Monday, January 13, 2014
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Simplified Chinese
「电影是最变态的艺术，它不是满足你的欲望，它而是教你如何渴望。」 –哲学家齐泽克(Slavoj Zizek) 斯洛维尼亚籍哲学家齐泽克(Slavoj Zizek)是欧洲的思想红星，他由他混合流行文化与心理学的理论而成名。不管讨论的为意义的本质还是伊拉克战争，齐泽克都会用电影史上的著名影片做连结，因为他相信，我们对某些电影的熟悉度高到它们已经成为我们心灵的来源。
Traditional Chinese
「電影是最變態的藝術，它不是滿足你的慾望，它而是教你如何渴望。」 – 哲學家齊澤克 (Slavoj Zizek) 斯洛維尼亞籍哲學家齊澤克 (Slavoj Zizek) 是歐洲的思想紅星，他由他混合流行文化與心理學的理論而成名。不管討論的為意義的本質還是伊拉克戰爭，齊澤克都會用電影史上的著名影片做連結，因為他相信，我們對某些電影的熟悉度高到它們已經成為我們心靈的來源。
Saturday, June 25, 2005
[M'N'A EXTRA] Martial Arts, Not Just Arts
Martial Arts is fighting to the world
At this moment, martial arts have attracted foreigners’ attention by these Hollywood-style movies. “Crunching Tiger Hidden Dragon? It’s not bad.” Said Patrick Palburg, a German graduate student studied at the National Taiwan University, and also a huge fan of Stephen Zhou (周星馳). On June 9, Patrick sat in the chair at a Chinese food restaurant sharing his thoughts in brilliant Chinese. “Hollywood and Hong Kong films have something in common. They both emphasized martial arts’ performances.” He noted, “Just like the novels that Jinyong (金庸) wrote, each title and description is really beautiful.”
Patrick Palburg, who wore the Aikido uniform, stood at the downstairs of the community on June 9.
Photo: Vicky Mo
However, be honest, Chen Qing-he (陳清河), the coach of the Chang Hong (長洪武術) said, “film is a kind of art, a kind of performance, not the real martial arts.” The same feeling also came from Patrick “Movies and martial arts should be departed to discuss.” Although many foreigners appreciated martial arts due to the inspiration of movies, this German boy, who does love martial arts, has the totally different reason to start learning martial arts.
A story about a German guy’s martial arts learning
“There are three kinds of foreigners who studied martial arts.” The Coach Chen analyzed it according to his teaching histories over the last twenty years, and the experiences every year with students in South Africa. He said: “practicing martial arts while they are touring in Taiwan; learning it as they are teaching English here; and coming to Taiwan just to learn martial arts.”
It’s quite hard to put Patrick into one of them. Maybe, we can only say that his unique studying experience is a little bit like the last case. Patrick noticed martial arts in Germany before he came to Taiwan for the college degree in 1998. “Did you know the book with CD? I remembered there were four characters in this story of the book, one of them played well in martial arts.” Patrick described his first impression.
“At the age of twelve, I learned Taekwondo in Germany.” He recalled the practicing memories, “and then, studied Chinese martial arts for two years.” Anyway, the two kinds of martial arts didn’t become Patrick’s favorite sports. He explained, “Taekwondo required the sufficient strength to keep kicking. As for Chinese martial arts, the movements are graceful, you can train your body and made it flexible, but,” Patrick really care about that, “it didn’t work when you need to protect yourself.”
The insistence to protect him has deeply influenced Patrick’s view of martial arts after he came to Taiwan. He had taken part in a group here to maintain his martial arts life about four years. Gradually, Patrick discovered what the problem is, “I hope that I can act smoother than the normal people. Some martial arts that focus on the beautiful movements are not my goal.” Patrick continued, “recently, I found an excellent coach Lin Guo-zhen (林國禎) at Aikido (合氣道) in Taiwan through a friend’s introduction.”
The Coach Lin’s (the male wore the blue pants) moved so fast that I can’t take the clear picture of him.
Photo: Vicky Mo
Things are different since noticing Aikido
After lots of training and experiences, Patrick finally met a kind of martial arts that he really wants. “Aikido doesn’t have the specific movements.” Patrick said proudly. The coach Lin, who has taught Aikido more than thirty years, agreed, “Aikido won’t attack people on purpose, unless danger is approaching.”
