Joanna Wang
Encyclopedia
Joanna Wang is a Taiwanese
singer-songwriter
, daughter of famous music producer Wang Chi-ping (王治平). Born in Taipei
but raised in Los Angeles
suburb of San Gabriel, California
, Wang dropped out from Gabrielino High School
when she was 16. Her debut album, Start From Here
, was released in January 2008 as a double-disc set, one in English and the other in Chinese. The album reached #1 in Taiwan and has been popular throughout Southeast Asia. In June 2008, it was released in Japan
. Her second album, Joanna & 王若琳, which includes her all-original endeavor, The Adult Storybook
, was released in January 2009.
, Wang was exposed to many classic pop music acts, including but not limited to: The Beatles
, Queen
, and Oingo Boingo
. Among her major influences are Danny Elfman
, Yoeko Kurahashi
(倉橋ヨエコ), Paul McCartney
, and video game soundtracks, most notably those from the Castlevania
, Zelda
, and Mario
series. She has stated in her YouTube videos and in interviews that she dislikes the debut and rejects it as her own work.
Wang is a left-handed
guitarist.
She has performed some of her own work and has covered various popular songs in English and in Chinese on Taiwanese television programs.
Taiwanese people
Taiwanese people may refer to individuals who either claim or are imputed cultural identity focused on the island of Taiwan and/or Taiwan Area which have been governed by the Republic of China since 1945...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, daughter of famous music producer Wang Chi-ping (王治平). Born in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
but raised in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
suburb of San Gabriel, California
San Gabriel, California
San Gabriel is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is named after the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, founded by Junipero Serra. The city grew outward from the mission and in 1852 became the original township of Los Angeles County. San Gabriel was incorporated in 1913...
, Wang dropped out from Gabrielino High School
Gabrielino High School
Gabrielino High School is a public high school located on San Gabriel Boulevard in San Gabriel, California, ten miles east of downtown Los Angeles, serving grades 9-12. It was established in 1994, and is one of two high schools in the San Gabriel Unified School District. Del Mar High School is...
when she was 16. Her debut album, Start From Here
Start From Here
-Disc 1 :# Let's Start From Here# Lost In Paradise# As Love Begins to Mend# Bada Bada# Lost Taipei# The Best Mistake I've Ever Made# I Love You# For No Reason# Stages of Flying# Now# True # New York State of Mind...
, was released in January 2008 as a double-disc set, one in English and the other in Chinese. The album reached #1 in Taiwan and has been popular throughout Southeast Asia. In June 2008, it was released in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Her second album, Joanna & 王若琳, which includes her all-original endeavor, The Adult Storybook
The Adult Storybook
-Track listing:All songs by Joanna Wang.#"Adult Crap" – 3:39#"I Guess I'm Paranoid" – 2:57#"Longing For Romance" – 3:27#"His Remedy" – 3:17#"Nobody's A Nun" – 3:08#"Even If We Did" – 4:47#"How I Feel About Businessmen" – 2:15#"Man" – 2:21...
, was released in January 2009.
Career
As she was partially raised in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Wang was exposed to many classic pop music acts, including but not limited to: The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, and Oingo Boingo
Oingo Boingo
Oingo Boingo was an American new wave band. They are best known for their influence on other musicians, their soundtrack contributions and their high energy Halloween concerts. The band was founded in 1972 as The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, a performance art group...
. Among her major influences are Danny Elfman
Danny Elfman
Daniel Robert "Danny" Elfman is an American composer, best known for scoring music for television and film. Up until 1995, he was the lead singer and songwriter in the rock band Oingo Boingo, a group he formed in 1976...
, Yoeko Kurahashi
Yoeko Kurahashi
is a Japanese singer songwriter who was active between 2000 and 2008. In addition to numerous singles and albums. A piano book featuring her work has also been released.- History :* Aichi Prefectural High School in Meiwa: Graduated in music...
(倉橋ヨエコ), Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, and video game soundtracks, most notably those from the Castlevania
Castlevania
Castlevania, known as in Japan, is a video game series created and developed by Konami. The series debuted in Japan on September 26, 1986, with the release of for the Family Computer Disk System , followed by an alternate version for the MSX 2 platform on October 30...
, Zelda
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda, originally released as in Japan, is a video game developed and published by Nintendo, and designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. Set in the fantasy land of Hyrule, the plot centers on a boy named Link, the playable protagonist, who aims to collect the eight fragments...
, and Mario
Mario
is a fictional character in his video game series, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the main protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation...
series. She has stated in her YouTube videos and in interviews that she dislikes the debut and rejects it as her own work.
Wang is a left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
guitarist.
She has performed some of her own work and has covered various popular songs in English and in Chinese on Taiwanese television programs.
Awards
- 2008: Singapore Hit Awards 2008 - Outstanding Newcomer
- 2008: 9th CCTV-MTV Music Awards - Most Popular New Female Artist of the Year in Hong Kong and Taiwan
- 2008: Metro Hits Music Awards - Metroshowbiz Hits Mandarin Songwriter Singer Big Award
- 2008: Metro Hits Music Awards - Metro Radio Hits Most Voted Newcomer Award
- 2008: China Mobile Wireless Music Awards - Most Potential New Female Singer
- 2008: 2008 Beijing Chinese Pop Music Awards - Best Composer-Singer Newcomer
Albums
- Start from HereStart From Here-Disc 1 :# Let's Start From Here# Lost In Paradise# As Love Begins to Mend# Bada Bada# Lost Taipei# The Best Mistake I've Ever Made# I Love You# For No Reason# Stages of Flying# Now# True # New York State of Mind...
(2008) - Joanna & 王若琳 (2009)
- The Adult StorybookThe Adult Storybook-Track listing:All songs by Joanna Wang.#"Adult Crap" – 3:39#"I Guess I'm Paranoid" – 2:57#"Longing For Romance" – 3:27#"His Remedy" – 3:17#"Nobody's A Nun" – 3:08#"Even If We Did" – 4:47#"How I Feel About Businessmen" – 2:15#"Man" – 2:21...
(2009) - The Things We Do for Love (2011)
- The Adventures of Bernie the Schoolboy (2011)