Translated articles after this site started:
**Still to come**
The excerpt from Album Review of Japanese magazine "Music Magazine", July 2005:
Michael Wong "Fairy Tale"
The third solo album from a former member of Wu Yin Liang Pin, the male duo from Malaysia that used to be very popular in Chinese-speaking countries in the late 1990s. He sings lovely melodies in a sweet high-pitched voice. Melodious ballads, traditionally a royal road of Chinese popular songs, are combined with contemporary sounds. That must be the reason why his music is relaxing.
Text by Masako Mibu (Music critic)
Translated by Makiko Kawamura (MIFC Japan)
The excerpt from Album Review of Japanese magazine "POP ASIA" No.63 (Tokimeki Publishing), June 2006
Michael Wong "Commitment"
Wong, whose previous album "Fairy Tale" sold 1.2 million copies in Asia, became the first Malaysian singer to do a solo concert at Hong Kong Coliseum last March. "Commitment" is his first album since he moved on to Seed Music. All songs on this album were composed by Wong, who earned himself the nickname of "Fairy Tale Prince". His gentle and natural music world fills the whole album, and down-to-earth Wong follows the path in the world where he likes to be--such an attitude kept through the album will make you feel refreshed.
Text by Megumi Niibori (Music critic)
Translated by Makiko Kawamura (MIFC Japan)
Kuala Lumpur: As a part of promotion of his second solo album, Malaysian singer Michael Wong acted as a tour guide for crew of Taiwanese SETTV entertainment news, in order to introduce some Malaysian tourist attractions to viewers in Taiwan. Nanyang Shang Pau's reporters travelled with them and saw two sides of Wong--hardworking at work, but amusing at other times.
*The first stop: A batik factory in Sungai Buloh
More than ten people including SETTV crew, Rock Records Taiwan's staff, Wong's manager, a driver, a makeup artiste, a hairdresser, reporters and photographers, first visited a traditional batik factory-cum-shop in Sungai Buloh.
On arriving there, factory workers welcomed Wong warmly with sparkling eyes and a smile from beyond the glass entrance door.
He was asked to draft batik textile and make it a present for his fans, but drawing was quite a task for him. As everyone was talking about what to draw, we heard him saying, "beach, palm trees, or Petronas Twin Towers will be good." However, after seeing design samples, Wong gasped in surprise pointing at that of Twin Towers, "it would take more than three days for me to finish!" while a skilled factory worker said that was an easy job for himself.
After further discussion Wong decided to write the title of his latest album and draw a flower, but still had to be taught how to draft from a skilled worker, not to waste cloth. We saw Wong drawing carefully while explaining about batik--a proof of his professionalism.
Finally he finished his job, but it was too early to have a break, because female factory workers and shop clerks were waiting for a chance to take a picture with him. He didn't refuse their request, and became the only boy in the group photo.
*The second stop: A firefly sanctuary in Kuala Selangor
On the way to Kuala Selangor famous for multitude of fireflies along the river banks, Wong started playing masseur to a Taiwanese promotion person in the car, making him moan loudly. Asked the reason, Wong said with a grin, "Because it really feels good!" It makes sense to have a free-of-charge massage when you are tired on the job.
Arriving at a firefly sanctuary, we first took a meal at a restaurant, where the electricity often went out and everyone gradually got anxious. After some blackouts Wong proposed, "Let's sing Happy Birthday together when the electricity goes out next time!"
When the "important" moment came, we all sang "Happy birthday to you" in English. After that sporadic blackouts still occurred, and as a result the song was sung for several times, even in Chinese and Bahasa Malaysia. During this time, everyone's anxiety and tiredness were eased.
Just before taking a sail to see fireflies. a group of people stopped in front of the boatslip and then hurriedly started to apply anti-insect agent to their legs, necks, faces and ears, in order to avoid mosquitoes. A female guide warned us not to scratch at a mosquito bite, otherwise it would inflame.
Wong talked to the video camera in a frightening tone on purpose, but what seemed the most terrifying was a black cat ahead that never went away. We boarded on a boat carefully, and on the miraculously quiet surface of the river, the breathtaking scenery enchanted us.
Shrubs on the river banks were blinking like Christmas trees because of many fireflies on every branch. We all held our breath not to scare the bugs away. The nonstop blink seemed like photoflashes, and it was as if we on the boat were at a big press conference and had our photos taken.
Our boat slowly got close enough to one of the shrubs so that the photographer could take a closeup image of a firefly. As someone reached out, it went through his fingers and then flew away, just like in animated movie director Hayao Miyazaki's feature film "Grave of the Fireflies". We were also flying high at heart to see this eye-opener. Even Wong, who saw fireflies before, said excitedly, "Next time I will bring my parents to show all this to them!"
