Wakin.com Delay Live Updated: More memories about a post-concert day of skiing in the photo log about last December in chilly Harbin, China

Wakin.com Curtains Drawn:
Windows Media video clip 3.7 MB unzipped download of a comical greeting from Wakin and a party of fans to Ah Zheng Laoshi, who is quite an admirer of the "Hen-na Oji-san" Japanese comedian Shimura Ken~!

Double the Enjoyment
Michael Cheang

I went to the Emil Chau and Jonathan Lee's J&W Anthology concert at Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday night feeling apprehensive. It was the third time I was attending Chau's concert. The past two were rather similar so I was expecting more of the same this time around. Not that Chau's concerts have ever been anything short of enjoyable, mind you. It's just that his performances are so organised — with the same songs sung in the same style and interjected with the same quips and jokes — that one can hardly expect any surprises anymore. Thank goodness then for a certain wild card named Jonathan Lee, who managed to upset the odds and make the concert a lot more enjoyable.  Continued >>  [Thanks, Shereen!]

Photos of Hurricane Katrina

Armed and dangerous — Flipper the firing dolphin let loose by Katrina  [The Guardian UK]

Aichi Expo ends after 6-month run and 22 million visitors: Nagakute — Japan's 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture on Sunday marked the final day of its six-month run after serving as a testing ground for new technologies and featuring exhibits like humanoid robots and a frozen mammoth from Siberia. (More)   [Japan Today]

周華健 李宗盛 唱到吉隆坡 歡呼排山倒海來  KL's Cheers Move Mountains as Zhou Huajian and Li Zongsheng Sing

【本報吉隆坡訊】周華健、李宗盛的「周李二人傳」昨天唱到馬來西亞吉隆坡，不需華麗的包裝，憑著歌聲、樂聲，把感動帶給現場的歌迷。[繼續 >>  Thanks, KY!]

周李鬥讚大馬音樂人 全場高呼Malaysia Boleh  The Entire Audience Shouts Out Loud, "Malaysia Boleh"

（吉隆坡訊）大馬的音樂在“周李二人傳大馬演唱會”上持續發光發熱，讓李宗盛與周華健一讚再讚，讓台下觀眾也不禁高呼：Malaysia Boleh！ [繼續 >>  /  Babel-Fished Eng. Ver. >> — Thanks, SP!]

周李K歌之夜  Night of the Zhou-Li K[araoke] Songs

【這是周李繼北京、新加坡、上海及台北之后的第5站演唱會，故此演唱會的程序、曲目、談話內容及舞台設計等皆大同小異。整個舞台被佈置成人工製作的精美花園式場景，竹林與鋼管相對，別有一番風趣；除了前方4個大屏幕外，更是別出心裁的在舞台上裝設6隻小型屏幕。而周李的排場也不小，除了各自合作多年的樂隊，還特安排逾20人的弦樂隊伴奏，絕對讓大家享受到一場真正的演唱會！[繼續 >>  /  Babel-Fished Eng. Ver. >> — Thanks, SP!]

周李吉隆坡带动大合唱  Zhou-Li Kuala Lumpur Vivacious Vocals

（吉隆坡25日讯）音乐鬼才李宗盛与最佳拍档周华健沿续他们在台北举行的周李二人传演唱会后，昨晚也将演唱会原班人马移师吉隆坡默迪卡体育馆。  [繼續 >>  /  Babel-Fished Eng. Ver. >> — Thanks, SP!]

