Twittering DT

Okaaaaay, did a bit of updating the links & stuff so now I am on Twitter as well ^__^ Anyway probably won't do a lot of posting there as I don't have the time, I will just be following DT. Now that I got over the shock that it's really him on Twitter & D6T9, I think it's really great that he is using freely available net resources like Twitter & Youtube to connect with his fans. I mean why not? Who says a singer/composer has to be this secret, mysterious figure that you can only idolise? Isn't this what we all have been hoping for? That David would talk to us and answer our questions? Also he reveals a very silly, mischevious side to him that we hardly ever get to see when he is on TV or radio. Here's a screencap from a DTFCer that encapsulated that exactly:
(Screencap courtesy & thanks to DTFC)
Anyway re-reading his posts on the stuff he had been working on his new album made me so excited! Can't wait till the album drop YAH!!!!!!!

DT @ Twitter

Oh wow it is really David Tao at Twitter hehe cos he just posted an awesome clip of the making of his album at his DT69 blog!!!!! Anyway come to think of it, it's kinda make sense to use freely available resource @ wretch & Twitter to reach his fans. Such a cunning devil he is ^__^ I remembered when I first read Moby's journal, I was amazed at how casual & real he is. He is presenting as he is - warts & all. Which is what DT is doing & at first I was not used to it but now as I read his postings, they kinda make sense. Anyway spread the word so he can have more followers. Here's the DT youtube vid, love the panda T hee!


On a somber note, still vry sad about Michael Jackson's passing. Realised I have either lost or given away most of his albums, now I desperately need to listen to Thriller *sniff*

Beyond the Ken

Watched Beyond the Ken & it wasn't as good as I thought it would be. The weak point is Gillian Chung who is not really subtle in her acting. Her role required someone more fey & complex not just as a victim. Since the movie hinged on her dual acting so eventually the payoff failed because Gillian wasn't believeable enough as the 'princess taking revenge'. Tao Hong & Daniel Wu were excellent but unfortunately they were not the payoff.
I do feel sorry for Gillian since she seemed to be paying penance for a crime she did not commit. Ppl villified her cos she did not come out to confess & lied abt her relationship with Edison. Maybe one should put oneself in her shoes. Imagine you are a young female asian celebrity & naked and intimate pixs of yourself are seen by many, many, many people. Wouldn't you be so embarrassed that you would try to hide & lie, hoping it would all go away? She was stripped of more just clothes. Her dignity, her pride as well as her career all going down the drain. This is not a movie, it's her real life. She had to face her parents, and they had to face their relatives & friends. In the movie, Beyond the Ken, one of her lines was 'when you are lovers, anything is possible even taking naked pictures.' It was just bitterly ironic that it came true for her in real life as well.
I don't know. I guess I am posting this cos I just wanna warn ppl out there not to be so gullible on the internet. Never trust anyone you have never met online even if you wholeheartedly believe he is David Tao.

1st 2009 DT concert - Macau!

It is now confirmed that David will be holding a concert in Macau at The Venetian on 8/8. Here's a very nice article in Macau Daily Times:

Taiwan R&B icon to perform at Venetian
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Popular Taiwanese singer and music composer, David Tao, considered to be the grandfather of Taiwanese R&B, will make his Macau debut performance at The Venetian on Saturday, August 8. His all-time-hits will be featured in a live performance that will include an elaborate stage set that will compliment his simple yet diverse music.
David released his first self-titled album “David Tao” in 1997 which introduced an R&B trend into the Taiwanese music industry. Since then he's played an important role in the Taiwan's music history. The R&B revised version of “Spring Wind”, originally a favorite Taiwanese folk song, started the trend of covering old songs in an R&B style. These sorts of songs have become some of the artist's most highly rated songs.
His self-titled album was a success with nominations for a total of 4 awards including “Top Ten Best albums”, “Best Producer”, and “Best Song” and “Best Lyrics” for the track “Beach”. David won most awards among all Taiwanese singers in 1998. He was also described as “The Most Talented Asian Composer-Singer” by US Billboard.
Tickets will go on sale on Monday.
(Reposted from Macau Daily Times)

I think he is finally coming out of his self-imposed hibernation. Can't wait to hear his new songs & read his music reviews, news, promos, eg. There was also some news that he will be holding a series of concerts in a smaller and more intimate venue in Taipei. It was claimed that David said that this was in tune with his new album which calls for a more unplugged atmosphere. Hope it's true cos I really like DT unplugged >"< like the pix below taken by DTFCer:
(Pix credit & much thanks to DTFC)

Imposter DT

The guy masquerading David Tao in the infamous I am 69 & on Twitter has posted a pix of himself as he does bear a striking resemblance to DT. The trouble is ppl still think that it is David. Shouldn't the fact that he is covering a large portion of his face raise suspicion? Guess the internet is a strange place where ppl like to believe in the impossible. Anyway just wanna warn young fans especially in Taiwan to be careful should this guy ask you out or for money. DT should really make some statement abt this imposter since he is recently the Yahoo spokesman for safe internet surfing.

