Wrapped in love, Zhang Jie releases new album

Everything about singer Zhang Jie seems to be full of joy. He finally married host and fellow Chengdu’er Xie Na after seven years. The Hope School that the pair sponsored just opened this week. He will release his album the first time ever in Taiwan, and promote on a variety of Taiwanese shows, including Kangxi Laile, next month. Plus, his latest album has almost every song filled with sunshine and happiness.

Wedding-related songs include my favorite Autumn Fairytale, the Wang Leehom-composed First Lady 第一夫人, Lu Hu – composed Marry Me, as well as Lean on me 讓你依靠 , Stand Up/ 最接近天堂的地方 and Translucent Wall.

Watch the MV below for Stand Up, although I’m a lot more excited for the upcoming “First Lady” MV by Peng Youlun. Zhang Jie will  also be on Happy Camp this Saturday.

sources: sina, fountainpark723@YouTube, Zhang Jie’s weibo

Zhang Jie and Xie Na rejoice in the music of love

When you’re in love, everything you do shows.

All three of the recently-wed Zhang Jie’s new songs are filled with expressions of joy for his and  Xie Na’s wedding. Up first is First Lady 第一夫人, a rare song that Wang Leehom, who generally only writes for female singers, wrote for him. Zhang Jie sung to Xie Na at their wedding. Two other titles are Autumn Fairytale 秋天的童话 and Closest place to heaven 最接近天堂的地方, both of whose lyrics fit perfectly the fairytale wedding the couple had in the high-altitude Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.  Which song is your favorite?

First Lady – sung by Zhang Jie, composed and lyrics by Wang Leehom

Xie Na and Zhang Jie finally wed in a place close to heaven

After years of being one of our favorite couples, singer Zhang Jie and host Xie Na finally married today in Shangri-la in Yunnan Province.  The wedding was hosted by friend He Jiong, and in attendance were Xiao Shen Yang, Happy Camp hosts, eeMedia head Long Danni,  Alec Su,  Nicky Wu, etc.

Set in the closest place in heaven, the wedding featured an all-vegetarian meal with names that are puns of Zhang Jie and Xie Na’s.  So far, it seems like his entire album is dedicated to their love – from Closest place to heaven to First Lady to Fall Fairytale.

Learn more about the love stories of the Chengdu couple here and watch videos of their wedding here.

Watch them exchange marriage vows below:

Zhang Jie and Xie Na show that two are enough for a shot of love.

This Chinese Valentines Day (七夕; Seventh Eve), singer Jason Zhang Jie and host Xie Na announced their upcoming marriage via weibo. The wedding is scheduled to be around the end of September. Coworkers and friends have sent flurries of congratulations their way, and I’m crossing my fingers for wedding pictures. More on their love story can be found here.

When the ‘Happy Family’ produces an album, they spare no expense. With some of the best photographers and composers in the industry helping them, they released “Happiness. You understand it” a couple weeks ago.

Tracklist:

01.快乐你懂的
02.绽放的微笑
03.傻傻爱
04.以爱之名
05.白日梦
06.男人婆
07.思念的距离
08.为你歌唱
09.我的爱坏坏
10.啦啦歌

More gorgeous picture from the album below the cut.

Hong Mao Lan Tu Huo Feng Huang is the second movie of the franchise

Up against the fierce competition of the cute sheep and wolves of Pleasant Sheep and the Big, Big Wolf 2 (喜羊羊与灰太狼之虎虎生威) this New Year’s season is Hong Mao Lan Tu Huo Feng Huang (虹猫蓝兔火凤凰), another animated feature based on a popular cartoon series. While Xi Yang Yang aims for the funny and simplistic, Hong Mao is more of an intricate epic tale that appeals to the wuxia fan in everyone. The original series, which I feel like had a much better plot, tells of  seven legendary swordsmen whose children grew up and must discover their destiny and each other to defeat the evil clan in protection of the beautiful Zhangjiajie.

Both the new Hong Mao and the new XiYangYang movie are available on sohu hd. Which one do you like better?

