Let’s start 2008 with Billboard’s first number one album of the year, “Growing Pains” from Mary J Blige. This woman has gone through a lot and we’ve followed her life through her music. We could feel her frustrations in songs like, “No More Drama.” For Mary J, it is truly “no pain, no gain!”

This album catches Mary J at the stage after her painful period. Not completely, but she is singing about a better time of her life, and she is carrying us with her. This is a very listenable and accessible album, and fans are glad to catch up with her. You can’t always dwell on the tough times! So how is she doing? The single “Just Fine” answers that.“So I like what I see when I’m looking at me
When I’m walking past the mirror…”But Mary is still going through the learning process. It is not complete yet, and she is letting us know that. I like the duet with Usher which is her latest single, “Shake Down.”“If love is the crime, I’m down for it.
If love is the crime.
Let love be the judge”Mary’s voice is as clear and soulful as in her past albums. What I like about her is that you can feel that she’s not just singing the lyrics. She is feeling them! Like this line from “Smoke.”“Holding on isn’t healthy
But it’s killin’ me
To let go.” Mary has had to work for the positive part that comes though her personal experience. On “Work That” she tells us that we need to look at ourselves:“ I’m talking ‘bout things that I know
Work what you got, it’s okay to show yourself some love.”I am a big fan of Mary J’s! We were with her through some troubled times and now some better times. If you have seen her on TV recently, you will find her looking better and more confident in the direction of her life. Her new album is deservedly at the top of the charts!

PS. I started my first website. The reason I mention this is that I am posting all the past articles that I have written for the 21^st Century, so the collection will always be there. Let me know what you think about the site:  www.nihaoareyou.net

People are always looking for the “next Michael Jackson!” Some say it could be Usher and some say it could be Chris Brown. He’s young, a great dancer, and the ability to take a performance to that “wow” level! Is he the next Michael Jackson? It’s way too early to even get into that useless prediction game. But anytime an artist has two successive songs in the top ten on the Billboard charts, they’re making an impact in the music world and Chris Brown is one of those artists! If you listen to pop radio at all you will know the song “Kiss Kiss” from Chris’s latest album, “Exclusive.” And “With You,” the follow up single, is currently number 2 on Billboard. There’s no doubt, Chris has arrived and is on his way with this sophomore release!  

  “I’m into you and
Girl no one else would do
With every kiss and every hug
You make me fall in love
And now I know I can’t be the only one
I bet there’s hearts all over the world tonight
With the love of their life who feel
What I feel when I’m with you.” from Chris Brown “With You”

Chris is 18 years old and there’s enough going on with this album keep him on his path towards superstardom. The first single “Wall to Wall” was a little weak in getting the album started on the charts but “Kiss Kiss” caught the attention of radio listeners. He’s got help on the album from people like will.i.am and Kanye West. Yet, as I listen to the album more, I get the feeling that the producers have a little too much control. I hope on his next album they share the responsibility and avoid the over production that is so common in music today.

I have been listening to “Exclusive” quite a bit and it sounds fine in my iPod while I exercise in the gym. And the CD I bought in China has a bonus CD of extra tracks like “Run It.”.

This is an album of potential radio hits. If you thought his first album was good but perhaps a bit boyish, he seems to have somewhat grown up with “Exclusive.” But he is still a teenager and has more growing up ahead, musically and more, which is good for us!

The 50^th Grammy Awards will happen on Feb 10^th. It is the most important music award in the world, but actually I am much more interested in the nominees than the winners. It is like the Academy Awards where we are introduced to some excellent nominated movies that we may have never heard of. 

I am not sure if these nominees will win or not, but these artists have caught my attention:  

Amy Winehouse -What a mess! She gets more press for bad behavior than for her music…but what a talent! I am a major fan of this British woman and I have listened to her album a lot in the past year. If she wins a Grammy, I hope she takes the opportunity to shock us with a “normal” side of herself onstage!

