2009-09-08 17:51
The Chinese Tibetan Girl developing in JapanThe theme songs "Xin Zhan" and "Da Jiang Dong Qu" for the movie "RED CLIFF" left a deep impression on everyone. The singer of such a haunting and beautiful song is the Chinese Tibetan girl developing in Japan--alan.
When you see the small alan, you can't help but think that Beauty Valley is a place where beauties are produced. alan said that she was really fat when she was in Beauty Valley and that she wasn't pretty at all. She was like the girl from Maupassant's Boule de Suif: "my body was small, but I was chubby all over. I was so fat that oil just flowed down my face and even my fingers were fat. The fat would go back when I moved my joints and it was like a string of short fat sausages."
Able to throw the shot very far as a kidalan: I'm not pretty. I was really fat as a kid and my hands were so fat that they had their own nests. It was only when I went to high school that I was able to slim down and I grew a bit. It was a lot better than before and the girls in Beauty Valley's skin were great and refreshing.
ARENA: You began learning the erhu when you were about 7 or 8?! Why did you choose to learn the erhu?
alan: Oh, I was very naughty as a kid. My dad is a soldier, so I grew up in the army yard and I would often play with the older kids. It feels like hurting myself was routine. 'There was one time when I was playing a game and I ran with my life. There was a little ditch in front of me and I didn't cross it, but I tripped over it. I ended up with a lot of stitches on my head. There was also one time when I was playing on the slide and people sat as they slid. I slid with my entire body and there just so happened to be some broken glass on the slid. My hand was lacerated and I had to get a couple of stitches. My parents made me learn the erhu to calm myself down.
ARENA: You were so hyperactive as a kid, so you were pretty good at sports?
alan: I was pretty good and I could throw the shot pretty far. When I attend a school competition, I was at least in the top 3. I only got worse in the future. The older I was, the closer I threw the shot.
ARENA: Your shot distance became proportional to your weight?
alan: Yes. (Laughs)
A girl wearing an army uniform and singing
alan learned the erhu for 8 years and she even got into the People's Liberation Army Art Academy and majored in music. Even though she sings pop music, but she would sing high morale non-pop songs when she sing for the soldiers. After graduating from college, alan had to choose between staying in China and singing for soldiers or to sign a contract with a record company to become a pop singer? Fate chose alan at this moment.
ARENA: Your voice is really special with sweetness, high-pitched, and ethereal mixed together, so when did you officially began to learn music?
alan: When I got into the PLA, the teachers taught us the basics of music, vocal practices, and notes. They gave me a really good foundation for music. Shuang Jiang Li teacher once told me something that affected me greatly, he said you must sing with intense emotions, so you can set yourself on fire first, then you can set other people on fire.
ARENA: Was it hard and dull in the PLA?
alan: Compared to regular soldiers, our conditions were pretty good. Compared to other college students majoring in the arts, then we had it pretty rough. But, we learned a lot there. Army style is very strict though. We had to get up at 6 AM to run, clean, and our blankets were folded up like tofu cubes. When we had to go out for vacation, we had to report it to our captain. We couldn't color our hair or grow our nails out.
ARNEA: So you couldn't be presumptuous at all?
alan: I guess. The uniforms they gave us at first were really big, so we would adjust it, so it would fit to our bodies.
ARENA: You went to Avex Japan's China auditions after graduating from college? They were in China for 3 months and they didn't choose anyone. You were the last contestant, but yet you were chosen?
alan: I went the last day they were there and I was also the last one to perform. I just got out of class that day and I didn't even have time to change out of my uniform. I just went to play my erhu and after singing, they immediately decided for me to go to Japan to develop. Everything came a bit too fast. (Laughs)
Growing up in JapanHaving the title of being an Avex singer, alan's brightness in life became unlimited. But who could understand the bitterness and pain behind the brightness? She didn't understand Japanese at all and she couldn't handle life by herself. For a 15 seconds commercial, she could only sleep for half a hour for 2 days......but it was because of her loneliness once that made her speedily grow up. She went from being a rebellious little girl to an understanding good girl.
ARENA: Was it hard for you to adjust when you first went to Japan to develop?
alan: Of course it was hard to adjust to the food and going out. I'm from Sichuan, so I really love to eat spicy foods and all of the spicy foods in Japan are more sweet than spicy. Japanese streets are so crowded and there's so many alleys that I would often get lost and then you add the fact that I wasn't fluent in the language. If a company member isn't besides me, then I could barely go out by myself. I was really sad and frustrated at that time and felt like I couldn't do anything. If I was a closed-off girl, then I would probably go back to China already and I wouldn't even be here today. It's good with my personality that I was able to slowly adjust. I even enjoy work and life in Japan now.
