New Album: "Perfect Life"

Finally! After 18 months, Yoga Lin releases his third studio album, titled Perfect Life, on May 6, 2011. Prior to its release, HIM International released two MVs off the album for Goodnight and Freedom.

Track list:
01. 美妙生活
02. 自然醒
03. 想自由
04. 我總是一個人在練習一個人
05. 紀念品
06. 不換
07. 擁有
08. 早開的晚霞
09. 想念
10. 晚安
11. Fly My Way

Goodnight


Freedom

Source: yesasia 05.06.2011

Music Workers in Taiwan 10 Best Albums and Songs of 2009

Organized by The Association of Music Workers in Taiwan (中華音樂人交流協會), the annual Taiwan's Ten Best Albums and Ten Best Songs were announced June 8, 2010, for the year 2009.

Ten Best Albums
Yoga Lin - Senses Around (林宥嘉 - 感官／世界)
Deserts Chang - A City (張懸 - 城市)
Mavis Fan + 100% - Innocent (范曉萱+100%樂團 - 赤子)
Tanya Chua - If You See Him (蔡健雅 - 若你碰到他)
Sofe Lipa - Shou Lian Shui (蛋堡 - 收斂水)
A-Mei Chang - Amit (張惠妹 - 阿密特意識專輯)
Cheer Chen - Immortal (陳綺貞 - 太陽)
Nature Morte - Apple and Orange (靜物樂團 - 橘子與蘋果)
Chalaw Passiwali - The Old Old Car (查勞.巴西瓦里 - 老老車)
Peggy Hsu - Snowman (許哲珮 - 雪人)

Ten Best Songs
Cheer Chen (陳綺貞) - 太陽
Cheer Chen (陳綺貞) - 魚
A-Mei Chang (Amit) (阿妹的) - 掉了
A-Mei Chang (Amit) (阿妹的) - 開門見山
Sandee Chan (陳珊妮) - 雙陳記
Deserts Chang (張懸) - 南國的孩子
Lala Shu (徐佳瑩) - 身騎白馬
Mavis Fan + 100% (范曉萱+100%樂團) - 主人
Eason Chan (陳奕迅) - 床頭燈
Nature Morte (靜物樂團) - 我在歐洲, 打電話給你

Seen as the biggest surprise -- Yoga Lin's Senses Around lacking a single music-based nomination -- of the 2009 Taiwan Golden Melody Awards nominations list, The Association of Taiwan Music Workers Association recognizes Senses Around by naming it one of the Ten Best Albums of 2009.

Judges explained, "During first round of the voting process, Senses Around received 90% of votes and successful made the top 10 list. The judging panel recognizes with Senses Around, Yoga emerged from the burden of being a competition winner, the layering sequence of his musical works were clear, and his interpretation was natural and lively."

Source: udn 06.09.2010

Note: The Music Workers in Taiwan Top 10 Awards are seen as the early indicator for the results of the Taiwan Golden Melody Awards, just as the Screen Actor Guild Awards are seen as the early indicator for the Oscars/Academy Awards.

Psychedelic Prince Theme Song: "Fly My Way"

Fly My Way (Live)


Fly My Way MV

Yoga Lin Endorses NetEase's 3D Game Psychedelic Prince

NetEase (aka 163.com) announces the to-be launched new 3D game Psychedelic Prince (迷幻王子). NetEase has invited Yoga Lin to endorse their upcoming new game. Yoga, an artist with personality, represents the independent minded musicians of the new era (post-90s). On May 27, 2010, he will perform the theme song of the new 3D game (tentatively titled Fly My Way) and the MV to the song will also be broadcasted.

Fly My Way (partial lyrics)

身體變得輕了 就準備要起飛
愛是我的入場券 陪我遠走高飛
踏上彩虹浮潛 健步如飛
我們沒有翅膀 卻能不翼而飛
I Need Your Love 可是 我有我世界
I Need Your Love, I'm Gonna Fly My Way
I Need Your Love, 飛向自己的Highway
I Need Your Love, You’re Gonna Fly My Way

Source: 163.com 05.21.2010

+

NetEase Readies New Version of "Fly for Fun"

NetEase plans to start open beta testing of Fantasy Prince ("Mihuan Wangzi"), a new version of its licensed 3D Q-style online game New Fly for Fun, on May 27, according to a May 18 posting on the game's official site. The testing features new characters and accessories, according to the posting. The company will officially launch the game on June 4 and offer rewards worth up to RMB 50,000 to players until the launch, the posting said.

