|
About Jane Zhang – A Girl Who Sings with Her Soul
Who is Jane Zhang? If you ask anyone before summer 2005, I bet most people would just shrug and shake head.? However if you ask the same question nowadays, more and more people can tell you something about Jane.? Thank to the Super Hot “Supergirl” that has taken over China in summer 2005, Jane has become a well-known celebrity.? OK, in case you have not watched “Supergirl”, here is some information about her:
Early Years
Jane Zhang (Chinese Name: ZHANG Liangying) was born in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in central China.? Her mother recalled in a TV interview that after her birth, she cried so loud in the newborn room that the nurse joked that she would be a professional singer one day.? Her early contact with music came from watching and listening to her uncle practice playing keyboard for a band.? When she was only 15, her father passed away.? Her mother was in poor health and was laid off from her job.? When everyone grieved over her father’s death, she told her mother:” mama, don’t be afraid!? There is nothing that we could not overcome”. She has since become a stronger person.? To support her mother and her, she chose to sing at local pubs, one of which is called “Music House”.? What distinguished her was that she sang mostly English songs from artists like Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera.? As time went by, she had improved her vocal skills and her beautiful voice had attracted many loyal customers to “Music House” to listen to her singing.? In the past few years, she participated in some talent competitions:?
2003 – 1st place at the Chengdu Regional College Student Singing Contest?
2004 – National Champion at the National College Student Singing Contest
2004 – National Champion at the National Pub Singer Competition
Rise to Stardom from “2005 Supergirl”
From late May to July 1, she participated in the Chengdu Regional “Supergirl” Contest.? Her wide-ranging voice and musical talent were immediately recognized by the judges, and she went through six elimination rounds to reach the regional final.? Eventually she finished in 2nd place with more than 58,000 text message votes and was eligible to go to the National Competition starting in mid July.? During the regional contest, she has won the support from quite some fans.?
The National Competition was even tougher as the top 3 finalists from 5 regional finals congregated in Changsha.? Throughout the competition, Jane continued to challenge herself and sang many songs from different genres, with the majority being her favorite English songs.? Although she was not fully healthy and her vocal cord got very tired, she tried to present the best music to her supporters and the audience.? Her graceful and mesmerizing performances were extremely impressive.? Jane has become an instant celebrity.? Her personality also stood out among all “supergirls”.? She would not bend to any pressure from anyone and continued to uphold her musical belief.? In the last elimination round, when she sang “Loving You”, she astonished everybody in attendance and watching TV by hitting the incredible whistle register note 3 times.? Since then, she has become “The Dolphin Princess” for her fans because whistle register note is also known as “Dolphin Sound” in China. ?Her beautiful voice has deeply touched the hearts and souls of many in China and overseas.? “Supergirl” ended in late August.? She finished in 3rd place with more than 1.3 million text message votes.? From 58,000 votes to 1.3 million votes in less than 2 months, Jane has proved herself again and again in the competition and has won over the hearts of tens of thousands of fans.? Not only do they love her voice, but they also love her personal charisma, her beauty, and her attitude toward music and life.
Post “Supergirl”
Jane took time off to rest for a couple of weeks.? As a college student majoring in English at Sichuan University, she wishes to complete her study there and go aboard to study music.? Starting on October 1, 2005, she has joined other “supergirls” for the Supergirl National Tour in 10-12 major cities across China.
Good News! Jane has released a demo version of her first single – “Open Up Your Dreams”, which was a collaborative effort recorded in Chengdu with her music friends.? She plans to further polish the song and release an improved version soon.