“Now, I can protect myself well after practicing Aikido.” Patrick replied, “no one can hurt me when I walk down the street.” “Once, a stranger stood by me too closely,” Patrick explained and motioned action. “The guy’s face almost touched mine. So, when I turned my face, I used the strength of my waist, and waved the arm to block his annoying behavior.” Patrick stressed, “The power will be stronger as you move your waist.”
“In addition,” Patrick added, “practicing martial arts can make you stand pressures, handle difficult situations, and get along well with someone treating you bad.” Talking about this point, Coach Chen also agreed this. He mentioned that people could be stronger if they start practicing martial arts. “It will release some negative emotions, and make you feel better.”
An interesting but threatening Aikido’s visiting
On June 17, in order to take some action pictures, and of course, satisfy curiosity about martial arts, I visited the training place of Aikido at Keelung (基隆) road with Patrick. When we arrived there, a dark building, a small but clean site, and around 15 people with simple black and white clothes were the first impression.
The warm-up training began practicing by Patrick’s instructions at Keelung Road on June 17.
Photo: Vicky Mo
Students were stretching their legs during the warm-up training.
Photo: Vicky Mo
Nearly an hour’s warm-up training, the real fight has just begun. In fact, I tried to attack Patrick when he showed me Aikido during our first interview on Jun 9. And I believe that everybody could have imagined that I couldn’t even touch him a bit. However, the movements among the Aikido students on Jun 17 are more aggressive and threatening than me. The sound that student’s hand or foot hit the ground was so loud. A girl said that these actions are the major method to release the power coming from the speed and action. Still, I’m afraid in the beginning.
Patrick tried to stop the opponent’s offense.
Photo: Vicky Mo
And then, he succeeded blocking the opponent’s attack.
Photo: Vicky Mo
I noticed that Aikido has some specific defending movements anyway. It’s not like the dancing performance; each movement takes two to practice. Patrick believes, “Trying to control everyone’s power is the main purpose of training. You’ll find the suitable strength after practicing with other people.”
To sum up, “practicing is necessary, or you won’t know how to protect yourself when somebody attacks you.” Patrick adds. “But,” Coach Lin mentioned something to me after class, “We were practicing as if a real fight was going on, and sometimes people got hurt. The coach has to be there to watch everyone’s practicing and protect their safety.” Patrick also explained it as I was wondering whether they get hurt during the aggressive training. “We’ll be more careful when we are practicing. After all, you don’t want your classmates get hurt.”
“I looked good as the hair covered up my face.” Patrick smiled.
Photo: Vicky Mo
You have to protect yourself when the opponent’s body started moving.
Photo: Vicky Mo
Planning to fight, or Plan to prevent fight
But there is one thing that Patrick won’t deny. You’ll learn some skills that are enough to kill when you have learned the advanced martial arts. “Your body could be a weapon to hurt people without any tools.” Patrick talked to me seriously, “No matter how dangerous, you still have to control these movements as you’re practicing because Aikido always requires students to solve problem, not make it.” Patrick insists.
“Except the defending skills,” Patrick added, “the charming characteristics of martial arts is that you’d be able to control yourself and remain calm facing danger.” During the class, everyone saluts to the opponent, and kneels down to put his or her Aikido uniform in order after class.” Coach Chen noted further, “martial arts will train your patience, especially the traditional martial arts; it needs time and the serious attitude to learn the details.”
Sometimes, you will be block and fall on the ground by other people.
Photo: Vicky Mo
The hand’s movement was prevented the opponent’s next attack.
Photo: Vicky Mo
Difficult environment for martial arts to survive
“In your opinion, which martial arts is the most genuine one?” I asked. Coach Chen’s depressing sound came from the phone after he heard my question, “it was a pity that traditional martial morality is going to lose.” He went on, “the new style martial arts in China, we call it new martial arts (新武術) and it gradually becomes different and looks like gymnastic movement fitting for competition because the Chinese government hope that martial arts can become one item in the Olympic games.”
“Thus, new martial arts became gymnastic-like sports, and had age limitation.” Coach Chen didn’t agree these changes. “Traditional martial arts doesn’t have any specific qualifications, everyone can approach it regardless of sex and age.” Furthermore, “the spirit of martial arts in Taiwan didn’t change over the past years, but the government usually ignores us.” He joked, “They just let the folk martial arts groups live by themselves.” For example, few years ago, around two hundred foreigners planned coming to Taiwan to do some martial arts communications with us. “We truly wanted to invite them, but Chang Hong didn’t have enough money to cover their expense without government’s subsidy. Finally, the group went to South Africa instead.
