More Facts on Jeremy's Songs, Being Single and Being a Dentist

(On stage interview with Fei Yu Ching 2003)

TVB Jade Solid Gold Music Gold Award for the Most Popular Mandarin Song with his song: "Do You Know I'm Waiting For you?" (Ni Zhi Dao Wo Zai Deng Ni Ma?)
Jeremy: "I had never been to Hong Kong. One day my record company informed me that my song was nominated for the Most Popular Mandarin Song award. I said at the time, how could this happen to me?"

Types of songs.
Jeremy: "I compose two different types of songs: the popular love songs and my own style of songs, such as "I Am Who I Am” (Lao Zi You Li) and “Don't Hit Me, Confucius” (Kong Zi Bu Yao Da Wo)."

Reading about Li Bai and Confucious.
Jeremy: "I don't read these books anymore. I read them when I was young. I remember very little on the facts. Read the first and last page, but ignore the middle pages...haha"

Response to Fei Yu Ching's question on being lonely.
Jeremy: "In between busy periods when there is nothing to do, I do sometimes ask myself what should I do or should I continue the way I am."

Response to Fei Yu Ching's comment on many performers being single for life.
Jeremy: "This could be a possibility."

Returning back to being a dentist.
Jeremy: "I can usually adjust myself after the first day, similar to driving a car."

Response to Fei Yu Ching's question on unforgettable moments as a dentist.
Jeremy: "In the past, a dentist would work closer to his patient's mouth. Since the outbreak of SARS, every dentist now wears a mask and does not bend down too close to the patient. Nowadays it is very common to have an dental assistant to help handle things, such as holding down the patient."


MY says:
Not sure when this on stage interview was done, whether it was before or after he met his girlfriend from Lithuania.

Some Facts on Jeremy's Songs

(On stage interview with Fei Yu Ching 2003)

Song: "Do You Know I'm Waiting For you?" (Ni Zhi Dao Wo Zai Deng Ni Ma?)
Composer: Jeremy Chang / Lyrics: Jeremy Chang
Jeremy: "This song came about during a typhoon. I didn't know what was going on up there but down here I was waiting for someone."

Song: "Beautiful Flower Butterfly" (Mei Li De Hua Hu Die)
Composer: Jeremy Chang / Lyrics: Jeremy Chang / Arranger: Jeremy Chang
Jeremy: "I've always liked butterflies. The biggest difference between humans and butterflies is that humans will grow old and die, whereas butterflies will become more beautiful as they mature and will die when they are most beautiful."

Song: "What Can I Take From You" (Wo Neng Dai Zou Ni De Shen Me)
Composer: Jeremy Chang / Lyrics: Wu Bai
Jeremy: "Most people will think that this song was created by the beauty and the beast, with me being the feminine one and Wu Bai being the masculine one. In reality, Wu Bai can be very soft hearted in the lyrics he writes."

Song: "Hiroshima Love" (Guang Dao Zhi Lian)
Composer: Jeremy Chang / Lyrics: Jeremy Chang / Arranger: Tu Ying
Jeremy: "It is very difficult to arrange for both Karen Mok and I be together on stage, therefore each time I perform this song, I have to find someone to take Karen's place. It becomes a game sometimes. I've even requested fans to come on stage to sing with me. It is very interesting to learned that there are many different voices."


MY says:
Every Jeremy song must have a story to it. The majority of the songs he wrote for other singers often are put into their first or second album. He jokingly said, "Now that they are famous, they won't need me anymore." He said that he doesn't purposely keep good songs for himself, every new song he writes is from scratch.

Did you know that Jeremy wrote two songs for Aaron Kwok in his earlier career: "Could It Be That You Still Do Not Know" (Nan Dao Ni Xian Zai Hai Bu Zhi Dao) and "My Heart is Still Beating" (Xin Xian Zai Hai Zai Tiao)?

