Mandopop (simplified Chinese: 华语流行音乐; traditional Chinese: 華語流行音樂; pinyin: Huáyǔ liúxíng yīnyuè) is a colloquial abbreviation for "Mandarin popular music." It is categorized as a subgenre of commercial Chinese-language music within C-pop. Mandopop was the first variety of popular music in Chinese to establish itself as a viable industry. As the name implies, Mandopop features songs performed mainly in Mandarin Chinese. Among the countries where the subgenre is most popular are China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan^{[citation needed]}.

History[link]

Origin[link]

The origin of commercial Chinese-language music began with the gramophone, a technological innovation brought to Tibet Road in Shanghai by a Frenchman named Labansat.^[1] Baak Doi (Chinese: 百代; pinyin: bǎi dài) was the first record company to serve as the backbone for the young industry.

1920s: Birth of shidaiqu[link]

Mandarin pop songs in the 1920s were called shidaiqu (時代曲 - meaning music of the time, thus popular music). They are considered the prototype of any Chinese pop song.^[2] Location-wise, Shanghai was the center and quintessential hub for mandopop. Li Jinhui is generally regarded as the "Father of Chinese Popular Music", having established the genre in the 1920s.^[3] Buck Clayton, the American jazz musician, also worked alongside Li. Some music enthusiasts suggest that Shidaiqu is the basic form of all Mandarin pop songs up until the transition to Cantopop. The Bright Moonlight Song and Dance Troupe (明月歌舞团), established by Li, is also the first modern musical division to be integrated into the Lianhua Film Company in 1931, making it the first pop music division to enter any Chinese film industry.

1930s–1940s: The Seven Great Singing Stars era[link]

The original "Seven Great Singing Stars" in the Republic of China period secured the place of the genre in Asian society. The singers' style was unlike any Chinese-language music that had come before it. The young film industry took advantage and engaged singers for acting and soundtrack roles. Zhou Xuan (Chinese: 周璇; pinyin: Zhōu Xuán）is generally considered the most remarkable Chinese pop star of the era due to her successful singing and film career. This generation saw female singers rise in popularity from "song girls" to "stars".^[3] The era came to an abrupt end when Japanese armies occupied Shanghai during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II.

1950s: The split[link]

In 1949, the People's Republic of China was established by the communist party. One of the first actions taken by the government was to denounce popular music as pornography.^[4] In the mainland, the communist regime would begin suppressing pop music in order to promote revolutionary songs.

The Chinese Nationalists' retreat to Taiwan following the Chinese Civil War had established the Republic of China on Taiwan with its capital city Taipei as the new center of Mandopop. Taiwanese youth were drawn to popular styles from abroad in part because the Japanese, who had governed Taiwan since the end of the nineteenth century through World War II, were themselves keen consumers of international entertainment. Popular songs necessarily employed Mandarin after the war though, because Taiwan's new rulers, the KMT, mandated its use, forbidding Japanese and restricting the use of Taiwanese, the actual mother tongue of most of the island's residents.^[5] Where Taiwanese pop had existed in the shadow of Japanese pop during Japanese rule, it now operated in the shadow of Mandopop during KMT rule.

1960s: Political era[link]

The 1960s was a highly politically tense era. Some songs in Taiwan such as "Not Going Home Today" (今天不回家) by Yao Surong (姚蘇蓉) were prohibited.^[6]

1970s–1980s: Rise of the industry[link]

Mandopop became more popular within mainland China after Deng Xiaoping opened China's doors to the world. As a result, more young people in China started to enjoy pop music.

In 1979, Singapore launched the Speak Mandarin Campaign to promote the use of Mandarin over the range of Chinese dialects spoken by various segments of the ethnic-Chinese population. Mandarin songs therefore began to replace Hokkien and Cantonese songs on the radio stations and on television.^[7]

Teresa Teng (simplified Chinese: 邓丽君; traditional Chinese: 鄧麗君; pinyin: Dèng Lìjūn) made Mandopop a true mainstay by crossing over to mainland China. Even in the height of censorship, the mainland lifted the ban on Teng in 1986 and proclaimed that "By day, Deng Xiaoping rules China. But by night, Deng Lijun (Teresa Teng) rules".^[8] Her songs were considered "Bourgeois Music" by mainland officials.^[9]

