20050731

13 days to concert

So happy to find 1 tongue sticking out pix at last heehee, credit davidcn. Actually heaps of great pixs there, mostly candid ones & its amazing the no of expressions David can have. He is one of the most expressive ppl I seen, most stars mostly a few but David has a whole range haha. Also lotsa writeups regarding his concert but nothing new, media asking same boring qtns even whether he will sing or dance with his mom *roll eyes* when will the chinese media take a concert seriously?
The latest in Tom David revealed he is buying a house in Beijing & he intended to live there for a while (lucky Beijing fans, but what abt Lucky & Malau?). He said being a chinese is lucky as can live in many diff cities in the same country. I feel that David quite the drifter like in the song Moon River, chasing after rainbows perhaps. Anyway glad he will be living in this part of world for a while.
Of cos unavoidable is comparision again & David as usual said not to compare, 2 diff things, etc. The stupid reporter tried to goad him by implying he is not so famous now. David just said dun matter to him, what's important is doing the music he wants to do. He rather that his music be remembered yrs from now not that he sold more albums than anybody else. He mentioned name of singer I dun recognised but must be someone vry significant in chinese music.
The stupid reporter, not knowing how smart our David is, brought up Lou Dayou & said that his influence also vry strong cos he used to be popular, but the other singer nvr been popular & that he is still remembered today cos his music considered social conscious. He asked if David felt that his music will be remembered too cos its considered social conscious. David replied that its for the reporter to find out not for him to say, then gently reminded that every one of his albums have sold well, but not something he worry abt as he felt that he has achieved healthy balance between good music & commercialism.
In other news, its reported both his Shanghai & Beijing concerts selling well, but claimed its cos David has nvr hold a concert in China before *sigh* There is much ambivalence in the chinese press abt David. They dun know how to categorised him. He's not really an idol singer but still not considered the kind of singer/composer past his prime & considered important only cos his music is deep but not vry popular. David's music is popularly loved by both young & old, his fans are young, old, male, female & come from all walks of life. He dun have much hype abt him but cannot be considered not vry well known either.
He is just David Tao, a most unusual Chinese musician ^__^
This dvd player he is holding is his 1st gift to his unofficial fanclub in China, DTFC. He really loves them a lot & is always grateful to them for their support.
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Here vry adorable as he munched on birthday cake given to him. During his birthday cos of his concert promos, he had to eat quite a few cakes given to him, then when he went back home he still had to eat cake with his family. But at least he get more than one wish from blowing out the candles heehee. So earnest when he is making wish, nobody else can look quite like him when he is this sincere.
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All DT pixs credit & much thanks to davidcn

20050730

14 days to concert

I really need to get sum sleep +__+ but wanna do a countdown post. David should be in Singapore according to this interview, so if you see a guy in town resembling him, it could well be him but plse give him personal space as he is preparing for his concert & needs it. Talking abt personal space, ever since I came back here I noticed sumthing rather strange. A few times when I am sitting in a near empty train or bus or foodcourt, some woman will come & sit next to me rather than chose an empty seat. I value my personal space & feel rather awkward having someone so close to me when there is plenty of space, but dun wanna move cos might cause offence. Is there a reason for this behavior? Maybe these women afraid to sit by themselves for some reason. Its vry puzzling.
Anyway to answer missred, yes, seen the movie Breakfast at Tiffany & read the novella by Truman Capote. The movie is worth watching for Audrey Hepburn & the nameless cat, but dun really capture the essence of Truman's story abt a girl called Holly Golightly. Another lovely thing in the movie is the theme song called Moon River written by Henry Mancini which won both Oscar & Grammy for best original song. Audrey as Holly actually strummed the guitar & sang the song in the movie. Cos she had no training as a singer, the vocals were written to be sung in only one octave. She still sang much better than a lot of Asian pop singers heehee. Can listen to midi of Moon River here
"Moon river, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style someday,
Oh, dream maker, you heartbreaker,
Wherever you're goin'
I'm goin' your way
Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end
Waitin' round the bend
My Huckleberry friend
Moon river and me"
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer, Music by Henry Mancini
Audrey as Holly pushed poor kitty out of the car into the rain.
More pixs of the cat with no name.

