written by: Beijing News reporter Yang Chang
editor: He Jianwei
"Where did Li Jiuzhe go?"
"Why didn't Li Jiuzhe release new songs?"
released the album "Good Jiu" in September 2010, "Li Jiuzhe" "This name appears less and less in the Chinese music circle. Many people wondered, where did this "Golden Song King" who once sang "Thinking Too Much", "Freedom", "Dead Knot" and other R&B love songs into people's hearts?
Not long ago, a reporter from the Beijing News met this "missing person" from the Chinese music scene in Beijing. This time, he has entered the palace of marriage and is no longer a "little fat man", and finally returned with his latest Chinese album "Do you still remember?"
Li Jiuzhe’s new album cover. The interviewee provided photo
mentioning the seven years of experience. Li Jiuzhe frankly shared his efforts to develop in the United States and the injustices he encountered. However, time has passed and we will return after seven years. Will we worry about whether we will remember?
"This is also a question I have thought about. It has been seven years, the world has changed a lot, and the entertainment industry has also changed a lot. Will everyone still remember me? Fortunately, there are many fans and friends who told me they remember," Li Jiuzhe’s Mandarin is still not standard, and he is still warm when he smiles, “Many of them already have children, but they still tell me,'I remember, my children sing your songs.' So I really appreciate it. "
Li Jiuzhe defeated Lin Junjie, Cao Ge, Tao Zhe and Wu Kequn, and won the Golden Melody King at the 18th Golden Melody Awards. Photo/Visual China
"disappeared" for seven years
entered the United States, because of the contract can not do the Chinese album
In 2005, after the release of the first Chinese album "Shadow", Li Jiuzhe, who sang R&B love songs, was quickly attracted by fans because of his warm tone Know. Since then, "Baby is me", "Thinking Too Much", "No, Perfect", "Good Nine"...Almost every Li Jiuzhe's album will have one or several representative love songs with a high degree of singing. In 2007, at the 18th Golden Melody Awards, he also defeated Lin Junjie, Cao Ge, Tao Zhe and Wu Kequn by virtue of "Baby is me", and won the golden song king.
"But I have always had an idea, because I feel that almost no Asians sing English songs in the American market. So when I had a chance to make an English album in the name of a group, I went to the United States. "Li Jiuzhe is Korean-American, and his family now lives in the United States. So, with the support of "Big Brother Ma Ji" Huang Licheng, Li Jiuzhe decided to go to the United States to start a new dream. He and two other group members Eddie Shin and Flowsik formed the group Aziatix, hoping to conquer the international music scene with Asian creations.
Li Jiuzhe, Eddie Shin and Flowsik formed the group Aziatix. Photo/Visual China
At the beginning, Aziatix's work also won the top singles on the iTunes R&B/Soul charts in the United States and Japan, but the development of things did not go as smoothly as Li Jiuzhe expected. "In the beginning, I talked well with American companies. I and the group made these English songs, but I must also make my own Chinese album. But after signing the contract, they would not let me publish my own. There’s something,” Li Jiuzhe said helplessly, “I’m not allowed to do anything with my personal music, my personal Chinese album.”
It turned out that Aziatix signed a contract with the company for five albums, and there is no time limit.” So If I spend my whole life working on these five albums, it will be a lifetime contract. In fact, when we first started, we had good results and won some championships. But for me, there were more times when I was still unhappy because of me. I wanted to make a lot of music, but they didn’t let me post or make my own album. I don’t know why. They might have their own ideas. I was actually very painful at the time. Our group also went a lot. Local publicity and performances, but they didn't give us a dime. So we also went to a lawyer to help deal with it, and finally we were relieved."