The popularity of Lo Ta-yu (simplified Chinese: 罗大佑; traditional Chinese: 羅大佑; pinyin: Luó Dàyòu) drove demand for the music to new heights. One of the most successful songs of the era was Lo Ta-yu's "Tomorrow will be Better" (明天會更好/明天会更好). The song was originally performed in 1985 by 60 singers.^[10] It quickly became a hit throughout Asia and established itself as a standard. Another song soon followed in 1986 in mainland China called "Let the World be filled with Love" (讓世界充滿愛).^[11] At the time, these songs were inspired by the American song "We Are the World".^[10][11]

1990s[link]

Faye Wong (王菲) became the first Chinese singer to perform in Budokan, Japan. For this reason she is also called the Diva of Asia.^[12][13]

During this period, singers from Hong Kong such as the Four Heavenly Kings - Aaron Kwok, Leon Lai, Andy Lau and Jacky Cheung - also began to dominate Mandopop. Nonetheless, Taiwan has their own popular singers such as Stella Chang, Sky Wu, Wakin Chau (formerly Emil Chau) and Jeff Chang. Rock Records began to emerge in this period as the most influential of the independent labels.

Taiwan's Jay Chou dominated almost all categories for a span of a decade

2000s[link]

The 2000s began with an explosion of pop idols, mainly from Taiwan. Mainland China has rapidly increase a large number of Mandopop singers, bands, and idol groups as pop music becomes increasingly mainstream by mid-2000s. The growing Mainland film industry and Chinese television drama also increased demand for Mandopop. Jay Chou led the popularity of rhythm and blues and rap music in the scene. Other successful singers include Stefanie Sun, David Tao, Jolin Tsai and Leehom Wang. While many Cantopop singers also turning towards Mandopop industry due to disputes among entertainment and record companies in Hong Kong and also to increase their fan base.

Since the 2000s, the emergence of indie rock in mainland China and Taiwan had exploded into a flourishing indie music scene in mainland China and Taiwan, adding various new diversities into Mandopop. Entry of popular Taiwan-based bands such as Mayday and Sodagreen while in mainland Chinese-based bands such as SuperVC and Milk@Coffee had brought a new phase of rock fusion into Mandopop.

In recent years, the burgeoning number of contests have brought an idol concept (偶像, ǒuxiàng) to the Mandopop industry. Nationwide singing competitions in mainland China, such as the Super Girl and Super Boy, have greatly boosted Mandopop's influence many contestants emerge as successful singers such as Chris Lee (Li Yuchun), Jason Zhang Jie, Jane Zhang Liangying, and Chen Chusheng. In Taiwan, the term "quality idol" (優質偶像, yōuzhì ǒuxiàng) has entered the popular lexicon, referring to Mandopop singers who are good-looking, talented and highly educated, among them Wang Leehom and Wei Li-an.^[14]

Recent years also saw the rise in crossover appeal of Taiwanese bubblegum pop boybands and girlbands to the mainland Chinese scene, such as commercially successful acts like S.H.E and Fahrenheit (Taiwanese band). Several new boybands and girlbands also have emerged in mainland China during like Top Combine, UP Girls, RTA, iMe, S.P.Y and HIT-5.

Characteristics[link]

Instruments and setups[link]

The guqin and pipa are some of the first instruments used during shidaiqu's early mandopop era. Today's mandopop arrangements are quite westernized, covering many musical styles, including rhythm and blues, ballads, Pop. A few Chinese pop musicians, most notably Jay Chou, Lin Jun Jie, and Leehom Wang, have experimented with fusing traditional Chinese instruments with western influences.

Influential artists like Leehom Wang and David Tao, who use both traditional Chinese instruments and mainstream western hip hop melodies, have influenced many Asian singers worldwide.

Industry[link]

Mandopop stars[link]

While China has the largest Mandarin-speaking population, Taiwan is the most significant hub of the genre.^[15] The trend is that most artists are branded by where they come from regardless of where they were actually marketed. Mandopop stars come mainly from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Malaysia.

Labels[link]

Mandopop record labels includes independent labels such as JVR Music, Linfair Records, B'In Music and subsidiaries of major labels such as Sony Music Taiwan, Universal Music Taiwan, Warner Music Taiwan. In the past few years, mainland labels such as EE-Media, Huayi Brothers, Taihe Rye Music, Show City Times, Idol Entertainment, and Tian Hao Entertainment have also emerged.