20050729

15 days to concert

So sorry but got mixed up, Shanghai Love Can concert is 08/13, so should be 15 days not 10. Haha, such a terrible mistake to make on a David blog rite? Guess its kinda diff to survive on 4-5 hrs sleep every day. For ppl who wanna book tickets from overseas try here for Shanghai & here for Beijing. Not too sure what this is abt, but its seemed David is trying to make sure that ticket sales is legit & prevent anyone from profiteering. The most expensive ticket in Beijing is RMB1280 & the least RMB180, a vast diff but David has already assured he will try to make sure that everybody from the cheapest to the most expensive ticket will be able to hear good music.
Really admire him for his efforts in trying to ensure a healthy concert going experience for his fans in China. As his devoted fan, I dun really care if his concert is the expensive or has the most audience, all I need to know is the music is the best it can be. Really wish him all the very best to achieve this in China. Here's special page @ Sohu for his Love Can concerts with vry nice pixs & links. Also it seemed David won 2 awards @ sum event to be held on 07/30 but dun think he will turn up to receive them *sigh* so no new sighting of David this weekend.
Post this pix cos David said during Sohu online chat that he liked girls with short hair & he most admired Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday when she cut off her hair. This pix not from Roman Holiday but Breakfast at Tiffany, Audrey posing with 'the cat with no name'. Holly Golightly didn't wanna named the cat cos they 'don't belong together'. I once kidnapped a marmalade kitty from Penang cos it looked like the cat with no name, I shouldn't have as think took it away from its mother. The poor thing ran away before I could give it a name *so ironic* & broke my heart. Anyway so glad that David named his little kitty cos it meant that they belong together.

20050727

Concert countdown

David posing with 1 of the 12 Girls Band when he took them to lunch. He looked super sweet, so playful. Just 10 more days to his concert *excited* even tho can't be there, still feel feverish just thinking abt it.
Here closer look @ Love Can concert poster (courtesy davidcn), think sumone said cannot see it. Just click to enlarge. Liking the lizard more & more, butterfly looked kinda grubby & can hardly see the dove which is sad as the piano wings vry creative. Still dun know what is the animal with the antlers. The cutest is the owl as it resembles Hedwig in Harry Potter dun u think, so appropriate haha
Cookie Monster posted english trans of U Weekly interview with fan @ forum, thank you so much cookie, & mil has posted poll for 5th Global Chinese Music Awards where David is nominated for not sure what but thanks vry much mil. Also updated montly activities to include guest @ Dong Fang on 7/25, link included if u can read chinese, Beijing concert & Listen Live concert.
Here short writeups (but no pixs *cry*) on the 4 Asian stars to participate - David, A-Do, Leehom & Kit Chan. Dun u think the alien on his chest looked like his (or our *wink*) new kitty Malau heehee. More promo pixs here, ones of him sitting down quite adorable. Found this hilarious thread in Lonely Planet forum where the poster confused The Great Leap Forward in chinese with the album title Tai Ping Zhen Si. Just so weird & wonderful where mention of David can turn up.
Here he pray like a little kid on his birthday & blew out the candles on his birthday cake, just toooooooooooooooooooo adorable. Pixs credit davidcn