A complete list of English songs Jane sang during “Supergirl”
“Contigo en la distancia” original singer: Christina Aguilera
“I turn to you” original singer: Christina Aguilera
“Any man of mine” original singer: Shania Twain
“Simply the best” original singer: Tina Turner
“I still believe” original singer: Mariah Carey
“Beautiful” original singer: Christina Aguilera
“Remember me” original singer: Beverley Knight
“Vision of Love” original singer: Mariah Carey
“Don’t cry for me, Argentina” original singer: Madonna
“Nothing’s gonna stop us now” original singer: Starship
“Loving you” original singer: Minnie Riperton
“What’s up” original singer: 4 Non Blondes
此时花开―――关于张靓颖的一切
张靓颖是谁，你问一千个人，或许只有两个回答：滔滔不绝或是茫然不知。成名于2005湖南卫视“超级女声”节目的轰炸式曝光和集团式报道之下，靓颖在一群瞬间成名的超女里，以卓越的唱工和不凡的气质独树一帜。关于她的文字，实在是太多了：她有邻家女孩的亲切，又有歌坛巨星的神秘；她有被上帝亲吻过的嗓音，也有坎坷又坚韧的人生经历；她身后有千万支持她的凉粉，她面前也从不乏黑幕谣言与非议。如果有人刚从火星回来，想从头了解她，面对如此庞杂的资讯，也许真不知道从何开始。那么就让我们扭转时光，拨云见日，和旅行归来的您从头倒数张靓颖年方二十一，却已是风光无限又看尽沧桑，兜兜转转，起伏错落的一段青春历程。
音乐启蒙―――大隐隐于市
出生于中国娱乐第一城，成都，靓颖从小就是一个大嗓门的姑娘。据特约观察员张姐回忆，当年医院接生的护士以阅婴无数的专业眼光，评价靓颖哭声尤其嘹亮，并热心地为其日后做出职业规划，成都行话叫：“锅唱家”。
受在酒吧做键盘手的姨夫影响，靓颖幼年起就开始接触音乐，并以天生的悟性和乐感在亲朋邻里间崭露头脚，其早期从艺经历包括，张姐单位文艺会演的抢唱，在校时对同学进行的渐进式反复性歌曲演唱启蒙以及导致大家自发离开教室并反锁上门的课间海豚音练习。
十五岁时，靓颖正式开始在酒吧的演唱。其时她已深深迷上了英文歌曲，尤其喜欢MARIAH CAREY的演唱。置身于今天铺天盖地的凉粉热中，当年熟悉成都玉林酒吧区的朋友们，也许还会在记忆里搜寻那个素面朝天，一开口却惊为天人的有点瘦小的女孩子的身影。回忆不等人，短短五年的PUB生涯，靓颖转战数间酒吧，歌艺在坊间深得口碑，并拥有了固定的歌迷群，张英雄的名号也逐渐叫响。她的酒吧驻唱生涯最终谢幕于今天俨然跻身成都创建“全国旅游标兵城市窗口示范单位”之一的“音乐房子”，回首往昔，也许只有时光的步伐追得上她歌艺的精进。
靓颖从1998年起开始参加业界的歌唱比赛，参赛不仅帮助提升比赛经验，还可以让她发扬个人除“斗地主”外的第二大爱好―――挑战自己。进入2004年，歌路日见成形的靓颖小试牛刀便已锋芒初露，淡妆阿迪，低吟浅唱，击败一众朋克摇滚乡土露背透视装主旋律LOOK, 轻轻送送地将“全国大学生歌唱比赛总冠军”，“全国PUB歌手大奖赛总冠军”两个大奖纳入囊中。
少年磨砺―――第一碗鱼汤的滋味
靓颖的家庭生活并不像大多数同龄伙伴那样无忧无虑，十五岁时父亲和母亲同时住院，靓颖奔波与学校和病床间，那些坚忍和委屈渗透到时间的分分秒秒里。上课，考试，家务，医院，一个15岁女孩子的孤单背影尽力笼罩着这一切。有一次靓颖辛苦给爸妈煮的鱼汤因为她太累睡着而烧干了，当她端着这些干鱼汤来到母亲面前，张姐除了心疼就是哀伤，仿似生活这么容易就会走到绝路里，靓颖却开导妈妈说，没有什么事情是过不去的。不久已后，父亲去世，母亲也下岗了，靓颖毅然开始了在酒吧的驻唱生涯以维持家里的开销，同时坚持学习，不放弃自己许下的出国读书的梦想。或者这段遭遇听起来像段可以挣人眼泪的传奇报道，又或者，这些故事应该从一位身披锦带品学兼优又谨慎木讷的模范青年嘴里吐出，彼时她或他面对的应该是庄严辉煌的大会堂和一群不识愁滋味的八九点的太阳。但是，假设的一切都没有发生，如果没有张姐在超女节目里的一段真心告白，这些艰辛的过往甚至都不会被你我知道。
