Her national tour will kick off in Shanghai on Sept 15 and will take her to other cities like Beijing, Hong Kong and Guangzhou.
"I've been hoping to be recognized by others and kept on trying to improve my music. The process might be tortuous, but when you want something badly and make great efforts for it, you'll be magically rewarded," Qu says.
Born in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, Qu started to sing before she could even talk. Her mother recalls: "You would know when she was awake because she'd be singing the theme song from the Chinese TV series Undercover Cop, loudly in bed, to the ceiling, every morning."
Due to her good sense of music, her mother bought her a piano when she was 6. But music was never considered a career for Qu.
At 16, Qu's mother sent her to study international business in Canada. The loneliness of a strange environment and adolescent rebellion made her unhappy. It didn't take long, however, before she realized her true passion and dream was to become an influential recording artist.
She taught herself to play the guitar and tried to write her first song, To Markus, which was dedicated to her then-boyfriend.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
More importantly, she says, the so-called blind choice, where judges sit with their backs to the performers, ensures that the contestants are judged based on their voices alone.
Winners will have a chance to hold their own concerts or be invited as guest performers at the judges' concerts. But the contestants have to fight a tough battle to reach the top. Unlike other talent shows that open doors to the grassroots, Voice of China contestants are hand-picked or in Liu's words, "semi-professionals".
As many as 40 directors travel to all the provincial capitals where local market insiders are ready to offer their lists of recommended talents. They also visit music schools and pubs to scout for qualified singers. Their voices are recorded and these potential contestants are then put through auditions and finally, short-listed to appear on television.
The arduous selection process results in a high level of professionalism on the show, says Lu Wei, publicity director of Voice of China.
Voice alone, however, doesn't qualify. For a score of five, Lu says, two goes to a singer's personal story. He adds that to maintain high ratings, singers with sensational backgrounds are given priority and encouraged to share their stories onstage.
Winners will have a chance to hold their own concerts or be invited as guest performers at the judges' concerts. But the contestants have to fight a tough battle to reach the top. Unlike other talent shows that open doors to the grassroots, Voice of China contestants are hand-picked or in Liu's words, "semi-professionals".
As many as 40 directors travel to all the provincial capitals where local market insiders are ready to offer their lists of recommended talents. They also visit music schools and pubs to scout for qualified singers. Their voices are recorded and these potential contestants are then put through auditions and finally, short-listed to appear on television.
The arduous selection process results in a high level of professionalism on the show, says Lu Wei, publicity director of Voice of China.
Voice alone, however, doesn't qualify. For a score of five, Lu says, two goes to a singer's personal story. He adds that to maintain high ratings, singers with sensational backgrounds are given priority and encouraged to share their stories onstage.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Three months ago, Taihe Rye Music's former CEO Song Ke surprised many by opening Long Joy Peking Duck restaurant. He recently made another surprising announcement - that he'll assume the role of managing director of Evergrande Music, a new music company owned by property developer Evergrande Real Estate Group Ltd.
Another personality of the Chinese music industry, songwriter-producer Gao Xiaosong, has been appointed the managing director for music.
The real estate group has invested 850 million yuan ($134 million) in Evergrande Music.
According to Song, the music company has already bought copyrights for more than 3,500 songs and will launch a series of concerts across the country to promote original Chinese pop music. They include 10 concerts by rock singer-songwriter Wang Feng.
For Gao, his main mission is to discover and train new talents. The company signed on its first new singer, 16-year-old Zhou Ziyan, who rose to fame by playing guitar and singing online. Gao says four albums have already been mapped out for Zhou.
Another personality of the Chinese music industry, songwriter-producer Gao Xiaosong, has been appointed the managing director for music.
The real estate group has invested 850 million yuan ($134 million) in Evergrande Music.
According to Song, the music company has already bought copyrights for more than 3,500 songs and will launch a series of concerts across the country to promote original Chinese pop music. They include 10 concerts by rock singer-songwriter Wang Feng.
For Gao, his main mission is to discover and train new talents. The company signed on its first new singer, 16-year-old Zhou Ziyan, who rose to fame by playing guitar and singing online. Gao says four albums have already been mapped out for Zhou.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Burns is the entrepreneur owner of Redstar, a publishing and creative services company based in Qingdao. He moved to Beijing three years ago to expand the creative side of his business and launch a new venture "Burns Guitars". Devlin works as a professional musician in Beijing. Desbuquois is a manager at Beijing Relocation Company.
Just as the real Beatles had diverging ideas on how things should be run, the Beijing four had different expectations when they formed. They play for fun, though Desbuquois was not averse to making money out of the venture if the band was going to be popular.
For Devlin, the audience is "the only thing that is important", a sentiment they all embrace.
"At the vast majority of [the shows] the audience totally get it, and that's what makes it enjoyable," Burns says.
The Beijing Beatles have played about 100 shows over the past year. One of the highlights was performing at the British Chamber of Commerce's Swinging '60s ball in Shanghai. There, the stage set was designed to resemble the Cavern Club in Liverpool, the live-music venue that was a key stop on the Fab Four's journey to fame.
A documentary film has been made about the Beijing band and Reilly's life and was broadcast on Chinese television.
Just as the real Beatles had diverging ideas on how things should be run, the Beijing four had different expectations when they formed. They play for fun, though Desbuquois was not averse to making money out of the venture if the band was going to be popular.
For Devlin, the audience is "the only thing that is important", a sentiment they all embrace.
"At the vast majority of [the shows] the audience totally get it, and that's what makes it enjoyable," Burns says.
The Beijing Beatles have played about 100 shows over the past year. One of the highlights was performing at the British Chamber of Commerce's Swinging '60s ball in Shanghai. There, the stage set was designed to resemble the Cavern Club in Liverpool, the live-music venue that was a key stop on the Fab Four's journey to fame.