Angus Tong, Emil Chau & Jeremy Chang

Chinese Name: 童安格
English Name: Angus Tong Ange
Date of Birth: July 26, 1959
Place of Birth: China
Height: 176cm (5'-9")
Weight: 57 kg (125 lbs)
Blood Type: A
Interests: reading, movies, toys, computers
Sporst: baseball
Started music career: 1985

Chinese Name: 周華健
English Name: Emil Chau Wakin
Date of Birth: December 22, 1960
Place of Birth: Hong Kong
Height: 174cm (5'-8.5")
Weight: 74 kg (163 lbs)
Blood Type: B
Interests: unknown
Sports: running, swimming.
Started music career: 1986

Chinese Name: 張洪量
English Name: Jeremy Chang Hung Liang
Date of Birth: December 15, 1959
Place of Birth: Taiwan
Height: 173cm (5'-8")
Weight: 65 kg (143 lbs)
Blood Type: O
Interests: composing music
Sports: table tennis, swimming
Started music career: 1987


MY says:
Most importantly, they all play the guitar. Wouldn't it be cool to have all 3 of them in one concert?

Source of info:
http://datalib.ent.qq.com/star/1125/index.shtml
http://www.kkbox.com.tw/funky/21/21_6_1612_0_0_0.html
http://web.ezpeer.com.tw/profile/s248.html

Who is Jeremy's other half (Part II)?

(News taken from February 2004)

One evening, during the month of February 2004, Jeremy and a cute blond short hair girl were seen eating at Taipei's well-known Thai Food House.

Jeremy encountered his first love at the age of 28.


MY says:
I still can't find her name. Could it be Julia (Juliya, Yulia) Kovaliova? The one that attended Townson University of Athletics? The gymnast who represented Lithuania on the bars in Sydney, Australia in 2000?

Source of info:
http://ent.163.com/ent_2003/editor/news/gossip/040217/040217_221145.html
http://ent.163.com/ent_2003/editor/news/starnews/040402/040402_234062.html
http://music.yule.sohu.com/2004/04/08/52/article219775209.shtml

Photos of Jeremy Chang

MY says:
Below are some links to photos of Jeremy Chang.

Source of info:

Google:
http://images.google.ca/images?hl=en&q=%E5%BC%A0%E6%B4%AA%E9%87%8F&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2

Baidu:
http://image.baidu.com/i?tn=baiduimage&ct=201326592&cl=2&lm=-1&pv=&word=%D5%C5%BA%E9%C1%BF&z=0

tom.com:
http://music.ent.tom.com/piclibs/zhanghongliang/index.html

163.com:
http://ent.163.com/ent_2003/editor/media/pic/040402/040402_234199(1).html
http://ent.163.com/ent_2003/editor/media/pic/040610/040610_253465.html

Jeremy Chang as a Dentist

(News taken from April 2004)

Because of his father's wishes, Jeremy gave up his most loved singing career and went back to work as a dentist. But he was never able to let go of singing and after convincing his family, it was agreed upon that he would have to work at the clinic at least one day per week during his record promotion period.

The record company took advantage of this by offering buyers a chance to win a 10k diamond that was worth $10,000 with the purchase of his new album. Only 10 albums contained the diamond and Jeremy would be the one packaging the diamonds in the albums. The lucky winners will have the option of having the diamond embedded onto their teeth by Jeremy himself. Jeremy thought at one time, that it would be neat to have his autograph engraved on his patients' teeth, so his patients would remember him forever.

During one interview, the host who knew him quite well, jokingly said that Jeremy's monthly income working as a dentist was only a mere $10,000!

As a dentist, Jeremy sometimes uses psychology to help his patients. He once said to one of his patients, "If pulling your tooth hurts, then I will quit my singing career!" It's easy to convince his patients to relax but he is just as reluctant to sit at the dentist chair. "Most people will think of the needle as a thorn, but to us dentists, we will think of whether the needle will enter into the muscles, bones or nerves. With this in mind, we get just as nervous."

