booty Luv-Say It
They are a duo dance group, but a strong R&B vocalist frontline, Cherise Roberts and Nadia Shepherd. Rise to fame at 2006 by covering of Tweet's "Boogie 2Nite" into a club hit. More than 30 remixes are made upon them, and sending them to fame. The follow up hits like "Shine (originated by Luther Vandross)" and "Don't Mess With My Man(originated by Lucy's Pearl)". Their debut album "Boogie 2Nite" released at 2007. All made them a "club"-hold name around the world, throughout 2007 to 2008, adding with their own original release like "Some Kinda Rush" and "Dance Dance"

Upcoming release of their new album, starting out with the lastest single, Say It, which already heating up the club weeks before their official release dates.
Click here to listen Say It(Robot Lover's Mix),
Little Boots-Hands

Very new to me, but guess y'all already get to know her from MTV intros. Already a hot contender as UK's album of the year, she is 2009 stars to look out for. 'Hands' contains the hit single of "New In Town", a top 20 hit and a new single "Remedy". This is an electro-pop album and very much resemble to Goldfrapp meets Blur in a poppier manner.

Not to act professional, I am not very sure she will grow on me, but I am pretty sure upon my first listen, its an album that lasts repeated plays.

Click to listen:-
Meddle
New In Town
Remedy

To be continue....... La Roux, bulleting the music world, Agnes, the lastest Sweden sensation, Cascada, the Germany clubbing diva owns the world......

CASCADA-Evacuate The Dance Floor

Cascada is a german euro-dance group with the frontwomen, Natalie Horler who does mostly the vocal part, and producers DJ Manian and Yanou. They rose to fame from the dance makeover hit, "Sometimes When We Touch", and then No 1 single "What Hurt The Most". Now back with their third album, Evacuate The Dance Floor. With the same title single, they hit another no 1. This lead single had been scoring no 1 in UK last week, and also No 1 on US Billboard's Hot 100 Dance Chart before that.

I totally falls in love witht his track, and its a while I had not embrace euro-dance pop songs. Guess my last count is just Girls Aloud & The Saturdays, which is consider way too pop. This album, Evacuate The Dance Floor, continues their signature dance track and cross over to be a more pop album than their usual efforts. Ballads like "Hold Your Hands Up" might not be a hit single, but a good filler but I like it a lot, I think it's an experimental track to open their doors to the mainstream pop songs.

Don't get me wrong, this is a dance album. Scoring from track 1 (Evacuate The Dance Floor) to track 5 (Fever) is a non-stop disco, euro dance feverish tracks and yet catchy. The second half varies from dance-rock, ballads to up-tempo euro-pop songs also gets you up dancing.

Listening Pleasure;-
Evacuate The Dance Floor(Cahill Remix)
What Hurt The Most (K-Klass Remix)
What Do You Want From Me (Fugitive Freedom Remix)

Artist Of The Month;Leo Ku-Move to EEI era

So sorry I left the Leo Ku's story hanging up, here another part;-

The 1997 success, opens up Leo’s market to worldwide Chinese music market and he continues delivering hit albums like Flying Love and Dreams (愛與夢飛行) , May 1998 and second mandarin album, Stall (路邊攤) September 1998. Both albums does live up to the height of his previous efforts. However, Leo wants to further to strengthen up his status in International Market like Taiwan & China. He signed to a new management & production company, EEI(which that time having very few artists but very good one like Gigi Leong). His decision to move had sent him off to a whole new level, as Hong Kong entertainment line had hits a recessions of bad economy and privacy waves.

Before entering the new millennium, he had released 3 albums, Be My Valentine (cant, Dec 1998), Leo Ku (古巨基) (mand, Mar 1999) and the Weather Changes (天氣會變) (cant, Oct 1999), giving constant hits songs throughout the year. The duet with Gigi Leong’s Wishing(许愿) had also become the year’s most popular duet，at the same time he also achieved success in Taiwan dramas, which spread his popularity towards China mainland and South East Asia.

His portray as a singer had been decreasing as he spend more and more time acting in China than singing. Although, he does releases Treasure Hunting(尋寶) (Jan 2000), New Pattern (Cant Jan 2001), Deeply deeply In Love (戀戀情深) (May 2001), Tiu Fei Gei (跳飛機) (cant EP, July 2002) and lastly A greatest hit, All The Best 1998-2001. The hugely popular mandarin drama, 情深深雨蒙蒙, had made him a huge star in worldwide chinese market. By the year 2001, his contract to EEI had comes to an end. Again his reluctant to continuing with EEI had left him isolated. He is being "boycott" for the moment being. He is left with no support but to continue to acting in Mainland China. This lead to his vanish for about 2 years. I always think he is A-list artist quality, but just lack of good support from his record/management company.