20050724

Jewel in the Palace

No new tongue-sticking out pix so this will have to do but he IS cute. So like a little boy with his naive expressions & rushing to save discarded kitties. As far as I am concerned, candid expressive faces even ugly much better than deliberately deadpan expression to look cool heehee. I have thought abt it as always surrounded by ppl hating me for criticising Jay in a David blog, but I have to stand up for what I believe. Not that I think David is better than Jay, but I believe what Jay is doing is totally wrong for chinese music & therefore I must speak up. You can disagree with me but you cannot prevent me from expressing my opinions.
I came to this conclusion after watching a marvellous Korean series called Jewel in the Palace. There was a scene where the heroine Jang-Geum & her sifu risked their necks to cook healthy fare for a visiting chinese official rather than follow orders to present rich extravagant dishes to impress him. They did it because as chefs they believed they must not deliver food that is harmful to a person's health & the official was suffering from a illness that required him to change his diet. Also they tried to cook healthy food in creative ways so as to be acceptable to the official who was used to rich dishes.
This is so like David's philosophy to making music. He wants to give us music for the soul but he also tried to make it sound like popular music without compromising too much. I really don't think there is another like him in chinese entertainment. There are many out there who is making good music but so uncompromising that they failed to reach the audience. Not that I am saying that is bad cos it is extremely difficult to write good music and educate your audience with so much formulaic music on the airway. Hard to compete when listeners are swayed by music written like commercial jingles to get their bodies moving & deafened their minds.
Why is Jay so popular? Because he is so ordinary and accessible. He made chinese ppl esp in the west feel good abt themselves & alleviate their always present feelings of inferiority against the west. Here is an average chinese guy who is able to write 'cool' music sounding like formulaic western music but with chinese elements so it sound 'unique'. He has this cool personality which he seemed to have lifted from Prince but still retained the chinese modesty & shyness that chinese fans required from their idols.
I tried to be fair & if his music is really great I will say so but its not. It doesn't have the creativity & freshness of Prince who has already done everything Jay has done in his music. One chinese critic said that if you take away the western influences in Jay music, its just chinese pop music. The reverse can also be true- if you take away the chinese elements, its just western pop music. He is clever in blending the two but I think he has a great deal of help in this department cos he is unable to arrange & mix his music in the studio all by himself. Recently was forced to watch his 'fantastic' performance in GMA this year when instead of singing, he played the piano. All I can say is as in everything else, he is an average piano player. Yes, he has the virtuosity but he played without the fervor & passion of a real musician.
Music is not just abt talent, skill or technical ability. That is why there are so few great chinese pianist in the world. Again this is all my opinion, you can disagree & I am not bashing Jay cos he is vry talented to have come so far. He really is a phenom in chinese entertainment & outshining his contemporaries. But he is nothing special in terms of musical ability and can be a bit nauseating to find fans & critics lauding him like a chinese hero out there laying the foundation of modern chinese music.
While I love David to bits, I will not call him a 'chinese hero' or said he is 'laying the foundation to modern chinese music'. I will only said that he is trying to bring some positive changes to chinese music. Cos I honestly believe there need to be some changes in the way the chinese view music. Just read this article & feel sad but its just so true. Of cos ppl can said there is a diff between pop & classical music but they are all music rite? They r just diff categories of music but share one similiarity in that music should come from the heart. And its ok if you use music to propel yourself to superstardom, but just plse dun call yourself a geunine musican who is saving chinese music.
The food philosophy in Jewel in the Palace is just so eastern in its concept. Its something that the chinese ppl can easily accept as its already part of our culture to achieve the best without comprising too much, to bend with the wind yet be as resolute as bamboo. So I really hope this philosophy will one day be extended to chinese music and the way it is presented to the audience. If you read so far, thank you for I really need to get this out of my system ^__^
All David pixs credit & with thanks to davidcn.com

