Wang Leehom

Alexander Leehom Wang (王力宏Chinese, Pinyin Wáng Li Hong, born May 17, 1976 in Rochester, New York ) is an American musician, record producer, director and actor.

While he was known in Europe until his role in Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, he is very well known in China and other parts of Asia, especially as a singer. Leehom Wang is in China as an advertising figure, for example, mineral water, active.

Wang's education took place at the Eastman School of Music, Williams College and Berklee College of Music. His musical style is known to blend Chinese elements (such as Beijing opera, traditional styles of ethnic minorities, as well as classical music) with hip- hop and R & B. Leehom Wang began his career in 1995 in Taiwan. He won four Golden Melody Awards, the " Grammy " of the Taiwanese - Chinese music.

On April 14, 2012 Leehom Wang's guested on his world tour with his current program Music Man II - Open Fire in Nationalstadion_Peking. It was the first pop concert by a solo artist, which in this stadium that was built for the 2008 Olympic Games took place.

  • 5.1 albums
  • 5.2 Compilations / EPs / Greatest Hits
  • 5.3 Live albums
  • 5.4 Digital Singles
  • 5.5 Collaborations with other artists

Acting Career

Wang had already during his high school and college years in some musicals. In 2000, he was in his first big action movie China Strike Force, a Hong Kong production, alongside Aaron Kwok, Norika Fujiwara, and Ruby Lin Coolio front of the camera. Followed in 2001 by The Avenging Fist ( SciFi - Action ) with him in the lead role and stars such as Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao in supporting roles. Wang also played in the Japanese films Moon Child (2003) and Starlit High Noon ( 2005). He obtained with Ang Lee's film Lust, Caution made ​​his big acting break.

2009 wang played alongside Jackie Chan in Little Big Soldier the young general. Wang's role was originally written for Chan himself, but it was only after about 20 years of project implementation, so that Chan slipped into the role of aging soldiers. With Love In Disguise Wang joined in 2010 for the first time behind the camera. He directed, wrote the screenplay, the film songs ( all of which appeared on his album "The 18 Martial Arts" ) and played the lead role alongside his Acting female colleagues Liu Yifei and Joan Chen. Love In Disguise was the most profitable film of a debut director in Chinese history with a total box office receipts of over 60 million RMB ( about 6 million euros ).

Life and music career

As a child, Wang learned to play the violin; later he taught himself piano, guitar, drums, bass, erhu, xylophone and other instruments. He often plays his albums single-handedly in a local recording studio.

Childhood and Career Start (1976-1997)

Wang was the second of three sons of a family of immigrants from Taiwan with mainland Chinese roots born in Rochester (New York ). His father, a pediatrician, and his mother moved for their continued leading university in the early 60s in the United States. With his older brother Leo, who got violin lessons since the age of seven, as an example, Wang developed itself already with three years a great interest in the violin. He asked his mother for violin lessons with his brother but his mother was at this young age will pay. When Wang was six years old, he was finally allowed to attend classes. In Teenager, he attended his first piano lessons, and he taught himself to play the guitar. In addition, he earned with various small jobs money to buy a used drum set.

He attended Jefferson Road Elementary School, Pittsford Middle School, and graduated from the Pittsford Sutherland High School in Pittsford, New York. Because of his passion for music, he enrolled in then in the Williams College a, with a double major in music and Asian studies. He joined an a cappella group called The Springstreeters, in which recorded some demo tracks.

In summer 1995, during the holiday period with his grandparents in Taiwan, Wang signed his first record deal with BMG. The record company had become by a selbstveranstalteten talent competition in which Wang took part on a whim, attentive. In order not to let such an opportunity pass, he immediately began preparing his debut album Love Rival, Beethoven, which still appeared in December on the market. The album was hardly noticed and Wang had to leave the label. The following year he came with Decca Records. Decca was at this time in Taiwan known for his " exceptionally powerful singers " (实力 派 歌手). The label originally planned to market Wang as " romantic mainstream Idol". However, when the charge recognized Wang's far comprehensive musical talent, she campaigned for him instead as " Super Idol" (优质 偶像). Wang released his second album If You Heard My Song in the first half of 1996, which also included some of his own compositions. He was co-author of the title song of the same name, which received positive reactions from the audience. The album, as well as the following third and fourth album was a moderate success, and Wang was hailed as a " rising star ". During this time, Wang was asked to cancel his studies in order to pursue his singing career full time can, but he insisted on trying to finish his studies. During the semester, he studied and composed at home in the U.S.; during the holidays he was in the studio or was promoting his music in Taiwan.

