Li Yuchun
Encyclopedia
Li Yuchun also known as Chris Lee is a Chinese pop
singer and actress who achieved instant fame when she won the nationwide singing contest Super Girl in 2005. She is now working with Taihe Rye Music
and released her first album The Queen and the Dream in September 2006. Her second album titled Mine was released in early November 2007. Her third album, Youth of China was released in May 2008, and her fourth album, "Li Yuchun" came out in 2009. She made her film debut in the 2009 film Bodyguards and Assassins
.
, Li Yuchun was not encouraged to pursue a career in entertainment. Her father, a railway police officer, and her mother, a retired housewife, wanted her to be a doctor. At the age of 18, just before the national university entrance exam, she told her parents that she wanted to get into a music conservatory. Although shocked by her ambition, her parents found a music tutor for her. They thought she would give up because her chance of getting in was very small. To their surprise, after one month of intensive training she passed the artistic exam. Ecstatic with the admission offer, Li carried out her first live concert, "The Last Battle", which was performed in front of her high school before the graduation ceremony. After graduation, she went to study at Sichuan Music Conservatory.
of contests around the world) in 2005. She won the qualifying competition in Chengdu, then went on to win the nationwide contest among 120,000 applicants. This competition drew the largest audiences in Chinese TV history. Her win came as a surprise to many people because she was so radically different from the usual stereotype of female singers, being somewhat androgynous-looking and sounding.
Li's national fame rose quickly and she quickly gathered a large fanbase across China in early episodes. Li usually wore loose jeans and a black button-down shirt, with no make-up and the haircut (and body) of David Bowie
during his Space Oddity
phase.
She received the most votes (3,528,308) in the final contest. According to Chinese voters, her unorthodox style and aggressive singing captivated the audience.
in October 2005 and released the single "Happy Winter" as a Christmas gift to her fans. In March 2006, she released "Give Me Five", a Latin-flavored dancing song. Another release, "Happy Wake Up", was the song used in her Crest
toothpaste ad. All of these songs were released online by digital distribution, a new move in the Chinese music world. She also released an EP titled "Give Me Five".
Li Yuchun has held three unplugged concerts to date. The first was in her hometown of Chengdu on March 10, 2006 — her 22nd birthday. The second was in Beijing
on March 24, 2007. The other being in Shanghai on May 22, 2006. These unplugged concerts, entitled "Why Me," have become an annual celebration, always held around Li's birthday. And so far two other "Why Me" concerts has been held. In Shanghai on March 9, 2008 and in Guangzhou on March 24, 2009 respectively.
Her debut album, titled The Queen and the Dreams , was released on September 15, 2006. It presold 100,000 copies and sold more than 430,000 copies in the first month. She held a promotional concert in Beijing Exhibition Center on September 20, 2006 with songs from the album.
Her second album, titled Mine , was released in November 2007. In the meantime, her nationwide 2007 Live Tour began in October and had been held in Nanjing
, Guangzhou
, Chongqing
, Chengdu
and Hangzhou
, attracting tens of thousand of music lovers.
Her third album, titled Youth of China (Chinese:少年中国), was released in May 2008 as a gift blessing the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. This album was developed and designed by her. It includes one documentary DVD of her 2007 national live tour concert and one CD with 6 songs.
Her fourth album, titled Chris Lee(Chinese:李宇春), was first digitally released on August 31, 2009. The songs, mainly created by herself, received widespread praise.The official album was released in December 2009. On December 26, Lee gave her AMO Chris Lee Beijing Live Show at Wukesong Arena, which gained great success. The tickets were sold out in three hours.
After the first extremely successful "why me" concert, it has been a significant sign for Li Yuchun. Since then every March, Li Yuchun has her "Why Me" personal concert in different cities in China and she also direct the concert for herself. Li Yuchun tells the public that she is always improving herself for her loved music. Finally, Li Yuchun gets her original brand-"Why Me".
Host citi of "Why Me" concert: Cheng Du (2006), Peking (2007), Shang Hai (2008), Guang Zhou (2009), Nan Jing (2010), Wu Han (2011).
