Killing All the Crows in the World (The Killing of Three Thousand Crows) 三千鸦杀
Posters, stills, photoshoots, and random photos that caught my eye this week.
Actress Li Yuan plays Yuchang, a man posing as a woman, in The Longest Day in Chang’an
“When I was in the Intensive Care Unit, he promised me … ‘ In the future, whatever makes you happy, whatever you want to do, go do it and I’ll follow you.’ ” – Zhang Yunlei
Yang Jiulang kept his word. According to a director of a variety show, in the two years since Zhang Yunlei came out of the ICU, Yang Jiulang completely molded himself to fit Zhang Yunlei.
He would wheel him around in a wheelchair off stage and be his crutch on stage. He would stay up until 3am waiting for word that Zhang Yunlei got home safely from filming. He doesn’t even hand Zhang Yunlei water without first unscrewing the cap. He almost never sings but knows the lyrics to every song Zhang Yunlei sings on stage. If Zhang Yunlei wants him to sing, all Zhang Yunlei has to do was to stop mid-sentence and look to the left, and Yang Jiulang will finish his sentence without missing a beat.
From love at first meal, two miraculous comebacks, learning to walk three times, to plenty of foreshadowing and climaxes, the story of singer-comedian Zhang Yunlei and his partner Yang Jiulang unfolds as if it were a carefully constructed drama. Zhang Yunlei’s life story is a miracle in itself, but the story of their journey together is a fitting parallel plot.
*warning* Because they’re comedians, everything they say is a lie or a hyperbole. I will try to stick to off-stage interviews here, but I hold no responsibility for recounting lies they fed me.
” May we never again face separation in neither life nor death. Thank you to all the powers that be that let me still be by your side. ” – Yang Jiulang to Zhang Yunlei
Here are ten off-stage exchanges between the most romantic and dramatic duo, singer-comedian Zhang Yunlei and his partner Yang Jiulang. Their on-stage lines are also super cute (ex: “I don’t need friends, just Yang Jiulang. ” “It’s not that I can’t play the lead, but I just want to be the supporting actor to you.”)
If you’re interested in seeing them live, they will be headlining their first overseas event in New Zealand and Australia this September. More info here.
“It’s not that I can’t play the lead, but I just want to be the supporting actor to you.” – Yang Jiulang (while in-character)
From a homeless fourth-grade dropout to surviving a four-story fall to becoming one of the hottest new stars making century-old tunes hip again, singer-xiangsheng comedian Zhang Yunlei is a Republican-era prima donna teleported into the modern era. Here are ten things to know and love about rising star Zhang Yunlei.
Nails from his left leg.
In August 2016, over twenty terminally ill notices were released for Zhang Yunlei after he fell from the equivalent of a four-story drop-off at a railroad terminal. He miraculously returned to the stage, but with 108 nails inside his body and one less lung. For his earlier performances, they would wheel him up to stageside, and then he would walk up with the help of his partner, Yang Jiulang. There have been times where after he goes backstage, they would find out the nails had poked through his ankles and bled all over.
Zhang Yunlei and fans singing Visiting the Qingshui River.
Remember how the post on Chinese names mentioned most people use their ming as their first name? Guo Degang’s students are some of the last exceptions in entertainment. Everyone who studies under Guo Degang receives a zi when they’re deemed worthy. Zhang Yunlei’s Yunlei and his partner Yang Jiulang’s Jiulang are both zi.
A criticism of opium addiction and the oppressive social order during the late Qing dynasty, Beijing folk ballad Visiting the Qingshui River 探清水河 tells the tragedy of a pair of star-crossed lovers.
If the song sounds familiar, it might be because it uses the same tune as Qinhuai River of film The Flowers of War.
Zhang Yunlei singing his popular abridged guitar version with fans:
You might not be able to tell by his talk or gait, but Zhang Yunlei has lived with 108 iron nails inside his body for two years after surviving a 20m (65 ft) fall (he was drunk). The nails were only removed a month ago.
One of last year’s biggest breakout pop idols, xiangsheng comedian, Ping opera, Peking opera , xiaoqu, etc. artist Zhang Yunlei and his partner Yang Jiulang will finally be headlining their first international event this year. The pair will be at the Melbourne Convention Centre on September 23, The Star Event Centre in Sydney on September 29, and in Auckland on the 26th.
Tickets for Sydney are already on sale through Wechat (QR code below), and tickets for Melbourne go on sale at noon local time on April 20th here. Tickets for Auckland go on sale on the 23rd here.
The closest thing xiangsheng has gotten to a concert.
“Honey” Hanikezi / Hankhiz is the breakout star of episode 1, if mostly for her beauty and the equally gorgeous music+ costume + set + lighting
With a mix of dance, traditional music, folk music, opera, xiangsheng, and martial arts, idol competition Chinese Youth 国风美少年 looks for idols who can combine modern performances with traditional Chinese elements. I no longer have any idea how Chinese competitions work, but the three judges are singer Huo Zun, xiangsheng performer Zhang Yunlei, and singer-actress Ju Jingyi.
The show also has its fair share of idol group members as contestants, such as 7Sense’s Li Muzi, Awaken-F‘s Qin Zimo, and SNH48’s Song Xinran. So far, though, the breakout star so far is actress Hankhiz, whose performance you can watch below: