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Star Interview: Doing magic tricks and playing the Guzheng, Jay Chou is very amazing
by kelvin@multistars - 27th March 2008Source: Yangtse
"Lots of things don't count unless you see it with your own eyes, just like how I know how to play the Guzheng, I will definitely play it at my concert for everyone", Jay Chou who was sitting face to face looked just like those youngsters with ambition, he's only satisfied after he shows it to everyone. Because his schedule is too tight, before the "Fuzimiao Qinhuai River 2008 M-Zone Jay Chou World Tour Nanjing Stop" he might not come for the initial promotion. While he was in Shanghai filming a commercial recently, reporters rushed to the hotel in Shanghai to interview the busy Jay Chou, despite being a "boss" and a "heavenly king" now, he likes to play it cool when chatting, he's a big kid that is a bit narcissistic.
Playing it cool
I'll do a magic trick for you
"I got no time to play games, recently I've been filming too many commercials", Jay Chou was very honest in that recently he's ignored his proper job", but as soon as he heard that before he came a few of the reporters were playing cards, he suddenly became interested, "You guys aren't gambling right? Even though I don't play cards, but I'm really good at using cards to do magic tricks......it's true, do you have any cards? That's great, let me just say I don't have any special cards, these are just ordinary cards". As he was saying that he shuffled the cards, "I'll do a magic trick for you to watch, pick a card, this one? Look at it, it's the 6 of diamonds......" Saying that he put the card on the table for the reporter to press down on, "This magic trick is related to me......think of my name while you press on the card, what's my name? Yes, Zhou Jie Lun, what about my English name? Yes, Jay, good, now look at the card again", the reporter turned over the card and indeed the card became a "J" of diamonds, he was pleased with himself, "Take a look, you have all seen Stephen Chow rub cards right, I'll gently rub it, look!" That 6 of diamonds appeared in his hand again.....
Narcissistic
I play the Guzheng really.....well
His friends, including himself all say frankly "Jay Chou is very narcissistic", this point of course was reflected in his concert, every time he would "show off" and give the audience a surprise, "I've played basketball in the past, I definitely won't be doing it this time; for piano, I've played a four-handed piano duet, this time I might go for a pair of pianos; besides singing songs that everyone won't be able to guess, I'll also sing other peoples' songs, I like this the most....." After holding back for half a day, he finally talks about the main point: "Actually this time in Najing I will show off some Chinese style instruments, such as the Guzheng, I know how to play the Guzheng, but if you don't see it with your own eyes it doesn't count, that's why I have to play it for everyone to see", up to this point he didn't stop himself from smiling, "I play the Guzheng really.....well, of course I'm not that good, it's just that a lot of Chinese style songs are suitable for the Guzheng...."
Ambitious
Russians aren't the only ones who can sing high notes
Jay Chou's high notes in his new song "Unparalleled" shocked fans a bit, talking about his attempt this time his words were surprising, "I'm very ambitious, people are saying how amazing Vitas is right now, the more popular he becomes the more amazing he is and the more I want to challenge him, I let everyone see that Russians aren't the only ones who can sing high notes. He also will be holding a concert in Taiwan....of course I'm not going, I have to support Chinese music", after a moment of impetuous from a young man, he himself admitted that there wasn't a need for a challenge at all, "It's just fun privately, it's ok after singing it, it's fine as long as I let everyone know that there's people like that in the Chinese music industry as well, the pride of the Chinese. Actually we are different styles so there's no need for a challenge it's just like how he won't be playing Nun-Chuks".
Cold humour
Just sing "Nanjing Salty Duck" in Nanjing
This time the organisers especially brought a Nanjing Salty Duck to Jay Chou, to this Jay Chou was a bit flattered, "Did you really bring this just for me? I thought you brought it to eat on the way. Just as well I haven't eaten yet..." In the Shanghai concert Jay Chou especially added in an extra song "The Longest Night in Shanghai", when asked if he would be adding in any "Nanjing characteristics", he joked saying: "Sing "Nanjing Salty Duck"!" But when reporters told him that Nanjing's very own Zi Wu band actually have a song called "Nanjing Salty Duck", he became serious and asked, "Really? Is that song hot in Nanjing?" While asking he told his staff to write it down.
Third eye
Also worried that others will sing his songs better than him
Besides running his own career, Jay Chou, who has now become a boss, constantly goes to find newcomers, "I will watch some selection shows, these are good things for the music business, because the chances of uncovering newcomers successfully on the road are too low. Comparatively speaking, I take more notice of newcomers from Mainland China, I favour youngsters who write and have uniqueness, because there's too many imitations right now, I need that kind that is very distinguishable, a voice that you recognise as soon as you listen to it". A lot of contestants pick Jay Chou's songs to sing in the competition, to this he's happy and worried, "I will be worried that they will sing it better than me, because right now there's too many people who can sing well, and I'll admit I'm not a very good singer but I have a distinguishing feature. Actually I suggest that youngsters don't have to sing too well, but they must have a feature, it really won't do, if you don't pronounce clearly like me it's also a feature".
Loves face
Won't be embarrassed if not chosen for Olympics song
"I really want to let everyone listen to the song I wrote for the Olympics, but the Olympics committee don't want to expose it yet", it seems Jay Chou's latest piece for the Olympics "A Long Journey" will have little chance of appearing at the Nanjing concert, in fact this song gave Jay Chou quite a lot of pressure, "Just look, everyone is calling it the Olympics song, but in fact I don't even know if it's going to be used, so the pressure on me is great, if it isn't used, I'll lose face". Even so he still prepares himself, "If it isn't chosen, I'll just change the lyrics and put it in my new album, because Vincent Fang hardly writes lyrics like these in the past, even though it's Chinese style, but in the past he wrote about fighting, eating, he hardly writes about this kind of pure will power".
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