Next to the peak:- Gold Label (HK)

許志安-《歌人》Andy Hui- Vocalist

I could count how long had he not release a whole new mandarin album, if not mistaken, his last Taiwanese release was a greatest hit about 4 to 5 years ago. This time a whole new mandarin album, which brings me back to the days where I listens to his songs almost everyday. I think this album is really good, and it definitely can top his previous releases.

Since he move into East Asia Records, I felt his cantonese songs are getting better a lot. Probably this record company allows him to have time on his own to make quality music. As for VOCALIST, Andy Hui's performance had reminded me how well he can sing and the music trends is still evolves around rock-pop.

The way he carries those rock ballads are wonderous. He makes it sounds so new and out-stand among other artists who sang the similar range. A lot of the newcomers like Jam Hsiao sang more likely towards distortions method, and Andy Hui remains soft and gentle in his. The bright side is also his downside, he stills sounds like his old records just with some surprise twists. Good or bad, depends what you like.

Songs like "Man To Man", "Understanding 體諒", are sang towards to a man's stories, their thoughts, their emotions... Another very sentimental manly stuffs. Its very sad to know that his CD in Malaysia sells at RM99 (import from HK, normal CD price range around RM35 toRM50), and it comes with a 5 music video DVD boxset packing. Looks very tempting but to me very expensive.

Special Recommended;-
If...What If...如果…如果…,
Together We Fly Away比翼雙飛

That Bitch!!!! Livvi Franc

Mind my languages I am using here, its just to introduce a hot new singer, Livvi Franc, who already heating up the clubs and internet with her debut single " Now I'm That Bitch".

She is the third hot thing exporting from Barbados, since Rihanna & Shontelle and JIVE Record's answer too!!!! Livvi is her nickname and a tribute to her most respected grandfather, Frank. There you goes if you found that french, yet witty.

I am totally hook up with the chorus "I am that... bXX.." It's infectous and I would wonder why it still not reach top 10. I did a digital single of my very own of her remixes. Enjoy!!!

Livvi Franc-Now I'm That Bitch (Digital Maxi Single)

1. Jason Nevin Electro Mix

2. Jason Nevin Rhythm Mix

3. Kaskade Mix Extended

4. Serafin Remix

5. Mike Rizzo Funk Mix

6. official remix Feat. Pitbull

Download

(I totally forgot I never heard the original mix before)

Nobody Remixes Single

I am totally fell in love with this song again and again.... and to be reported, The Wonder Girls had been showcasing this song along JONAS Brothers's Live Tour as supporting act. They are given a very good reception form the audience. I made a special digital download of the single with remixes of the original Korean version.

Nobody Digital Single
1. Original Korean Version
2. English Version
3. Aliks Club Remix
4. Rainstone Remix
5. Rainstone Remix(Instrumental)
Click Here For Digital Single

VICTOR WONG品冠 - 一切為了愛 (新歌+精選) ALL FOR LOVE

Last weekend, the radio played an old song of Victor Wong, Things Those Girls Taught Me 那些女孩教我的事, I suddenly felt I do miss this M'sian male artist too. I used to felt his songs are a bit too dull and bore. However, undeniable he is one of those voices that cannot be gone. He is the kind that gentle enough to smooth the usual commercial noisy radio airplay like Valen Hsu's.

This time he is back with his compilations for the past 3 to 4 years. Thats when he left Rock Records (the home for his previous group Micheal & Victor days), til today. A total 14 tracks, with 7 old tracks form his previous 2 albums and additonal another 5 new songs and 2 cantonese covers. I had to say, he is the only male artist currently able to duet with all 3 most famous M'sian divas, Fish Leong, Penny Dai, and now Xin Jie(李心洁) , award winning horror movie actress. Its a long while since her last album.

This compilations not only contains the previous hits ballads like Things Those Girls Taught Me 那些女孩教我的事, Untreatable 無可救藥. New songs like Love You more Than You Can Imagine 比想像更想你, totally can live up the standards. He is craving himself into a total love geek, and you will buy it.

Sample Listening
Love You more Than You Can Imagine 比想像更想你
>When You Think Of Me當你想著我duet with Xin Jie
Things Those Girls Taught Me 那些女孩教我的事
Love Had Transit At Hong Kong愛情在香港轉機 - a contonese version of Love You More Than You Can Imagine, showcased in his HK Live 09 in earlier of the year.