The company has signed Taiwanese male singer Yoga Lin as the game's representative, according to the posting.

Source: pacificepoch 05.18.2010

Industry Reacts to No GMA Nominations for "Senses Around"

Note: These translations are not, in anyway, disrespect to the GMA judging panel or any of the nominees. This is just a collection of industry post-nomination thoughts for future reference purposes (not that it should come into use). For all the disappointed Yoga fans, hopefully you'll feel better after reading some of the positive feedback and, more importantly, forget about the nominations and move on (as Yoga and HIM International Music have) because Yoga's post-nomination responses are so eloquent.

Yoga and Sandee Chan

Industry reaction:

After the announcement of the 21st Golden Melody Award (GMA) nominations, netizens started ripping and the three most talked about artists missing from the 21st GMA nominations are:

(a) Jolin Tsai, whose album Butterfly was the highest selling album of 2009, was left off the nominations list.
(b) Fish (Jasmine) Leong, who has been nominated multiple times (and without a win), is missing from the Best Female Artist category.
(c) Yoga Lin, whose album Senses Around (感官/世界) received high praise from music critics, DJs and industry insiders throughout Asia (not just Taiwan), received only two non-music related nominations.

Senses Around's lack of nominations is getting the most support from netizens and the judging panel is certainly getting an earful from them, with netizens going as far as questioning, "Are the judges blind or deaf?!"

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One Million Star judge Yuan Wei Ren 袁惟仁 shows his supports for Yoga and questions A-Mei's 10 nominations, "If this [Senses Around's lack of nominations] is the most talked about regret of these nominations, how did the judges not figure it out? Is 10 nominations for 1 album too much?"

+

DJ and former GMA judge Wang Zu Shou (王祖壽) gives Senses Around recognition, saying, "There was a lot of care in interpretation. The entire album started out using the concept of 'senses' and completed as such. To be nominated only for Best MV is a bit ironic."

Show (Alan) Luo's manager Jiang Cheng Jin (蔣承縉) responds, "I feel Yoga must be pretty disappointed because he worked so hard to be in line with Eason Chan."

+

Yoga Lin and Sandee Chan were both attendees of a Guangzhou award ceremony the night when the 21st Golden Melody Award nominations were revealed. Yoga and Sandee were backstage resting when Sandee asked Yoga, “So, how many categories were you nominated in [for the 21st Golden Melody Awards]?” A rather awkward Yoga responded, “None, only Best MV and Best Album Design/Packaging.” A competition judge (Taiwan's Super Idol) herself, Sandee responded, “Are you serious? What happened to the ears of the judging panel? I thought your album [Senses Around] was great and I was certain it would receive nominations.”

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Clips from the Taiwan media:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6


Yoga's reaction:

Upon learning of the non-music based nominations, Yoga responds, "Congratulations to all the nominees. I will continue to use a sincere heart to create music. I believe music will continue to take care of me."

+

Upon receiving recognition from Sandee Chan, Yoga immediately said, "Looking at it from another angle, I am happier with this result [of no nomination] because I now realize there are so many people who thought so highly of and enjoyed Senses Around." HIM International Music general manager Ho Yan Ling attempted to calm fans, saying, "Yoga's interpretation of music is filled with immense charm. We will more actively strive for a commitment in creating a third album."

Sources: chinatimes, appledaily, 163 05.15.2010; yahoo 05.17.2010; udn 05.18.2010

Mae: Congratulations Yoga! It is your music and not your person (i.e. an idol-class artist, as they like to say in Hong Kong) that is generating most of, if not all, the complaints. You have succeeded in spreading your music. You are being recognized for your music.

21st Taiwan Golden Melody Awards - Nominations

The nominations for the 21st Taiwan Golden Melody Awards (第二十一屆金曲獎) were revealed on May 14, 2010. The award ceremony will be held on June 26, 2010 at Taipei Arena (台北小巨蛋) in Taiwan and will award music released from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009. Yoga Lin's Senses Around received two nominations.