After several years as a dentist, he has gotten used to the routine and no longer thinks about the past. "I will not only work as a dentist, singing is still my interest, therefore I will become a 'dentist singer'. I hope my patients will become my fans and my fans will also become my patients."


MY says:
Why does Jeremy keep on saying that he pulls teeth? Don't dentists in Taiwan replace cavities with fillings instead of just pulling teeth? Hahaha...signing his name on his patient's teeth???!!! Crazy guy, I tell you but he's got a good sense of humor though. :)

Source of info:
http://ent.163.com/ent_2003/editor/music/musician/040422/040422_240737.html
http://ent.163.com/ent_2003/editor/news/starnews/040407/040407_235951.html
http://www.ifeng.com/home/news/ent/200404/05/234940.html

Jeremy Chang Negative News with Karena Lam

(News taken from December 2004)

Jeremy showed his fustration regarding the negative news between him and Karena Lam. Apparently, Karena had told the media that because Jeremy failed to pursue her, he froze her from any career advancement for 7 years. "She's not telling the truth. She has not only harmed me, but she has harmed the people who have helped her. If it wasn't for us, where would she be now? She should at least have the heart to tell the truth. I've been in the industry for 18 years. As long as I have done nothing wrong, I have nothing to fear about."


MY says:
Once again, voicing yourself in public will help clarify misunderstanding.

Source of info:
http://ent.163.com/ent/editor/star/041222/041222_359499.html
http://ent.tom.com/1306/1362/20041222-113144.html

"Hiroshima Love" Jeremy Chang & Karen Mok (Part II)

(News taken from April/May 2004)

How did the song "Hiroshima Love" come about? Karen Mok was at the lowest point in her career. The two new albums that she released in Hong Kong did not sell well. As a result, her record company suggested that she find Jeremy Chang to help write a song for her. She dug up the money out of her own pocket to purchase an airline ticket and headed for New York where Jeremy was currently residing. Jeremy had arranged to meet her at an old cafe in New York. Jeremy said, "I did not want to spend unnecessary money, even for a beautiful girl." Jeremy was reluctant to help Karen at the time, he didn't even know who she was then. But he owed the owner of the record company a favour and since she had made her way this far, he had no choice but to help her. He wrote the song right there in that cafe for her. Because this was a favour, he agreed to give the copyright to the record company, which meant that he will not receive any royalty for any record and MV sales for "Hiroshima Love". Little did he know that what he wrote was a success and Karen rose to fame overnight.

He clarified to the media, that he never had a relationship with Karen, "When we were filming the MV for 'Hiroshima Love', there was request for me to hug Karen from behind. I refused because my girlfriend was there watching. You see, there was no chance for us to be together."


MY says:
Not many people will admit that they are moneywise, especially in the Asian entertainment world. I admire Jeremy for being so open about this. Sometimes you don't have a choice, but to clarify yourself in public. Keeping too quiet will only allow room for others to talk and think negatively of you.

Source of info:
http://ent.163.com/ent_2003/editor/news/starnews/040519/040519_247363.html
http://ent.163.com/ent_2003/editor/news/starnews/040425/040425_241451.html
http://ent.163.com/ent_2003/editor/music/musician/040422/040422_240737.html

"Hiroshima Love" Jeremy Chang & Karen Mok (Part I)

(News taken from June 2004)

Song: "Hiroshima Love" (Guang Dao Zhi Lian) 1989

Composer: Jeremy Chang / Lyrics: Jeremy Chang / Arranger: Tu Ying

Singers: Jeremy Chang, Karen Mok

"Hiroshima Love" was a help in boosting Karen Mok's career. At that time, record sales reached up to 400,000 copies. Many years later, "Hiroshima Love" remains one of most popular song on KTV. Jeremy stated that at the time, he never received one penny of royalty for this song. Both Karen Mok and Karena Lam were once students under Jeremy, but both have left to pursue their careers elsewhere. Now seeing his students having a successful career, he is very happy for them, "It was because I was poor then. As a composer, I didn't have very much money to invest in a singer. A singer has the right to choose a better and more financially stable record company to help their career grow. "

MY says:
It's no wonder that some people have been mislead to think that Jeremy was claiming Karen's "Hiroshima Love" as his work. I've seen one website that had Karen's name for both music and lyrics. But as with all news, most people will usually reside on the side of the person that is more popular.