“Taekwondo and Fukien White Crane (福建白鶴拳) are popular in Taiwan.” Patrick tried to reply my question, “The promotion is not good enough. In the end, only a few groups survived.” “If martial arts want to expand the scale, it definitely needs government’s assistance.” Chen declared.
Does the motion of Patrick’s hand look like “Tai Chi Chuan (太極拳)”.
Photo: Vicky Mo
What is the real success?
“In my heart, I do hope that traditional martial arts can be famous,” Coach Chen stressed, “The problem is that some people’s conception about martial arts is not right. If martial arts are just making a series of beautiful performances for audience, it’s not the success we’re always chasing.”
Films made martial arts popular in the world, and then caused some misunderstanding to people, too. Like Coach Chen’s words, “In order to get enrolled into the official competitions, martial arts should make regulations regarding movements to judge contestants’ performance.” “But all kinds of martial arts have the unique characteristics,” Chen said, “it’s difficult to put different sports together to judge.”
Taekwondo has become well-known in Taiwan after Chu Mu-yen (朱木炎) and Chen Shi-shin (陳詩欣) won two gold medals in the Olympic Games in 2004. Have you thought about how is our traditional martial art doing here? If foreigners like Patrick can discover the value hidden in martial arts, what about the people in Taiwan?
“I wish someday I can be the one that nobody can beat me. It’s a dream, but the dream is not bad.” Patrick said.
Photo: Vicky Mo
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
[M'N'A EXTRA] Those Who Think Alike Gather Together
“Tavern” and “Saints and Sinners” are the places providing football games for fans living in Taiwan. It’s normal for foreigners, especially Europeans appearing in these kinds of pubs. Killion Holmes, an Irish, studying at the National Taiwan University, is one of them. He comes to Tavern four days a week, drinks, and plays billiards with his friends. Waitresses know and get along fine with him. “I think there are lots of Taiwanese who love football because many people come here when Arsenal or Manchester United (football clubs in English Premiership) has a competition,” Killion said.
Killion Holmes, an Irish came to Tavern four days a week.
Photo: Vicky Mo
Killion’s point might be right. There are fans in pubs, but not many. “More people will be here when an important competition, like UEFA Champions League is launching,” Shi-qi (詩祺) explained. A student of the Xin-yi Junior High School (信義國中) grew up in Malaysia and went back to Taiwan in 2004, said happily “I found new friends in Tavern. They won’t appear today because some girls flew to England to record the FA Cup that Arsenal plays against Bolton for fans on the website.”
Shi-qi, the junior high school student and also the football player went to Taven with her families.
Photo: Vicky Mo
Long Jun-an (龍俊安), who just completed the military service and is now working, said that he’d call his old friends out when there is a competition. “We (pointed at his two friends sitting beside him) haven’t seen each other nearly two years.” “So you get together for football,” I asked. However, the three guys didn’t agree that they met for games only.
After gone through some adventures in pubs searching and interviewing football fans in the first week, I found the target group on March 19. They are fans, who support a specific football club and wear the team’s uniform. There are five: Sebastian, Carla, Ella, and a girl and a boy who insisted anonymous, showed up in “Saints and Sinners” at 11pm. The waiter prepared their fixed seats before these guys went into the pub. When I asked the waiter if there are any football fans last week, these fans’ faces came out his mind immediately.
Actually, the five members know who I am cause I already introduced myself in their groups from Internet. They just feel weird why I was sure they would appear here. Anyway, the conversation started when Sebastian answered my first question, “I knew these members in 2000 and built the website for Man United in 2001.” The leader of the website and also the teacher of a cram school said.
The five fans of Man United preferred the back cover photo shooting.
Photo: Vicky Mo
Nearly three years ago, the 2002 FIFA World Cup was launching. Taiwanese started to care about football games because the time lag of Japan and South Korea is less than Europe. The anonymous boy, a senior in college confessed, “I have no idea what football is before 2002.” From then on, football fans in Taiwan are gradually gathered together since the synchronous relay.
“We came here if ESPN didn’t relay English Premiership,” Sebastian explained the frequency that they come here. “Unless the time is too late,” She added. The manager also said that she liked the atmosphere spreading from “Saints and Sinners,” “Because everyone stared at the main screen watching the game, unlike those guys watching his/her own screen in Tavern.”
The above saying maybe part of reasons to go to pubs, but wishing someone to share the enthusiasm might be the key point that pushing fans together. “It’s lonely when you watch football games alone.” The nameless boy said with sadness. Ella, working in an Express Delivery Company, agreed his thought and added, “I am afraid that I might disturb my parents if I watched the game at home.”
