G.E.M. (singer)

G.E.M.

G.E.M. performing during the X.X.X. Live Tour, January 2015
Background information
Chinese name 鄧紫棋 (traditional)
Chinese name 邓紫棋 (simplified)
Pinyin Dèng Zǐqí (Mandarin)
Jyutping Dang6 Zi2 Kei4 (Cantonese)
Birth name Tang Sze-wing
Ethnicity Han
Origin Hong Kong
Born (1991-08-16) 16 August 1991
Shanghai, China
Nationality Chinese (Hong Kong)
Other name(s) Gloria Tang
Occupation Singer, songwriter, actress
Genre(s) Pop, R&B, rock
Instrument(s) Vocals, guitar, piano, drum
Voice type(s) Mezzo-soprano
Label(s) Hummingbird, Forward, Sony
Manager(s) Hummingbird
Years active 2008–present
Website geteverybodymoving.com

Tang Tsz-kei (simplified Chinese: 邓紫棋; traditional Chinese: 鄧紫棋; pinyin: Dèng Zǐqí; Jyutping: Dang6 Zi2 Kei4; born 16 August 1991), better known by her stage name G.E.M. (an abbreviation of Get Everybody Moving),[1] is a Chinese singer-songwriter based in Hong Kong. She debuted her singing career by releasing the self-titled EP G.E.M. in 2008. In 2012, she released the album Xposed, and won a Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award for the Best Sales Local Female Vocalist.[2] In 2014, she appeared on Chinese singing competition program I Am a Singer (season 2), and then gained popularity in Greater China.[1] In the same year, she won a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Asian Act. In 2015, she was ranked eleventh on the Forbes China Celebrity 100. In 2016, she became the only Asian artist featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 (Music).[3]

Life and career

1991–2008: Early years and career beginnings

G.E.M. was born in Shanghai, China, and moved to Hong Kong at the age of four.[4] She grew up with a musical background, her mother is an alumnae from Shanghai Conservatory of Music, her grandmother was a vocal coach, her grandfather was a saxophonist, and her uncle was a violinist. G.E.M. started to write songs at the age of five. She featured in a performance on Hong Kong's Educational Television at the age of seven.[5][6] She achieved ABRSM's piano grade 8 at the age of thirteen.[7]

In 2006, G.E.M. won the champion in the singing competition titled Spice It Up, and caught the attention of Chang Tan, who offered her a recording deal with Hummingbird Music. She then became a professional singer at the age of 16. She graduated from Heep Woh Primary School and True Light Girls' College with a score of 21 points in HKCEE.[8] In 2008, she attended Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, but dropped out in 2009 due to her decision to focus on her singing career.

2009–2010: G.E.M., 18..., and My Secret

G.E.M. performing during the X.X.X. Live Tour in Hong Kong, January 2015

In October 2008, G.E.M. released her debut self-titled EP G.E.M., which includes two Mandarin songs and three Cantonese songs. She won a series of awards for the album, and was dubbed "Girl with Giant Lungs" and "Young Diva with Giant Lungs" for her vocal range.[9] In May 2009, G.E.M. traveled to Los Angeles to record her first studio album, 18..., which was released in October 2009. In November 2009, she held her first concert 18 Live Concert at Hong Kong International Trade and Exhibition Centre, and the concert featured special guests including Jan Lamb and Justin Lo.[10][11] In the same year, she also held a concert in Toronto.[12] In 2010, G.E.M. went to Taiwan to promote the album 18...,[13] and returned to Los Angeles to record her next studio album, My Secret, which was released in October 2010.[14]

2011–2012: Get Everybody Moving Tour and Xposed

In May 2011, G.E.M. performed a three-day concerts titled Get Everybody Moving Tour in Hong Kong Coliseum, and became the youngest Hong Kong female artist to perform in the venue. She then performed another five concerts in the same venue in September and embarked a concert tour in eight countries.

In June 2012, she performed alongside Jason Mraz and Khalil Fong at the iTunes Live concert in Hong Kong, and sang "Lucky" with Jason Mraz. Her third studio album, Xposed, was released in July 2012. The lead single, "What Have U Done", peaked number one on all four pop music charts in Hong Kong.

2013–2015: X.X.X. Live Tour, I Am A Singer, and Heartbeat

G.E.M. performing during the X.X.X. Live Tour in Shanghai, May 2015

G.E.M. embarked her X.X.X. Live World Tour in April 2013 starting with five shows in Hong Kong Coliseum, and it ended with a total of 73 shows. In May 2013, her album Xposed earned her a Golden Melody Award nomination for Best Mandarin Female Singer.

In January 2014, she appeared in the Chinese signing completion program I Am a Singer (season 2), and achieved great popularity in mainland China. In the same year, she earned a World Music Award nomination for World's Best Female Artist and an MTV Europe Music Award nomination for Best Mainland china & Hong Kong Act.[15] In November 2015, she appeared on the cover of China's Apple Music, and released her studio album Heartbeat with music videos of all ten tracks in the album. The album topped the iTunes Chart in China. So far, her songs have been played over 9.8 billion times on KuGou, a music platform in China.

2016-present: G-Force and Queen of Hearts Tour

In 2016, she appeared on the list of Forbes 30 Under 30 (Music).[3] In the same year, she was asked to voice a lead role in the animated film Charming, alongside Demi Lovato, Ashley Tisdale, and Avril Lavigne.[16][17] In September 2016, she released her photobook "25 Looks" and an EP, which includes four re-mixed songs. In November 2016, she earned an MTV Europe Music Award for Best Mainland China and Hong Kong Act.

In 2017, G.E.M released her first documentary "G-Force", which was directed by Nick Wickham. The documentary will be released in mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The DVD version was released in May 2017. In April 2017, she embarked her Queen of Hearts World Tour, which was produced by Moment Factory and choreographed by Kevin Maher.

Discography

Filmography

Tours

Awards

References

  1. 1 2 "Introducing: G.E.M. – The biggest popstar you've never heard of". livenation.co.uk. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "IFPI HK 2012 Awards". IFPI HK. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  3. 1 2 "30 Under 30 2016: Music". Forbes. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  4. ↑ "G.E.M. in Taiwan" (in Chinese). Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  5. ↑ "G.E.M.童年教育電視(1)：金花學國語 － YouTube影片". 9 March 2009.
  6. ↑ "G.E.M.童年教育電視(2)：小龜也探親 － YouTube影片". 13 March 2009.
  7. ↑ "G.E.M. Early Career" (in Chinese). HK Headline. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  8. ↑ "HKCEE 21 Points" (in Chinese). Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  9. ↑ 巨肺少女 (in Chinese). Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  10. ↑ G.E.M.勁呻完騷變咕喱 (in Chinese)
  11. ↑ 一連三場的處女演唱會..終於完滿結束了!… | 鄧紫棋 Gem Tang – G.E.M. Blog. Gem-tang.xanga.com (23 November 2009). Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  12. ↑ "Mini-Concert in Canada" (in Chinese). Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  13. ↑ "18... Taiwanese Edition" (in Chinese). Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  14. ↑ "Recording in Los Angeles and Project Kaisei" (in Chinese). Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  15. ↑ http://awardsandwinners.com/category/world-music-awards/world-music-award-for-world%E2%80%99s-best-female-artist/ 2014 World Music Award Winner and Nominees
  16. ↑ "Demi Lovato, Avril Lavigne, Fall Out Boy, Ashley Tisdale & G.E.M. Team for 'Charming' Song". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  17. ↑ "Avril Lavigne, Demi Lovato, And Fall Out Boy Are Collaborating on a Prince Charming Song". MTV News. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
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