Chi Yu, Chai Chin and Chen Yi are folk singers with several common features--they are all young, intelligent, idealistic and in good voice. They suddenly became popular, and are reaping a windfall from recordings after emerging at the top through the maze of folk song contests. The flood of applause and ovation has not made them lose their heads. Instead, they have become more serious than ever in their determination to cultivate their talents.
Even in a crowd of co-eds, Chi Yu's casual, elegant look stands out: a loose shirt, designer jeans, unique sandals, dangling ear rings and a spectacular sweep of raven hair combine somehow into eye-catching fashion.
After graduation in archaeology from National Taiwan University two years ago, Chi Yu went to the U.S. to further her studies. Last July, she married an American classmate and settled down in California. In mid-December, she returned to Taiwan to publicize her second disc.
A natural singer, Chi once decided to join the NTU choir but, to her surprise and dismay, she was not accepted. Miffed, she joined a guitar club, and at once became enamored of Western songs. She then won two folk song contests.
Her unique voice aroused the attention of musician-composer Lee Tai-hsiang. She became Lee's student--the sole singer of his songs. Before that, singing was only a pastime; she had had no training. She began to sing consciously, to pay attention to technique--staccato, tremolo, pronunciation and breath control. She learned to foster interpretation in her songs.
Her first album with "Olive Tree" as its flag, was a sellout. Within two months, 30,000 discs were sold, followed by 5,000 tapes. Her popularity triggered a style shockwave among veteran folk singers and record dealers. The tape album travelled from Taiwan to Hong Kong and from there to the mainland, where it at once stirred an appetite that culminated in the mainland popularity of Teresa Teng.
The nine songs from the album are based on poems by such poets as Lo Ching, Lo Ming and Jung Tze and novelist San Mao. The sensation created by the album is partly attributable to the coordination among time, place and people. The popularity of the movie "Smiling Face," in which most of the songs are presented by Chi Yu in an outstanding performance made Chi Yu an overnight star.
Her second record featuring the song "Blessing," was canned before she went abroad. The ten songs were again by songwriter Lee Tai-hsiang.
Chi Yu categorizes the songs in her two records into three classes. The first is romantic, such as "Olive Tree," "Smiling Face," "Blessing" and "Wall Sculpture on Spring." The second category is Chinese-flavored, relying on traditional elements involving the coordination of musical instruments, melody and style as demonstrated in "Shepherdess," "Wild Goose" and "Hearsay." The third group is quick-tempo: the "World of Love," "A Sunshine Boulevard." Chi Yu prefers the first two types, but the second in particular. "The rhythm is free, and I can add my own touches here and there. I am not at home singing quick-tempo songs, but I am trying to improve."
Chai Chin always presents a poker face to the TV. For decor, almost without exception, she sports a head of short hair, a pair of oversized eyeglasses and very plain clothes. However, people are touched by her voice--a spontaneous overflow of rich feeling. "I sing with my heart; I am cold in the face but warm in my heart," she jests.
She is a totally different person away from TV--loquacious, sensitive and slangy. A year ago, she emerged in fourth place in a folk song contest. She claims she really ranked second in singing, but fourth in guitar playing.
After the contest, the Haishan Record Shop heard the winners in the audition room. Chai Chin's voice is particularly pleasant over a sound system. She recorded, "Just Like Your Tenderness," written and composed by Liang Hung-chih, which became a hit among people of all age groups. Other hits such as "Choice," "Cross the Frontier" and "Tell Me You Love Me" helped to establish her position in folk song circles.
When asked why her songs are so popular, she replies jokingly: "I guess the times are different; the public accepts liberated female singers wearing eyeglasses." She may be partly right. At the same time, Chai Chin's voice is uniquely low, persuasive, magnetic. Its tones help relieve tension and calm the hustle-and-bustle of life.