【ソウル26日時事】韓国農林省は26日までに、ソウル首都圏の韓国料理店を対象にした調査の結果、約半数の料理店で出されているキムチが中国産だったことを明らかにした。韓国の国民食であるキムチが中国産に「侵食」されている実態が浮き彫りになった。調査対象となったソウルや首都圏の京畿道にある韓国料理店約7万9300店のうち、3万9600店が中国産キムチを使用。ソウル市内では約60％の料理店が中国産を出しているという。（時事通信）— 9月26日7時0分更新

Wakin.com News Updated: From Malaysia with Love

Memorable Show by Chau and Lee

KUALA LUMPUR: It was a magical night for fans of Emil Chau and Jonathan Lee as the duo gave them a memorable show at Stadium Merdeka. The popular Taiwanese singer-songwriters, who have performed in Malaysia before but never in a joint concert, were in their element last night during their J&W Anthology concert. During the concert which started at 8pm, Chau constantly got the crowd singing along with perennial favourites, one of which was Ai Xiang Sui (Love Follows). Lee was equally a hit with fans, chipping in with his own hits, including the quirky Ji Mo Nan Nai (Loneliness Is Hard to Endure). The concert was jointly presented by Ogawa and Samsung, and organised by Galaxy Productions.

Wakin.com News: Short commentary with a few pre-concert shots of Kuala Lumpur's Stadium Merdeka in the rain (and a bit of reminiscing about KL 2003 .... )

Chau & Lee Internet Radio Interview:

It uses Windows Media Player and there's a bit of instruction in English on the page, so give it a try!

Sept. 19 ~ 23, 12:30 ~ 1:00 p.m.
Current Malaysia Time: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=122

Found out late, but there is still today's & tomorrow's installments! Today's interview started at about 13:10 local KL time and both Jonathan Lee & Wakin were chatting — likely had been pre-recorded.....

Double Billing
Peter Yap

Emil Chau and Jonathan Lee have known each other for more than 20 years. It was producer Lee who signed Chau to Rock Records before the latter released his debut album in 1986. Chau's crystal-clear vocals, so expressive, wide-ranging and versatile [AK: Déjà vu, Mr. Yap!], have made classic such hits as Let Me Be Happy and Let Me Be Sad, Friends, Marriage Proposal and Day Lilies over the years. But the two never thought they would hold a concert together. "We were in the recording studio one day and were talking when the idea of performing a concert together struck us. So why not?" Chau said, adding he broached the subject with Lee. The idea soon became a reality. The J&W Anthology Concert 2005 has already been held in Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei. And come Sept 24, the duo will perform a one-night-only concert at Stadium Merdeka. Chau and Lee were in Kuala Lumpur recently to promote the concert.  Interview follows >>  [Thanks, Shereen!]

Quote of the Month:  

“Our concert is going to be at least three-and-a-half hours long, so don't drink so much water before the show.”
— Jonathan Lee  

Ideal Combination
Li Ee Kee

They call themselves 2F, the latest musical duo from Taiwan. But don't be surprised if you find these two guys looking nothing like your usual young hotties. The younger member is a 44-year-old married father of two while the other is widely known as Taiwan's musical godfather of the 1980s and '90s. Meet Emil Chau and Jonathan Lee. Okay, so they are not newcomers and the 2F moniker is just them making fun of themselves. Despite being long-time collaborators and good friends for over 20 years, this is the first time they are headlining a concert together. And the feeling, they say, is akin to coming out as a new musical duo. The J & W Anthology Concert 2005 kicked off last year and Malaysia is the fifth stop on the tour after Beijing, Singapore, Shanghai and Taipei.  Continued >>  [Thanks, Rosalind!]

Wakin.com Delay Live Updated: Memories about a post-concert day of skiing in the photo log about last December in chilly Harbin, China

Here's a great quote Babel Fish-ed from the Chinese:

Hua Chien: "Kazak! Kazak! Kazak! How possible! By reason of my excellent ability and wisdom, ski? A minor matter pile!"

Entertainment Brings Hong Kong Disneyland to Life as VIPs, Media 'Experience the Magic' on Preview Day

From right: Hong Kong singer Joey Yung, Emil Chau, U.S. singer-actress Lea Salonga, Mickey Mouse, Hong Kong singer Jacky Cheung, Coco Lee, Andy Hui, U.S. singer-actress Paige O'Hara, an unidentified pianist, and Hong Kong singer Eason Chan celebrate after their performance in Hong Kong's Disneyland Park on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2005, one day before its official opening. It is Disney's first-ever vacation resort in China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