Summing up the three interviews, fans of Man United are the majority, but why they support the club? The specific player is the first requirement. Shi-qi loved the Man United, Arsenal, and Real Madrid because of the English midfield player David Beckham. As for Sebastian, the Demark goalkeeper, Peter Boleslaw Schmeichel, made her fall in love with Man United in 1998. Other members laughed at the nameless girl with curly hair because she likes Beckham. “That’s right. I like Beckham, but I won’t leave Man United after he transferred to Real Madrid in Spain,” the curly hair girl tried to defend herself.
However, you can still feel fans’ affection when the issue related to some top players, who didn’t get along well with Man United. Both Carla and the nameless boy said, “It’s the most correct thing for Beckham to leave Man United.” “When fans thought the coach Sir Alex Ferguson should take responsibility for Beckham’s transferring, I feel uncomfortable,” Sebastian admitted. Furthermore, Ella doesn’t appreciate the Brazilian midfield Ronaldinho because he changed his mind to play for Barcelona, the club of Spanish La Liga in 2003 after he has made negotiations with Man united for a long time.”
Of course, fans will appreciate the football clubs for many interesting reasons. Even so, Sebastian described the unique thought, “Man United works like family. Fans can feel the same closeness from their affection.” Suddenly, the anonymous boy talked about another competition of Chelsea play against Crystal Palace from the screen on the right side with her. I wondered their feelings about the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich spent over one billion buying top players all over the world in the last two years. The boy smiled, “don’t you see we are supporting the rival of Chelsea?” “Fans of Chelsea may not have the loyalty as their players changed all the time.” Sebastian noted.
Except for the supporting movements they did in Taiwan, Sebastian, Ella, and Carla had been flown to England to watch Man United play, “it’s so different to see their performance in their own stadium.” “Most important thing is everybody shouted together is great,” the three girls said happily. Like Shi-qi’s words, “Yelling with friends is correct when you are watching football competitions.”
Shouting could be the happiest thing for Shi-qi. Her loud voice attracted my attention in a noisy pub. As for the nameless boy and Ella, they shouted too, but the cheering method is a little bit different. Ella sang the team song when the game is running, and the boy applauded loudly for the players who are ready to leave the field. They pay their whole attention to the competition, and it’s embarrassed to bother them at that moment.
The other necessary thing for fans is wearing uniform. All interviewees have their supporting team’s shirt. For instance, Killion has seven uniforms belonging separately to five different teams. Shi-qi has four. A friend of Long Jun-an bought him a shirt of Arsenal in London. He didn’t wear it that day. “It’s too cold,” he explained by shivering. The nameless boy is special. He wore the uniform of Man United in 1999 and said proudly as I looked at his shirt, “Sebastian gave me this uniform.”
Qiu De-zhen, the chief editor of POTS, standed in back of the anonymous boy and pointed at the Man United's mark of the boy's uniform.
Photo: Vicky Mo
In order to contact the latest news, Sebastian subscribed the official magazine of Man United. As an English teacher, she didn’t feel pressure on the content. “I have some difficulty reading these English magazines, so I only read the ones that I’m interested in,” The anonymous boy described how he gets the info on magazines.
The interview lasted nearly two hours, Sebastian often called Man United “Our team,” “Our coach,” and “Our players.” It sounds like the team belongs to them. Once they mentioned the team and players they love, everyone smile and the happiness showed on their faces (interviewees are all the same). Sebastian said, “Man united made us come here and get together. I am confident that we can stay by their side forever.”
Talking about that many fans support Man United in Taiwan, Sebastian said that she thought Beckham had made some contributions. “A part of people break away because his leaving from the England Man United, but some more fans stayed and supported the England club.”
Unexpectedly, Ella asked me, “Do you also support Man United?” They are the first interviewees wondered which team I support. Speaking the truth, which team I am back is not important. I just admire their love for the club. Finally, they found that I don’t have any supporting teams because the player I like is suffering from knee and shoulder injury. Sebastian told me seriously, “Some football fans website can’t last longer because it can’t rely only on some star players but the whole team’s performance. Fans will disappear when the player got injured, or transferred to another team. However the club is always there, you can support it forever.” She also remembered, “I even wanted to close my website because I can’t stand the loneliness. These guys’ support helped me to carry on.”
Rumors from Internet, I am a little bit wondered how these interviewees get along with other fans supporting another team. “We will joke but not argue with them,” said Killion. Shi-qi feels proudly, “I taught some girls to learn how to watch football games.” And, Long Jun-an said that he won’t quarrel with people, “the number of football fans is too small. We will talk to them if we meet some Taiwanese fans.”