Canon David Tao

Came across this blog reviewing albeit rather late David's debut album cos it has made it into the top ten albums in Taiwan from 1993 to 2005 in a book called Taiwan Popular Music Taiwan - 200 Best Albums. Really enjoyed it & gave me an even newer perspective on David's music. I like that the writer admitted readily that he didn't think much of the album or David Tao initially because he thought it was just an ABC singer apeing western r&B. This is something David had to endure most of his career including being called godfather of chinese r&b.
It was funny cos lately when he was interviewed, he again refuted the r&b godfather label saying his music is not always r&b but I think he got it wrong. He was called godfather of chinese r&b mainly cos ppl thought that he was the one who really showed how chinese r&b could be done well. But still most people thought that he was just copying western r&b & refused to believe that he contributed to how chinese music developed in the late 1990s & early 2000s. The other reason why people liked to dismissed his music was that it's much too accessible & has mass appeal.
Strangely enough, he addressed this recently when he was interviewed. He said that music needs to be accessible in order to be heard & the most logical way was thru commercialism. David has always been able to straddle good music & commercial music with ease. His self-titled album is the perfect eg. It sounds like your regular radio-friendly album but it tells you stories that affects your life like being in love, out of love, first love, loneliness, despair, anger, jealousy, frustration. If you take any song out of the album, it is a standalone song that you can enjoy but if you listen to the album in its entirety, you find that the songs tell their stories sequentially. All his albums are like that. This is something that is easier said than done. Most albums have a couple of good songs & no continuity while some others are great only if you listen in its entirety. Anyway here's the list of top ten best album from 1993 to 2005 in Taiwan:

1 Ocean, Pau-dull, 1999 (海洋/陳建年/1999)
2 In a Flash, Kimbo, 2005 (匆匆/胡德夫/2005)
3 Wanderer’s Love Song, Wu Bai, 1994 (浪人情歌/伍佰/1994)
4 The Sounds of the Sun, Wind and Grass, Samingad, 2000 (太陽風/草原的聲音/紀曉君/2000 )
5 Lonely Bird on a Tree Branch, Wu Bai and China Blue, 1998 (樹枝孤鳥/伍佰 and China Blue/1998)
6 Walking to Danshui, King of Kinmen and Lee Bin-hui, 1997 (流浪到淡水/金門王與李炳輝/1997)
7 Tao Zhe, David Tao, 1997 (陶吉吉/陶吉吉/1997)
8 Come Home, Shunza, 1997 (回家/順子/1997)
9 A Fabulous Adventure, Cheer Chen, 2005 (華麗的冒險/陳綺貞/2005)
10 Sisters, A-Mei, 1996 (姊妹/張惠妹/1996)

I think in the list, David's album is probably the one that most ppl heard of or even just a few songs like I Love You & Airport in 10.30. Also I think his is the only debut album in the list. His other albums also made it into the 200 list:
40) Black Tangerine (2002/8)
47) I'm OK (1999/12)
75) The Great Leap 2005 (2005/1)

Sudden DT news

Doesn't he look so ordinary here? That's what I like abt DT is that he really doesn't go for nor like being a star. He was in Shanghai busy judging for Icetea band competition. I think it should be drawing to a close soon.
Here he is being cheesy & adorable for Yahoo promotion of safe surfing for kids.
Some clips here, here and here. Lately there had been news that he was unable to tape his songs due to having a cold for a few weeks so he was coy abt his new album coming out in July *sigh* I am too bored to care abt it anymore. I find it vry annoying when there is no real explanation for the constant delay. Maybe it's not really his fault as look at how Leo Ku was being treated for signing up with another label. I have a feeling that probably if it's up to him, the album would have been out last yr. Instead fans are being teased with news abt him filming mv at a nightclub with sexily dressed bargirl:
If he was unable to tape the songs then how can he film an mv? Then there's this weird blog where it was claimed he wrote this piece called I am 69. There is at the moment no confirmation from DT or his company whether or not this is true. I can't help but suspect it's just another stupid promotional gimmick by Typhoon. Only good thing abt this sudden blast of unexpected DT news is that it could mean that maybe his album is abt to drop soon.