Zhang Liyin
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- This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zhang (张).
| Zhang Liyin 张力尹 |
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|---|---|
| Birth name | 张力尹 (pinyin: Zhāng Lìyǐn) |
| Also known as | Jang Ri-in |
| Born | February 28, 1989 |
| Origin |  Chengdu, Sichuan, China |
| Genre(s) | K-pop, C-pop (Mandopop), R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instrument(s) | Voice, Violin |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Label(s) | SM Entertainment (2003–present) |
| Associated acts | SMTown |
| Website | sm.zhangliyin.com |
Zhang Liyin (simplified Chinese: 张力尹; traditional Chinese: 張力尹; pinyin: Zhāng Lìyǐn; Korean: 장리인; born February 28, 1989 in Sichuan, China), also known by her Korean name Jang Ri-in, is the first (and currently the only) Chinese solo singer to break into the Korean music industry. Subject to much publicity, Zhang has been nicknamed the "Chinese BoA" and the next leader of the Korean wave. She speaks both Mandarin, which is her first language, and moderate Korean, and has released singles in both Korea and China, singing in both languages. She has also received lessons from a Chinese broadcaster on intonation and pronunciation to make her Sichuan accent disappear since SM Entertainment plans to use her to help break into the Chinese market.[1]
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[edit] Life and music career
[edit] Early life
Zhang was born to violinists in Sichuan, China as a native of Chengdu. Throughout her childhood, her parents took her to their rock concerts and exposed her to a variety of music. At three years old, she began to learn the violin. Zhang was so accustomed to classical, American, and European pop music that she claims she never sang children's songs when she was a child. She also developed the ability to sing a song after hearing it only once.[2] When she was nine years old, she showed her musical ability when she sang Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On".[2]
As she grew older, Zhang became more absorbed into pop music than rock music. She had to secretly listen to pop music because her parents were against it. When she was twelve, she was accepted into a middle school affiliated to Sichuan Music College after scoring the highest with her violin talents, but she opted to become a singer instead. Eventually, her parents began to support her dream to become a singer and she gained confidence when she was selected as the top 10 adult singers in a national singing competition under the sponsorship of ShangHai.
[edit] Debut: 2006-2007
[edit] Timeless
Zhang was discovered after Beijing partners informed the head of SM Entertainment of a young talent; thus she started training in 2003 at the age of thirteen. Singers received three years of special singing and dance training under SM Entertainment. Under the direct direction from producer Lee Soo Man, Zhang discovered her R&B voice.[2]
Zhang's debut was anticipated not only in Korea, but Asia, due to SM Entertainment's advertising of her being the 'Chinese BoA' as well as Lee Soo Man himself stating he was training her to be the next leader of the Korean wave. Before her official debut, it was already known that her song was a duet with popular TVXQ member Xiah Junsu which generated even more interest and anticipation in her. Before the release of her song, "Timeless" was available for free download between August 31 and September 6 on her official website.[3]
On September 8, 2006, Zhang released her first single, Timeless. This song is a translation of the English version, by Kelly Clarkson. She made her stage debut on MBC Music Core on September 9, 2006 singing "Timeless" with Xiah Junsu. The first day Zhang debuted she was ranked #2 on the famous Korean music website, Melon[citation needed]; the following day she topped this chart and held her place respectively for two full weeks. The same day she also ranked #2 on the online charts of SBS Inkigayo, just after popular boy-band, Shinhwa's "Throw My Fist". "Timeless" also placed 1st on Daum's Music Video chart as well as hitting the highest search number on the famous search engine, Naver.[citation needed] The "Timeless" music video was ranked number one on Melon's Video Chart for four full weeks. Within ten days of debuting, Zhang entered the "Take 7" chart on SBS Inkigayo (complied from internet and industry statistics).
[edit] Y (Why)
Zhang promoted the second track of her debut single, "Y (Why...)," in early 2007. SM Entertainment also released a "Timeless" documentary version of her "Y (Why...)" music video. This music video revealed her hardships during training; it also showed many behind the scenes clips of her promotion of "Timeless", including never-before-seen footage of her and Xiah Junsu.
Zhang also performed with Korean boyband TVXQ at their second Korean concert in Seoul, Korea on February 23, 2007, as well as in Malaysia, on November 24, 2007. She sang BoA's part in the song "Tri-Angle", previously performed by BoA, TVXQ and The TRAX.
She also performed "Timeless" with Xiah Junsu at the Hallyu Expo in Korea on March 8, 2007. In July, along with Kangta, TVXQ, The Grace, and Super Junior, performed in Korea for SMTown's Summer Concert 2007.
As of now, Zhang has finished recording her second Mandarin single. A Mandarin remake of a famous Korean classic, "Magic Castle", which has been sung by Zhang, is in the latest LOTTE commercial featuring Song Seung Hun.
[edit] Visa
Similar to fellow SM Entertainment artist, Han Geng of popular K-pop group Super Junior, Zhang holds an E-6 (Entertainment industry) passport, for foreigners in South Korea. Foreign artists carrying out promotional activities have limitations in terms of location and other factors. Han's passport only allows him to work under SBS and KBS, while Zhang's allows her to work only with SBS and MBC, which is why she only performs on the two stages.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Awards
| Years | Awards |
|---|---|
| 2006 |
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[edit] Controversy
When Zhang received the Mutizen Award on television program SBS Ingigayo just 16 days after her debut, it drew suspicion from industry watchers and audiences due to her near-instantaneous fame. Netizens remarked, "Zhang Li Yin receives Mutizen Award just 16 days after her debut? What were the judging criteria?" While some netizens weren't pleased with the outcome, others seemed to be thrilled. A netizen by the ID name of PARK said, "I don't think it's the song that resulted in her getting the award after such a short time." A group of netizens quoted, "This can also be seen on the rankings of music websites, she's clearly number one. The result that SBS revealed on their website was correct."
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- (Korean) Zhang Li Yin's Official Site
- (Korean) SM Entertainment's Official Site
- (English) Zhang Li Yin @ Wiki.theppn
- (Chinese) Zhang Li Yin's Avex Site
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