Zhang Bichen, winner of The Voice 2014 and singer of several popular drama theme songs, has confirmed that she has a toddler daughter with Super Boy winner and popular singer-songwriter Hua Chenyu.
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Photoshoots, posters, and stills that caught our eyes this week. What caught yours?
When the world was created, the essences of heaven and earth gave birth to a brilliant gem. It was split into two, one good and one evil. When the two gems are accidentally switched and the chosen hero to defeat evil was reincarnated with the evil gem, which side will he chose?
A retelling of the classic story of Nezha, animated feature Ne Zha 哪吒之魔童降世 released its first set of promotional music, posters, and trailers. Reviews for the film, to be released on July 26th, have so far been extremely positive, in particular praising its script. Will it be able to be the previous animated hit Monkey King: Hero is Back, whose script was probably its biggest weakness?
The Rap of China winner Gai sings the mesmerizing theme song of the same name below:
Ni Ni and Chang Chen’s Love and Destiny 宸汐缘 has finally set a release date for July 15th (this means there’s a 50% chance of it actually being released). The drama released a MV today for its theme song by Zhang Bichen and Zheng Yunlong. From the producers and director of Eternal Love, the drama tells of the love story between the God of War and a maiden destined to bring chaos to the world. [Extended Synopsis]
Try and guess these stars from the Eye of the Beholder video. What level of a fensi/fan are you?
Level 1 : Entry C-fensi
Three generations of Chinese actresses.
It’s rare to get this many stars to do anything together, not to mention a photoshoot where everyone’s agent is probably fighting for a better spot, but Vogue Film has done it in conjunction with its gala this year. The photoshoots includes some of the biggest actors, including Li Bingbing, Yang Mi, Angelababy, Liu Shishi, Tong Liya, Xin Zhilei, Tan Zhuo, Huang Xuan, Ethan Ruan, Zhou Yiwei, Zhai Tianlin, Han Dongjun, Xu Weizhou, Peng Yuchang, Bai Baihe, Jing Boran, William Chan, Ma Sichun, Janine Chang, Sun Yi, Li Meng, Qi Xi, Lan Yingying, Chen Ran, Victoria Song, Ouyang Nana, Wu Lei, Chen Feiyu, Song Zuer, Yang Le, Geng Le, Li Chun, Zhang Xueying, Zhang Zifeng, and Chen Wenqi. Musicians Zhang Bichen, Li Yundi, Zhou Bichang and models Ju Xiaowen, Xi Mengyao, Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying (Bad Genius is amazing and I highly recommend it) , and Karlie Kloss also joined in the fun.
I was able to recognized 34 of the 42 without looking at the list of names, how many can you identify?
Stranger in the North – Namewee ft Wang Leehom
Malaysian singer Namewee adds to the countless songs about the dream chasers lost in the strange allure and fog of the Northern Capital (Beijing). I don’t think Leehom has ever lived in Beijing, but who can complain about him.
When was the last time a woman sang the exciting OP about ruling the world? Props to Princess Agents for breaking the mold of a fastbeat male opening song and a romantic female ending song.
Between this, the Advisors Alliance, and Rush to the Dead Summer, this summer just might make up for the lackluster showing last year.
Featuring an ancient drama female lead with an actual goal in mind (and to free the slaves that she was once a part of, no less), and whose romantic deal breaker is politics, this could very well be Zhao Liying’s breakthrough role to launch her out of cutesy roles. OP is by Zhang Bichen and Zhao Liying.
This week not only is Zhang Jie back with another pretty theme song, but there are also themes for a string of current/upcoming dramas, including by Momo Wu Mochou, M.I.C., Zhang Bichen, and Tan Weiwei.
Last Week’s winner, Zhang Jie’s Sahā World for Monk Comes Down the Mountain.
Robynn & Kendy audition for The Voice of China. I know, I know. I was supposed to have this recap up days ago.
Just in case we haven’t been paying attention, the beginning of the episode introduces all the judges (again), listing some of their professional accomplishments with short sound bites from them about what they want to achieve. It’s all pretty standard, and none of it is especially remarkable, except for the fact that Chyi Chin doesn’t seem to have aged in 25 years. That’s not to say he doesn’t look his age of 54. Just that he looked 54 back in 1988.
Other than that, this episode jumps straight into the first audition.
This post is the second in a series of weekly recaps for The Voice of China. Review the first episode here.
Qin Xiaolin 秦晓林
19, Anyang, Henan
Fire 火 by A-mei
We jump straight into the first audition. No cute back-story here. What’s up with that? Maybe this contestant is really unlikable and nothing about her is endearing to the audience. The band plays a harder, rockier version of A-mei’s Fire. Oh, our auditionee has a really husky voice. She looks and sounds like chain-smoking lumberjack. I guess this is why they didn’t give her a proper introduction; her speaking voice would have given away the surprise. Her top notes actually resonate really well.
All the male judges turn for her. Wang Feng smiles. “You’re on fire.”
“From now on, you have a new nickname,” Yang Kun says. “Do you know what it is?”
“What is it?” she asks.
“Volcano girl!” Yang Kun replies enthusiastically. “Volcano” in Chinese is literally fire mountain, so Yang Kun just made a pun. It’s not a very good pun. “Her voice sounds like a volcano eruption,” Yang Kun explains to Na Ying.
“Her throat is full of fire.” Na Ying says.
“Ngraahahaaah,” adds Yang Kun. I don’t know what that’s meant to be.
Yang Kun asks if she was born with her voice or if it developed later on.
“I was born with this way,” she says. “I inherited it from my mother and grandmother. My mom is a Chinese opera singer. My grandfather has a really loud voice. I grew up in the east side of town. And every day I’d go to the west side to play at my classmate’s house. My grandmother would call out from one side to call me back for dinner.”
“Ryahaahaaaah!” Yang Kun responds. Continue reading