On the way back to Kuala Lumpur most of us were too tired to talk in the car, while Wong practiced singing, and discussed his album as well as his schedule with a Taiwanese promotion person.
I went back to the firefly sanctuary in a dream, and as I awoke from a nap, the car already arrived at Kuala Lumpur.
Nanyang Shang Pau's contributed to this report.
Translated and edited by Makiko Kawamura (MIFC Japan)
21/4/2006
Source: Malay Mail
HE might have performed on international stages including the Hong Kong Coliseum, but home is where the heart is for Michael Wong.
And so, Wong or better known as Guang Liang, promises his fans an unforgettable first concert back in his homeland.
Michael Wong Concert Live in Malaysia will be held at Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil, on September 30, 2006. It's jointly organised by Absolute Entertainment and CMG.
According to Wong, it will be different from the Michael Wong's First Fairy Tale Concert held in Hong Kong on March 29.
'Malaysia holds a special place in my heart. So this will be a special show, a walk down memory lane with my fans,' said the 36-year-old singer at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur recently.
He said the repertoire would consists of old and new songs, and some fast ones.
He would like to share with his fans his musical journey in the last decade, the good times and bad with his fans.
'I am practicing hard on my dance sequences. I promise to show my fans my mysterious dance moves!'
Wong was recently back home for a promotional tour (he toured Ipoh, Penang, Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur) of his new album Commitment, a collection of his compositions from the hits of his Michael & Victor days to songs he has written for other singers such as Fish Leong's Courage and Angelica Lee's Love. It also contains three new songs.
The album is another success. It has sold more than a million in Asia within one month of release, and in Malaysia, it has sold 200,000 copies.
After building up his career in Taiwan, Wong has also made a name for himself in Hong Kong now. But to him, he feels music should not be differentiated by regions or even cultures.
'I just hope more people can listen to my music. But I never thought of staying put at a particular place. As an artiste, it is not possible to limit yourself geographically.'
Wong said he would be back in Malaysia more often, as he is also the current ambassador for Tourism Malaysia. And he is honoured to promote Malaysia to his friends and fans overseas.
Recently, he has been invited to Indonesia to sing in a show.
'I was a little surprised. I didn't know I had fans there as well, he quipped.'
He has no intention to record Cantonese songs.
'People have accepted me as I am. Even my Hong Kong fans like me singing Mandarin songs,' he said.
Although his album had been doing so well, he won't be rushing to do another one. Rather, he wants to take a break to search for new inspiration, and may even take up some courses.
'Sometimes I feel my compositions are quite dry and weird. I think I need to take a rest!'
When asked whether he would like to go into acting, Wong said that is a possibility but he believes it is up to fate.
'I would need a good script, a good director and a good role to motivate me to act, he said. He admitted that he had some offers but it didn't work out at the end as he was busy making his albums.'
To work on a musical is one of Wong's dreams but he said that he is not qualified to direct a whole musical just yet.
Wong has much to say when talking about his music, and he is constantly exploring new ideas like releasing EPs rather than full albums, a current trend in China, and it is also more cost effective.
But when asked about his love life and whether he is seeing anyone, Wong appeared a little shy and his answer was ambiguous. I would just let nature takes it course.
For his Kuala Lumpur concert, Wong said he won't specifically invite any of his artiste friends to come because he doesn't want them to feel obligated.
'If they want to come I will ask my management company to arrange for it.'
When asked whether he would invite his former partner Victor Wong as a guest artiste, Wong said it was not his call as they belonged to different management companies.
He explained his management company would take care of such details. But he hoped to invite Rene Liu, his good buddy and guest, at his Hong Kong concert.
23/3/2006
South China Morning Post, P. C8
It took just one hit song for singer Michael Wong to crack the local market, writes Lee Wing-sze.
With his ballad Fairy Tale, Michael Wong Kong-leong follows in the footsteps of fellow Malaysian-Chinese entertainers who've made it big in Hong Kong such as actresses Angelica Lee Sin-je and Memoirs of Geisha's Michelle Yeoh.
The song, which made Wong a household name in Taiwan and Hong Kong and on the mainland last year, boosted the singer's fan base and won him a handful of awards.
The album, Fairy Tale, featuring the hit single, has sold 1.2 million copies in Asia. Next week, Wong becomes the first Malaysian-Chinese singer to stage a gig at the 13,000-capacity Hong Kong Coliseum. He says he's overwhelmed that tickets to the Hong Kong concert: The first leg of his first world tour sold out in a few days.
'I haven't had too many chances to visit Hong Kong,' says the singer songwriter. 'I knew I had some loyal fans, but I didn't know there were so many people supporting me.'
Wong, who began learning the piano at the age of 10, started composing songs in secondary school. In the early 1990s, he entered a number of singing contests, which led to a deal with a Malaysian record label.
