Mandopop

Mandopop (simplified Chinese: 华语流行音乐; traditional Chinese: 華語流行音樂; pinyin: Huáyǔ liúxíng yīnyuè) is a colloquial abbreviation for "Mandarin popular music." It is categorized as a subgenre of commercial Chinese-language music within C-pop. Mandopop was the first variety of popular music in Chinese to establish itself as a viable industry. As the name implies, Mandopop features songs performed mainly in Mandarin Chinese. Consumers of the music include fans, especially Mandarin speakers, in China, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan and other countries.

History

Origin

The origin of commercial Chinese-language music began with the gramophone, a technological innovation brought to Tibet Road in Shanghai by a Frenchman named Labansat.^[1] Baak Doi (Chinese: 百代; pinyin: bǎi dài) was the first record company to serve as the backbone for the young industry.

1920s: Birth of shidaiqu

Mandarin pop songs in the 1920s were called shidaiqu (時代曲 - meaning music of the time, thus popular music). They are considered the prototype of any Chinese pop song.^[2] Location-wise, Shanghai was the center and quintessential hub for mandopop. Li Jinhui is generally regarded as the "Father of Chinese Popular Music", having established the genre in the 1920s.^[3] Buck Clayton, the American jazz musician, also worked alongside Li. Some music enthusiasts suggest that Shidaiqu is the basic form of all Mandarin pop songs up until the transition to Cantopop. The Bright Moonlight Song and Dance Troupe (明月歌舞团), established by Li, is also the first modern musical division to be integrated into the Lianhua Film Company in 1931, making it the first pop music division to enter any Chinese film industry.

1930s–1940s: The Seven Great Singing Stars era

The original "Seven Great Singing Stars" in the Republic of China period secured the place of the genre in Asian society. The singers' style was unlike any Chinese-language music that had come before it. The young film industry took advantage and engaged singers for acting and soundtrack roles. Zhou Xuan (Chinese: 周璇; pinyin: Zhōu Xuán）is generally considered the most remarkable Chinese pop star of the era due to her successful singing and film career. This generation saw female singers rise in popularity from "song girls" to "stars".^[3] The era came to an abrupt end when Japanese armies occupied Shanghai during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II.

Teresa Teng

1950s: The split

In 1949, the People's Republic of China was established by the communist party. One of the first actions taken by the government was to denounce popular music as pornography.^[4] In the mainland, the communist regime would begin suppressing pop music in order to promote revolutionary songs.

The Chinese Nationalists' retreat to Taiwan following the Chinese Civil War had established the Republic of China on Taiwan with its capital city Taipei as the new center of Mandopop. Taiwanese youth were drawn to popular styles from abroad in part because the Japanese, who had governed Taiwan since the end of the nineteenth century through World War II, were themselves keen consumers of international entertainment. Popular songs necessarily employed Mandarin after the war though, because Taiwan's new rulers, the KMT, mandated its use, forbidding Japanese and restricting the use of Taiwanese, the actual mother tongue of most of the island's residents.^[5] Where Taiwanese pop had existed in the shadow of Japanese pop during Japanese rule, it now operated in the shadow of Mandopop during KMT rule.

1960s: Political era

The 1960s was a highly politically tense era. Some songs in Taiwan such as "Not Going Home Today" (今天不回家) by Yao Surong (姚蘇蓉) were prohibited.^[6]

1970s–1980s: Rise of the industry

Mandopop became more popular within mainland China after Deng Xiaoping opened China's doors to the world. As a result, more young people in China started to enjoy pop music.

In 1979, Singapore launched the Speak Mandarin Campaign to promote the use of Mandarin over the range of Chinese dialects spoken by various segments of the ethnic-Chinese population. Mandarin songs therefore began to replace Hokkien and Cantonese songs on the radio stations and on television.^[7]

Teresa Teng (simplified Chinese: 邓丽君; traditional Chinese: 鄧麗君; pinyin: Dèng Lìjūn) made Mandopop a true mainstay by crossing over to mainland China. Even in the height of censorship, the mainland lifted the ban on Teng in 1986 and proclaimed that "By day, Deng Xiaoping rules China. But by night, Deng Lijun (Teresa Teng) rules".^[8] Her songs were considered "Bourgeois Music" by mainland officials.^[9]