20050720

Hello kitty called Malau

All pixs credit davidcn David doing impression of monkey inspired perhaps by stray kitty he adopted heehee. If dun understand, read his new website msg! Malau is positively cute name for kitty, hopefully he will keep Malau as pet altho Lucky might not be vry pleased as must shared David now ^__^
Have upload clip of David singing Up where we belong with Karen Mok during Tsunami charity show in Taipei. Got it from the Perfect David Yahoo grp & kind person who shared it did expressively stated for mbrs only but its not often english speaking fans get to hear David singing in english. He was just superb in this performance, every note perfect, such a pity not to share so took a chance. If anyone from Yahoo grp complain, promise remove it immediately. It's in Yahoo briefcase as managed to compress for easier dl. Again quality not so good which could be good as David looked so heartstopping yummy that it might further distressed those alredi upset by gf news.
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Pixs of Malau taken by the man himself, so tiny & cute. Pixs posted cos sum ppl unable to access davidtao flash website, no copyright infringement intended. And ermmmmmm forgot to mention that Karen looked vry pretty & sang well in the clip.

20050718

Doing lunch with David

David looking adorable in blue & white cap. He took the 12 Girls Band to lunch on their visit to Taiwan, so sweet. Anyway here the article where he supposedly admitted having gf but beginning to doubt its authenticity as he has always refused to answer this question in other interviews/chats. Whatever its personal & if he refused to divulge this part of his life so what. I will not stop supporting him whether he is single, married, divorced or celibate.
And for the last time I dun hate Jay cos hate is too strong an emotion for someone I dun have the least feeling for. I am sure he will eventually achieve international fame of sum sort cos he is so ambitious. Also he is quite good role model for restless young ppl as his songs are so anti-revolutionary & give them fantasies. Hey if u can't play in the NBA, become a singer & pretend to be one in yr concert. Good clean fun. There's a reason why his song is selected for schools in mainland China, & the reason why his fans keep leaving silly rude msgs on the Sohu page, so cute as if that could make any difference but listening to fantasy songs can sometimes distort yr sense of reality heehee. Alrite enough alredi, gotta go do sum serious work now. Be back later to post sum more links ^__^

20050716

David's true colors

Do I hear the sound of breaking hearts? David finally admitted he has gf & think we all know who she is. Just kidding cos I think all your fans will be happy & hope to see you married soon & have bb. So long for a DT junior & definitely will get specially designed DT shirt from our resident designer (Lynn are you reading?).
Details of his Beijing Concert online but look how they translate the title :D
Only You The Terrific Music Tour - David Tao 2005 Concert
Time: 2005/9/10
Venue: Capital Gymnasium
Price: 180/280/380/480/680/880
Not only that but read the copy & thought hey that's reli reli reli familiar & realised they lifted from my David profile hahaha truly amazed that concert venue in Beijing actually visited the blog forum. Not gonna charge for copyright cos its my darling David (can be more intimate now u r taken ^__^). Just so pleased & proud I can help promote for David in english so gonna write more great stuff abt my most beloved idol as who knows who gonna visit next rite heehee
Anyway David attended a few chatshows looking gorgeous as usual but so irritating they asked 'wu liao' qtns like his dad's rumored debt & whether he will write song for Jay (he said yes if Jay asked), & why he hold his concert in lesser capacity venue than Jay (kinda implying that he has less fans *sigh*), but David just jokingly said he dun want ppl in the last few rows not to pay attention.
Then they asked what was his biggest audience & he said 40,000 which was in Taipei but in parentheses they said its still not more than Jay *roll eyes*. Fyi the record no of concert attendance in Taipei is still held by David & Mayday, both broke 40,000. Jay's concert did not break the 40,000 mark. Not that I care or anything but since this is fact not hype. Jay's promoters can claim whatever figure they like in China, dun know why they always want to break record, trying to get Jay into Guinness?
What's the point of holding large-scale concert when not sure if u can filled seats, in the end most if not all large-scale concerts held in China give away tickets. They would have made their profit once the more expensive seats r sold, so other seats just to make up the nos so can claim to fully filled concert. Its just so cynical, concerts r supposed to reward fans with music & entertainment not to boost the singer's profile in China but increasingly its like that.
David does not want to have such a concert, nor does he want to dance or take off his clothes in order to make the audience high. He just want to do it through his music. It may sound like he is insulting other artists but truly all he hope for is prove that a chinese concert can still be about the music, & nothing but the music. Close my eyes & wish David the very best although dun have much faith in other people at the moment, but I totally believe you can touch the hearts of many.
But I see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to
let them show your true colors
True colors are beautiful
like a rainbow
(From True Colors Lyrics by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, sang by Cyndi Lauper)