Although pale in comparison to the likes of Pixar or Disney, Hong Mao is definitely a major success in recent Chinese animation. The artistic direction is excellent, and showcases the beautiful scenery of Zhangjiajie every scene. That combined with a good plotline that finally blurs the stark differences between adult and children animation makes the series one that perhaps shows the future of Chinese animation.

The Hong Mao series (虹猫蓝兔七侠传) was originally developed by Hunan-based HongMeng along with support from Zhajiajie tourism. The movie is dubbed by Hunan TV’s Happy Camp hosts Xie Na, He Jiong, Li Wei Jia, Wu Xin and Du Haitao.

Xie Na and Zhang Jie hugs as Zhou Bichang looks on flabbergasted...if only she came

After about three years of rumors, two years of dueting together as couples, Zhang Jie and Xie Na finally announced their relationship officially on the Hunan TV – Baidu Search Awards. Read more of their love story here.

In the 80′s, I’ve always thought an idol must be very very handsome, like Jimmy Lin, but then I realized that an idol is an example that one can follow. I’m happy to have such an honor, and thank everyone. I think I’m very lucky, I’ve released a lot of music works; I have my family, my friends, my colleagues, and the support my friends gave me, and I have my self, who can take care of Nana. I want to tell everyone: “We’re together, very happily.” Thank you for your blessings, and happy new year everyone. Thanks.

- Zhang Jie

Baidu is like google on steroids, and has the majority of the search market in China. The complete winner’s list below the cut

Most searched idol: Zhang Jie/ Zhou Bichang

Most searched TV series: Let’s  Watch Meteor Shower together

Most searched movie: The Message

Most searched HK/TW male singer: David Tao

Most searched mainland male singer: Wang Feng

Most searched HK/TW female singer: Elva Hsiao

Most searched mainland female singer: Li Yuchun

Most searched HK/TW group: SHE

Most searched mainland group: Yu.Quan

Most searched TV theme song: What to do if I like you for Momo Love

Most searched video game song: Dare to love for Fantasy Zhu Xian

Most searched artist: Xiao Shen Yang

Most searched all-around artist: Show Luo

Most searched mainland director: Lu Chuan

Most searched HK/TW acor: Louis Koo

Most searched mainland actor: Huang Bo

Most searched HK/TW actress:Sandra Ng

Most searched mainland actress: Yao Chen

Most searched new artist: Wang Luodan

The whole Hunan TV show was uploaded at MyChineseDrama@yt. Part 1 here. For tons of pictures of the performers go here.

My favorite performance from Hunan: Yu Haoming + Liu Xijun – Bei Ji Xue

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZABd5oYWv3k]

More vids of what happened at Taipei aiyatheydidnt has a great  post with most of those.

For Jiangsu TV no one really uploaded vids, so here’s Sina’s vid of my most anticipated performance from Jiangsu:

Joanna Wang out of semi-hiatus

Fayewongtoday has a post on Faye Wong attending her friend Na Ying‘s much anticipated New Year Concert.

Jaycee Chan and Xie Na in Tracing Shadow

A recent article from the Shanghai Film Festival (where the Hua Yi stars coverged) talked about the Four upcoming Hua Yi “Blockbusters”, all very different in genres and styles. Two of them, I’ve already mentioned on this site. Feng Sheng/The Message and Tangshan Earthquake/Aftershocks. Despite their boring English titles, it’s clear that they were heavily funded. The third big-budget film from Hua Yi is Di Re Jie, which I’ll be talk about whenever there’s clearer pictures/footage of the cast but from concept art, it seems well-budgeted as well.

Of the three, the one that makes me question the “blockbuster” tag is Tracing Shadow , starring Jaycee Chan, Xie Na, and Pace Wu. But it’s the fun one.

Tracing Shadow Trailer (Don’t judge if you don’t know what I mean by Chinese humor, or if you’ve never seen a Chinese Odyssey film.)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajjp0ZyJUoU]

For me it looks like a hell lot of fun, and is directed by Francis Ng, along with Hua Yi backing. I’m already sold.

Fun Fact: The guy playing fake “Jackie Chan” played the doctor in the tv series Jin Fen Shi Jia/Story of a Noble Family who caused the maid to go into a nunnery. He was  in a Disney commercial too. That kind of resume just screams “Jackie Chan” doesn’t it?