The popularity of Lo Ta-yu (simplified Chinese: 罗大佑; traditional Chinese: 羅大佑; pinyin: Luó Dàyòu) drove demand for the music to new heights. One of the most successful songs of the era was Lo Ta-yu's "Tomorrow will be Better" (明天會更好/明天会更好). The song was originally performed in 1985 by 60 singers.^[10] It quickly became a hit throughout Asia and established itself as a standard. Another song soon followed in 1986 in mainland China called "Let the World be filled with Love" (讓世界充滿愛).^[11] At the time, these songs were inspired by the American song "We Are the World".^[10][11]

1990s

The Four Heavenly Kings: Aaron Kwok, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau and Leon Lai (left to right)

Faye Wong (王菲) became the first Chinese singer to perform in Budokan, Japan. For this reason she is also called the Diva of Asia.^[12][13]

During this period, singers from Hong Kong such as the Four Heavenly Kings - Aaron Kwok, Leon Lai, Andy Lau and Jacky Cheung - also began to dominate Mandopop. Nonetheless, Taiwan has their own popular singers such as Stella Chang, Sky Wu, Wakin Chau (formerly Emil Chau) and Jeff Chang. Rock Records began to emerge in this period as the most influential of the independent labels.

Taiwan's Jay Chou dominated almost all categories for a span of a decade

2000s

Bibi Zhou Bichang, Chris Lee [Li Yuchun] and Jane Zhang Liangying (left to right) the top 3 winners of 2005 "Super Girl" instant rise to fame.

The 2000s began with an explosion of pop idols, mainly from Taiwan. Mainland China has rapidly increase a large number of Mandopop singers, bands, and idol groups as pop music becomes increasingly mainstream by mid-2000s. The growing Mainland film industry and Chinese television drama also increased demand for Mandopop. Jay Chou led the popularity of rhythm and blues and rap music in the scene. Other successful singers include Stefanie Sun, David Tao, Jolin Tsai and Leehom Wang. While many Cantopop singers also turning towards Mandopop industry due to disputes among entertainment and record companies in Hong Kong and also to increase their fan base.

Since the 2000s, the emergence of indie rock in mainland China and Taiwan had exploded into a flourishing indie music scene in mainland China and Taiwan, adding various new diversities into Mandopop. Entry of popular Taiwan-based bands such as Mayday and Sodagreen while in mainland Chinese-based bands such as SuperVC and Milk@Coffee had brought a new phase of rock fusion into Mandopop.

In recent years, the burgeoning number of contests have brought an idol concept (偶像, ǒuxiàng) to the Mandopop industry. Nationwide singing competitions in mainland China, such as the Super Girl and Super Boy, have greatly boosted Mandopop's influence many contestants emerge as successful singers such as Chris Lee (Li Yuchun), Jason Zhang Jie, Jane Zhang Liangying, and Chen Chusheng. In Taiwan, the term "quality idol" (優質偶像, yōuzhì ǒuxiàng) has entered the popular lexicon, referring to Mandopop singers who are good-looking, talented and highly educated, among them Wang Leehom and Wei Li-an.^[14]

Recent years also saw the rise in crossover appeal of Taiwanese bubblegum pop boybands and girlbands to the mainland Chinese scene, such as commercially successful acts like S.H.E and Fahrenheit (Taiwanese band). Several new boybands and girlbands also have emerged in mainland China during like Top Combine, UP Girls, RTA, iMe, S.P.Y and HIT-5.

Characteristics

Instruments and setups

The guqin and pipa are some of the first instruments used during shidaiqu's early mandopop era. Today's mandopop arrangements are quite westernized, covering many musical styles, including rhythm and blues, ballads, Pop. A few Chinese pop musicians, most notably Jay Chou, Lin Jun Jie, and Leehom Wang, have experimented with fusing traditional Chinese instruments with western influences.

Influential artists like Leehom Wang and David Tao, who use both traditional Chinese instruments and mainstream western hip hop melodies, have influenced many Asian singers worldwide.

Industry

Mandopop stars

While China has the largest Mandarin-speaking population, Taiwan is the most significant hub of the genre.^[15] The trend is that most artists are branded by where they come from regardless of where they were actually marketed. Mandopop stars come mainly from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Malaysia.