Best Music Video (最佳音樂錄影帶獎)
Song Title...Album...Director
主人...赤子 innocent...劉明群
日光...春.日光...林暐哲 & 陳映之)
看見什麼吃什麼 (Eat What You See)...感官/世界 (Senses Around)...比爾賈
吉米寶貝...七天...劉耕名
我行來海邊...98年臺灣原創流行音樂大獎作品輯 [風神之歌]...徐東翔
好膽你就來...A-MIT 阿密特 張惠妹意識專輯...比爾賈
這樣的一個麻煩...上五樓的快活...陳映之

Best Album Design/Packaging (最佳專輯包裝獎)*
Design Concept By...Album
周正道 & 陳嵩嵐...JJ林俊傑 100天
聶永真(永真急制)...六九樂章 Zero to Hero
羅文岑 & 王亮...野生 林生祥
R-one...Coco East to West 李玟的東西
陳政守(守工異)...A-MIT 阿密特 張惠妹意識專輯
蘇文聖 & 江鳳娌...旺福愛你
聶永真...感官/世界 (Senses Around)
蕭青陽...故事島

*A new, special award created for the 21st Golden Melody Awards

Source: golden melody (official government site) 05.14.2010

Note: As I mentioned earlier, I probably jinxed Yoga's chances at this year's Golden Melody nominations. So, yes, you can blame me.

Selina: "I Will Protect Yoga Lin"

With the countless numbers of functions and promotional events attended, you would think members of the group S.H.E. and Yoga Lin have seen it all when it comes to "sudden situations." They have seen it all, until they encountered a man who tried to take the stage down during a sponsor event.

The three members of S.H.E. (Selena, Hebe & Ella) along with Yoga entered the stage of a promotional event glamorously. As they got on the stage and were getting ready to sign the sponsor's background billboard when a man yelled something, took several step and tried to knock down the background billboard. Luckily security were quick on their feet as they pulled the man back and prevented him from taking the background billboard down and contained him. The host recovered quickly, saying, "Mainland fans are a bit more "crazy" (瘋狂)." Witnessing the entire ordeal up close, the members of S.H.E. and Yoga were in a state of shock with expressionless faces. Selina was in obvious shock as she held her hands over her chest, her mouth wide open and without a word. Ella appeared to be the most calm as she was able to walk towards Selina and Hebe and give them a pat on the back and whisper comforting words. The planned event continued.

Some two hours after the event, S.H.E. and Yoga recalled what happened. Hebe said, "It was a big confusion, we heard a man yell but we did not clearly. We were in a state of shock. After that we did not think about what happened, instead we focused on what we were there to do." Yoga was asked whether he thought of being the hero in the situation and “saving” the three ladies. He honestly answered it happened to quickly, saying, “I was still in a daze.” Selena (who was in obvious shock) then chimes in, “I will protect Yoga”, acting as a heroine, which caused laughter. Ella says, "This is the first time this has happened. Usually at events like this one we encounter fans and media and the environment is generally safe, we were not prepared for this today."

Source: sina 04.30.2010

"Senses Around" World Tour 2010 - Mainland China

Yoga Lin was in Beijing on May 10, 2010 to promote the Mainland China leg of his 2010 Senses Around World Tour (2010 感官/世界巡迴個人音樂會). Shows will be held in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing on June 12th, 18th and 20th, respectively.

Originally intended as a series of 5 shows prior to the release of an album, to be viewed as "preview concerts", where Yoga would share new songs with fans, has turned into a world tour. Not expecting such positive reaction, from Beijing to Singapore, to Yoga and his band after those 5 shows, including capturing the attention of many performance venues, HIM International Music finally gave in, after much persuasion, and decided to extend the time of the concerts and extend the rundown to create a Senses Around World Tour. Yoga was surprised to hear the news himself and happily expressed, "This is the first time I'm touring in Mainland China. On one end, I hope to be able to spread my music to a wider Mainland audience. On the other end, I hope I can can experience the cultures of the various cities in Mainland China in hopes to accumulate insight and inspiration for future music works."

With this tour, Yoga becomes, with just his 2nd album, the youngest artist to hold a ticket selling concert in Mainland China. In regards to this record, Yoga modestly answers, "It is just a record, sooner or later it will be broken by someone in a future generation." Yoga expresses he will perform his hits, such as 眼色, 伯樂, 說謊 and 心酸.

Sources: ifensi 05.10.2010

FYI: There is a lot of emphasis on Yoga's concert records because he was the first artist in Taiwan to hold a personal ticket selling concert prior to releasing an album, and at the same time he became the youngest artist to hold a ticket selling concert in Taiwan.

