Song of the year

Music > News & Features
Sunday November 27, 2005
Compiled byLI EE KEE

Wang Lee Hom: To record a duet with Rain.

IT is quite possibly the Chinese music industry’s collaboration of the year. As soon as news of a duet between New York-born singer Wang Lee Hom and red-hot South Korean star Rain leaked out, it quickly became the most anticipated event of the year. The track is said to be featured in Wang’s upcoming, as-yet-untitled album which is slated for release on Dec 30.

While the media were all abuzz over the partnership, Wang appeared a little annoyed when queried, apparently not expecting the news to seep out so soon. The 29-year-old was rather reluctant to reveal much, only to say that the song, a Mandarin number, was ready. An article in Sin Chew Daily reported that Wang had refused to be drawn into talk that he was teaming up with Rain, 23, to knock Jay Chou and David Tao off their current Heavenly King pedestal.

“Don’t get me involved in mindless squabbles. Jay Chou is one top-notch musician whom I admire,” Wang reportedly said.

The Taiwan-based Wang met Rain at a recording studio while working with a South Korean producer on a jingle and helping Rain’s junior label-mate Lim Jeong Hoe to produce a new song.
Having seen the spectacular Rain perform, Wang said he was taken with his charisma and stage presence, and decided to rope in the popster to duet on one of the tracks for his upcoming release.

Wang also said that when Rain holds his concerts in Taiwan on Dec 29 and 30, he will be there to show his support for his Korean counterpart.

As for his new album, Wang noted that it would continue in the musical style of his previous album Shangri-La as well as include Beijing and Kunqu opera elements. He will also be inviting world-famous names to contribute to the album.

Rain and Fame

LOOKING at Rain’s winsome smile and Oriental puppy-eyed looks, who would've guessed that the 23-year-old pop idol had been told a dozen times in his face that he was ugly? In a recent interview with CNN’s TalkAsia, Rain said he was rejected 12 times before becoming the star he was today.

“At auditions the selection panel would tell me to go home because I was too ugly. They told me to have plastic surgery before coming back again,” he recounted. That explains why Rain has been working particularly hard to get his career going. So his success, he said, had nothing to do with looks but sheer hard work.

“When I first started out, I would sleep for less than two hours a day. What little free time I had, I would be studying my script,” said the celebrated singer-actor. Had he spent the free time with his girlfriend, he added, he would not be enjoying the success he had today.