Labels

Mandopop record labels includes independent labels such as JVR Music, Linfair Records, B'In Music and subsidiaries of major labels such as Sony Music Taiwan, Universal Music Taiwan, Warner Music Taiwan. In the past few years, mainland labels such as EE-Media, Huayi Brothers, Taihe Rye Music, Show City Times, Idol Entertainment, and Tian Hao Entertainment have also emerged.

• Mainland China: EE-Media, Huayi Brothers, Taihe Rye Music, Show City Times, Idol Entertainment, TH Entertainment
• Taiwan/Hong Kong: Rock Records, HIM International Music, Avex Taiwan, Gold Typhoon

Overseas

Mandopop titles are also available outside of Asia. Chinese communities established in North America have made Mandopop music accessible through local businesses. In the United States, Canada and Australia they are easily found in many major urban areas, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, New York, Seattle, Houston, Dallas, Vancouver, Toronto, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne.

Notable Artists

Male

A-do Ah Niu Alan Ke Alec Su Alex To Alien Huang Allen Su Xing Amguulan Anson Hu Anthony Neely Aska Yang Blue J Bii Chen Chusheng Chang Chen-yue Chang Yu-Sheng Chen Kun Chyi Chin

Danson Tang David Tao Evan Yo Fei Yu-ching Gary Chaw Han Geng Harlem Yu Hsie He-hsian Huang Xiaoming Jacky Cheung Jackie Chan Jason Zhang Jie Jam Hsiao Jay Chou Jaycee Chan Jeff Chang Jimmy Lin JJ Lin

Joe Cheng Khalil Fong Leehom Wang Liu Huan Michael Wong Ming Dow Nicholas Teo Nicky Wu Peter Ho Phil Chang Richie Ren Roger Yang Show Luo Sky Wu Stanley Huang Sun Nan Tank Vision Wei Chen

Wilber Pan Wong JingLun Wu Bai Yen-J Yoga Lin Yu Haoming Z-Chen

Female

A-mei Ah Sang Alan Dawa Dolma A-Lin Amber Kuo Angela An Youqi Angela Chang Angelica He Jie Angelica Lee Ariel Lin Baby Zhang Barbie Hsu Candy Hsu Bibi Zhou Bichang Chen Lin Cheer Chen Chris Lee (Li Yuchun) Christine Fan

Cindy Yen Claire Kuo Coco Lee Cyndi Wang Cynthia Wang Dai Ai Ling Dee Hsu Della Ding Dang Bai Guang Bai Hong Deserts Chang Elva Hsiao Evonne Hsu Faith Yang Fan Bingbing Faye Wong Fish Leong

Genie Chuo Gong Qiuxia Han Hong Huang Ying Isabelle Huang Jane Zhang Jeno Liu Liyang Jessie Chiang Ji Minjia Jing Chang Joanna Wang Jocie Kok Joey Yung Jolin Tsai Kaira Gong Kym Jin Sha Landy Wen

Laure Shang Wenjie Lala Hsu Liu Yifei Na Ying Michelle Li Xiaoyun Pan Chen Peggy Hsu Penny Tai Queen Wei Rachel Liang Rainie Yang Ruby Lin Sa Dingding Sara Liu Xijun Saya Chang Sitar Tan Weiwei Shunza Stefanie Sun