HONG KONG, Sept. 11 [Xinhua-PRNewswire] — On the day before Hong Kong Disneyland officially opened to the public, an invited audience of political and business leaders and media were special guests for a Preview Day on Sunday, enjoying an advance look at some of the spectacular shows and attractions in the first Disney theme park in the region. Highlights of the day included preview ceremonies for several of the park's most eagerly anticipated shows and rides. The international lineup of stars was headlined by Hong Kong Disneyland spokesperson Jacky Cheung and also starred Emil Chau, multiple platinum album Hong Kong recording artist; Andy Hui, Hong Kong singer and film star; singer-actor Eason Chan; 13-year-old piano virtuoso Rachel Cheung; Brad Kane, the American voice of "Aladdin"; Coco Lee, Chinese pop star; Paige O'Hara, voice of Belle in "Beauty and the Beast"; Lea Salonga, Broadway musical theater star and the voice of "Mulan"; and Joey Yung, award-winning Cantonese/Mandarin singer. (Continued)

Pre-opening press release with an admirable blurb about Emil Chau Wakin and some of the other celebrities scheduled to entertain at the opening festivities.

Microsoft to help Taiwan develop FVD format

Taipei, Sept. 9, 2005 — Microsoft of the U.S. is scheduled to set up a Windows multimedia technology center in Taiwan soon and will cooperate with local software and hardware companies to jointly promote a next-generation digital versatile disc (DVD) format, the forward versatile disc (FVD), according to industry sources. (Continued)  [CENS]

＜台湾新幹線＞開業を１年間延期　来年１０月末に

【台北・庄司哲也】日本の新幹線システムが初めて採用された台湾高速鉄道（台湾新幹線）について、同鉄道の殷キ会長は８日、今年１０月の開業予定を１年間延期し、来年１０月末とすることを発表した。
　台湾新幹線は台北と台湾南部の高雄間の約３４５キロを最高時速３００キロ、最速１時間半で結ぶ計画。車両は東海道・山陽新幹線「のぞみ」型車両を改良した７００Ｔ型が導入されている。総事業費は日本円で約１兆６０００億円に上り、三井物産、三菱重工などが出資する日本の企業連合が機械電気システムを請け負い、００年に建設がスタートしていた。
　しかし、新幹線技術や車両など機械電気システムに日本だけでなく欧州のシステムも取り入れたため混乱し、設計や仕様の修正が相次ぎ、工事が遅れていた。
　会見した殷会長は「工事の進行状況、システム試験や営業運転準備などの状況を分析し、延期を決めた。延期による違約は発生しない」と話した。（毎日新聞）-- 9月8日20時58分更新

Opening of Taiwan's "bullet train" service delayed for one year

TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan's first "bullet train" service, originally scheduled to begin operations in October, has been delayed for a year. "It was decided during the board of directors meeting this morning that the start of the high-speed rail operations will be changed to October 31, 2006," said Nita Ing, chairwoman of the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC). THSRC had originally hoped that commercial operations of the 13.5 billion US dollar bullet train system would begin on October 31, 2005. "The delay was based on construction progress, tests of various systems and an analysis of the overall operation," Ing said Thursday. >> Continued

Taiwan's DVD makers benefit from Japan's market withdrawalTaipei, Sept. 8, 2005 — Steep competition of the global DVD industry has in recent years forced Japan's DVD makers to either withdraw from the market or actively place orders with their overseas contractors, significantly causing DVD manufacturers in Taiwan and India to benefit from the moves. Japan's three leading DVD makers — Maxell, TDK, and Mitsubishi Electric — already dropped their DVD production several years ago. Today Mitsubishi has consigned its contractors in Taiwan to take care of almost all of its orders and Maxell has contracted out 60% of its production volume. >> Continued  [CENS]

09.06.2005

Wakin.com Curtains Drawn Updated: April studio recording Day 7 (great new music!) with guitarist Eric Huang Yunjen, bassist Guo Zong Shao, and even a birthday cake for Wakin's stylist Taylor from the Taiwan Baiyou! (Windows Media video clip 11.9 MB unzipped download)