Album Review: Wang Lee Hom - Heroes of the World
1 Jan 2006, 02:46
Super ABC, Taiwanese-superstar 王力宏 recently released his 11th Chinese album entitled ’Heroes of the World.’ Lee Hom’s last album ’Shangri-La’ was simply wonderful and I absolutely adored it, relishing in his newly established and embraced ’chinked out’ sound that he aspired to have change the nature of Chinese popular music. So, how does Lee Hom’s next album fair? Quite well, it’s still too soon for me to say which album I like better, perhaps after a few more listens.
Zai Mei Bian
’Zai Mei Bian’ is seems like another cute and fun hip-hop inspired track from Lee Hom, it starts off light and bouncy but the chorus really stands out and is very stylish and incredibly catchy. The whole song is laced with Chinese influence, reminiscent of Lee Hom’s offering last year with ’Shangri-La.’ It’s a great track, makes you want to bounce but things take an unexpected turn when Lee Hom starts going off on an impressive fast-paced, quick-lipped rap at the end of the song, though it ends abruptly, it somehow manages to transition perfectly to the next track.
Hua Tian Cuo
’Hua Tian Cuo’ is a Chinese-influenced R&B inspired ballad. Lee Hom seems to be staying true to his vision of ’chinked out’ music as it’s flavour is similar to that of ’Xin Zhong De Ri Yue’ off ’Shangri-La’ but it doesn’t seem as whimsical and fantastical, it has a more matured quality. The instrumentals used really remind me of my childhood, particularly the times I spent over at my friend’s house while her grandmother was listening to traditional Chinese opera music tapes; however, Lee Hom’s use of traditional instruments and styles are much more to my liking, as I hated those tapes with an unbridled passion.
Gai Shi Yin Xiong FEAT. Jin ’tha MC’
This song is so incredibly catchy, very deserving as the title track, the female vocals at the chorus do an amazing job, the beat of the chorus is just infectious fun, it’s pretty much drilled in my head and I love it. The song itself is a complex mix of different sounds and styles, almost like several songs in one. Some people may think of Jay Chou when they think of intricate blending and mixing of styles and sound effects but what Lee Hom does and comes out with is totally different. It doesn’t come off as experimental and polished as Jay’s work, it comes off as something more raw and spontaneous, it’s more fun in nature. Of course, the notable addition in Lee Hom’s mix is Chinese-American rap artist Jin ’tha MC,’ he actually kind of throws the song off for me, his sound is just not as lively as Lee Hom’s and his very very ABC Cantonese makes me giggle. I’m kind of pleased when his bit is done and finished with- have I mentioned that I love the chorus? Love it.
Kiss Goodbye
Ah, Lee Hom does a lot of gorgeous, heart-wrenching ballads, as ’Kiss Goodbye’ would be another. It’s a beautiful song, but it doesn’t wrench my heart the same way ’Forever Love’ does, maybe if I watch the MV and there’s another tragic bowl of cereal, I’ll change my mind, just kidding, though not really because I didn’t obsess over ’Forever Love’ until after I watched the MV and saw the fate of aforementioned cereal bowl. I know I need to get over that bowl but goddamn it, it’s too tragic. Anyway, it’s a good emotional ballad but it’s not as strong as the power balllad that is ’Forever Love’
Wan Mei De Hu Dong FEAT. Rain and Lim Jeong Hee
’Wang Mei De Hu Dong’ is a mellow, mid-tempo Spanish-flavoured track that strangely enough features Korean recording artists Rain (or Bi) and Lim Jeong Hee singing/rapping in Korean while Lee Hom carries on in Mandarin, while occasionally breaking out into English or dabbling in the other’s native language (mind the fact that Lee Hom didn’t learn Mandarin until post-secondary school, which really re-establishes my theory that Wang Lee Hom is the ultimate first-generation overseas Chinese). It’s an interesting track, not really my taste, I think a good lot of Korean music artists tend to sing a bit over-dramatically, so I’m a bit turned off, I kind of don’t like Rain really either so I’m not overly excited about this collaboration, unlike a good lot of fangirls- I rather fangirl over the awesomeness that is Wang Lee Hom.
Da Cheng Xiao Ai
Da Cheng Xiao Ai is a light and refreshing song, nothing especially remarkable, but it’s really cute and innocent in nature. Some people have said it has an old-Mando/Canto-pop flavour to the song, I can definitely hear that as well, especially in the quaint simplicity of the song. It’s enjoyable but rather forgettable to me, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s older Mando/Canto pop sound contributed to that lack of interest on my half xD
Di Yi Ge Qing Chen
Ah, Lee Hom makes me melt for him again, ’Di Yi Ge Qing Chen’ is a pretty and gentle ballad, these songs aren’t really my kind of thing, if not for some swooning. I keet waiting for Lee Hom to break out into a more powerful sound, a stronger voice but the song remains fairly light and constant, there’s a few points when he starts to build up but it falls back into its original softness. I think his voice sounds its best when he’s singing loudly, it really demonstrates how strong it is. There seems to be that signature ’power ballad’ of Lee Hom’s missing on this album, and I am admittedly disappointed, but oh well, can’t always get what we want. Regardless of a much anticipated build-up, it’s still a beautiful song.
Ge Er Men
This is a short song but it has an "old-school" R&B quality to it, I find it really enjoyable and kind of wish he expanded on it and made it slightly longer, it’s cute, catchy, and fairly refreshing. His rap style in this track reminds me of his stuff on his ’Unbelievable’ album but it’s much more refined and in control this time. I really like this track despite its short length.
Ran Kai
This song is a bit too unpolished and all-over the place for my taste; however, the feeling and sound of being ’incomplete’ seems to work in its own way. The seemingly out of place sound effects actually work together really well and are quite possibly the most cohesive part of the song. There’s almost too much going on in order for me to enjoy it, it’s very experimental.
Ai Yin Wei Zai Zin Zhong (Lee Hom & Fans)
From my understanding this is a song written by one of Lee Hom’s fans, Shane and was sang to it by his fans for his birthday last year. The other voices singing on this track are indeed his fans along with Lee Hom and I think that it’s absolutely adorable. Very sweet.
Overall: In my first impression, I am in love with the first few tracks of the album, I don’t know if I’ll like it as much as I’ll like ’Shangri-La,’ as I said before, this album is severely lacking that strong, overwhelming, Lee Hom power ballad in which he pours out his soul with his gorgeous voice and makes us all fall apart. Other than that disappointment, it’s also a fairly short album, only 10 tracks, one of which is rather short and the last which is more like a bonus-track to me. Regardless, Lee Hom has stayed true to his word of expanding Chinese popular music while incorporating his vision of ’chinked out’ music. Go out and give him a listen, kiddies, you won’t regret it.
Of course I’m smart and won’t be buying this album until the ’special’ version comes out with a VCD of his MVs. Smart people know not to buy Chinese albums right away, as there’s always more shit to be added at a later date.
Favourite Tracks: Zai Mei Bian, Hua Tian Cuo, Gai Shi Yin Xiong, Kiss Goodbye
Written by ShuiMei.
Source:
http://www.last.fm/user/ShuiMei/journal/2006/01/1/51927/