Li Jiuzhe in the "little fat man" period. Figure / Visual China
return to work
remind everyone to love everyone around you
It took a whole year, and Li Jiuzhe finally completed this seven-year-old work. The entire album takes time as the main axis. Whether it is a song or an album design, it is extended based on time. "In fact, this album, I want to include all the things I have felt and experienced in the past few years. I believe When many people listen to this album, they will have a few songs that touch their hearts. I hope they can also say that I actually understand this feeling." In the first wave of the title song "Will You Remember Me", Li Jiuzhe retained The composer Huang Yunren said "Will You Remember Me" in the demo at the time, and the songwriter completed the whole song, "In fact, this song is not just a love song, but about many people. Reconciliation-family, friends, or your animals. Just to remind everyone that the world is always changing, but you have to take care and love everyone around you, because we don’t know what will happen next , So cherish the present. If you want to call mom and dad, call it now instead of waiting forever."
Li Jiuzhe, who returned to the music scene after seven years, turned into a "muscle man". Picture/Visual China
dialogue
"Jay Chou has heard my new song and gave me a lot of encouragement"
Beijing News: From personal development to forming a group, and now returning to the individual, will you have some twists and turns in your heart?
Li Jiuzhe: It's better to be personal (laugh). In fact, when we are doing the combination, because there are three people and there are many people in the production team, but when I am personally, I can really make 100% of Li Jiuzhe’s songs, so there is no need to consider other people’s feelings, the space will become bigger. . So in terms of music, it is the most natural to make your own music.
Beijing News: Your personal music style may be different from the group song style. So which style do you prefer?
Li Jiuzhe: R&B is my favorite.
Beijing News: In these seven years, do you still pay attention to the development of the entire Chinese music scene?
Li Jiuzhe: There are some, but not very, very understanding. But I know that a lot of small fresh meats and many boy groups are also developing recently. I have always liked to listen to Jay Chou's songs, including Wang Leehom, and my good friend JJ (JJ Lin), as well as Zhou Bichang. They have always had some nice songs. Last time I met Jay Chou on an airplane, he heard my new song "Will You Remember Me?" and said he saw my MV. Then he gave me a lot of encouragement and gave me some suggestions. Thank him very much, because I haven't seen him for many years, he will still give me some encouragement, I am very touched. At that time, I felt that our showbiz was quite united, and the singers were also very warm.
Li Jiuzhe’s new song "Will You Remember Me" MV screenshot.
"Life restarts, I am not afraid"
Beijing News: Will there be a different kind of excitement and freshness when releasing a new album?
Li Jiuzhe: I have never known why. My life will be a new beginning and a new challenge every five or seven years, as if pressing the "restart" button. Sometimes it feels quite painful, but now I am not afraid of anything. Many people also asked me, would you regret that decision? At that time, there would be a little regret, but if I look back now, I will make the same decision. I now know how to deal with some things, so in fact, the past seven years have made me grow stronger, and then stronger, so even if I restart later, I am not afraid.
The Beijing News: What do you think is the biggest change in the past seven years?
Li Jiuzhe: The biggest change, in addition to getting older, my heart is also full of peace. In fact, I am quite grateful for all the things in these seven years, and I know how to deal with things. So, the biggest change may be a little bit smarter. Also, I am a little healthier than before because I keep exercising every day.
Li Jiuzhe's combination of Aziatix. Photo/Visual China
Beijing News: In 2016, your teammate Flowsik also participated in a Korean show after the contract was terminatedThe fifth season of "Show Me The Money" has been liked by many people. Now that you return with your new album, do you have any plans for the future? Will you go to some music programs?
Li Jiuzhe: Yes, when he was preparing the show, I was also preparing my own album. If I have the opportunity, I would also like to participate in music shows, and I can also participate in the shows of the idol boy group, but they may not want me, because they may see how my age is already like this (laugh). I also want to participate in variety shows, because I think they are quite fun. But whether I participate in these shows or not, I hope that I can go to many places to recommend my new album, because everyone has been waiting for so long, so I still hope that I can make more music. I'm also working on a new song now, and I made a theme song for a drama, and maybe you will hear it some time later.