Unfortunately, the five members are not as lucky as the above fans. They met unfriendly people once. “A foreigner sat and spoke the four-letter-words to us,” the nameless boy said. “Do you argue with them?” I asked. He waved his head, “My English is not good enough to fight. Smith, our friend in England, can help us if he is here that day.” But, he added, “We are not afraid because we get more backup force.” “What did he say? He was afraid!” Carla laughed after she heard his answer.
The chief editor was talking with Carla (wore the red uniform), and Sebastian (wore the plaid sweater) after Man United won the competition.
Photo: Vicky Mo
Another conflict came from the members of “Football Fever,” the only football magazine in Taiwan, and no longer lived after January in 2005; the leader explained why they don’t like these fans. “We loved our players, so do them. But these guys often judged players’ performance and said they can do it better if they are playing in the field.” The boy continued, “They think they know football very well so they treat fans severely when other fans have difficulty in watching football games.”
“In fact, we don’t talk to other fans.” After the nameless boy answered, Sebastian pointed out some people sitting opposite the bar. “They are Man United’s fans, too. We recognize them form their movement in watching the game.” “We don’t talk to them because their faces don’t look friendly,” Nameless boy joked.
Maybe, people cannot go to the same direction even though they have something in common. But I still remember that I can’t help screaming when the player almost scored although I’m not a fan of them in the end of the competition that Man United played against Fulham. No matter what, I guess we just can’t deny it’s nice to share your feeling with others happening to have the same interes.
They were reday to pay the bill as the two hour interview was almost over.
p.s Ella (second of right) looked at the camera, and the nameless girl sat left beside her.
Photo: Vicky Mo
Thursday, March 03, 2005
[M'N'A EXTRA] Can Wenger's Team break the record in the Champions League?
Arsene Wenger coach of the British soccer club Arsenal London smiles during a news conference at Munich's airport, February 21, 2005. Arsenal London will play soccer club Bayern Munich in a Champions League Group C match on Tuesday.
Photo: REUTERS/Michaela Rehle
The England football club Arsenal will play against the German football club Bayern Munich in the last 16 tie of UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, February 21, 2005. Arsene Wenger, the coach of Arsenal made his mind not to train his team at Munich Olympic stadium before the match.
“It’s normal for us not to practice on the away pitch.” Wenger said at Munich airport on Monday. “There are always spies, sitting in the corner and watching what you do. You never get any privacy.”
Wenger has serious problems of injury and sickness. England defender Sol Campbell is out of the list due to ankle injury, and his national teammate Ashely Cole, the left-back was laid on the bed for almost a week with a severe flu. Wenger admitted, “Cole has not fully recovered. He should be fine by the weekend but we are not yet completely confident that he can play in the Champions League game.”
In order to solve these disturbances, Wenger tried to put Freddie Ljungberg to the front-line. The Sweden player usually plays the role of midfield with Dennis Bergkamp, who is not part of the squad because three-match bans judged by the Football Association. Bergkamp was sent off by referee in the fifth round of FA Cup last Saturday. Arsenal still appeal the judgment for the Dutchman, “Bergkamp didn’t hit or push the Sheffield’s Danny Cullip,” said Wenger.
The Arsenal coach also worried about the bad weather in Munich. “It is a concern. If the pitch were frozen then it would be a problem for us as we are not used to it. But there is under-soil heating so it should hopefully be a normal pitch.”
Bayern Munich, the rival of Arsenal, beat Borussia Dortmund by 5-0 in Bundesliga last Saturday. The Dutch striker Roy Makaay scored a hat-trick for Bayern. Wenger explained, “The powerful club such as Bayern Munich has a lot of players, who can score. For Arsenal, the most important thing is avoiding their midfield players pass balls to Makaay or other forwards. We have to try our best to defend.”
Wenger also confessed, “Bayern has lots of experiences in the Champions League and been crowned European champions four times. It will be a very difficult team to play against.”
