Singer Michael Wong recently spent six days in Laos in conjunction with World Vision's 30-Hour Famine campaign, for which Wong is ambassador.
HIS is not an uncommon name; just ask any fan of Chinese music and they will tell you that Michael Wong is one of their biggest stars.
Yet, when he walked out of the baggage claim area at the Vientiane International Airport in Laos recently, dressed in faded jeans, a loose T-shirt and a cap, he looked anything but a star. The only hint of stardom was the trail of young Laotian airport workings running up to him meekly asking for an autograph and a photo opportunity.
Taiwan-based Malaysian singer Michael Wong (Guang Liang) showing his compassionate side when he insisted on helping and spending time with the children of Laos.
HIS is not an uncommon name; just ask any fan of Chinese music and they will tell you that Michael Wong is one of their biggest stars.
Yet, when he walked out of the baggage claim area at the Vientiane International Airport in Laos recently, dressed in faded jeans, a loose T-shirt and a cap, he looked anything but a star. The only hint of stardom was the trail of young Laotian airport workings running up to him meekly asking for an autograph and a photo opportunity.
Taiwan-based Malaysian singer Michael Wong (Guang Liang) showing his compassionate side when he insisted on helping and spending time with the children of Laos.It’s not that the Ipoh-born Wong – or Guang Liang, as he is known to fans – is unaware of his popularity, but it would appear that flamboyance and the-need-for-attention is not something he craves.
In fact, his humility was apparent throughout the six days he spent with Malaysian journalists during a media trip to Laos in conjunction with World Vision’s 30-Hour Famine campaign, for which Wong is ambassador.
Even after 12 years in the industry, numerous hits and millions of albums sold, Wong is just grateful that he is able to make music, and is still learning about his craft each day.
“Learning is a never-ending process,” he said. “Anything that I do, I feel like it’s a new start for me.”
This may be a revelation to some of his fans – after all, Wong has a reputation for being high-maintenance, according to media reports in Taiwan, where he is based, and China. In fact, one story even named him as one of the top three most difficult artistes in Taiwan!
Wong is aware of this reputation, but can’t comprehend the concept, and attributes it to sensationalism.
“When it comes to work, I take things seriously, and I want everything to be clear. If you want to just lepak, then you can’t be serious,” he shared.
Still, it was hard to imagine how serious he gets as the 37-year-old singer (he turns 38 come Aug 30) provided comic relief and played the most pranks during the trip. Perhaps this, too, may be news for some. Wong feels that he struggles with public perception of him, particularly those that are created based on the characters he plays in his music videos.
“People see the Michael in music videos and stereotype me based on that. It’s like I’m so perfect and they expect me to be that way,” he explained. “But I’m not like that. I get angry, sad and happy. Sometimes I like to mess around with people.”
In fact, his humility was apparent throughout the six days he spent with Malaysian journalists during a media trip to Laos in conjunction with World Vision’s 30-Hour Famine campaign, for which Wong is ambassador.
Even after 12 years in the industry, numerous hits and millions of albums sold, Wong is just grateful that he is able to make music, and is still learning about his craft each day.
“Learning is a never-ending process,” he said. “Anything that I do, I feel like it’s a new start for me.”
This may be a revelation to some of his fans – after all, Wong has a reputation for being high-maintenance, according to media reports in Taiwan, where he is based, and China. In fact, one story even named him as one of the top three most difficult artistes in Taiwan!
Wong is aware of this reputation, but can’t comprehend the concept, and attributes it to sensationalism.
“When it comes to work, I take things seriously, and I want everything to be clear. If you want to just lepak, then you can’t be serious,” he shared.
Still, it was hard to imagine how serious he gets as the 37-year-old singer (he turns 38 come Aug 30) provided comic relief and played the most pranks during the trip. Perhaps this, too, may be news for some. Wong feels that he struggles with public perception of him, particularly those that are created based on the characters he plays in his music videos.
“People see the Michael in music videos and stereotype me based on that. It’s like I’m so perfect and they expect me to be that way,” he explained. “But I’m not like that. I get angry, sad and happy. Sometimes I like to mess around with people.”
Due recognition
It is quite a wonder that Wong has not become a household name considering his phenomenal success to date. With his former music partner Victor Wong. the duo (known as Michael and Victor) were arguably the first Malaysians to attain success in Taiwan. Since they decided to split in 2000, Wong’s rise as a solo performer has been meteoric; he has sold millions of copies of his solo albums worldwide.
In 2005, his break-out hit Tong Hua (Fairytale) became an anthem of sorts winning him 23 awards throughout the region.
His name was entered into the Malaysia Book of Records a year later for being the Malaysian Chinese Male Composer with the highest number of awards and also for The Best Selling Chinese Album (Tong Hua). This was the same year that he defied sceptics who had labelled him a one-hit wonder with his 2006 album Yue Ding (Commitment) selling more than 1.5 million copies in its first month alone.
Just last month, he played to a full house of 3,000 people at the renowned Pala Casino, San Diego, United States. That was not the first time he performed in the United States, he was previously invited to perform at Hong Kong star Joey Yung’s concert in Las Vegas in 2006.
Currently, he is back in Taiwan.
“I am writing some songs now and my next single will be out in November,” he shared, adding that he could not yet say what kind of material he is working on as it is work-in-progress. One thing is for sure, however, is that Michael writes from the heart.
“I believe that every composer has his own music style and it’s his language that people will be attracted to,” he opined adding that while he sometimes writes from experiences, he doesn’t literally translate it into music. “My kind of style, melody comes from my heart.”
In 2005, his break-out hit Tong Hua (Fairytale) became an anthem of sorts winning him 23 awards throughout the region.