Robert Plant and Alison Krause for “Gone Gone Gone” Legendary rocker Robert Plant is from the 70’s group Led Zeppelin which reunited in the UK recently to rave reviews. But this is a different side of Robert as he teams up with country music’s Alison Krause. It is an unusual album and their voices blend so well. This single is from the CD which is available in China. Worth checking out!

Taylor Swift- Country/pop and a hot talented teenager! I like Taylor because she puts “life” and a fresh face into country music. She co-wrote every track on the album and there is no doubt that she is just starting her great career. Hope she performs on the Grammys because she has so much talent and energy!

“Hey There Delilah” from the Plain White T’s- Written a few years ago about a real girl! In fact, she is an Olympic hopeful this year (steeplechase) and she may come to China. Tom of the T’s knew her in university and although they never really got together, he was inspired to write the song. A lot of creativity comes from a fact and then embellishing on it. He did not get the girl, but he may get a Grammy!

Christina Aguilera’s performance for “Candyman”- She filled the stadium in Shanghai with her awesome show last year. It was worth the trip from Beijing for me because she is one of the best!

My suggestion: focus on the nominees; wait a few weeks and get the 2008 Grammy nominees CD when it comes out in China!

By Rick O’Shea Li Ke
 Dear Rick, I’m fond of R&B, especially songs sung by black singers. I’m addicted to Babyface’s “Loneliness” and Luther Vandross’s “Any love” and so on. There are so many excellent black singers and what’s more, I read in a magazine that black people are born with a sense of rhythm, so gradually I came to the conclusion that most black people could sing very well.

 So I was extremely happy when I came across a foreign teacher from Africa. I asked him to sing a song, and he was reluctant to do so at first but did so anyway. Oh my God! I was stunned! It was not R&B or rap but rather something I had never heard! He laughed when I told him about my view. He told me that before he came to China he had thought every Chinese was good at kung fu fighting like Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, but then after living here for a while he has changed his mind. “You’ve got to change your point of view also!” he said with a laugh. Yours Sincerely, Jenny

  Thanks Jenny! An Asian singer, Paul Kim, was a recent contestant on American Idol. He had an outstandingly smooth R&B voice and reminded me of Alex To in looks and voice. I was surprised that he did not make it further. He was very good! He said that he did not want to “diss” (disrespect) William Hung, who sang “She Bangs” a few years ago in a laughable way, but that he was trying to show another side of Asian performers. Did he succeed in that?

  Paul said, “I’m not trying to get political or anything, it’s just that we’re stereotyped a certain way in the media — where people think all Asian guys wear glasses and are un-athletic and really nerdy — that really bothered me. William Hung was shown over and over again, and at first I thought it was funny, but then it got to the point where it started getting embarrassing. That really irked me, and I was out to prove that that’s not what we look like, it’s not who we are as a whole. So I just wanted to bring something new to the table, and hopefully I did do that.”He did! I am always wondering who will be the first Chinese to set the international image of a hot pop singer. Any guesses? Let me know who you think it could be…

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Hong Kong Music  April 11, 2007

By Rick O’Shea

I was in Hong Kong last week where I was once again invited to co-host the 21^st Century Lenovo Cup National English Speaking competition. This was special for me because I am a HK resident, so it was like returning home. I had worked in radio and TV there for more than a decade before moving to Beijing.

I made a point to visit the Avenue of the Stars along Victoria Harbor on April 1^st, the anniversary day that actor and singer Leslie Cheung took his own life a few years ago. I had known Leslie from TVB where we would occasionally run into each other, and I remember him as very friendly and warm. Walking along Victoria Harbor from the Star Ferry, I approached Leslie’s star on the footbridge where many of his fans were laying flowers on the ground. You could see a certain sadness in people’s faces. He was an extraordinary talent and a great loss.