Arsenal has a poor record in Europe. Gunners only reach the quarterfinals last season, before being eliminated by Chelsea, the champion in England Premiership up to now. The Frenchman Wenger still has confidence with his players although the condition of the competition is tough. “We will give you the answer Tuesday night.” said Wenger.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Reading Material : Blog awards: Like blogs, they're diverse, global and freewheeling
Friday, January 21, 2005
Fei Xiang Concert - Put the Oldies and Broadway songs together
Fei Xiang (right) and Heather Laws (left)
Courtesy of Forward Music
People haven’t seen Fei Xiang (費翔) since his last record, Wild Flower (野花), in 2001 and 2002, when he published his first book, Twelve Gold Keys For Fei Xiang (給費翔的12把金鑰匙). Now, the famous singer returns to Taiwan, his home before his 1987 relocation to China, again to promote his new record, Broadway Album, and his concert, Summon Wind and Rain (呼風喚雨), which will take place at the Taipei International Center on Jan 21 and 22.
It’s the first time for Fei Xiang to host his own concert that audience has to pay. For this concert, to be presented by Kuang Hong Arts (寬宏藝術), Fei gets ready to reminisce with us his classic hits from the past two decades and some popular Broadway music, some of which he has taken parts sometime within the last decade. The exact repertories are a secret, however. According to Ms. Yang of public relations at Kuang Hong Arts, “Fei Xiang wants to surprise the audience, so I can’t talk too much about the details of concert. We even don’t know his next plan of tour.”
“In this past year, Fei had been busy touring China, with a series of solo concerts in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, Chengdu, and Wuhan.”
For his Taipei concert, Fei has invited Tony Award winner Rofer Kirk (The King and I) as costume design for him and his twelve dancers. According to Yang, this is not the first partnership between Fei and Kirk.
Other big names in the production team include Guo Zi (郭子), Zhong Xing-min (鐘興民), and Zhang Sheng-feng (張勝豐), in an attempt “to adjust different audience and music market,” said Yang.
In addition, there will be a special appearance by Broadway actress Heather Laws, singing a tune from “The Phantom of the Opera” and another from “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina.” Heather Laws was last seen in musical, “Boy from OZ,” with Hugh Jackman.
Fei hopes that the audience will enjoy the best sounds and light effects from the stage and appreciate his 23-year singing career. After all, as a star, the process of Fei Xiang’s performing career has been varied and graceful. He made his first appearance in 1981 in Cheng Ai-jia (張艾嘉)’s teleplay, “Eleven Women (十一個女人)”. Fei began his music career a year later. His first albums included Linger (流連) and Asking Sunset (問斜陽). Since then, he has also appeared in the films with entertainers of Hong Kong, like Liang Jia-ren (梁家仁), Zhong Chu-hong (鍾楚紅), and Taiwanese actor Lin Rui-yang (林瑞陽) from 1984 to 1985. Unexpectedly, the Taiwan-based singer transfers his career to China in 1987. Due to the political reason, he doesn’t come back to Taiwan until 2000.
In 1987, Fei Xiang sang the two songs, “Fire of Winter (冬天裡的一把火)” and “Clouds of Hometown (故鄉的雲),” in the Spring Festival Show (春節聯歡晚會). His Chinese-American facial features quickly won numbers of fans. Fei gave sisty-three solo concerts in twelve Chinese cities in 1989. When he picked up Taiwanese singers’ successful songs and Western oldies as a producer, the album sold twenty million copies. The record is still unbroken.
Once again, he felt his career was at a standstill; he changed his name back to his born-name Kris Philips in 1991 and auditioned for Broadway, eventually landing a role in “Miss Saigon”, and later, cooperating with Andrew Lloyd Webber, in the international tour “Cats”.
Tao Jing-ying (陶晶瑩), hostess of entertain news programs tried to find her idol in “Super Sunday (超級星期天)” in 2000. The program made the huge impression after Fei showed up. People felt surprised about his voice, gentle figure, and the looking, these things don’t change even the day past. Fei Xiang came back to Taiwan, signed the contract with “Forward Music (風華唱片)”, and made two albums for Taiwanese audience.
Due to Fei’s hard working in his career, Yang is confident about this upcoming concert. “Fei Xiang has many fans that across age,” she said. “Some people was his loyal fans when he made performance in the early 1980s; He won some young fans’ heart after his return; and the newest record has attracted some audience, too.” Yang continued, “Fei sings many kinds of songs, no matter what their styles are. I believe that foreigners would also like his music because of his various experiments in singing.”
“Fei Xiang Concert” will perform on Jan 21and 22 at 7:30 pm at Taipei International Convention Center, located at 1, Sec 5, Hsinyi Rd, Taipei (台北市信義路五段一號). Tickets cost NT$1200-3600. Please go to the ERAticket website at www.ticket.com.tw or Kuang Hong Arts website at www.kham.com.tw, and call 07-7403466 for more information.