• Mainland China: EE-Media, Huayi Brothers, Taihe Rye Music, Show City Times, Idol Entertainment, TH Entertainment
• Taiwan/Hong Kong: Rock Records, HIM International Music, Avex Taiwan, Gold Typhoon

Overseas[link]

Mandopop titles are also available outside of Asia. Chinese communities established in North America have made Mandopop music accessible through local businesses. In the United States, Canada and Australia they are easily found in many major urban areas, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, New York, Seattle, Houston, Dallas, Vancouver, Toronto, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne^{[citation needed]}.

	"The Evening Primrose" (夜來香) noicon A 1930s shidaiqu style mandopop song by Li Xianglan "Dancing Diva" noicon A modern mandopop song by Jolin Tsai
Problems listening to these files? See media help.

Awards[link]

• Beijing Popular Music Awards (Mainland China)
• CCTV-MTV Music Awards (Mainland China)
• Chinese Music Awards (Mainland China)
• Four Stations Joint Music Awards (Hong Kong)
• Golden Melody Awards (Taiwan)
• Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards (Hong Kong)
• M Music Awards (Mainland China)
• Metro Radio Mandarin Music Awards (Hong Kong)
• RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards (Hong Kong)
• Singapore Hit Awards (Singapore)
• Top Chinese Music Awards (Mainland China)
• Ultimate Song Chart Awards (Hong Kong)

Mandopop radio stations[link]

See also[link]

• Music of China
• Music of Taiwan
• C-pop
• Chinese R&B
• J-pop
• K-pop
• Taiwanese pop
• List of best-selling albums in Taiwan

References[link]

External links[link]

• Videos about Taiwan's Mandopop Music Empire

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Henry Lau (traditional Chinese: 劉憲華; simplified Chinese: 刘宪华; pinyin: Liú Xiànhuá; Cantonese Yale: Làuh Hinwàh; born October 11, 1989), better known simply as Henry, is a Chinese Canadian singer-songwriter. He is known for being a member of the one of Super Junior's sub-groups, Super Junior-M.

Biography[link]

Henry's father is from Hong Kong and his mother from Pingtung, Taiwan. Henry's areas of expertise lie in violin, piano, popping, guitar playing and singing. Henry started to learn to play the piano from his mother at the age of 5, and also learned to play the violin at the age of 6. He also learned a unique form of dancing called boogaloo popping while in high school. After only one year of dancing, Henry was competing in dance (popping) competitions and shows. Henry has gained many performance awards, such as the Canadian Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Silver Medal for Level 10 Violin. Henry said he had planned to become a professional violinist, but never expected to become an idol star before being selected by S.M. Entertainment in 2006. and also said that he chose to join S.M. because if he turned to be a classical musician, he wouldn't be able to sing, dance, play the piano, and play the violin all together (Source:ilikeradio).

He was born and raised in Willowdale, Toronto where is one of the most affluent areas of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located in the district of North York. He attended Steelesview Public School, Zion Heights Junior High School, then North Toronto Collegiate Institute in grade 9, and attended A.Y. Jackson Secondary School (Toronto) for the rest of his high school years before being chosen at the 2006 S.M. Entertainment Global Audition in Toronto, Ontario. He briefly attended University of Toronto (Music Performance Major) in 2007. He also attended Berklee College of Music in Boston From May 2010 to August 2010.

His first appearance was in Super Junior's "Don't Don" ^[1] music video in September 2007. A few months later, Don't Don became a number one hit in Korea. In 2008, Henry was added to Super Junior-M^[2] and the group debuted in China on April 8, 2008, releasing their "U" remake music video and an album entitled "迷 [Me]" soon after that incorporated Henry's violin.

Henry returned to the music industry after a year-long break when Super Junior-M and their first mini-album: Super Girl (EP) was released in China on September 25, 2009. In the mini-album, Henry does not display his violin playing. Henry did mixes and beats, such as for other members' (Donghae, Hangeng and Heechul) solo performances for their fan parties and Super Show 3 (Heechul) in 2009-2010.