Li Yuchun triggered a donation craze after she was chosen in March 2006 as the ambassador for the " LIYUCHUN Fans Charity Fund " of the Chinese Red Cross Foundation (CRCF) to help children with leukemia
. The CRCF has reported several website crashes after Li Yuchun spoke about the charity during recent public appearances. She gave her costumes worn in the Super Girl finale to charity auctions and donating the entire income of her second concert in Shanghai. So far the foundation has received more than 7,700 donations from Li Yuchun fans throughout the world, amounting to over 1,000,000 RMB and helping 21 children. Recently, this fund has raised more than 5,000,000 RMB.
In her mission as Hewlett-Packard Ambassador from August to December 2006 to promote genuine printing supplies and accessories, HP donated part of its sales incomes to the " LIYUCHUN Fans Charity Fund " helping 30 children in poverty with leukemia.
In December 2006, Li Yuchun became the ambassador for Viva Glam Lipstick M.A.C. Aids Fund in China.http://www.macaidsfund.org
Electronics, Swatch
, Coca-Cola
, Crest
, and Hewlett Packard.
Despite her fame, Li Yuchun still leads the simple life she did before becoming a national icon. Non-brand-name T-shirts and jeans are her usual outfits, and unlike other celebrities, she does not mind wearing the same outfits many times in front of the media.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer and actress who achieved instant fame when she won the nationwide singing contest Super Girl in 2005. She is now working with Taihe Rye Music
Taihe Rye Music
Taihe Rye Music is a C-pop record label, founded in China 2004 by Song Ke and Zhang Yadong.-History:The company was founded in 1996 originally a subsidiary of Warner Music Group in 2004 Taihe Rye Music broke away from Warner Music Group to form its own independent record label in China...
and released her first album The Queen and the Dream in September 2006. Her second album titled Mine was released in early November 2007. Her third album, Youth of China was released in May 2008, and her fourth album, "Li Yuchun" came out in 2009. She made her film debut in the 2009 film Bodyguards and Assassins
Bodyguards and Assassins
Bodyguards and Assassins is a 2009 Hong Kong film directed by Teddy Chan, featuring an all-star cast, including Donnie Yen, Nicholas Tse, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Leon Lai, Wang Xueqi, Simon Yam, Hu Jun, Eric Tsang and Fan Bingbing.-Plot:...
.
Early years
Born in a working class family in ChengduChengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
, Li Yuchun was not encouraged to pursue a career in entertainment. Her father, a railway police officer, and her mother, a retired housewife, wanted her to be a doctor. At the age of 18, just before the national university entrance exam, she told her parents that she wanted to get into a music conservatory. Although shocked by her ambition, her parents found a music tutor for her. They thought she would give up because her chance of getting in was very small. To their surprise, after one month of intensive training she passed the artistic exam. Ecstatic with the admission offer, Li carried out her first live concert, "The Last Battle", which was performed in front of her high school before the graduation ceremony. After graduation, she went to study at Sichuan Music Conservatory.
Super Girl competition
While still a 21-year old student at the Conservatory, Li participated in the Super Girl singing contest (similar to the Idol seriesIdol series
The British talent search television series Pop Idol has spawned spin-offs in 42 territories, in what is now referred to as the "Idols" format, as described by FremantleMedia...
of contests around the world) in 2005. She won the qualifying competition in Chengdu, then went on to win the nationwide contest among 120,000 applicants. This competition drew the largest audiences in Chinese TV history. Her win came as a surprise to many people because she was so radically different from the usual stereotype of female singers, being somewhat androgynous-looking and sounding.
Li's national fame rose quickly and she quickly gathered a large fanbase across China in early episodes. Li usually wore loose jeans and a black button-down shirt, with no make-up and the haircut (and body) of David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
during his Space Oddity
Space Oddity (album)
-Release history:-7" open reel tape releases:There was only one release of Space Oddity on open reel, in 1972 duplicated by Magtec, North Hollywood, CA 91605. This is a high speed 7.5 ips release...
phase.
She received the most votes (3,528,308) in the final contest. According to Chinese voters, her unorthodox style and aggressive singing captivated the audience.