Then I walked over to Anita Mui’s star which is close to her good friend Leslie’s. I used to go to her concerts often; sometimes two days in a row! She gave “real” concerts. Anita would sing and dance for two hours in stunning outfits and then she’d return in jeans for the encore speaking to the audience and singing requests for another hour. It is still hard to believe that she is gone.

I am still a big fan of Hong Kong music and I used to play a lot of it on my radio programs; singers like Alan Tam, Jackie Cheung, Priscilla Chan, Eliza Chan, Lam, Teresa Carpio, etc. In fact, Sandy Lam was a colleague of mine at Commercial Radio. I did my show in a studio separated by a large window next to the one in which she made her programs. Sandy’s on-air name was “lok yat yat (611)” and since being a DJ she has since become one of the most successful singers in China, having released albums in Mandarin, Cantonese, English, and even Japanese!

After living in Shanghai and Beijing since 1996, I find I still have a deep affection for Cantonese music. If you are like me and miss this music, I can introduce you to a great internet radio station where you can hear some of the best Hong Kong music from the past 30 years. It is www.hkvpradio.com

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Macy Gray’s “Big” and Norah Jones “Not Too Late” April 18, 2007

  I have always tried to be supportive of international singers who make the effort to perform in China. Macy Gray stopped by last year and sang with Karen Mok at the Shanghai Grand Prix. Then she spent some time as a tourist in Beijing.

It’s has been a few years since Macy released an album and I am a fan of her distinctive raspy voice. She laughs when she explains the title by saying, “I chose ‘Big’ as the album title because of my big heart and big butt!” The album is fresh and accessible and Macy gets help from will.i.am and Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas, Nas, Justin Timberlake and Natalie Cole. I am not disappointed. It sounds fresh and updated compared to her last album and I hope Macy can make it back here and do an actual full concert for us!

  And while we are on the subject of new albums from people who have been here, Grammy award winner Norah Jones performed in China a few years ago. I remember that cool night vividly, and once inside the Workers Stadium in Beijing, the warmth projected by Norah Jones playing to a full house made me feel almost like I was in a music coffee house. It was a very intimate performance and a pleasure to see her live. So, I’ve have been looking forward to her new album which came out recently and shot to number one on the Billboard charts. This does not necessarily mean it is an outstanding album; it simply means many people were anxious for any new Norah Jones album! The album “Not Too Late” is very much more of what we like about Norah. Nothing to really grab our attention but a comfortable sound. It does not seem to matter very much what she sings about. Could be singing about war or love, the sound is pretty much the same. Style overtaking substance and that is not always bad. In fact, I am listening to Norah Jones as I am writing this column right now. Her sultry voice is like cream in a cup of coffee. She is a special talent and if Norah came back to China, I’d go see her again.

Who would you like to see perform in China? Send me an email!

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Music Festivals  April 25, 2007

Rick O’Shea

I love music festivals! All kinds! The talk of Beijing is the upcoming Midi music festival May 1-4. Four days of live bands mostly from China and I will spend some time there, for sure…

I am a live music fanatic and working in radio gave me a great excuse to follow my music passion! And there are so many kinds of music festivals!

Some are very much like the Midi festival where local bands get a chance to play their music for thousands of music fans. I don’t really go to see any favorite bands. I go for the variety. I go for the new bands. And I go to hang out with friends and enjoy the music!

Some music festivals focus on charity where the stars often play for free and the proceeds go to a special cause. Hawaii seems to have a lot of those because the “aloha spirit” runs high through the islands. I was involved through radio to some of the charity festivals in Hawaii which featured a variety of Hawaiian music performers and occasional international stars who live there and want to be a part of helping out a charity.

Hawaii is also the home of one of the best natural concert settings in the world. Some promoters have recently reactivated the annual rock festivals held in the Diamond Head crater in Honolulu, the famous non-active volcano located at the end of Waikiki Beach. In the past, top musicians of their times like Santana and Jimi Hendrix have played inside the Diamond Head crater. Who wouldn’t want to perform in Hawaii?