Tanya Chua Teresa Teng Valen Hsu Xian Zi Vicky Zhao Wei Victoria Song Vivi Jiang Yingrong Vivian Hsu Wei Wei Yao Lee Yoshiko Ōtaka Yico Zeng Yike Yisa Yu Kewei Yuki Hsu Zhang Liyin Zhou Xuan [} Groups/Bands 183 Club 2moro 4 in Love 5566 7 Flowers 8090 A-One ASOS Blue Bird Flying Fish BOBO BY2 Da Mouth Dong Cheng Wei Dream Girls Energy Fahrenheit F.I.R. Feng Yun Bang HIT-5 iMe Idol Girls F4 J.P.M GIA G.I.P Hey Girl K One Lollipop Lotte Girls Lucille the Lovely Rabbit Mayday Milk@Coffee M.I.C miss A Nan Quan Mama Power Station Phoenix Legend Seventeen S.H.E SIGMA Sisters Sodagreen S.P.Y SuperVC Super Junior-M Sweety Tension The Flowers Top Combine Twins UP Girls Y2J Yu Quan Awards Beijing Popular Music Awards (Mainland China) CCTV-MTV Music Awards (Mainland China) Chinese Music Awards (Mainland China) Four Stations Joint Music Awards (Hong Kong) Golden Melody Awards (Taiwan) Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards (Hong Kong) M Music Awards (Mainland China) Metro Radio Mandarin Music Awards (Hong Kong) RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards (Hong Kong) Singapore Hit Awards (Singapore) Top Chinese Music Awards (Mainland China) Ultimate Song Chart Awards (Hong Kong) Mandopop radio stations Station Location Frequencies and Platform All Chinese Hits Internet Radio Silicon Valley, USA Internet radio station: live365.com/stations/bluemonty Kiss Radio Taiwan Kaohsiung, Taiwan 99.9 FM, 99.7 FM, 97.1 FM, 98.3 FM and Internet live streaming Hit Fm Taipei, Taiwan 90.1 FM, 91.5 FM, 101.7 FM and Internet live streaming Beijing Radio Stations Beijing, China 97.4 FM and Internet live streaming Shenzhen Radio Station Shenzhen, China 97.1 FM and Internet live streaming Shanghai Media Group Shanghai, China 101.7 FM and Internet live streaming KAZN Los Angeles, USA Sometimes KSQQ San Francisco, USA 96.1 FM Yes 93.3 Singapore 93.3 FM and Internet live streaming 883 JIA FM Singapore 88.3 FM and Internet live streaming MY FM Malaysia Frequencies vary according to location MandarinRadio.com Internet live streaming (also available on iTunes Radio) See also Music of China Music of Taiwan C-pop Chinese R&B J-pop K-pop Taiwanese pop List of best-selling albums in Taiwan References ^ Jones. Andrew F. [2001] (2001). Yellow Music - CL: Media Culture and Colonial Modernity in the Chinese Jazz Age. Duke University Press. ISBN 0822326949 ^ Shoesmith, Brian. Rossiter, Ned. [2004] (2004). Refashioning Pop Music in Asia: Cosmopolitan flows, political tempos and aesthetic Industries. Routeledge Publishing. ISBN 0700714014 ^ a b Kakisensi web. "Kakiseni article." An introduction to shidaiqu. Retrieved on 2007-04-26. ^ Broughton, Simon. Ellingham, Mark. Trillo, Richard. [2000] (2000) World Music: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides Publishing Company. ISBN 1858286360 ^ Taiwanese Pop Songs History. "Taiwanese Pop Songs History." Article. Retrieved on 2007-05-02. ^ Open.com.hk. "Open.com.hk." 戒嚴統治的前後景觀. Retrieved on 2010-01-02. ^ Welch, Anthony R. Freebody, Peter. Knowledge, Culture and Power. Routledge Publishing. ISBN 1850008337 ^ Reed, Barbara Edith. Davison, Gary Marvin. [1998] (1998). Culture and Customs of Taiwan. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0313302987 ^ China.org.cn. "China.org.cn." Chinese pop music since the 1980s p2. Retrieved on 2009-01-05. ^ a b Lotayu.org. "Lotayu.org." 歷史報道 : 《明天會更好》幕後. Retrieved on 2009-01-06. ^ a b China.org.cn. "China.org.cn." Chinese pop music since the 1980s p3. Retrieved on 2009-01-05. ^ Faye Wong is All Woman Taipei Times, 26 Nov 2004. Retrieved 4 Dec 2006. ^ "Dai Si Cong: Faye's Success Continues to be Unparallelled" (Chinese), Xinhua News, 12 June 2006. Retrieved 28 Mar 2007. ^ Huang, Andrew C.C. (18 December 2009). "MUSIC: Standing on the shoulders of idols". Taipei Times: pp. 15. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2009/12/18/2003461245. Retrieved 16 July 2011.  ^ Keane, Michael. Donald, Stephanie. Hong, Yin. [2002] (2002). Media in China: Consumption, Content and Crisis. Routledge Publishing. ISBN 0700716149 External links Videos about Taiwan's Mandopop Music Empire