Music career
Her first single was "Sweetheart, I Love You" (Chinese: 甜蜜的, 我爱你), recorded during the time when she was on Super Girl. She joined Taihe Rye MusicTaihe Rye Music
Taihe Rye Music is a C-pop record label, founded in China 2004 by Song Ke and Zhang Yadong.-History:The company was founded in 1996 originally a subsidiary of Warner Music Group in 2004 Taihe Rye Music broke away from Warner Music Group to form its own independent record label in China...
in October 2005 and released the single "Happy Winter" as a Christmas gift to her fans. In March 2006, she released "Give Me Five", a Latin-flavored dancing song. Another release, "Happy Wake Up", was the song used in her Crest
Crest (brand)
Crest is a brand of toothpaste made by Procter & Gamble in Germany and in United States of America and sold worldwide. In many countries in Europe, such as Germany, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Hungary and Romania, it is sold as Blend-A-Med, the name of an established German...
toothpaste ad. All of these songs were released online by digital distribution, a new move in the Chinese music world. She also released an EP titled "Give Me Five".
Li Yuchun has held three unplugged concerts to date. The first was in her hometown of Chengdu on March 10, 2006 — her 22nd birthday. The second was in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
on March 24, 2007. The other being in Shanghai on May 22, 2006. These unplugged concerts, entitled "Why Me," have become an annual celebration, always held around Li's birthday. And so far two other "Why Me" concerts has been held. In Shanghai on March 9, 2008 and in Guangzhou on March 24, 2009 respectively.
Her debut album, titled The Queen and the Dreams , was released on September 15, 2006. It presold 100,000 copies and sold more than 430,000 copies in the first month. She held a promotional concert in Beijing Exhibition Center on September 20, 2006 with songs from the album.
Her second album, titled Mine , was released in November 2007. In the meantime, her nationwide 2007 Live Tour began in October and had been held in Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
, Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
and Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, attracting tens of thousand of music lovers.
Her third album, titled Youth of China (Chinese:少年中国), was released in May 2008 as a gift blessing the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. This album was developed and designed by her. It includes one documentary DVD of her 2007 national live tour concert and one CD with 6 songs.
Her fourth album, titled Chris Lee(Chinese:李宇春), was first digitally released on August 31, 2009. The songs, mainly created by herself, received widespread praise.The official album was released in December 2009. On December 26, Lee gave her AMO Chris Lee Beijing Live Show at Wukesong Arena, which gained great success. The tickets were sold out in three hours.
original brand: Why Me
Li Yuchun has held her first personal concert in March, 2006, when she was 22 years old. The original purpose of this concert is to celebrate Li Yuchun's birthday, and she named this concert "why me". From Li Yuchun's perspective, this concert gives her a significant opportunity to thanks her families, fans and friends. "Why me" means she always asks herself why could her win in the Super Girl singing contest, and she also motivates herself by constantly asking herself.After the first extremely successful "why me" concert, it has been a significant sign for Li Yuchun. Since then every March, Li Yuchun has her "Why Me" personal concert in different cities in China and she also direct the concert for herself. Li Yuchun tells the public that she is always improving herself for her loved music. Finally, Li Yuchun gets her original brand-"Why Me".
Host citi of "Why Me" concert: Cheng Du (2006), Peking (2007), Shang Hai (2008), Guang Zhou (2009), Nan Jing (2010), Wu Han (2011).
Charity work
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
. The CRCF has reported several website crashes after Li Yuchun spoke about the charity during recent public appearances. She gave her costumes worn in the Super Girl finale to charity auctions and donating the entire income of her second concert in Shanghai. So far the foundation has received more than 7,700 donations from Li Yuchun fans throughout the world, amounting to over 1,000,000 RMB and helping 21 children. Recently, this fund has raised more than 5,000,000 RMB.
In her mission as Hewlett-Packard Ambassador from August to December 2006 to promote genuine printing supplies and accessories, HP donated part of its sales incomes to the " LIYUCHUN Fans Charity Fund " helping 30 children in poverty with leukemia.
In December 2006, Li Yuchun became the ambassador for Viva Glam Lipstick M.A.C. Aids Fund in China.http://www.macaidsfund.org
Current life
Li Yuchun's success has drawn a lot of attention from the commercial world. She has signed deals with many notable companies, including AmoiAmoi
Amoi Technology Co., Ltd. is a Chinese electronics manufacturing company based in Xiamen, Fujian province, China. It is a mobile service provider which integrates manufacturing, R&D and sales of mobile communication devices.-History:...
Electronics, Swatch
Swatch
Swatch is a brand name for a line of wrist watches from the Swatch Group, a Swiss conglomerate with vertical control of the production of Swiss watches and related products...
, Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
, Crest
Crest (brand)
Crest is a brand of toothpaste made by Procter & Gamble in Germany and in United States of America and sold worldwide. In many countries in Europe, such as Germany, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Hungary and Romania, it is sold as Blend-A-Med, the name of an established German...
, and Hewlett Packard.
Despite her fame, Li Yuchun still leads the simple life she did before becoming a national icon. Non-brand-name T-shirts and jeans are her usual outfits, and unlike other celebrities, she does not mind wearing the same outfits many times in front of the media.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Bodyguards and Assassins Bodyguards and Assassins Bodyguards and Assassins is a 2009 Hong Kong film directed by Teddy Chan, featuring an all-star cast, including Donnie Yen, Nicholas Tse, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Leon Lai, Wang Xueqi, Simon Yam, Hu Jun, Eric Tsang and Fan Bingbing.-Plot:... 十月圍城 |
Fang Hong 方紅 |
Nominated - Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress The Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress is an annual Hong Kong industry award presented to an actress for the best performance by an actress in a supporting role.-History:... Nominated - Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Performer Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Performer The Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Performer is an annual Hong Kong industry award presented to an actor or actress for the best performance by a new artist... Nominated - Hong Kong Film Award for Best Original Film Song |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate is an upcoming wuxia film directed by Tsui Hark and starring Jet Li, Zhou Xun, Chen Kun, Li Yuchun, Kwai Lun-mei, Louis Fan and Mavis Fan. The film is a remake of Dragon Gate Inn and New Dragon Gate Inn... 龙门飞甲 |
|
Albums
| Album Type | Information | Tracklisting |
|---|---|---|
| 1st EP | The Special Greeting For Chirs Birthday (生日特别限量版 珍藏版)
|
|
| 1st Studio | The Queen and the Dreams (皇后与梦想)
|
|
| 2nd Studio | Mine (我的)
|
|
| 2nd EP | Youth of China (少年中国)
|
|
| 1st Compilation | N+1 Evolution
|
|
| 3rd Studio | Chris Lee (李宇春)
|
|
| 4th Studio | The Formidable Youth Dancing Artiste (会跳舞的文艺青年)
|
Singles
- 2005 "Sweetheart, I Love You"
- 2005 "Happy Winter"
- 2006 "Give Me Five"
- 2006 唱得响亮 (Theme Song for 2006 Super Girl Singing Contest)
- 2007 "N+1"
- 2007 爱的太傻 (Theme Song for Popular Korean Show Princess HoursPrincess HoursPrincess Hours is a 2006 Korean drama starring Yoon Eun Hye, Joo Ji Hoon, Kim Jeong Hoon and Song Ji-hyo. It was based on manhwa Goong by Park So-Hee. It was broadcast from 11 January to 30 March 2006 on MBC.Princess Hours was one of MBC's most popular dramas of 2006, second only to Jumong...
, Chinese version) - 2007 和你一样 (Theme Song for Chinese Red Cross Foundation (CRCF), written by her fans)
- 2007 "Green" (A charitable song dedicated to Greenpeace 绿色和平公益歌曲)
- 2007 "Come to Dance" (Theme song for the celebrity dancing show 'strictly come dancing' launched by HNWS and TVB)
- 2008 相信
- 2008 倾国倾城
- 2008 梨花香 (Theme Song for the Chinese film 十全九美)
- 2008 红遍全球 (Coca Cola Song for 2008 Beijing Olympics
- 2008 用爱点亮希望
- 2008 一开始就知道
- 2008 "Why Me" (Theme Song for the "Why Me" concert)
- 2009 Sichuan Embroidery(Chinese:蜀绣)
- 2009 湘江的笔画
- 2009 AOAEO 出发 (Theme Song for "Journey to the West" Animation)
- 2009 Powder(Chinese:粉末) (Theme Song for "Bodyguards and Assassins")
- 2009 AMO (Chinese:阿么)
- 2010 Meet You at Next Crossing (Chinese:下个,路口,见)
- 2010 I Am Here (Chinese:我在这里) (Theme Song for "Volunteer Universiade 2011")
- 2010 Prologue (Chinese:序幕)
- 2011 The Formidable Youth Dancing Artiste (Chinese:会跳舞的文艺青年)
- 2011 I Am Sorry, but Suddenly I Miss You (Chinese:对不起﹐只是忽然很想你)