A documentary film has been made about the Beijing band and Reilly's life and was broadcast on Chinese television.
Friday, August 3, 2012
British singer Adele regained her place at the top of the Billboard 200 album chart for the 24th time on Wednesday with her Grammy-winning album "21", holding off new entries from Alan Jackson, The Beach Boys and Neil Young.
Adele's "21" sold 75,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan figures in its 68th week on the chart, buoyed by NBC's special "Adele Live in London", which aired on June 3. The album has yet drop out of the top 10 since its US release in February 2011.
The "Someone Like You" singer beat out debuts from three veterans of the music industry. Country crooner Alan Jackson debuted at No 2 with his latest studio album "Thirty Miles West", selling 73,000 copies.
It is Jackson's 15th studio album, excluding holiday and compilation sets, and his 12th time in the top 10 of the Billboard album chart.
The Beach Boys made their highest debut since 1974, as their 29th studio album "That's Why God Made The Radio" entered at No. 3, selling 61,000 copies in its first week of release and kicking off the band's 50th anniversary celebration.
Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young's 35th studio album "Americana" landed at No 4 after selling 44,000 copies, giving Young his second-highest debut following 1972's "Harvest", which debuted at No 1.
Adele's "21" sold 75,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan figures in its 68th week on the chart, buoyed by NBC's special "Adele Live in London", which aired on June 3. The album has yet drop out of the top 10 since its US release in February 2011.
The "Someone Like You" singer beat out debuts from three veterans of the music industry. Country crooner Alan Jackson debuted at No 2 with his latest studio album "Thirty Miles West", selling 73,000 copies.
It is Jackson's 15th studio album, excluding holiday and compilation sets, and his 12th time in the top 10 of the Billboard album chart.
The Beach Boys made their highest debut since 1974, as their 29th studio album "That's Why God Made The Radio" entered at No. 3, selling 61,000 copies in its first week of release and kicking off the band's 50th anniversary celebration.
Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young's 35th studio album "Americana" landed at No 4 after selling 44,000 copies, giving Young his second-highest debut following 1972's "Harvest", which debuted at No 1.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Despite its billing an outrageous event, the show seemed more tame than in previous years with little foul language or onstage antics. Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey and Joe Manganiello did some spicing up with a near strip tease. The trio stars in an upcoming film, "Magic Mike," about male strippers.
Notable moments came from "Batman" star Christian Bale, who gave an emotional introduction to an exclusive trailer for the upcoming film, "The Dark Knight Rises," after footage of the late Heath Ledger as the Joker character was shown from the second installment of the Christopher Nolan "Batman" franchise.
Music, the foundation of MTV, played a key role throughout the show with first-ever house DJ, Martin Solveig, providing movie score mash-ups from "Jaws," "Pulp Fiction" and "Drive" between awards.
Rapper Wiz Khalifa performed new song "Work Hard, Play Hard" and indie band fun. sang their hit single "We Are Young" with Janelle Monae to open the program.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
A new generation of Von Trapps is singing its way across China, Chen Nan reports.
Related:
1.Solid Soul
2.Harbin music concert
The story of Captain Von Trapp and his wife, Maria, who fled their home in Austria just ahead of Nazi troops from Germany prior to World War II, is familiar to anyone who has seen The Sound of Music. So much so that people sometimes get confused when they meet members of the Von Trapp family today.
When the Von Trapp Children turned up recently in Beijing - Sofia, a classic blue-eyed blonde, the oldest at 24; wispy Melanie, 22; brown-eyed Amanda, 21; and lively, bright-eyed Justin, 17 - they are exactly as you would picture them -young, sweet faces tinged with the blush of health and excitement.
They are the grandchildren of Werner Von Trapp, who was renamed Kurt in the film. Carrying on the family's tradition of singing, they are touring China for the first time.
They kick off their performances with a night at the Forbidden Concert Hall in Beijing on July 26. Their performances have folk, spiritual songs in seven languages including Chinese, and popular songs from The Sound of Music.
They sing Edelweiss, a song from the film, in Chinese.
"It's our tradition to sing the language of the country where we perform," Sofia says.
"We know that the film has found a place in the hearts and memories of fans in China, like others around the world. We are also inspired by this," Sofia says.
"When we sing, we can feel the old fondness for the film and its powerful message of family, faith and courage."
Related:
1.Solid Soul
2.Harbin music concert
The story of Captain Von Trapp and his wife, Maria, who fled their home in Austria just ahead of Nazi troops from Germany prior to World War II, is familiar to anyone who has seen The Sound of Music. So much so that people sometimes get confused when they meet members of the Von Trapp family today.
When the Von Trapp Children turned up recently in Beijing - Sofia, a classic blue-eyed blonde, the oldest at 24; wispy Melanie, 22; brown-eyed Amanda, 21; and lively, bright-eyed Justin, 17 - they are exactly as you would picture them -young, sweet faces tinged with the blush of health and excitement.
They are the grandchildren of Werner Von Trapp, who was renamed Kurt in the film. Carrying on the family's tradition of singing, they are touring China for the first time.
They kick off their performances with a night at the Forbidden Concert Hall in Beijing on July 26. Their performances have folk, spiritual songs in seven languages including Chinese, and popular songs from The Sound of Music.
They sing Edelweiss, a song from the film, in Chinese.
"It's our tradition to sing the language of the country where we perform," Sofia says.
"We know that the film has found a place in the hearts and memories of fans in China, like others around the world. We are also inspired by this," Sofia says.
"When we sing, we can feel the old fondness for the film and its powerful message of family, faith and courage."
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