Actress Michelle Chen weeps at Stefanie Sun's first concert at Beijing's National Stadium
Michelle Chen (right) was among the 50,000 spectators who turned up for Stefanie Sun's concert in Beijing on June 13. PHOTOS: MAKE MUSIC, MICHELLE CHEN/WEIBO
Taiwanese actress Michelle Chen wept during Singapore pop star Stefanie Sun's concert at Beijing's National Stadium.
The 42-year-old was among the 50,000 spectators who turned up for the Beijing leg of Sun's concert tour on June 13.
'She is my favourite Chinese-language female singer and I have waited for this concert for a very long time,' Chen wrote on Chinese social media platform Weibo on June 14 morning.
'I had a chance to watch it more than 10 years ago, but missed it due to work,' she wrote in Chinese. 'I didn't expect that it would be many years later before I got to watch her in concert.'
Sun, 46, kicked off her first world tour in a decade, titled Aut Nihilo, in April with four concerts in Singapore. She also performed in Shanghai later in April and Shenzhen in May.
'I wanted to cry the moment you appeared on stage, as you were part of my youth for many years,' Chen wrote. 'Fortunately, I cried for only half of the show as there were fast songs.'
The actress, who is best known for the Taiwanese coming-of-age romance film You Are The Apple Of My Eye (2011), then quoted part of the Chinese-language title of the movie in her post.
'During those years I listened to your songs, the songs felt like they were carrying one part of innocence, two parts of stubbornness and three parts of freedom,' she wrote. 'I found myself in the songs and pursued my dreams.'
The actress shared her concert ticket, two photos of herself at the event and two short videos of Sun performing.
Taiwanese actress Michelle Chen attended Stefanie Sun's concert in Beijing on June 13.
PHOTO: MICHELLE CHEN/WEIBO
Sun's concert at Beijing's National Stadium, which is nicknamed the Bird's Nest, was her first at the venue since her debut in 2000. Sun will be holding a second show there on June 15.
She became the fourth Chinese-language female singer to hold a concert at the stadium after Hong Kong's Karen Mok and G.E.M. as well as Taiwan's A-mei.
Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AsiaOne
a day ago
- AsiaOne
Daily roundup: Odette remains Singapore's only restaurant in World's 50 Best Restaurants list for 2025 — and other top stories today, World News
Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today. 1. Odette remains Singapore's only restaurant in World's 50 Best Restaurants list for 2025 The results of The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 are out and once again, only one establishment from Singapore made the list... » READ MORE 2. Elderly man left bloodied after concrete from toilet ceiling collapses on him in Yishun home An elderly man was struck by falling spalling concrete from the ceiling of his toilet in his Yishun HDB flat... » READ MORE 3. No joke: Tableware used by Dylan Wang in China noodle shop framed up by owner Chinese heartthrob Dylan Wang has been capturing the hearts of fans worldwide, but now he has captured their appetite as well... » READ MORE 4. Malaysian dad in tears after 11 children pool together to buy him new SUV A Malaysian father was moved to tears after his 11 children surprised him with a brand new car... » READ MORE editor@
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Monsters and memes: Labubu dolls ride China soft-power wave
TikTok paved the way for Labubu's ascent when it became the first Chinese-branded product to be indispensable for young people internationally. PHOTO: EPA-EFE SHANGHAI - Small, fuzzy and baring sharp teeth, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart's Labubu monster dolls have taken over the world, drawing excited crowds at international stores and adorning the handbags of celebrities such as Rihanna and Cher. Beijing-based Pop Mart is part of a rising tide of Chinese cultural exports gaining traction abroad, furry ambassadors of a 'cool' China even in places associated more with negative public opinion of Beijing such as Europe and North America. Labubus, which typically sell for around US$40 (S$51.40), are released in limited quantities and sold in 'blind boxes', meaning buyers do not know the exact model they will receive. The dolls are 'a bit quirky and ugly and very inclusive, so people can relate', interior designer Lucy Shitova told AFP at a Pop Mart store in London, where in-person sales of Labubus have been suspended over fears that fans could turn violent in their quest for the toys. 'Now everything goes viral... because of social media. And yes, it's cool. It's different.' While neighbouring East Asian countries South Korea and Japan are globally recognised for their high-end fashion, cinema and pop songs, China's heavily censored film and music industry have struggled to attract international audiences, and the country's best-known clothing exporter is fast-fashion website Shein. There have been few success stories of Chinese companies selling upmarket goods under their own brands, faced with stereotypes of cheap and low-quality products. 'It has been hard for the world's consumers to perceive China as a brand-creating nation,' University of Maryland's Professor Fan Yang told AFP. Pop Mart has bucked the trend, spawning copycats dubbed by social media users as 'lafufus' and detailed YouTube videos on how to verify a doll's authenticity. Brands such as designer womenswear label Shushu/Tong, Shanghai-based Marchen and Beijing-based handbag maker Songmont have also gained recognition abroad over the past few years. 