Btw can watch Sohu online chat here but cos the title has Jay's name hordes of vapid Jay fans as usual left rude msgs *evil eye*. Just cos David graciously answered question raised abt comparision but all he said was he felt in some areas Jay stronger than him & that he must work harder in these areas which is promotion & publicity. He felt that Jay being younger has advantage of idolism & he used that to great achievement. A vry honest & uncomprising reply.
Just to raise sum more facts in case any Jay fans loitering heehee - David has never claimed to introduce r&b to chinese entertainment. Other ppl make that claim for him. He has never wanted to fight for the r&b crown. But the fact is NOBODY introduce r&b to the chinese, it has always been around. How can you introduce something that not only exists but is readily available? If ppl are so musically ignorant that they have never heard this style of music till David or Jay, why give credit? Nobody ever said Eminem introduce rap to young urban whites do they?
The other thing I get annoyed when Jay fans said that its cos of Jay, ppl knew of David so Jay is better. That's just in yr face idiotic. Its like saying oh cos of this extremely talented young chinese artist called Jay who painted in the style of Cubism I got to know Pablo Picasso & Jay's works now more well known in China therefore Jay has now exceeded Picasso in his Cubist paintings. Like an equation rite? Ok, children, how abt a test question then hmmm. Lotsa Chinese singers sing r&b before Jay, name one of them apart from David? If u can't, go wash yr mouth with soap heehee
There's just as much r&b in Michael Jackson's albums as David or Jay, but nobody ever called MJ King of r&b. He is King of POP. That's rite, they are all just POP, and David even called himself a POP musician because he is honest & never pretend to be something he is not. Unlike some.
Finally Jay fans said David should be embarrassed to be compared to Jay who is younger, more popular, better looking, more talented, more fans, more internet searches, more votes, etc, etc, etc. PLSE listen to what u r saying. If Jay with his unceasing fame, popularity & hype is so 'incomparable' then why is he constantly being compared to a far less popular artist a decade older who released fewer albums, has far less commercials & endorsements, hold fewer concerts in fewer countries & has not acted in any movie? Why does that say abt Jay? More importantly what does that say abt David?
If I am Jay's promoter, should be more careful of such comparision in future now that Jay so pushy for international fame in Japan & US. Better not let them know abt David Tao & have them make the comparision cos u never know what might happen rite *wink wink*
David on the other hand has no such fears as he is comfortable with his own level of fame & popularity. He is more concerned with the fans he has now (like me yeah) & hoping to bring them the best sound, the best performance, the best music, the best concert *getting excited*. Cos he is not just an entertainer but a POP musician with his heart in the right place.
Some pixs credit as written davidcn.com with thanks

20050714

David's various :) :P :D

David being expressive & adorable during Sohu chat, he gallantly answered all the questions including comparision with Jay except for one - whether or not he has a gf. Also it would seem Tension will not be appearing in the Love Can concerts *sad* except in the audience.
Also David said that if enough ppl ask for a concert in a certain city, then they will try to stage it there so I guess if u really wanna see David in your hometown other then Taiwan, HK, S'pore & Malaysia then really have to make an effort cos its not feasible to stage a concert unless enough ppl attend. David said the reason he left it so late to stage concerts in China was cos he dun felt ready until now. He said that quite a few concerts in China were not well attended or the tickets have to be given away.
When asked if he knew that sum fans felt that The Great Leap was not as good as his earlier albums, he said that he was prepared for that cos as a musician who wants to grow & develop further, its inevitable that he will leave behind fans who for sum reason not able to keep up with him. Anyway it was all vry interesting & I wish I could translate it all.
Davidtao.com now has merchandise on sale including tees with the Zhe logo, special Ultrasound pack including signed poster (only 6 left) & Soul Power Concert poster. Vry nice but I really want Love Can poster, the one with the lizard climbing up his leg heehee. I hope they design more stuff with the various animals motifs on them, it will be so collectable.

