Taiwan Today

Chi Yu, Tsai Chin and Chen Yi are folk singers with several common features-they are all young, intelligent, idealistic and have good voice. They suddenly became popular, and are reaping a windfall from recordings after emerging at the top through the maze of folk song contests. The flood of applause and ovation has not made them lose their way. Instead, they have become more serious than ever in their determination to cultivate their talents.

Even in a crowd of co-eds, Chi Yu's casual, elegant look stands out: a loose shirt, designer jeans, unique sandals, dangling earrings and a spectacular sweep of raven hair combine somehow into eye-catching fashion.

After graduation in archaeology from National Taiwan University two years ago, Chi Yu went to the U.S. to further her studies. Last July, she married an American classmate and settled down in California. In mid-December, she returned to Taiwan to publicize her second disc.

A natural singer, Chi once decided to join the NTU choir but, to her surprise and dismay, she was not accepted. Miffed, she joined a guitar club, and at once became enamored of Western songs. She then entered and topped two folk song contests.

Her unique voice aroused the attention of musician-composer Lee Tai-hsiang. She became Lee's student - the sole singer of his songs. Before that, singing was only a pastime; she had had no training. She began to sing consciously, to pay attention to technique-staccato, tremolo, pronunciation and breath-control. She learned to foster interpretation in her songs.

Her first album, with "Olive Tree" as its flag, was a sellout. Within two months 30,000 discs were sold, followed by 5,000 tapes. Her popularity triggered a style shockwave among veteran folk singers and record dealers. The tape album travelled from Taiwan to Hong Kong and from there to the mainland, where it at once stirred an appetite that culminated in the mainland popularity of singer Teresa Teng.

The nine songs from the album are based on poems by such poets as Lo Ching, Lo Ming and Jung Tze and novelist San Mao. The sensation created by the album is partly attributable to the coordination among time, place and people factors. The popularity of the movie "Smiling Face," in which most of the songs are presented by Chi Yu, made her an overnight star.

Her second record featuring the song "Blessing" was canned before she went abroad. The ten songs were again by song writer Lee Tai-hsiang.

Chi Yu categorizes the songs in her two records into three classes. The first is romantic, such as "Olive Tree," "Smiling Face," "Blessing" and "Wall Sculpture on Spring." The second category is Chinese-flavored, relying on traditional elements involving the coordination of musical instruments, melody and style as demonstrated in "Shepherdess," "Wild Goose" and "Hearsay." The third group is quick-tempo: the "World of Love," "On Sunshine Boulevard." Chi Yu prefers the first two types, but the second in particular. "The rhythm is free, and I can add my own touches here and there. I am not at home singing quick-tempo songs, but I am trying to improve."

A special characteristic of Chi Yu's songs is very clear pronunciation. "Some people tell me I enunciate so clearly that they can't stand it. But most of my songs were derived from modern poetry. Singing the words clearly allows the audience to appreciate the poet, and me to fully develop the feelings."

Making singing her career, says Chi Yu, is obstructed by many objective factors. For instance, she has to consider her husband's work place and her parents' opinions - plus her astrological projections: "As a Libra," she says, "I only make decisions after thoughtful deliberation on all aspects of my problems. This cautiousness may result in my missing very good opportunities. But I will not easily let go of things I love as much as singing."

Tsai Chin always presents a poker face to the TV. For decor, almost without exception, she sports a head of short hair, a pair of oversized eyeglasses and very plain clothes. However, people are touched by her voice - a spontaneous overflow of rich feeling. "I sing with my heart; I am cold in the face but warm at heart," she jests.

She is a totally different person away from TV - loquacious, sensitive and slangy. A year ago, she emerged in fourth place in a folk song contest. She claims she really ranked second in singing, but fourth in guitar playing.

Isn't she a good guitar player? She answers with a pun: "Well, you know my name (in slang) is literally Tsai (lousy) Chin (musical instrument)."

After the contest, the Haishan Record Shop heard the winners in the audition room. Tsai Chin's voice is particularly pleasant over a sound system. She recorded, "Just Like Your Tenderness," written and composed by Liang Huang-chih, which became a hit among people of all age groups. Other hits such as "Choice," "Cross the Frontier" and "Tell Me You Love Me" helped to establish her position in folk song circles.