Source of info:
http://ent.163.com/ent_2003/editor/news/starnews/040614/040614_254059.html

Jeremy's promotion, music tastes and New York

Jeremy Chang's promotion in 56 mainland cities (June 18, 2004)

Having been in the music industry for 18 years, this is Jeremy's first prolonged promotion in mainland China. His goal is to visit 56 cities in the mainland for his "In the Entire World Only You Don't Know" (Quan Shi Jie Zhi You Ni Bu Zhi Dao) collection promotion.

Life: Love Is More Important Then Music

Jeremy still works as a dentist. He believes his dentist occupation helps balance out his life. Being a singer is for himself, dentistry is to help others. In this time's promotion, he hopes to accomplish his father's wish, which is to find a wife to take home. This time in mainland he may be roaming about by himself, seeking for the right person. Jeremy says that he would rather die for someone who loves him, rather than die for music. His attitude towards life is, "Make sure you have an enjoyable life."

During his youth, Jeremy hung around bands in nightclubs. It wasn't until he had his electric guitar stolen in university did he learn to compose music. At that time, he never listened to Chinese music but preferred western music created by Yes, Pink Floyd and Queen.

In 1987, his first album, "Condolence" (Ji Wen) came out on cassette tapes and vinyl records. The vinyl is worth 9000 RMB in the market now. At the time, Jeremy thought he wasn't doing so bad with a few thousand copies of his album sold, until Dave Wong's album, "A Game, A Dream" (Yi Chang You Xi, Yi Chang Meng) came out and sold 20,000 copies. He realized then how bad his achievement was in comparison with Dave's. After listening to Dave's songs, he felt that this type of song shouldn't be too difficult to write, hence he made an attempt at writing in this style. The result came out in his song, "Do You Know I Am Waiting"(Ni Zhi Dao Wo Zai Deng Ni Ma) which became the most popular song in his album. Although this style was highly popular, it wasn't the style that Jeremy preferred.

In his album, "Guts of the Race"(Yao Zhong), his song, "Think Freely Eighteen Times" (Hu Xiang Shi Ba Ci) which contains 1800 characters, is the longest Chinese song ever created. While in New York, he created the shortest Chinese song in his album, "The Manhattan Bridge" (Qing Ding Ri Luo Qiao), called, "New York" (Niu Yue) with only 9 characters, "Broken Guitar, Worn Out City, Wish to Go Home" (Lan Ji Ta, Po Cheng Shi, Xiang Hui Jia).

In 1991, during the time when he was highly popular, he went to New York University to study filmmaking for one year. From 1995 to 2000, he returned to New York University for 4 more years and gained his master's degree in filming. His works included creating three music videos.


MY says:
Geez, it looks like Jeremy was homesick while in New York.

Composing and songwriting is like any other profession that requires creativity. Filmmakers, architects, interior designers, fashion designers, automobile designers, industrial furniture designers, programmers, etc., all have to lean their creation towards the liking of the person paying the money, the client. All too often I hear of students, all excited, getting ready to step out into the working world with their hard-earned education and their creative minds, only to be disappointed by their first, second, third and all other jobs afterwards. Money is what makes the world spin, though we may deny it at times. You have to be rich to create a film that you like and take the risk that others may not accept it. You have to be a rich architect to make a house that you and only you like. You get my drift?

Jeremy is a smart one though. He was able to steer his works in the path of the audience's taste. Good for you, Jeremy.


Source of info:
http://glsr.gov.cn/ent/news/shownews.asp?NewsID=91762