周柏豪-Follow

Yes another exciting new releases. A greatest hit compilation from Pak Hou-Chau,周柏豪, titled as FOLLOW, is a "report card" for his 3 years summary as an entertainer after his cross-over form model. After his self-title debut, (which failed to bring him success) he ventures into acting and more endorsements of adverts achieves reasonably good receptions. Since his success duet with Stephanie Cheng(郑融), 一事无成(Empty Handed Youngsters，his fame finally established. He even being endorse as HK's region's brand ambassodor along with FIONA SIT.

A compilations to remind his new fans that how good is he as a singer, you will be surprises that he do started out to writes his own songs in the first album. Sadly, This compilations is just a sum up of his previous album and EP to made up to 9 old tracks and another 4 new tracks. His old hits includes; SILLY KID(傻小子), THINKS TOO MUCH(想太多) Fortunate for him, the new tracks are slightly better than his old ones. Treat it as a new album, as his old songs doesn't ring a bell, and you will find this guy with good looks can make a good singer too.

He had stick closely to the rock-pop element in his music, and I guess this is what his voice suits for. Give him another couple years, he can be a well-establish artist in his own rights.

My favourites of cause is his new songs.
报告总司令
Lovin' You

许茹芸-爱．旅行．一公里 Valen Hsu-Love Journey 1KM

许茹芸-爱．旅行．一公里
旅行 一公里了， 爱的旅途，看见的可以很多。安静的，平静的， 在许茹芸的歌声里可听见。

That's just a interpretion of my feelings to the her latest album. As mention earlier, she is finally release her new album. It wasn't long after her last album. This album does sounds like a stop to rest after a hard journey, a journey of love. The singles sent off to radio are more quiet and peaceful than her previous works, takes a little more time to heat up the popularity I presumes(I hope). The whole album are relatively light, fresh and yet very "Valen".... minus her previous "drama" and "heartbreaking ballads".

Also includes Kenji Wu contributions, 1km.

Here's the few songs plug up to radio...

Leave When Loved 一有爱就走吧
The Other Half 另一半
1km 一公里

Shirley's Era

Shirley Kwan, 關淑怡, is one of most recognizable voices from Hong Kong, and even her absents of 8 years from the music scene had not ceases the fans passion upon her. She definitely could archieve more than what she had now, but she chosen to put her life & passion in front of her career. Her disappearing from music scene was largely blame to the lack of creative control upon her career as an artist and lack of trustable companies that support her. She is a perfect artist. (I would say.)

Since her comeback in 3 years ago, with an EP "ABOUT ME,关于我" & comeback concert, she had randomly release some singles over the media, from drama's title-theme to radio & contributing her talent to other charity concerts. I presume for artist like her and SAMMI CHENG, they don really need to release a whole new album, but random singles from time to time is enough to keep their fame high enough. This SHIRLEY'S ERA, considerable as complilation of the singles she releases for the past 3 years with 3 new & unrelease tracks. Actually its her first official cantonese album in 14 years. (I am guessing in the 14 years, her last record company had releases more than 14 differ greatest hit complilation, almost more than one each year. .. and til today it still sells!!!! )

Upon first listening, the concept of a whole album got weird, but later on it becomes a good round up for her "musical career". I definitely love it to the max, majorly coz its Shirley, her voice is like a Midas' Touch, every song she sings is beautiful. This album consists of 12 tracks, 9 Cantonese tracks, 2 remixes and 1 Mandarin cover of MOUTNAIN SCENERY.

Track List
01. 天規 HEAVEN'S RULES- showcased at UNEXPECTED LIVE 08
02. 地盡頭 END OF EARTH- new & unreleased
03. 男左女右 GUYS ON THE RIGHT, GIRLS ON THE RIGHT- showcased at LEO KU's String FEVER duet with Leo Ku
04. 山水 MOUTNTAIN SCENERY- showcased at UNEXPECTED LIVE 08
05. 只得一次 ONLY FOR ONCE- TVB drama Best Selling Sercets theme song
06. 28日 28DAYS- new & unreleased
07. 鑽禧 GEM FORTUNE- TVB drama THE GEM OF LIFE theme song
08. 三千年前 3000YRS BEFORE- taken from compilation of 12 Faces of Woman, ft Li Heong Kam(well-know actoress)
09. 眾生花 EVERY WOMEN- taken from compilation of 12 Faces of Woman
10. 山水 (Remix)- showcased at UNEXPECTED LIVE 08
11. 天規 (Remix)Heaven's Rule- showcased at UNEXPECTED LIVE 08
12. 花鳥 (國) FLOWERY BIRD- mandarin version of MOUTNTAIN SCENERY

*for download click on the blue prints. Promotional purpose only, so no full album will be post up.