20050713

Mr & Mrs Tao Forever

He looked so cute despite the zany shirt, must be brave to wear shirt full of musical notes heehee. He does look good in black. Love Can Concert link now on davidtao main pg & it looks fabulous like a magical forest filled with mythical creatures. There is a white dove with wings like piano keys symbolising peace & music I guess, & the owl looked like wearing glasses, vry cute. Only wish they made the lizard more visible as its half hidden by green fronds.
Again the only odd thing is the deer or maybe a goat with horns. The main attraction is David of cos who looked incredible with windswept hair. Hope he dun change his look too drastically as he promised a new hairstyle for the concert. Not much up yet, just a clickable map with China, Taiwan, HK, Malaysia & Singapore. Looks like US is not included as yet.
Upload short clip of David singing with his dad at 7/10 program, many thanks & credit to davidcn, in Yahoo briefcase. Again quality not too good but the sound is ok. They sang a song called All I have to do is Dream & managed to forget most of the lyrics hahahahahaha. But they were just adorable as they kept looking at each other & laughing. David is just so beautiful it hurts to look at him. They both sang & played really well.
Another look @ the birthday cake. Apparently David's mom also attended the press conference but when reporters tried to interview her, she declined & told them to watch the stage instead. She stood at the back & kept looking at David, what a sweet mom! So happy that David can always depend on his parents, he said they are his biggest fans. I think as fans we must always be grateful to Mr & Mrs Tao for bringing up such an outstanding son who brought us so much wonderful music, love & hope.

20050712

Lucky Shanghai fans

Lotsa nice pixs to post. Shanghai press conference above, look at the poster behind & can see a lizardy thing climbing up his leg, vry adorable. Apparently concert theme will be rainforest so the lizard. At first thought it was Komodo Dragon but it has a ridged back as can see the spikes clearly. Wonder if he is gonna have a giant lizard on stage, I hope not but well so long as its done with style I guess. But lucky Shanghai fans be the first to watch this unusually themed concert.
Here David with 2 female characters from his songs, Susan & Lin Dai Yi from Dream of Red Chambers. It was cute when he asked them to hold hands & the female mc said that in olden days if a guy hold a girl's hand then have to take them home, so poor David will end up with 2 wives hehehehehehhehehehehe
The giant cake altho it dun look as huge as I thought. But it was funny when they surrounded him & the davidcn mbrs kept holding up their banners while ppl swarming to take pixs. Can hardly see David as he bend down to blow the candles & cut the cake. Btw again nlayhua has kindly posted link to watch the press conference online.
David cracking the big golden egg. Already 10,000 tickets of his Shanghai concert were sold within 5 days. Anyway do hope the promoters dun try to hype the ticket sales & media tried to compare to u know who, just so annoying. Just leave David alone to have his concert, that's all he want as he said during Eastday online chat why sales & popularity r so important when it should be the quality & sincerity.
David also appeared in a program with his dad on 7/10. He played piano & his dad the guitar. Its good to see them together again. Dun u think its strange that David can get away with wearing such shapeless zany shirts? I think if anyone else they look goofy but David just look so natural. Maybe his personality I guess.
A closer look at the concert poster with a simply sweet David in front heehee. Can see a butterfly, an owl & what looked like a deer with antlers altho what a deer is doing in a rainforest is anyone's guess. I think my fav is still the lizard kekekekekekkekekeke
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The many expressions of David.