YAM Loves: BiBi Zhou
Starting with her debut album, Who Touched my Violin String, released in 2006 — just one year after Super Girl. The album must have been an extra special project for Bibi considering her idol, Taiwanese R&B pop-rocker David Tao, penned the second track — a ballad titled Don’t Love me, like a Loving Friend (别爱我, 像爱个朋友).
Though much of Bibi’s discography focused on her R&B — sometimes slightly Chinese-styled — songs, like title track Who Touched my Violin String [MV], it is on tracks like Hello! Hello! (喂!喂!) [Xiami], Poisonous Mushroom (毒蘑菇) [Xiami], or That One, That One (那个那个) where she begins showing an explosive spark.
This is a good starting point for anything Bibi, and guarantees no trolls in the comments saying negative things like wondering why she placed *cough* above a certain 3rd place.
Sorry, couldn’t help it.
@ghost, just shhh and check out the music.
@ghost, Not to knock your opinion, but I think she should have won overall. Chris Lee and Jane Zhang are great singers, no doubt, but Bibi’s voice just KILLS me. Every time.
@Mandy Jean, Bibi should have won… but I do understand the appeal of Chris Lee… as well as Jane Zhang’s voice. While I think Chris lacks the singing chops and Zhang lacks the personality spark, I think Bibi has a great balance of both.
Too bad Oprah didn’t pick her, huh?
After redirecting me from LiveJournal’s ~chinesesongs community to your article, it seems as if LiveJournal or perhaps the moderators of the community have flagged your comment as spam.
This is possibly the best written article I’ve ever read on Bibi Zhou. It not only tells the full story, it tells the truth and paves the way for other people to become fans as well. And to me, it looks like we’ve both been deeply touched by her artistry. I only wish it had happened sooner.
The truth about Bibi is that her music, once again, made me take an overall active interest in Chinese music and pop-culture in general. I’m just now figuring out the best places on the Web to find news on Chinese artists and so forth, so I’m still very much of a newbie. However, I also have to credit her with helping me to make a solid decision on the language I would like to learn sometime in the near future.
I always thought I would choose to learn Japanese in college, but as my interests have changed throughout the years – as well as my personal situation – I have come to the conclusion that it’s not only a smart idea to learn Mandarin (since so many people speak it) but it’s also the right decision for me. I may not be able to learn it through college since Full Sail University doesn’t offer any classes in it and I’m locked into their Creative Writing for Entertainment program for a while, but I’m looking into Rosetta Stone and other effective language-learning tools.
Thank you for writing this article! I must share it with all of my friends who have a penchant for foreign music, especially that of Asian origin.
@Mandy Jean, yeah. I noticed that on LJ – the pop-up said the comment was being held for moderation or screening or something.
Me too! Me too! I started out my Chinese interest after being reluctant for so many years where I told myself I wanted to learn Japanese (first), LOL! Then, after 2008 and the crazy summer Olympics (with the sports and media), I felt compelled to look into Chinese music more. Bibi’s been the final push to start Chinese classes haha.
You should read the post written by Reuben, who actually knows Bibi ;D
I’m a middle aged English guy. I was lucky a few years ago to have a Chinese friend introduce me to the bibi story via YouTube.
And now I feel I must be the only white male in England who is currently listening to a purloined version of UNLOCK. I’ll buy it when yesasia makes it available, but she’s the only artist I’d go to such lengths for
Little girl, big voice
@Stephen,, album review is out! xD
I know a white middle age guy who’s also a fan, so you’re not so alone. And I think we’re three non-Chinese speaking fans :)