Singing is part of every culture, part of the soul of man, an emotional release.

Since 1986, the Government Information Office has been holding "Good Songs for Everyone" activities. Sunshine Kuang, director of the Department of Radio and Television Affairs, noted that the first year was limited to the selection of a prize-winner from already published music, but the last two years the competition has been opened to any work submitted to the sponsors and included the holding of a nationwide singing competition.

At the same time as selections were being made from songs published between January 1987 and June 1988 for the 1988 awards, artists sent their works in droves to the sponsoring organizations and to twenty participating radio stations from across the island; performers were entering the singing competition at the same time.

At the November 16 awards ceremonies, hosted by GIO Director-General Shaw Yu-ming, awards were presented to song writers and to the sponsoring organizations: the Min Sheng Daily News, China Television, and the 20 radio stations. Mr. Shaw said, "If you want to understand a people you must listen to their songs of everyday life because these represent the hearts of that people. Songs are a reaction to the concerns of life: emotion, friendship, love and the feelings for home and country. So this year's 'Good Songs for Everybody' is using these as its main four themes." Mr. Sun Yi, one of those selected, said, "We have already departed from mere doctrinaire creation; everything from a pot of tea to a flower to concern for society are now subjects for creativity. This is a quite large step."

Nevertheless, pop artists think that the steps should be even faster. Although the award-winning works had both easy-to-understand lyrics and lovely melodies, there was still not enough innovation.

The finals of the singing competition were held on November 17 at the China Sports and Cultural Center. The entrants had already passed through local, regional, and national preliminary competitions, so that they all had top-notch voices. First prize was won by Li Tsung-K'un, an alumnus of the Graduate School of Electronics at Chiao Tung University. With the close of the competition, "Good Songs" events came to a rest, but the Golden Melody Awards, which will symbolize the highest honor in pop music and grow directly out of the "Good Songs" enterprise, had just had its first note set down.

Looking at the domestic scene, the awards for top record production are part of the Golden Tripod Awards for the publishing industry. Formerly the Golden Bell Awards had a category for Best Male and Best Female Vocalist, but this has been dropped. The effect of the "Good Songs" ambition to award creativity can be seen from the large number of entrants. However, the affair didn't get much interest from professionals in the field, which is worrisome. Wu Tsu-tsu, Chairman of the Board of UFO records, remarked, "If the activities could be expanded, I believe they would have more meaning."

Next year, the "Good Songs" activities will do just that, becoming the Golden Melody Awards. One more way to affirm the achievements of those who make popular music worthy of its name.

[Picture Caption]

Li Tsung-k'un, first prize winner in the "Good Songs for Everyone" competition.

"May life be one incomparably beautiful song" is how Director-General Shaw Yu-ming of the Government Information Office describes the significance of the activities.

The panel of judges at the competition brought together vocalists, writers, and pop singers.

Creators of the prize-win-ning lyrics and melodies at the awards ceremony.

May life be one incomparably beautiful song" is how Director-General Shaw Yu-ming of the Government Information Office describes the significance of the activities.

The panel of judges at the competition brought together vocalists, writers, and pop singers.

Creators of the prize-win-ning lyrics and melodies at the awards ceremony.