'It might just be a matter of time before even more Chinese brands become globally recognisable,' Prof Yang said. The TikTok effect Through viral exports like Labubu, China is 'undergoing a soft-power shift where its products and image are increasingly cool among young Westerners,' said Ms Allison Malmsten, an analyst at China-based Daxue Consulting. Ms Malmsten said she believed social media could boost China's global image 'similar to that of Japan in the 80s to 2010s with Pokemon and Nintendo'. Video app TikTok – designed by China's ByteDance – paved the way for Labubu's ascent when it became the first Chinese-branded product to be indispensable for young people internationally. Mr Joshua Kurlantzick from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) told AFP that 'TikTok probably played a role in changing consumers' minds about China'. TikTok, which is officially blocked within China but still accessible with VPN software, has over one billion users, including what the company says is nearly half of the US population. The app has become a focus of national security fears in the United States, with a proposed ban seeing American TikTok users flock to another Chinese app, Rednote, where they were welcomed as digital 'refugees'. A conduit for Chinese social media memes and fashion trends, TikTok hosts over 1.7 million videos about Labubu. Labubumania Cultural exports can 'improve the image of China as a place that has companies that can produce globally attractive goods or services', CFR's Mr Kurlantzick told AFP. 'I don't know how much, if at all, this impacts images of China's state or government,' he said, pointing to how South Korea's undeniable soft power has not translated into similar levels of political might. More on this Topic China state media warning on blind-box toys sends Labubu maker Pop Mart shares tumbling While plush toys alone might not translate into actual power, the United States' chaotic global image under the Trump presidency could benefit perceptions of China, Prof Yang said. 'The connection many make between the seeming decline of US soft power and the potential rise in China's global image may reflect how deeply intertwined the two countries are in the minds of people whose lives are impacted by both simultaneously,' she told AFP. At the very least, Labubu's charms appear to be promoting interest in China among the younger generation. 'It's like a virus. Everyone just wants it,' Kazakhstani mother-of-three, Ms Anelya Batalova, told AFP at Pop Mart's theme park in Beijing. Qatari Maryam Hammadi, 11, posed for photos in front of a giant Labubu statue. 'In our country, they love Labubu,' she said. 'So, when they realise that the origin of Labubu is in China, they'd like to come to see the different types of Labubu in China.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
One Love Asia Festival will return to S'pore on Sept 13 and 14
Taiwanese diva A-mei (left) and Taiwanese singer Angela Chang will headline the first night and second night of One Love Festival Singapore 2025 respectively. PHOTOS: IMC LIVE GLOBAL One Love Asia Festival will return to S'pore on Sept 13 and 14 The One Love Asia Festival music festival will take place on Sept 13 and 14, the fourth time the event is held here. This year's edition will be held at the Bayfront Event Space, where it also took place in 2022 and 2023. The 2024 edition was held at the Padang. Taiwanese diva A-mei, known for hits such as Bad Boy (1997) and Three Days And Three Nights (1999), will headline the first night of the festival. Other acts slated to take the stage on Sept 13 are Mandopop stars Yoga Lin, Kasiwa, Chih Siou and Saya Chang from Taiwan, Chinese-Canadian singer Kelly Yu, and Malaysian singer Firdhaus Farmizi, who also sings in Mandarin. The second night's lineup will be helmed by Taiwanese singer Angela Chang, best known for the uplifting track Invisible Wings (2006). Taiwanese boy band 5566, Hong Kong singer MC Cheung Tinfu and the Simply Live Band, featuring Singaporean singer Jordin Tan, will also take the stage on Sept 14. Chih Siou, who last performed here in April at live music venue Wire Entertainment, and Kasiwa, who won Best Indigenous Language Singer at Taiwan's Golden Melody Awards in 2023, will be performing at the festival for the first time. Alongside the musical performances, this year's festival will also showcase visual arts, such as Chinese artist Huang Yulong's Upward exhibition of giant sculptures. Besides taking place in Singapore, One Love Asia Festival has also been held in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Chengdu. The upcoming Singapore edition has been titled 'Volume 7'. It is produced by IMC Group Asia, and about 24,000 fans are expected to attend across two days. Mr Adrian Leong, chief executive officer of IMC Group Asia, said in a statement: 'Our vision has always been for One Love Asia Festival to become a flagship Mandopop event throughout Asia – an intersection where both artistes and fans coalesce to create an impactful shared experience.' Tickets will be available from June 23, at 11am. One Love Festival Singapore 2025 Where: Bayfront Event Space, 12A Bayfront Avenue When: Sept 13 and 14, doors open at 3pm Admission: $198 (single-day) and $338 (two-day) via Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