In 2010, Henry composed a song called '진심(All My Heart)' for Super Junior's 4th repackage album, with Leeteuk. And for Super Show 2, he solely produced and wrote a song titled "Sick Of Love" which was written in English and hasn't been officially recorded yet. He was also featured in a Jonghyun and Jino R&B duet "Don't Lie" by SM The Ballad in which he raps in the song. Also, Henry rearranged Justin Bieber's "Baby" and used the song to perform for the Super Show 3 Tour. He performed it once again during Super Show 4's opening stops in Seoul with another new arrangement with f(x)'s Amber performing alongside with him as a featured rapper.

In February 2011, Henry's new solo song called '表白(Biǎobái - Confess)' was released. The song is included in Super Junior-M's second EP, 'Perfection (EP)'. The song showcases Henry's talent in composing, arranging and producing as most of the work on the song was done solely by him.

In September 2011, Henry composed a song called '안단테(Andante)' for Super Junior's 5th repackage album, with Leeteuk.

His fans are known as 琴弦 (Qín xián - Strings).

Henry Lau is currently part of an unnamed movie being filmed for world-wide release in 2013.

Filmography[link]

Television series[link]

Programs from Taiwan[link]

• 2011年04月04日 《就是愛JK》
• 2011年04月05日 《就是愛JK》
• 2011年04月04日 《壹級娛樂》
• 2011年04月20日 《佼個朋友吧》
• 2011年05月01日 《驚奇四潮男》
• 2011年05月01日 《香港亞洲音樂節》
• 2011年05月02日 《日韓音樂瘋》
• 2011年05月03日 《日韓音樂瘋》
• 2011年05月04日 《日韓音樂瘋》
• 2011年05月07日 《黃金舞台》(挑戰中國特技)
• 2011年05月14日 《黃金舞台》[誰是大騙子(演技考驗)]
• 2011年05月21日 《黃金舞台》(中華料理廚藝大比拼)
• 2011年05月28日 《黃金舞台》(熱血男孩趣味競賽)
• 2011年06月04日 《黃金舞台》(台灣傳統工藝)
• 2011年06月06日 《台韓友好演唱會》
• 2011年06月04日 《娛樂@亞洲》[當我們宅在台灣(上)]
• 2011年06月11日 《娛樂@亞洲》[當我們宅在台灣(下)]
• 2011年09月25日 《名人帶路》(平溪中文體驗任務)
• 2011年10月02日 《名人帶路》(臺南花園夜市美食大進擊)
• 2011年10月09日 《名人帶路》(台北時尚新體驗)
• 2011年10月16日 《名人帶路》(台中 2000元美味挑戰)
• 2011年10月23日 《名人帶路》(刺激！中文測驗樂園)
• 2011年10月30日 《名人帶路》(熱血海灘假期 墾丁)
• 2012年01月22日 《名人帶路》(超坦白真心話大冒險)
• 2012年01月22日 《名人帶路》(獨家花絮大直擊)

Controversy[link]

Before debuting as a member of Super Junior-M, Henry originally debuted as a 'Mystery violinist' in Super Junior's 2007 single "Don't Don"^[1] which caused a controversy among the fans after SM Entertainment officially announced Henry to be a member of a new Super Junior sub-unit. Previously, there were rumors stating that Henry was to be the fourteenth member of Super Junior, stemming from SM's statement regarding the controversy, which led fans to the form an "Only 13" campaign.

Concert[link]

• 'SMTOWN LIVE in TOKYO SPECIAL EDITION'（2011/9/2~2011/9/4）
• SMTOWN LIVE in New York_INFORMATION（2011/10/23）
• Super Junior World Tour "SUPER SHOW 4" in SEOUL (2011/11/19~2011/11/20)
• SUPER JUNIOR WORLD TOUR「SUPER SHOW 4」in OSAKA (2011/12/10~2011/12/11)
• SUPER JUNIOR WORLD TOUR「SUPER SHOW 4」in TAIPEI (2012/02/02~2012/02/05)
• SUPER JUNIOR WORLD TOUR“SUPER SHOW 4”in SINGAPORE (2012/02/18~2012/02/19)
• SUPER JUNIOR WORLD TOUR“SUPER SHOW 4”in Macao (2012/03/09~2012/03/10)
• SUPER JUNIOR WORLD TOUR“SUPER SHOW 4”in Bangkok (2012/03/16~2012/03/18)

References[link]

External links[link]

• SM Entertainment Official Site
• Super Junior-M Official Website