Some festivals are defined by a certain kind of music. When I lived in Florida I attended a bluegrass country music festival held in the middle of an orange grove. I did not like country music at all in those days and I thought I would perhaps stay an hour or so. I ended up staying the whole 2 days and found that there are many more types of country music than what the radio played. Some featured lightning-fast string playing on instruments like guitar, fiddle, and banjo. Food, drink, thousands of people and much more fun than I ever expected!

Outdoor music festivals are so much different than indoor concerts. I enjoy the free spirit and the ability to wander around, the energy, and the atmosphere of fresh music!

It is significant that China have music festivals!  People overseas often talk about China’s rock and alternative music scene. The Midi festival is the place to experience some of the best from China, and only 30rmb a day! Hope to see you there!

By Rick O’Shea 李柯

  After 11 years and 4,100 consecutive programs, I passed the new time limit for foreigners at CRI. Saying goodbye to the audience we had built over the years was the most difficult part. We had an unusually strong connection for a radio program! And I had to mention to my friends at the 21^st Century that there would be no more lyrics to print for the “song of the week” like we had been doing for more than a decade.

  But instead of wishing me “good luck” like most people, I was surprised when the 21^st Century asked me if I would like to write a new column! We have so many ways to have music in our lives: MP3, CDs, internet radio, radio, TV, etc. Music is a part of our lives more than ever before! Would I like to write about that?

  Well, yes! Seems so natural. Sliding off the radio for awhile and into print. Cool!

So I’ll make some suggestions of some new music to check out, but I will not really be a “music critic.” I’m more like a friend introducing you to a new album, movie, artist, club, etc. And I want to share some ideas from the most important people in the music world. You, the listener!  I like stories connected with music.

Got any music related stories to share? You can reach me anytime by email: rick21st@hotmail.com

 On my last show, I read the lyrics to Jordan Hill’s “Remember Me This Way.” I wanted a song that would remind people that the connection will still be there.

  “ Every now and then
We find a special friend
Who never lets us down
Who understands it all
Reaches out each time you fall
You’re the best friend that I’ve found
I know you can’t stay
A part of you will never ever go away
Your heart will stay
 I’ll make a wish for you
And hope it will come true
That life would just be kind
To such a gentle mind
If you lose your way

Think back on yesterday
Remember me this way”

And now we can be connected here! It’s a new page of life for me. Literally! See you next week. EnJOY!

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I’m Still Listening to Grammys Nominees March 14, 2007

Rick O’Shea

Li Ke

  People are always asking me what CDs I listen to the most. Lately? “Grammy Nominees 2007.” I listen to it even more after the Grammys! No doubt, it’s a sampling of some of the best of the past year.    

  I saw the Grammys on TV and it was not exciting until Christina Aguilera bust out and sang a tribute to James Brown. She was amazing! She stole the show! She’s on the CD with one from her “Back to Basics” album which has her stretching back to some older styles. And they say Christina may play China as part of her current tour. She’s “A-list” and I would be first in line for those tickets!

   Gnarls Barkley is on the CD with “Crazy,” Justin’s “Sexyback,” Corrine Bailey Rae’s “Put Your Records On,” and even The Black Eyed Peas with “My Humps”…

  We’ve had fewer concerts lately in Beijing as the stadiums are being upgraded for the Olympics but we’ll get a surprise every now and then. We stood up, sang and shouted during the entire Black Eyed Peas concerts in Beijing and Shanghai last year!