那么还有什么是我们所不知道的呢，靓颖？还有什么是你想说，我们忘记问的？什么是你不想说，我们又不小心问到的？过去或许真的能被穿着阿迪奔跑的脚步轻易超越，泪水也一定能随着MC的歌声慢慢挥发。看，你一样的爱笑爱玩爱疯爱闹，爱交朋友，爱惜凉粉。像你告诉张姐的，没有什么磨难是你过不去的，那么更不应该有什么心酸是我们凉粉忍不住的。所以我们也不问你那第一碗干鱼汤的滋味好了，肯定很香，一定的。
一战成名―――走路去长沙
五月，超级女声成都赛区的比赛拉开帷幕，从四万人的海选开始，靓颖层层闯关，凭借宽广的歌路和多变的造型一支独秀，进入总决赛，并最终以58000多条短信的支持票数夺得亚军。
时隔半年，今天重温成都赛区的点点滴滴，除了心里依然的感动赞叹外，空气里居然提前出现了感慨与怀旧的味道。在很多凉粉的记忆里，当日靓颖的每次出现都是经典：海选的素面转音天涯海角，50进20的肺炎沙哑灵歌唱法I TURN TO YOU，20进10的奔放活波ANYMAN OF MINE，10进7的性感儿性感儿SIMPLY THE BEST, 7进5的火爆热情一片沙漠，5进3化茧成蝶I STILL BELIEVE。欢笑泪水，相聚离别，因为纯真，所以美好，回忆里原来还有我们自己的影子。
成都到长沙，公路距离1800公里；7月10到8月28，日历翻过50天。以张英雄练过长跑的脚力，日行36公里，正好走到。不过这次英雄没有走，而是花了两个小时的时间做了次飞机，然后用剩下的49天又22小时，哼着小曲，走近了超女观众身边，也走进了千万凉粉心里。
全国总决赛共有七轮，仍采取淘汰赛制，赛程更加紧张选手更加辛苦。靓颖克服嗓子的劳累和身体的不适，以依旧完美的歌声和更加深情的诠释征服了观众的耳朵：大气磅礴DON’T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA，吐气如兰小城故事；心事难托REMEMBER ME，眉飞色舞漫步人生路；纯净悠扬浏阳河，沧桑曲折最爱你的人是我；百转千徊BEAUTIFUL，晶莹剔透LOVING YOU。曲曲经典后，口口相传中，凉粉的数量呈几何级数成倍增长，足迹也遍洒全球。
伴随比赛的进行，一出全民参与的娱乐浮世绘也在上演，评委，高层，凉黑，粽子粉墨登场；学历，黑幕，炒作，爆料目不暇接。相对成都的日子，欢笑还有，只是勉强点；泪水还有，只是委屈点；相聚还有，只是拥挤点；离别还有，只是匆忙点。审美疲劳过后，八卦膨胀之际，是靓颖的真挚和善良让我们看清方向，这年头，做歌迷的也不能忘了自己“最初的梦想”。
最后，海豚音说：“我会唱歌，这个我知道。”第三名说：“对于评委给我的肯定，我也给予充分肯定。”
海豚腾跃―――Contigo en la distancia
进入后超女时期，靓颖收拾心情整装待发。九月底，全球歌迷会在成都正式成立，北美凉粉团派代表出席了会议，副团长枣子位列全球十四位理事之一，为大洋彼岸的凉粉开创了朝中有人的新局面，也顺应了凉粉队伍从地区单极化到全球多极化的发展态势。在随后的歌迷答谢会上，靓颖郑重许诺要和音乐相伴终生。十月她加盟台湾音乐教父李宗盛监制的多媒体音乐剧《电影之歌》，十月底三强联合，靓颖牵手华谊兄弟华友世纪，执着地朝自己的音乐梦想努力，海豚公主已经跃水而出！
从五月成都超女海选开始到十月底靓颖正式签约，不知不觉，寒来暑往，半年的时间就这么匆匆逝去了。人们爱用世态炎凉来形容人心的无常，而这炎凉的更替对于我们凉粉来说，却更像是一种得失起伏，不离不弃的见证。靓颖的最爱歌曲之一“天涯海角”的英文直译是WITH YOU IN THE DISTANCE，身为远隔重洋的北美凉粉团员，我们或许最能体会什么是时差和距离，也更加确信什么是信任和坚持。有句烂大街的话叫做世界上最遥远的距离是我在你眼前，你却不知道我喜欢你。那么默默喜欢PLUS海角天涯，当之无愧是比最遥远更遥远的距离了，就让我们在这万里迢迢的天地里，爱惜生活的每一天，和靓颖一起成长！！！
|