Some say her songs are more pop than folk songs. She replies: "I don't think a demarcation line is needed between folk and popular songs. Really, as long as a song is accepted by a wide audience, it is a pop song."
Chai Chin knows how to endure, and is not easily cowed by a challenge. When her father retired, she had to sing on the restaurant circuit to make both ends meet. She recalls: "When I first sang in a restaurant, my ears were filled with noises--laughter and talking, and the crash of cutlery with dishes. No one really listened to me sing. I was so angry I wanted to smash my guitar and throw the money out the window. However, my own nature forbade that. I want to sing with all my heart and I want everybody to listen to me. Now, I have made it. I have fans who go to the restaurants just to listen to my songs."
"I am getting more and more optimistic. I feel it is impossible to always ask society to adapt to us. The most precious thing in the world is to be able to stand the challenge of environment," she said.
She feels entertainers must walk out of their narcissistic ivory towers and learn concern for the public's life and needs, "or else they will achieve nothing."
She still plans to graduate from the department of art design of Shih Chien College, but then Chai Chin hopes to make singing her career, and herself a star.
Chen Yi, a senior at the department of history of National Taiwan University, appears sweet and innocent and is small, but her voice is unproportionately clarion.
She has been a choir singer since primary school, and her professional songs are somewhere between art and popular. As a soprano in the choir, she prefers such pieces as "Singing in Shimmering Light," "Recollection in the Breeze" and "Moon Organ."
She joined the choir and the guitar club at National Taiwan University, entered the club's first guitar contest and, outdoing many veterans, emerged on top.
She entered a ballad contest sponsored by the Hsinke Record Company, but was not a winner. Still, the company invited her to join in recording the sixth volume of its "Golden Melody" albums.
This period is, so far, the pinnacle of Chen Yi's career. "In the past, I felt that I was only common folk. Singing has given me a great sense of achievement, and also provides new friends with common interests. We go on concerts together around the island. Thinking of our concerts as cultural rather than commercial, makes us forget the fatigue of the trip. Besides singing, we enjoy chitchat and sometimes just clowning around. Life is more varied, more informative."
Chen Yi, however, does not plan to make singing her career goal. "I am more interested in mass communication enterprises. After graduation, I plan to work behind-the-scenes. For years, I have been gathering materials and experience, and I believe I am capable of producing and hosting a radio program. In the end, I believe, it will be more worthwhile than to choose singing as my career."
[Picture Caption]
From left: Chi Yu, Chai Chin and Cheng Yi are three young and outstanding folk singers.
1. Chi Yu looks more mature and charming after marriage. 2. & 4. Chi Yu wishes to further her studies of musical instruments. 3. Chi Yu practicing singing with Lee Tai-hsiang.
1. Chai Chin's voice is uniquely low but persuasive and magnetic. 2. Chai Chin jokingly holds a model's hand to pretend that she has three hands. 3. Her experiences make her look more mature than her age.
1. Though young, Chen Yi sticks to her principles. 2. Chen is sweet and innocent. 3. To listen to music while enjoying a cup of coffee is Chen Yi's greatest pleasure in life. 4. Though small, Chen Yi's voice is unproportionately sonorous.
From left: Chi Yu, Chai Chin and Cheng Yi are three young and outstanding folk singers.
From left: Chi Yu, Chai Chin and Cheng Yi are three young and outstanding folk singers.
Chi Yu looks more mature and charming after marriage.
Chi Yu wishes to further her studies of musical instruments.
Chi Yu practicing singing with Lee Tai-hsiang.
Chi Yu wishes to further her studies of musical instruments.
Chai Chin's voice is uniquely low but persuasive and magnetic.
Chai Chin jokingly holds a model's hand to pretend that she has three hands.
1. Though young, Chen Yi sticks to her principles.
2. Chen is sweet and innocent.
3. To listen to music while enjoying a cup of coffee is Chen Yi's greatest pleasure in life.
4. Though small, Chen Yi's voice is unproportionately sonorous.