Rise (1998-2000)

Wang's contract with Decca Records was terminated after the release of their fourth album White Paper in the summer of 1997. That same summer, he completed his bachelor's degree with honors from Williams College. In August 1998 he released his first award-winning album Revolution under Sony Music Entertainment. The album helped him to the final breakthrough, selling over 10,000 plates in the first week after publication. Even critics praised the album in high tones and Wang two Golden Melody Awards ( the Taiwanese Grammy ) Award as " Best Producer " and " Best Mandarin Singer ". He was the youngest until then, excellent in both categories, artists. Wang is nominated for the success of " revolution " for the annual " Best Mandarin Singer ". The singles of Revolution achieved similar success: The title song of the album Revolution was Leehom Wang's first " number one " and was in the " Top 20 " of the annual charts of the music channel Channel V Taiwan.

He continued his master study at the Berklee College of Music continues with " singing as his main instrument ." Wang's sixth album Impossible to Miss You appeared in 1999 and combined the eingängingen pop melodies of Revolution with a quirky style of new - found dance pop. It would be best-selling album to date, with over one million records was. All singles of the album reached higher places of karaoke and yearly music charts, notably the upbeat Julia and the ballad Crying Palm ( Liu Lei Shou Xin ). Now Leehom Wang also reached international attention - Wang won three times in the " Best Singer " award at three different award ceremonies and was also awarded for his musical merit in the current album at the 1st Asia Chinese Music Awards with a price.

Around the turn of the millennium, Wang began filming for several Cantonese -language Hong Kong blockbusters, which inspired him to learn the Cantonese language. He has published on the Hong Kong version of his seventh album, Forever 's First Day (2000 ) Cantonese song Love My Song ( Ngoi Dik Nog Goh ) as a bonus track. Unlike his previous two albums, Forever 's First Day is mainly melodic R & B turned to pieces. The single of the same is a tragic romantic ballad, which deals with the separation of two individuals. Although Wang grew up in New York, he felt since moving to Taiwan 's Chinese roots. Forever 's First Day yielded from these newfound pride a cover version of Descendants of the Dragon, the song that was already a few decades before his uncle had been successful. Wang arranged the song with stronger rock and dance elements from scratch. The song also contained a new English rap bridge that summarized experiences of his parents as Chinese immigrants in New York.

International success (2001-2003)

Wang's next album, The One and Only (2001 ) reached a phenomenal international success. In Asia alone, it sold over a million copies and the rock- inspired work won seven different awards in the years 2001 and 2002. The theme song The One and Only ( Wei Yi ) reached in almost all Taiwanese music charts the top position, and was a year the number one domestic ringtone download charts what the song to Leehom Wang's left are figurehead. The One and Only also found in Japan his followers what to Wang encouraged to publish his first Japanese LP The Only One on May 9, 2003. The album only had a single, a Japanese version of The One and Only, but it did not reach the expected success in Japan's Oricon Charts. Wang began to turn during which several Japanese films that boosted his popularity in Japan.

In 2003 Wang his first major Asian tour The Unbelievable Tour a few months before the release of his ninth album Unbelievable. Concerts were given very good reviews from fans and music critics; they were impressed and shocked at the same time from his new hip-hop image. His R & B / hip hop -inspired album Unbelievable involved new numbers with hip hop influences from different styles of popular music such as indie pop and urban-pop. The album marked a milestone in his musical career; his new image received international critical acclaim and was a chart-topper with over 1.5 million units by 2004. A special edition ( celebratory version) of the album was released three months later and was just a great success. The single releases, especially the ballad You're Not Here ( Ni Bu Zai ) also celebrated international successes. You're Not Here was at the top chart of various music charts for over 10 weeks. With Unbelievable Wang received for the second time Golden Melody Award for " Best Producer " in 2004.