Music is Live: Hins Cheung, Justin & Yoga Lin

Promotional poster


Rehearsal photos




Live show

The annual 903 id Club Music is Live (拉闊音樂會) concert series kicked off with Hins Cheung, Justin and Yoga Lin live in concert. The 3 men from 3 regions (Hins from Guangzhou, Justin from Hong Kong, Yoga from Taiwan) performed together for the first time on May 6, 2010.

During rehearsals Yoga praised Justin's stage presence and expressed when compared to the two veterans, he has a lot to learn.

After the concert, Hins Cheung commented that Yoga appears to be quiet, but when he's on stage he surprises you, saying, "When he's on stage it's as if he's become another person. I'm getting old, he's so active. Good thing there's an uncle Tin behind me (referring to Justin)."

Rundown
01. (English song) - Justin
02. BOK & Yes & No - Hins, Justin, Yoga
03. 吻得太逼真 & 酷愛 - Hins, Justin, Yoga
04. 看見什麼吃什麼 - Yoga
05. 相對論 - Hins
06. 紅地毯 - Justin feat. Hins
07. 敢愛敢做 - Hins, Justin
08. 眼色 - Yoga
09. 志明與春嬌 (?) - Yoga, Hins
10. 那首歌 - Yoga, Justin
11. 愛的習慣 - Justin
12. 命硬 - Justin, Hins
13. 婚紗背後 - Hins
14. Volar - Justin
15. 病態 & 吻別 - Yoga
16. 茶想曲 - Hins
17. 詩郵寄 - Hins
18. 春光乍洩 (Mandarin) - Hins, Yoga
19. 你快樂(所以我快樂) - Hins, Justin, Yoga
20. Over The Rainbow - Justin (Ted Lo on keyboard)
21. 月亮說 - Hins
22. 殘酷月光 - Yoga
23. 笑忘書 - Justin
24. What A Wonderful World - Hins, Justin, Yoga
25. 說謊 - Yoga
26. Hurt So Bad - Hins feat. Justin, YOga
27. 男人KTV (Cantonese & Mandarin) - Hins, Justin, Yoga

Opening, 酷愛, 看見什麽吃什麽


說謊

Sources: sina 05.05.10 & on.cc 05.08.2010
Photos: 俄羅斯的貓 @ acidyoga 05.05.2010 & tom 05.07.2010
Rundown: lamyip @ discuss 05.07.2010

Yoga: "I Will Not Create Music To Please An Audience"

Yoga Lin accepted an interview with ifeng.com on April 20, 2010. In the interview, Yoga talks about his musical conceptions, openly praises his peers Aska Yang and Jam Hsiao, answers being regarded as the "small Eason Chan", and talks about his life.

Music: Naturalness sounds best, will not create music to please an audience

Since his debut, Yoga has captured many fans with his unique voice and his simple interpretations. When asked which is his favorite music style, he answers, "What's natural is what sounds best." He expressed that when he makes music he will not purposely create music to please an audience, saying, "If I were to create music to please an audience then it would be meaningless. I would definitely use the most natural way to present it to an audience." Yoga wraps up by saying his most attractive aspect when it comes to music is he "uses heart" (用心), saying, "[The] heart must be in the right place, must be used in one's own music and not in superficial things."

Friends: Aska Yang is unique, Jam Hsiao has star quality

Aska Yang, Jam Hsiao and Yoga Lin came from the same singing competition and all three have their musical assets and a big crowd of fans. Therefore, Yoga cannot avoid constantly being compared to the two. During the interview, Yoga expresses he recognizes the talent of the other two men, "Aska is original, his voice and the way he expresses his music is unique. Jam has star quality, he has a Bon Jovi feeling." When asked of his greatest advantage, he answers, "I understand certain things", certainly leaving food for thought.

Regarding the media referring to him as the "small Eason Chan", Yoga cleverly and humorously answers, "I am long but not shorter than he is. There is nothing to compare." He further says he won't watch Eason in concert because he doesn't want to be affected by someone else's performance and he doesn't want to limit himself so he rarely watches any artist in concert.

Life: I don't watch TV, I don't know anything about singing competitions

For someone whose career started through a Taiwanese television program, Yoga knows nothing about the current state of Taiwanese singing competitions. When asked whether he watches such programs, Yoga answers ever since he started university he has not watched television, including the year he was a contestant and he never thought of the competition as a television program.

Source: ifeng 04.21.2010