Source

Oh…and group picture of Hua Yi stars that were at the SIFF just bc.  *cough* BOBO’s in it.

- Xie Na

The most beautiful sun – Zhang Jie
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeMkY1x08I4]

From the “servant girl in every movie” to one of the most popular hosts in China, Xie Na’s new book recounts her years of struggle in Beijing. In it, she also tells the story of Zhang Jie, the most controversial Super Boy of 2007, and one with a voice that touched her heart:

The first time Zhang Jie held a concert, I was scared, but as soon as I entered, I felt overwhelmed. The seats were filled, even the aisles were crowed; everything around me was blue. After watching the concert, I was again surprised. When the whole stadium sang “The most beautiful sun” together with him, my eyes were wet.I think he has a musician’s spirit: he loves music and he loves singing more than anything else. You can stop him from doing anything, but you can never stop him from singing.

singing a duet on the New Year Concert (yes, she did cry)

That day, he smiled happily, but behind his happiness, there’s so much pain. He’s someone whose only dream was to buy a house for his mom and to have a stage to sing on, but he’s always harmed by others. It’s not fair.

Before joining Super Boys, Zhang Jie had won 1st on My Show in 2004. He signed on to a newly formed company. During that time, he received almost no promotion other than the shows that his friends, such as He Jiong and Xie Na, helped him to get on. His manager eventually quit the company.

singing Northern Star’s love, music and lyrics by Zhang Jie
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT6qOtVHyr0&feature=related]

One day, his manager called me and said that he’s no longer Zhang Jie’s manager. No one will take care him now. When we heard this news, our hearts went cold. We knew it was hard for him, but we never thought it would get harder. We helped him to get on some shows. Once, he went on only 15 minutes of “Kuai Le Da Ben Ying/Happy Citadel.” Only 15 minutes, and already a lot of people liked him…A lot of people left comments, saying, “wow, he’s so good, how come we never knew about him before?”

Sometimes, the rumors between me and Zhang Jie began. I didn’t care. If I can helpe you notice him, there’s nothing wrong with that. I trust Zhang Jie’s abilities. He’s not someone who’ll be beaten by rumors. If you notice him, you’ll definitely be moved by his voice, you’ll fall in love with him.

Xie Na and Zhang Jie in his mv, After tomorrow

One day, we called him excitedly, telling him we found a job for him. That day, he was strangely quiet. He was not happy as usual, but turned the offer down.

We asked him why, but he wouldn’t tell us…later, he texted me, “I’ve heard all the stories going around. You guys were fine before, but helping me has had so many negative affects on you guys. I don’t want my friends to be hurt because of me…

I miss the competition times, when at least I had a stage to sing freely, and my fans could hear me sing. But now, I must always go as XX’s friend, or XX’s rumored boyfriend, and such. I don’t want it to be like this. ” That was the first time he said so much.

After tomorrow- Zhang Jie ft Xie Na
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtvkwSTSoZw]

After that, Zhang Jie left Beijing and returned home to Chengdu to become a bar-singer. When one of his friends signed up for Super Boys, he went along. Xie Na was the host for the Chengdu auditions of Super Boys.

Later I asked him, what would your fans think? He said, they would be surprised, but they’ll be soon happy. They’ll say, “ha, we can hear him sing again.”

Because he wanted to sing for his fans, he went to that competition. He knew it would be a hard road, but he was prepared to walk it.

To be friends with someone like him, you’ll feel safe, content, happy, and lucky. You can learn a lot from him, and get a lot of good habits. Those habits will influence your whole life. If I have to say one sentence to Zhang Jie, then it’ll be “Thank you!”

Zhang Jie and Xie Na on Kuai Le Da Ben Ying, him singing Planet & Meteor
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKTkl9UYUck]

Due to her relationship with Zhang Jie, Xie Na eventually left her hostess position on Super Boys. Zhang Jie won fourth place with over 1 million votes.  Earlier this month, he finally brought himself out of his previous company with the help of his fans who raised millions in eight days for him. He and Xie Na sang their first on-stage duet together on Hunan TV’s New Year Concert.