Listen to Li Jiuzhe talking about the song
Li Jiuzhe's promotional photos in the new album. Photo courtesy of the interviewee:
"Stay"
Lyrics: Enik Lin
Song: Enik Lin, Li Jiuzhe
"Stay" MV screenshot
As the first song of the album, Li Jiuzhe chose this English song "Stay" and a brand new one The name Neil Keyz came to announce his return. "I feel like I'm back to what I felt seven years ago. I know I haven't released a song for several years, but I still used a new name, because I really want to listen to this song first. The reason for using an English song , I had this feeling before—why didn’t Asians sing English songs? So I chose English songs. Fortunately, many people thought this song was good. At the beginning, many people asked who sang it. I I think, I feel right-a nice song, no matter who sang it, it will definitely be heard." After
has experienced the ups and downs in the United States, will you want to go to foreign markets in the future? "I think I will go if I have the opportunity, but I must release my Chinese album. If not, I won't go. Because I come back this time, I really feel like being home. I am very happy and moved. , I will never leave again."
"Put"
ft. Ni Nice
Lyrics: Cui Weikai, Enik Lin, Li Jiuzhe
Song: Enik Lin, Li Jiuzhe
△ Lyrics:
Is the battle of the sleepy beasts enough? Look at the exit
and see through the hurt. Finally, don’t look back. Don’t look back. Don’t miss the gentle
. The sorrow is hard to collect. Let time take away
excuses the wound. Waving forward, learn to let go
.
and Li Jiuzhe collaborated on the song "Playing" Ni Naisi is a newcomer. "He loves music very much," Li Jiuzhe introduced. "At that time, I thought that when I was a newcomer, there was no stage to perform. Big Brother Ma Ji Huang Licheng gave me a chance to sing. So I also hope to give more opportunities to newcomers. When recording this song, it was the first time he entered the studio. He was very nervous at first, but he was A friend who really loves music. If he becomes a great star or artist in the future, I also hope that he can help more newcomers." The theme of
"Play" comes from the pressure of modern people. "I often see people who are too sad, have various pressures or problems, but don’t know how to let go, so when I see suicide news, I am really sad. I hope this song "Play "You can encourage everyone. Although today is sad and painful, don’t give up on yourself, tomorrow will definitely be better, not always like this."
Li Jiuzhe said that when he was in the United States, he experienced a lot. Unhappy days, “I was stuck in that contract and couldn’t sing or do what I wanted to do. I was so painful and couldn’t sleep at night, so I could only sleep by getting drunk. I kept thinking, Why is it like this? Why can't I make the music I want to make? I have been very sad, and it can be said to be a relatively melancholic situation. I also thought about it, then give up and stop making music. But at that time, What I can feel most is my family, and my wife has always been next to me to encourage me. Although many times, we feel that onlyYou are alone, but you are not, so don't give up. "
"A person is not equal to loneliness"
Lyrics: Huang Weihao
Song: Huang Yunren, Li Jiuzhe
△ Lyrics:
The long night is quiet like water, and I miss who can carry
desolate my heart
away from the city,
away from the city,
, leaving the city and the wind to the north. When will the wanderer return to
alone does not mean that I am lonely
A round of bright moon shining thousands of lights
illuminates the fragility
The lyrics of the song "One is not equal to loneliness" is very poetic, and it is also the most difficult one in the new album that Li Jiuzhe thinks Song. "When we were recording this song, I discussed with the producer that many times we left home, in order to go to work or to go to school, we would have some distance with our family or our lover, but when Knowing that they are waiting for us, we have more power. When I often work in other places, I feel that someone is waiting for me. I have love there. I look at the sky or the stars, and I think they can also see it. "
Li Jiuzhe has developed in several places, but he said with emotion that only when he makes his own Chinese songs, does he really feel like going home. "Although my mother, father and younger brother are also in the United States, but after I went to the United States , After a while, maybe almost three weeks, I will start to feel weird. Because I spend more than half of my life in Asia. So now I go to the United States, and after almost three weeks, I feel that I am about to leave. Yes, I feel weird here and weird there. The bed is not my own. I feel more at home here. ”