Both the remixes are done at a very sincere manner, where as both original version & Remixes potray a differ mood and meaning for the song unlike the usual ugly mash up mix. The remix can act as a differ song too. The round up of all songs had made the album sounds complete and shows the edgy side of Canto-pop. It got traditional ballads like ONLY FOR ONCE, euro-infused ballads; MOUNTAIN SCENERY, uptempo like HEAVEN'S RULES, poppy fun song (男左女右 GUYS ON THE RIGHT, GIRLS ON THE RIGHT) and mandarin version as to complete a traditional Cantonese offering. Just got a little weird when it plays through the theme songs form TVB drama series.

It definitely my favourites for years to come.

Newbies

Whitney finally had make a comeback. As everyone wanted, a ballad. Me not so loving it. Whitney Houston- I Didn't Know My Strength

At last I had time to go through Janice new album. Not as experimental as I expected. Still pretty ballad, folk, lighter of the rock side. The song "999" seems the most daring track I presume for Janice Vidal.

Tracks Recommended
Morning
999

Karen Mok; Twisting The Classic

Karen莫文蔚, leaves us with her "L!VE"《拉活》(2007), an experimental between euro-electro-pop and traditional pop crossover. This didn't achieve a big sales, but earn her the biggest honour, a best album award from Golden Melody Award, Taiwan. "L!VE"《拉活》(2007) was her last album with a commercial record company and Karen invested to make this record in order to gain the maximum creativity control. She had successful widen our expectation upon her musically and visually.

Althought she mention she probably won't release another mandarin album, but in fact she is searching and experimenting a better musical sense to satisfeid her desire in music and outdoing her previous works. This is probably same for artists reaching their maturity in the career. Back in 2005, when she was invited to perform in China, and she was ask to sing a folk song which to her surprise it was something new as she wasn't grow up in listening to chinese folk song. She pulls out (as suggested by the hosts) 打起手鼓唱起歌(Claps Your Hands & Sing) and perform beautiful and impressed the audiences. Folk songs caught her attention from that time onwards. Her guest performance in The Golden Melody Award 08 show, had took her a higher level when she cross-over GREEN MOUNTAIN《高山青》、MOUNT A-LI'S GIRLS 《阿里山的姑娘》into her old song, FAN DANCE (扇子舞). The result surprise the audience again and to tribute that event, she recorded it into this track call GREEN MOUNTAIN STILL STANDING TALL, 《青山在》。

In 70s to early 90s, Manda-pop is famously riding by the folk wave which they call Min-Ge民歌，(Folk Songs). The fresh breath of musics can match up to country songs as in the Westerns. Karen took some classic hits form the past century, added a new twists with just not re-arranging the songs, adding new tunes, and fused it up with western basonova, electric-pop and euro latest arrangment elements to give the freshest and latest vision to audience. This digital album BACK TO KAREN《回蔚》means memories revisit, a cover version album. To me its more like a new album with hints of old songs tunes. The songs she cover is very daring, which I think its takes a lot of talent to pull it right. Karen has it all.

The production team of this album can describe as the strongest in chinese music history, after the great response from previous collabrations of TIGHT FLOW 《密流》 with Zhang Ah Dong張亞東, Faye Wong's all time producer, they teamed up again to produce this album, with the help of award-winning and favourtie lyrist, 李焯雄(Lee), they built up new tunes & lyrics into the classic and give it a modern/futuristic twist.

This album is Karen's 1st digital album on China server, www.12530.com. She explained that the physical form of album releases era is over, and now its time to a new level. (I felt sad upon this decision as I prefer holding the CD)

Tracklist【專輯曲目】：
01.打起手鼓唱起歌 Claps Your Hands & Singdownload
02.青山在 Green Mountain Still Standing Talldownload
03.在那遙遠的地方 At Far Away Places
04.外面的世界 World Outside
05.月圓花好 Blossom Full Moon
06.風從那裡來 Where Wind Blows
07.半個月亮爬上來 Cresant Moon Climbs
08.溜溜的情歌 Cheeky Love Songs
09.茉莉花 Jasmine
10.紅 Red
11.密流 Tight Flow
12.密流(Remix) download

Most tracks covered had been a classic since I'm small, now a re-live of the classic had remind me this album can live up to Shirley Kwan's EX Favourites. To me it will be the 3rd best cover album in chinese pop history.