  Back to the Grammys Nominees 2007 CD. John Mayer, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mary J Blige, etc. This album is just packed with some of the best music, including the Dixie Chicks who were awarded with 5 Grammys! After some rough years with many radio stations not playing their music in response to some personal views they had spoken in concert, their new album confirms they have not “sold out.” They did not stop writing, recording, and touring. They did not stop their musical mission! The Dixie Chicks are bold talented women! “I’m not ready to make nice
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and
I don’t have time to go round and round and round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could
‘Cause I’m mad as hell
Can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should”(from “I’m Not Ready to Make Nice” – Dixie Chicks)By the way, who would you like to see perform in China if you could choose? I am really curious…send me an email.And … Stay in touch!

 rick21st@hotmail.com

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Invisible Music Connection  March 21st, 2007

Rick O’Shea

Music touches us in a variety of ways. Recently, I was doing a voice recording in a studio. The recording session went smoothly and after we finished, one of the clients asked me if I could do him a favor? His wife was in the hospital and he wondered if I could pay her a visit. She’s been going through treatment for some time and she could be there for a while longer. He thought my visit would be a good surprise for her since they used to listen to a nightly radio program I co-hosted when they were English major students in university. I said, “sure, let’s go NOW!”  It took quite a while to get there as the hospital was in the southern part of the city. We finally arrived and went to the room that she shared with two other patients. I kind of expected her to be lying down and weak, but instead, she was alert and lively as she sat on the bed and told me how they (her boyfriend then, husband now) would listen to the music program together. And then we spoke about all kinds of things. She has a very nice voice and they dialed a company that uses her on their phone message. It sounded so professional! She has a laptop and MP3/radio to keep her connected to the outside world while she recovers. She speaks Chinese, French and English fluently, and the music she likes to listen to is varied.  Eight o’clock came about too soon, but hospital visiting time was over for the day. I said we could easily stay in electronic touch. I am hoping for the best for her and I will return soon.   I’ve thought about it afterwards. I thought how brave she has been going through this illness.  And how her incredibly supportive husband seized the opportunity to ask me to visit her. But to tell you the truth, I think I was moved more by the visit than she was! So glad to meet both of them, and now we are friends. Actually, we have been invisible friends for years now. Through a music program on the radio!

  Let’s appreciate the “treasures” in our lives, and music connections! {sorry to say that my friend’s wife passed away Thanksgiving Day 2007-Thankful to have known her–rest in peace and love}

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 ZIYO Mar 28, 2007

by Rick O’Shea Li Ke

    I went to LUSH last week in Wudaokou near Peking, BLCU, and Tsing Hua Universities. I particularly like small clubs in university areas because of the vibrant music there, and it’s much more intimate than a large club. A friend informed me that the band ZIYO would be playing there that night. That gave me a good reason to drop by because I’ve known lead singer Helen  since we worked together in radio a few years ago, and in fact she’s now heard weekends on HIT-FM in Beijing. 

  Anyway, after she left radio for a while she began hosting CCTV 9’s Center Stage where I see her sometimes. Poised and natural, Helen gives us a “proper” introduction to performances in China with a bit of that “CCTV smile.” She wears it nicely and it’s always a pleasure to see her.

  But then, there’s Helen’s other side! You must catch her fronting the band ZIYO! The small club was packed and most were standing when ZIYO came out to play. If you think she’s going to be that sweet TV presenter, you are wrong! Helen loosens up 100% and goes through different styles from screeching rock to a very heartfelt “Alone” and lots of musical flavors in between. She sings in English and Chinese and they had no problem playing to the crowd which kept moving closer as the music continued. An indie sound, yet unique. They do play in different places in China, and if you get a chance to see them, do it! Go to their website where you can read about them and hear some of their music! www.myspace.com/ziyo

  You know, most of us go through the week and listen to lots of recorded music on MP3s, some radio and other sources. But to me, after all that listening, nothing sounds as fresh and powerful as a live performance in a club! Concerts are good, but too many performers duplicate what you can hear on their recordings. There’s an energy in smaller clubs which makes you feel as though you are not just watching and listening, you actually become a part of the musical atmosphere. Love it!  

Support local music and get out to some clubs! And let me know which ones you recommend!