Chinese superstar shoots video on Saipan

Chinese recording superstar Li Quan was on Saipan for a five-day music video shoot for his 6th album that will be released on Oct. 25 in China.

Li Quan, producer, singer and songwriter, was accompanied by seven other crewmembers, including Sony/BMG China supervisor Leslie Zhu.

As translated by Cynthia Weng of Daichi Hotel Saipan Beach, Zhu said the company shot videos for five of Quan’s new songs.

She said the Marianas Visitors Authority’s invitation prompted the group to come and film the videos in the CNMI. Zhu said they selected Saipan over Korea and Queensland, Australia due to its tropical setting.

“We’ve been to Korea before. Saipan is more about nature and is very tropical,” she said. “Saipan is hot but beautiful. In China we don’t have this tropical environment.”

The Sony/BMG China supervisor said they started shooting last Tuesday at different tourist spots in the Commonwealth: Managaha Island, Bird Island, Suicide Cliff, the Street Market and the Grotto. She said they wanted to take underwater shots but this was scuttled due to the bad weather.

Zhu said the videos would be included in a two-part TV show in China. “It’s a 60-minute show,” she said adding that 30 minutes of the show will showcase the beauty and sparkle of Saipan.

“Little Match Girl’ meets the boy

Li Quan’s new album is entitled “Little Match Girl,” a title derived from a cut in his album with the same title. The singing superstar said when he was younger he used to love reading books, where he obtained his inspiration about the story of the little match girl.

He is praised in China as the “Piano Talent,” having started playing the piano when he was just four years old. He entered Shanghai Music University in 1989 but it was only in 1994 that he began composing. Li Quan said his musical talent was inspired by classical legends such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Sergei Prokofiev.

Li Quan’s musical career started 14 years ago; he has released five albums since his debut in 1995. He has produced several songs for different artists from other Asian countries such as Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The musical chameleon

Li Quan said that what keeps his career going is his passion for change. He said he has altered his musical style and explored other genres in his many albums.

He said his first album concentrated on classical music mixed with a contemporary beat. He then ventured into jazz in his second album. The fourth album catered to the underground and rave music such as techno, while the last album highlighted his passion for world music and New Age music. His latest album, he said, adheres more to pop.

“It is love that inspires me,” said Li Quan when asked about his motivation in writing music. He said being single makes him ponder more about life and its mysteries.

Li Quan said he has seen tremendous changes in the appreciation of music in China, with music that has evolved with the times. Before, the Chinese community could not distinguish one music from another. “Now, the Chinese can determine whether a music is R&B or jazz or hip hop,” he said.

Since China opened up to the world, people have begun to appreciate music more, he added.

Li Quan said that, if given another opportunity to return to Saipan, he would spend more time with the local artists here. He expressed hope that there would be more arts and music festivals on Saipan so there would be a reason for him to come back and sing and play for the CNMI community.

“It is my passion to mingle with people and local artists,” he said.

Chinese musical talent at its best

Among Li Quan’s achievements include the top spot in the “Shanghai Original Music Chart” for “Shanghai Dream” and “Don’t Close Your Eyes;” Channel V Mainland Music Award’s East Radio Hot 10; Most popular album “Taiwan Golden Songs; China Popular Music Chart Golden 10 for “Crying;” The 6th “EAST MUSIC AWARD” Golden 10 for “Man on the Wire Rope”; and 2nd Channel V Music Award Best Songwriter, among several others. Li Quan has been a contract artist of BMG Music for five years and one year with its merger with Sony Music.