Humorous Life
Kenji Wu
Never mind that Taiwanese singer- actor Kenji Wu is no A-list star – 17 years after his debut, he is a seasoned singer-songwriter who still has fun with music, but it no longer comes across as gimmicky.
This is a far cry from his earlier records such as First Creative Album (2004) and The Kenji Show (2005), in which it seemed as though he was trying a little too hard (on the song Wu Ke Qun, for example, he imitated a gamut of singers, from Jay Chou to A-do).
Aptly, he sings in the title track: “Life is full of ups and downs/It’s perfection to experience it yourself.” It is a collaboration with Chinese singer LaceDoll incorporating jazz and rap as they contemplate the vicissitudes of life.
Another breezy number is Shandong Lass, which has the feel of a folk ditty as Wu sketches a portrait of a rural girl who discovers that city life can be lonely.
Among the handful of radio- friendly ballads here, Losing Speed stands out for its memorable melody and lyrics, which liken his state of mind to driving in the night: “Braking suddenly/Memories shimmering on the streets/I crash head-on into loneliness.”
The closer, Pulling Radishes, is a poignant collaboration with Taiwanese indie musician Yorke Tsai that ponders what happens after happily-ever-after: “Is the prince still doing well, how is the princess faring/If you’re not a prince, how do you live?”
Is it a reflection on his own status in the scene? He might not be pop royalty, but he can still put out music worth listening to.
(ST)