Wong then launched the duo Michael and Victor with fellow Malaysian-Chinese singer Victor Wong Pin-kuan in 1994. Their debut record, Palm, topped the Malaysian Billboard charts for 10 weeks. The duo were then signed to Taiwan's Rock Records and were nominated for best performing group at Taiwan's Golden Melody Awards in 1995. Their following records were top-sellers, but they decided to split in 2000. Going solo was a big challenge, says Wong, 35, but it led to opportunities to act in theatre, television and movies, including Summer Holiday (2000) and Better Than Sex (2000).
'Before there were two people coming up with ideas,' he says. 'I also had someone to rely on. But it was a new start.'
Wong's solo debut, 'First Time', was a fairly simple affair. He followed it up in 2002 with 'Brightness', in which he moved away from ballads and tried rock, electronica and R&B.
'I experimented with a lot of things on Brightness' he says.
His latest studio recording, Commitment, released last month, is a collection of his compositions: seven new numbers, including tracks he wrote for artists such as Fish Leong and Lee Sin-je, and instrumental versions of 10 songs written by Wong when he was with Rock Records.
'It's a little round-up of songs that I've written over the years,' he says. 'Writing music helps me record my life.'
Michael Wong First Time Fairy Tale Concert 2006, Wed, 8.15pm, HK Coliseum, has sold out.
Translated and edited by Athlynn (MIFC Malaysia)
Can see but can't eat : Prawns
Michael: After going abroad, I realized that I actually cannot eat prawns. Everytime I eat, the insides of my throat and ears will itch. Even the lower part below my lips will be swollened. I am also unsure of the reasons why. There was once when I was at a beach in Taiwan to shoot a film, I ate loads of seafood. At the end of the day, my lips were all swollened. My whole face actually looked like a bulldog. It finally subsided after I went straightaway to get an injection. But the weird thing is, I have never been allergic to seafood before this. When I was in Malaysia, nothing will happen no matter what type of seafood I eat. It only happens when I'm overseas. I think I'm only allergic to a certain type of prawns, especially freshwater prawns. Just like when I was in Hong Kong, I can't eat fried prawns but most of other ways of cooking it is still alright.
There's also once when I cooked something in my home in Taiwan,I also can't remember what I ate, but for a few days when I washed my hands, my fingers actually itched a bit.After I washed up after eating that day, my whole body started burning with itch, including my anus (my gawd!!) and tongue. That kind of itchiness cannot be described just with words.It was itching so terribly that I started rolling on the floor.Then when I looked at myself in the mirror, my whole face became so swollened I looked like an elephant. Not long after that,I started gasping for air too.At that moment I really felt very scared. I then hurriedly went to see a doctor.The nurse told me that I have been infected with 'hives'. If it becomes serious,I might end up being in a shock. Then after that, I remembered I ate some cuttlefish and drank some coffee that night. I actually can't drink coffee; everytime I drink, my stomach will be very uncomfortable.
But I still dare to eat prawns lah.I am not avoiding it, but I will eat a little first, and then if I feel that there's something that's isn't right, which is the feeling of itch in my throat, then I will stop eating.
Translated and edited by Athlynn (MIFC Malaysia)
New Straits Times
From humble beginnings in Ipoh, singer Michael Wong,35, is now a
household name among the Mandarin-speaking audience in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The Tourism Ministry, taking advantage of his popularity, has made him an "ambassador" to win back Chinese tourists.
He speaks from Taiwan to JUNE RAMLI.
Q: What was your reaction when you learnt that you have been made an
"ambassador"?
A: It is going to be two-year contract with the Tourism Ministry. I am
honoured and looking forward to it.It is my duty to talk about the
splendours of Malaysia, especially the food, the people and its culture.
Q: What is the first you did after the appoinment?
A: I plan to promote Malaysia during my concert in China next April.The
Tourism Ministry is also promoting my concerts through a package to
Chinese tourists, offering a five- night stay at special prices.
Q: What made you accpet the appointment?
A: I was overhelmed when Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Ahmand
Zahid Hamidi attended my perfomance in Shanghai.
He told me that he was really proud of my achievements and even
hugged me. This was one od the driving factors that made me take
the job.
Q: Will you be successful?
A: People can connect easily with my music.My fans in Taiwan, China
and Hong Kong not only know me as Malaysian but also as someone
who comes from a country with the tallest twin towers. So I am as
easily recognisable as Malaysia's well-known monuments.
Q: Will you have problems in view f the recent negative publicity in
the Press in China?
A: I don't think much about it. I believe the people accept me for my
achievements ijn my music. I understand that there are many
negative reposts about Malaysia in the Chinese media and I
have prepared myself to answer these questions.It is my role to make
things clear by telling them that bad incidents involving Chinese
tourists were isolated cases.
Q: Would you be interested in producing a Malay album?