His name was entered into the Malaysia Book of Records a year later for being the Malaysian Chinese Male Composer with the highest number of awards and also for The Best Selling Chinese Album (Tong Hua). This was the same year that he defied sceptics who had labelled him a one-hit wonder with his 2006 album Yue Ding (Commitment) selling more than 1.5 million copies in its first month alone.
Just last month, he played to a full house of 3,000 people at the renowned Pala Casino, San Diego, United States. That was not the first time he performed in the United States, he was previously invited to perform at Hong Kong star Joey Yung’s concert in Las Vegas in 2006.
Currently, he is back in Taiwan.
“I am writing some songs now and my next single will be out in November,” he shared, adding that he could not yet say what kind of material he is working on as it is work-in-progress. One thing is for sure, however, is that Michael writes from the heart.
“I believe that every composer has his own music style and it’s his language that people will be attracted to,” he opined adding that while he sometimes writes from experiences, he doesn’t literally translate it into music. “My kind of style, melody comes from my heart.”
Reaching out
“It was only a few years ago that I realised that making music is part of my life. It has become my normal life and it will follow me into the future,” Wong said.
In fact, he admits that even when Tong Hua was released, he still wasn’t sure why he was making music. Wong has since realised that he makes music not because it is a job or a career, but out of passion.
Most of all, it’s his ability to reach out to people.
“One time, a fan came up to me and said that she was thinking of breaking up with her boyfriend because their relationship was heading nowhere,” he shared. “Then she said, ‘Because of Tong Hua, I decided to marry him.’”
For Wong, it is moments like this that drive him to carry on making music – a career totally different from the computer science he studied in college.
He cites another example.
“I watched the news about the Szechuan earthquake in China when it happened and I couldn’t do anything but give money,” he said. “I felt so helpless. At that time, I didn’t know that I helped them a little bit inside through my music.”
Wong is referring to reports of a particular young girl who was trapped under the rubble when her school collapsed. The ceiling had fallen and she was waiting for help when she realised that one of her friends was still alive, sitting upright. She grabbed his hand, and over time, felt it turn from warm to cold.
The girl told reporters that she thought that she was the only one alive. She passed out a little while later and when she came to, realised that more of her schoolmates were alive. So they started speaking to each other encouraging each other to hang on and be strong.
“When she was rescued, she told reporters that they sang many songs to keep their spirits up, but the one song she remembers singing is Tong Hua because the last line (You must believe that our lives can be like fairytales, with a happy ending) was one of hope,” Wong related.
Wong’s compassion does not stop there, and as such, he seeked out other opportunities to reach out to people. That was why he agreed to become the ambassador for the 30-hour Famine Campaign, and make the trip to Laos.
“I’ve heard a lot about the World Vision trips and I wanted to experience it. I wanted to see how things are like for those living in poverty because although everyone is different, we all breathe the same air,” he explained.
Wong hopes that his going on the trip will not only be a journey for himself, but also one that he can share with his fans with the hope that they too will understand the plight of the less fortunate.
“I don’t think I live in my own world. I want to meet and understand other people,” he added.
Now that the Laos trip is over, Wong hopes to create more music to hopefully touch more people; he also would like to explore more of the world.
“I want to experience their lives,” he said. “This trip is just one drop of water in the sea.”
Catch Michael Wong in 30-Hour Famine – Journey to Laos on 8TV tomorrow at 3.30pm.
In fact, he admits that even when Tong Hua was released, he still wasn’t sure why he was making music. Wong has since realised that he makes music not because it is a job or a career, but out of passion.
Most of all, it’s his ability to reach out to people.
“One time, a fan came up to me and said that she was thinking of breaking up with her boyfriend because their relationship was heading nowhere,” he shared. “Then she said, ‘Because of Tong Hua, I decided to marry him.’”
For Wong, it is moments like this that drive him to carry on making music – a career totally different from the computer science he studied in college.
He cites another example.
“I watched the news about the Szechuan earthquake in China when it happened and I couldn’t do anything but give money,” he said. “I felt so helpless. At that time, I didn’t know that I helped them a little bit inside through my music.”
Wong is referring to reports of a particular young girl who was trapped under the rubble when her school collapsed. The ceiling had fallen and she was waiting for help when she realised that one of her friends was still alive, sitting upright. She grabbed his hand, and over time, felt it turn from warm to cold.
The girl told reporters that she thought that she was the only one alive. She passed out a little while later and when she came to, realised that more of her schoolmates were alive. So they started speaking to each other encouraging each other to hang on and be strong.
“When she was rescued, she told reporters that they sang many songs to keep their spirits up, but the one song she remembers singing is Tong Hua because the last line (You must believe that our lives can be like fairytales, with a happy ending) was one of hope,” Wong related.
Wong’s compassion does not stop there, and as such, he seeked out other opportunities to reach out to people. That was why he agreed to become the ambassador for the 30-hour Famine Campaign, and make the trip to Laos.
“I’ve heard a lot about the World Vision trips and I wanted to experience it. I wanted to see how things are like for those living in poverty because although everyone is different, we all breathe the same air,” he explained.
Wong hopes that his going on the trip will not only be a journey for himself, but also one that he can share with his fans with the hope that they too will understand the plight of the less fortunate.
“I don’t think I live in my own world. I want to meet and understand other people,” he added.
Now that the Laos trip is over, Wong hopes to create more music to hopefully touch more people; he also would like to explore more of the world.
“I want to experience their lives,” he said. “This trip is just one drop of water in the sea.”
Catch Michael Wong in 30-Hour Famine – Journey to Laos on 8TV tomorrow at 3.30pm.
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