Kekekekekekekekeke but not recently of cos. When he was in Singapore to shoot TV trailer for the protection of komodo dragons for Discovery Channel & got a shock when it bit him on the hand, wish could see the trailer. Mentioned in this article which took me a long time to find. Just remember reading it in the old dt.org forum I think & liking it a lot cos it was vry fair to David unless sum others. Oso he explained abt writing Katrina. Anyway just in case it disappeared again, I transcribed here, the bit abt komodo dragon almost at the end kekekekekekeke just so cute & adorable.
Love brings on the songs for David
By Chang May Choon
AT the grand old age of 30, R&B popster David Tao finally penned his first song for a woman he fancied.
Her name is Katrina, and he spotted her behind a cosmetics counter in a shopping mall near his home in Los Angeles two years ago.
'It was love at first sight!' the singer-composer exclaimed, eyes shining and voice flushed with excitement.
For a moment, he looked more like an infatuated Romeo than the serious musician he is known to be.
'When I saw her, I was like, 'Wow!', and I don't normally do that,' quipped the chatty Shanghai-born, LA-based star.
'She was gorgeous! She had short hair - and I have a thing for short hair - very petite, and she had beautiful features... like an Asian version of Charlize Theron.'
So smitten was he, the usually introverted David went back to ask her name, and quickly composed a song for her.
Then he made a demo CD and gave it to her, together with a bouquet of white lilies.
'I told her, 'You don't know me. I don't want anything from you, and I'm not some crazy freak',' he recalled, laughing.
'I said, 'I just want to tell you that you're absolutely beautiful.' Then I left.
'She was totally shocked! She was like, 'I don't know what to say... I'm totally flattered!'.'
That's it? Didn't he try to ask her out?
'No, I didn't need to know her or date her. I just had an urge to write a song for her, and I followed it through,' he told The New Paper in the comfort of his plush suite in Swissotel The Stamford.
At the time, he was dating a showbiz newbie called Melody.
'But she knew what I was doing, and she was okay with it,' he said.
Now that they have broken up after being together for four years for 'personal reasons', he has also written a song dedicated to her.
Both songs are included in his new album, Black Tangerine.
For someone known to be serious, no-nonsense and cocky sometimes, the 32-year-old musician has a surprisingly soft and romantic side too.
In town last week to promote his new album, he recalled how he once spent several weeks compiling a scrapbook for his ex-girlfriend, with photos and mementos spanning a few years.
'She was very surprised, because I'm not an arts and craft guy,' he laughed.
'But I'm a very sentimental person.'
But he wouldn't be caught dead watching chick flicks with his date.
'Sorry, but that's one thing I cannot do!' he quipped, bursting into a guffaw.
Not that he has so much time anyway.
Writing and producing music already occupies most of his day, he said.
When he's done with his album promotions, he will start preparing for a concert tour that will kick off at the end of this year.
In his free time, he reads, visits museums or hangs out with friends.
He also trains, lifts weights, practises yoga and takes his dog out for strolls.
But now that he's single, will he look Katrina up?
Smiling, he replied: 'Not necessarily...
'(The song) was just a form of appreciation, not like I had to chase her or anything.'
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Serious about music
WHEN discussing music, David turns serious.
He doesn't mince his words, and won't hesitate to slam bad music.
He said the Asian pop scene is flooded with CDs that lack sincerity and creativity, and that, to him, is 'pollution'.
Is he being cocky, or simply frank? You decide.
But as a singer-composer who has propelled the entire R&B craze in Taiwan since 1997, he has earned the respect of not only fans, but also dozens of fellow artistes.
When he performed at Far East Square last Tuesday, at least six local singers - including Ho Yeow Sun, Tanya Chua, Joi Tsai, Faith Yang, Cai Lilian and Ric Low - turned up to show their support.
Even Jay Chou, reigning prince of R&B, treats him with utmost respect.
His musical talent aside, David is also bold enough to make social criticism, instead of writing cheesy songs about love.
Maybe it has to do with his interest in the human sciences.
A graduate in psychology from the University Of California, he worked as a cop in LA for a year after graduation, before being talent-scouted - in a record store - to write music fulltime.
In his latest album, Black Tangerine, he lashes out against the unnecessary graphic violence in the media, and mocks the tragic love classic, Dreams Of The Red Mansion.
He said: 'Music is a medium for me to express something, to tell a story, or share my personal feelings.'
For issues he feels strongly about, he will take action in real life.
He is working with groups in Taiwan to propose 'a big revamp to the Chinese education system', he said.
When he was here, the animal lover also visited the zoo to record a TV trailer for the protection of komodo dragons for Discovery Channel.
'But I got a shock when it bit me on my hand!' he said, laughing.
Coming back to music, David raved about how Western stars like Madonna, U2, Coldplay and even N' Sync ('Justin Timberlake can really sing!'), devote themselves wholeheartedly to producing quality albums.
But the media-savvy guy was careful not to slime any Asian colleagues.
What about the wildly popular F4, whose cringe-worthy singing was slammed by Time magazine?
'They are what they are... an idol group. They don't claim to be musical geniuses,' he said tactfully.
'Lots of artistes have no control. The record labels don't take time to groom them. They are just puppets... just smile and look good.'
What about Jay, who is said to be his biggest rival?
'Jay is very talented and innovative. I expect good things from him,' he said without hesitation.
'I hope he'll continue to be very sincere, and be a positive influence on young people.'
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