When asked why her songs are so popular, she replies jokingly: "I guess the times are different; the public accepts liberated female singers wearing eye glasses." She may be partly right. At that time, Tsai Chin's voice is uniquely low, persuasive, magnetic. Its tones help relieve tension and calm the hustle-and-bustle of life.

Tsai Chin's conservative style makes her look older than her 26 years. In fact, even her tastes are more mature than the norm for her age group. She doesn't like dancing, touring, shopping. Her songs, too, are inclined to the "blue."

She attributes this partly to being an aware eldest child. After her father's retirement from the Navy, he went into business, but ended with heavy debts. He found a job as a sea captain and spent much of his later years away from home. As her mother was very emotional, Tsai Chin became the spiritual pillar of the family.

Tsai Chin knows how to endure, and is not easily cowed by a challenge. When her father retired, she had to sing on the restaurant circuit to make both ends meet. She recalls: "When I first sang in a restaurant, my ears were filled with noises - laughter and talking, and the crash of cutlery with dishes. No one really listened to me. I was so angry I wanted to smash my guitar and throw the money out the window. However, my own nature forbids me. I want to sing with all my heart and I want everybody to listen to me. Now, I have made it. I have fans who go to the restaurant just to listen to my songs."

"I am getting more and more optimistic. I feel it is impossible to always ask society to adapt to us. The most precious thing in the world is to be able to stand the challenge of environment," she said.

Tsai Chin compares herself to an "enthusiastic missionary." She wants to learn to write novels and to lecture at high schools. She feels that students' life is too limited, that they need someone to "open another window for them."

She feels entertainers must walk out of their narcissistic ivory towers and learn concern for the public's life and needs, "or else they will achieve nothing."

Tsai Chin admits that she is short tempered, subjective and finds it easy to go to extremes. She is quickly critical when she disapproves. Her friends are always worried she will offend in public. But she says, "Basically, I love people; I guess I have to improve my temperament. And believe me, I try."

She still plans to graduate from the department of art design of Shih Chien College, but then Tsai Chin hopes to make singing her career, and herself a star.

Chen Yi, a senior at the department of history of National Taiwan University, appears sweet and innocent and is small, but her voice is unproportionately sonorous.

She has been a choir singer since primary school, and her professional songs are somewhere between art and popular. As a soprano in the choir, she prefers such pieces as "Singing in Shimmering Light," "Recollection in the Breeze" and "Moon Organ."

Like many other girls, Chen Yi creates an illusionary world. "When I was a child, I often looked absent-mindedly at spinning records, day-dreaming that a singing fairy lived in the small hole in the disc. When I grew older, I began to envy the fabulous local and foreign singers that are able to make their own records. Whenever there was a fascinating singing program, I would put aside everything to wait by the TV and tape all the songs. I have a whole bunch of collections of my favorite singers, their clippings and their records. I guess you may call me a typical fan."

In her junior year in high school she met songstress Chi Yu. Deeply impressed by Chi's "dashing appearance" and "marvelous performance," Chen Yi began to industriously practice the guitar.

She joined the choir and the guitar club at National Taiwan University, entered the club's first guitar contest and, outdoing many veterans, emerged on top.

She entered a ballad contest sponsored by the Hsinke Record Company, but was not a winner. Still, the company invited her to join in recording the sixth volume of its "Golden Melody" albums.

Chen Yi is now a minor celebrity on the campus. Does she feel uncomfortable? She replies: "There are many talented people on campus, and no one makes a fuss about it." Won't her extra curricular activities slow down her progress in school? "Those who say yes only want an excuse for their failures," she says.

Though young, Chen Yi can be decisive. For instance, when she learned the record company was going to record an album of songs by Ma Yi-chung, Wang hsin-lien and herself, she insisted on choosing her own songs. "I knew the producer should decide it. But I think it is better to find songs for myself, and then get the company's approval. Efficiency is what counts," she says.

Chen Yi, however, does not plan to make singing her career goal. "I am more interested in mass communication enterprises. After graduation, I plan to work behind-the-scenes. For years, I have been gathering materials and experience, and I believe I am capable of producing and hosting a radio program. In the end, I believe, it will be more worthwhile than to choose singing as my career."