Chinked -out (2004-2006)

With its newly -established status as one of the most influential and prolific Chinese artists of Chinese music, Wang continued his work continued in inventing and experimenting new sounds and voices. For most part of 2004, he traveled to remote villages in China to collect unheard tribal sounds of aboriginal Chinese, Tibetan and Mongolian music. With his younger brother Leekai as his assistant, they carried 15 kg musical equipment with them to let him record these sounds and record his album on the way and produce. He integrated the sounds collected in R & B and Hip Hop and called this selbstkreirten style " chinked -out ". Despite the originally derogatory meaning of the term " chink " ( similar to the German expression, gook '), Wang wanted and make the word fashionable again with this naming "cool". Shangri -La was released New Year's Eve in 2004 and sold in the first ten days of 40,000 copies. Shangri -La became an international music sensation, especially in Asia where it spoke to youth. Within a month, the album sold over 300,000 copies and eventually brought over 1.5 million records at the man.

Wang also processed in his next album Heroes of Earth ( 2005) his chinked -out elements, unlike the tribal music in " Shangri -La ", " Heroes of Earth" experimented with mixtures of Peking opera and Kun opera. In order to express the "Heroes " concept of the album, he brought artists such as Ashin of the Taiwanese band Mayday ( Beside the Plum Blossoms ), the Chinese-American rapper Jin and opera master Li Yan ( Heroes of Earth), and K- Pop artists Rain and Lim Jeong- hee (Perfect interaction ) into the studio. Heroes of Earth was in 2005 and 2006 at the fastest-selling album with more than a million sales in the first ten days of the publication. Then the album for the next six weeks, remained at the top chart and stayed another 23 weeks in the charts. It was the drittbestverkaufte album of the year 2006. As of 2007 CD units were about 3 million gone over the counters and it is to this day Wangs commercially and critically successful album. With Heroes of Earth Wang won for the second time Golden Melody Award for "Best Mandarin Singer ". Three months after the album's release, he began his Heroes of Earth Tour, his first major world tour. The tour started with two shows in one night at the Taipei Dome in March 2006, breaking records for the number of participants Taiwan concert.

Professional Breakthrough (2007 to present)

Wang paused in a reference to the work on his music and started filming Ang Lee's film Lust, Caution (2007 ), a spy thriller. On 20 June 2007, he released the single Falling Leaves Return to Roots ( Luo Ye Gui Gen ) at Hito Radio, a Taiwanese radio station, a month before even his twelfth studio album, Change Me should appear in stores. Falling Leaves Return to Roots contained Broadway influences with classical instrumental accompaniments, such as the violin and the piano. On questions about his sudden change of music style, Wang explained that he owed the inspiration for this song the influence of his portrayal of Kuang Yumin in Lust, Caution. "In the past I have published only mainstream pop and chinked -out related hip hop. Lust, Caution made ​​me return to Shanghai in the 1930s and made ​​me relive the moment. "

Change Me was released on Friday, 13 July. Change me focused mainly on pop rock with influences of Broadway ( Falling Leaves Return to Roots ) and Taiwanese pop the old school ( You Are a Song in My Heart ). With this album, he broached the issue of global warming and called for a better environmental awareness. For the packaging of the album was only recycled paper, without the plastic used. He believed that even the smallest changes could save the world of every man. " To change the world, have alters yourself first. " Reviews of the album were generally positive, and described it as " mature". An online album poll by China's Sohu, however, showed that the expectations of the audience were not fully met. Netizens commented that Wang's chinked -out productions were more impressive, although that genre itself also had to take criticism. Nevertheless, sold over one million units on the first date of publication. The album broke the 2 million mark and became a best-selling albums of Wang.

August 2008 called Wang U.S. $ 320,000 in damages from the Indian composer Pritam. A song from the Bollywood movie Race ( 2008), composed by Pritam, was obviously a plagiarism of In the Depths of the Bamboo Forest ( Zhu Lin Shen Chu ), a single by Leehom Wang's Shangri- La album. In November of the same year, Wang was chosen to conduct the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra for their 2008 annual big finale. He was the first Asian pop musician to receive this honor was granted. The concert Hong Kong Music, Leehom Wang (港 乐 ‧ 王力宏) was listed in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on three nights with four shows and got an extensive coverage of CNN International dedicated.

Wang started in the last months of 2008, his second world tour, the Music -Man Tour. The tour started as usual in Taipei with two shows per night in the Taipei Dome in September, three months before publication of the thirteenth album heart.beat, which was released on December 26th and immediately debuted at # 3 in the weekly G -Music charts. The album reached number one in the seventh week of the charts and remained present for a total of 17 additional weeks in the lists. Like Wang's previous album, heart.beat showed a similar emphasis towards the rock influences. The sound of acoustic and electric guitars was dominant, which began Wang for his performances in music videos. For the continuation of the chinked -out element he processed the first single What's Up with Rock? Elements of Western rock music with Chinese influences. For the track, he worked with pipa player Liu Fang together.