A: I have thought about it,
but i don't know because to sing in Malay, one has got to master the language. So, we will see.
Q: You and Michelle Yeoh are both from Ipoh, and have made it big
abroad, What do you think of it?
A: I am a friend of her brother.I have seen her once or twice when I was young.
It is hard to believe that we are both now successful individuals.
Q:Do you miss Malaysian foods?
A: Yes, especially Nasi Lemak. Altough I am Chinese, I still have a
hard time getting used to eat Taiwanese food.I miss the Malaysian
dishes in Penang and Ipoh. Although I spend a lot of time in Taiwan, I
usually run back to Malaysia whenever I have the opportunity.
2006.04.17
After the success of Michael Wong's First Fairy Tale Concert, held in Hong Kong's Coliseum on the 29th of March, Michael Wong's World Concert Tour journey is finally beginning. Malaysian fans will be ecstatic to know that Michael will be back to his homeland for his first solo concert performance since Hong Kong! Through his songs he would like to share with his fans, all his sweet and sorrows of his musical journey for the past 10 years, his glorious moments and achievements in the industry.
The good news is that, at the peak of Michael's career, two of the countries top concert organisers, Absolute Entertainment and CMG has signed on to jointly organise & promote Michael's first concert in Malaysia! Absolute Entertainment Director Adrian Wong has officially announced that Michael Wong's First Malaysian Concert will be held in Bukit Jalil Stadium on the 30th September, 2006 (Saturday)!
In the history of Malaysian concerts, both Absolute Entertainment and CMG have achieved great success in local and international concert productions. This time, both companies combining their experience, together with stage, will have the privilege to jointly organize this prestigious concert in Malaysia, fulfilling dreams and bringing hope to all Malaysian fans.
Since its establishment in the year 2004, Absolute Entertainment specializes in the production of foreign artists' concerts, such as Sarah Brightman Harem Tour 2004, Hoobastank The Reason Tour 2004, Diary of Alicia Keys World Tour 2004, Best of Blue World Tour 2004, and have achieved great success in the local music entertainment scene. The highlight of the company was venturing into organising their very first Chinese concert, and it had to be the biggest concert of 2005, the very grand & amazing 'Andy Lau Vision Tour 2005'. Undeniably, the company gained instant recognition & praise in the industry by doing such a magnificent job in organising this concert; at the same time it also made Malaysian concert production history with its stunning 7-storey stage design and excellent dynamic sound system in an outdoor stadium setting.
CMG is a company who has evolved and grown in the field of technical production for sound and lighting in the events & concert production industry - from its humble beginning in the mid 1990's to a highly respected company today. 2004 was a breakthrough year for CMG as it successfully provided technical expertise to many mega events in Malaysia namely, TVBS Super Concert 2004, TV3 Carnival 'SureHeboh' 2004 and most prominently, its maiden solely-organized concert, S.H.E Fantasy Wonderland Concert Live In Malaysia 2004. CMG was also the organizer for the grand and prestigious '8TV Summer Live Concert' held in Penang in the year 2005.
Absolute Entertainment and CMG, together with 28stage, proudly presents to Malaysian fans, Michael Wong's Concert Live in Malaysia to be held on the 30th of September 2006, 8pm Saturday at Putra Indoor Stadium, Bukit Jalil, KL, Malaysia.
Eason Chan, Richie Ren, Ox (Aniu ~ Chan Hin Cheung) and Guang Liang were invited to perform at 'Jade Solid Gold'. When the fathers Eason, Richie and Ox saw each other, they immediately talked about their children. As Guang Liang doesn't have a family of his own yet, he completely didn't have an opportunity to participate in the conversation. Regarding treating Guang Liang coldly, Ox smilingly said: 'We didn't mean to!'
Eason has scolded the tabloid's use of words being not right.
Eason then frankly said that he was the most inexperienced with children from the three of them. That is because he is mainly focusing on earning money now. Regarding the sneaky pictures of Leon Lai and his girlfriend Lok Ke Yee during their free time at home, Eason thinks that the tabloid didn't use the words right. He said: 'How can one explain these terms to little children? Like my daughter is growing up really fast, by then she probably may know how to curse. Should the government set up a control system?
Leon's good friend, Guang Liang expressed that he hadn't seen the pictures. Instead, he asked the reporter: 'Doing too much their best? If everyone did their best like that to donate to charities, then it is a good thing. So, it really is a pity.'
Ox disclosed that he will be in Hong Kong for two weeks, afterwards he will go to Guangzhou and Shenzhen to promote his album. He smilingly told: 'If I have several 100 000 additional income, then it is good. Then I could go to Spain and France for inspiration. [Wants to go there for the girls?] Not necessarily have to go to France first, Hong Kong also has them. Once a female fan said she loved me, but her behaviour wasn't too persisting.