On 15 April 2011 Leehom Wang won the awards for "Best singer of Hong Kong & Taiwan ", " Best Album " for his fourteenth album, The 18 Martial Arts ( 2010), and "Best Director - Newcomer" for his directorial debut, Love in diguise at the Global Chinese Music Awards.

5 November 2011 Wang launched under the title Music -Man II - Openfire his third world tour.

Private life

On November 27, 2013 Wang married his Japanese- Taiwanese girlfriend Jinglei Lee in New York.

Filmography

  • 2000: China Strike Force (雷霆 战警)
  • 2000: From Ashes to Ashes - Against Smoking (烟 飞 烟灭)
  • 2001: The Avenging Fist (拳神)
  • 2003: Moonchild ( MUN chairudo /ムーン チャイルド)
  • 2005: Starlit High Noon ( Mahiru no Hoshizora /真昼 ノ 星空)
  • 2007: Lust, Caution ( Lust, Caution /色,戒)
  • 2010: Little Big Soldier (大兵 小将)
  • 2010: Love In Disguise (恋爱 通告)
  • 2011: The Founding of a Party (建党 伟业)
  • 2013: My Lucky Star (非常 幸运)
  • 2014: Wu Wen Xi Dong (无 问 西 东)
  • 2014: Cyber
  • 2015: Stan Lee's Annihilator

Discography

Albums

Compilations / EPs / Greatest Hits

Live albums

Digital Singles

  • 2012: 12 Zodiacs (十二生肖, Homeboy Music, Language: Mandarin; theme song to Jackie Chan's film " CZ12: Chinese Zodiacs " )

Collaborations with other artists

( List is incomplete )

  • All Stars Welcome to Beijing (北京 欢迎 你)
  • A Date with the Future (和 未来 有约)
  • We Are The World
  • Hand in Hand (手 牵手)
  • Because Love is in the Heart (爱 因为 在 心中)
  • With David Tao, Daniel Chen, Nicholas Tse and Eason Chan Please Raise Your Head (请 你 抬头)
  • With Mavis Fan Snow Man (雪人)
  • Original World (原来 的 世界)
  • With Mindy Orr I Want to Spend My Lifetime Loving You (我 用 生命 爱 妳)
  • With TM NETWORK, Tetsuya Komuro, Julio Iglesias Jr. and Sheila E Happiness x 3 x 3 Loneliness
  • With Cass Phang Let Me Feel the Warmth (让我取暖)
  • With Lara Fabian Light of My Life
  • With William So Zuo You Wei Nan (左右为难)
  • With Karen Mok That May Not Be (那 可 不一定)
  • With Gackt December 's Love Song (12月 のLove Song )
  • With Candy Lo Better To Be Apart (好心分手)
  • With Kelly Chen True Colors
  • Walking on Sunshine
  • With Kenny G The One and Only (唯一)
  • Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word - Live
  • With Siti Nurhaliza The Moon Represents My Heart (月亮 代表 我 的 心) - Live
  • With Rain and Lim Jeong Hee The Perfect Interaction (完美 的 互动)
  • With Jin Heroes of Earth (盖世 英雄)
  • With Nirace Ni Wanting to Love (想 爱)
  • By Ashin Chen Hsin Hung Beside the Plum Blossoms (在 梅 边) - Live
  • With Westlife You Raise Me Up - Live
  • With Mayday No One Else In The Heart (心中 无 别人) - Live
  • With Vanness Wu Heroes of Earth (盖世 英雄) - Live
  • With Tony Bennett If I Ruled The World
  • With Alan Ke Descendant of the Dragon (龙的传人) - Live
  • With Jacky Cheung Goodbye Kiss (吻别) - Live
  • With JJ Lin That's What Friends Are For - Live
  • Jiangnan & 're Not Here (江南&你 不在) - Live
  • With Selina Ren of the group S.H.E You Are A Song In My Heart (你 是 我 心 内 的 一 首歌)
  • By Jane Zhang Another Heaven (另一个 天堂)
  • With Usher The One and Only (唯一) - Live
  • With Jackie Chan Rape Flower (油菜花, title song of "Little Big Soldier " ) - Live

Writings

504459
de