ARENA: How do you adjust your mood when you really want to give up?
alan: I'm a person with a very high self-esteem. I don't want to let my family and friends be disappointed in me. When I first came to Japan to develop, it was my choice. I don't want to stop halfway. I want to prove to everyone that a China can develop quite nicely in Japan.
ARENA: Do you feel like you're fighting for honor for your country?
alan: (Laughs) Fighting for honor for my country is a happy thing, but I don't want to give myself too much stress and responsibility. Some people has said that I'm a celebrity representing China, but I'm not representing anyone. I am me. I just want to get my things done.
ARENA: Isn't there a big debate over how a Chinese celebrity is developing in Japan?
alan: Going to Japan to develop is indeed a sensitive problem. When I first began, a lot of people didn't understand me. They said why are you going to Japan to develop? Why can't you just develop in China? A lot of people understand, accept, and supports me now. This has somehow become a kind of motivation for me.
ARENA: When faced with other people's critiques and doubt, you would often......?
alan: I just laugh it off. (Laughs) I'm pretty lucky. I would sometimes see bad comments on my blog and on websites. Most of the netizens would leave comments encouraging me and makes me feel very happy. Even though there are some attacks sometimes, but I just don't care too much about it. You say what you want. I do what I want. If I get mad, then I would fall into their trap.
ARENA: Has going to Japan for 2 years helped you mature a lot?
alan: It has. If I was always by my parent's side, then I would be a willful child. Now that I've left home and gone out into the world, I can really understand my parent's troubles. I know that the people that loves me the most are still my parents. Their love is unconditional, selfless, and great. I didn't understand and I would argue with my mom before, but I really regret it now. My mom has sacrificed so many things for me, so if she tells me something, I will never argue with her. If she wants me to do something, then I will go do it. Last year, I had a 5 days break and I went with my parents to a place with the sea. My mom still nags a lot and I think she's worse than before, but I think she's rather cute this way.
The lucky girl that sang the theme song for "RED CLIFF"Being able to sing the theme song for John Woo's "RED CLIFF" is something that stars can only wish for in their lives and this chance was unbelievably given to the newcomer, alan. Many people said that alan is really too lucky. But don't forget that chances are given to those prepared.
ARENA: Why did John Woo choose you to sing the theme song for "RED CLIFF"?
alan: I'm Chinese, but developing in Japan. It's a similar situation for director Woo who is developing in Hollywood. He had my song before and he thought that the theme song of "RED CLIFF" sounded like songs I sang before my debut. We had only seen each other once in Tokyo and then he decided that I will sing the theme song.
ARENA: What kind of a person is John Woo in your eyes?
alan: Director Woo helped my career so much. He is my savior. It was because he chose me to sing for "RED CLIFF" that many people started to recognize me. He and his wife are just like my father and mother. They're very kind to me and I have so many thanks I want to say to them.
ARENA: John Woo is your savior, then you are a winged steed. "RED CLIFF's" theme song is performed so amazingly by you!
alan: Thank you! Actually, it was really hard when I recorded the first song "Xin Zhan". I recorded for about 13 hours, but it was easier with the second song because I had more experience, so I recorded it faster.
ARENA: What plans do you have for the future?
alan: I want to become a self-composing singer. I don't want people to think that I'm only pretty. I want to let everyone know that alan can play the erhu, piano, write songs, write lyrics, so I want all of my good qualities to be shown. I will released another Japanese album this year and the style is a lot different from before. I won't sing so many high-pitched difficult songs. It will be more suited for a younger audience with more pop. When a newcomer first begin with calm songs, people might think it's nothing special and they'll forget you. I want to display my specialness and to left people's eyes sparkle a bit. I want to leave a deep impression on them and many fans already understand my specialness now. I can now sing songs that everyone will likes and fit for them.
ARENA: A pretty girl's love life always makes people curious. Many companies are strict to their artists like they can't even have a relationship......
alan: My company is very kind and they said that since I'm from China and I have a lot of stress from work, they told me I can consider finding a boyfriend. My manager told me that your age is the age to fall in love. If you find a good guy, then of course you can date. But the company will keep it a secret for me! (Laughs)
ARENA: Do you have a boyfriend now?
alan: Ask my manager then! (Laughs)
ARENA: What type do you like?
alan: The kind with electricity between us. We can speak the same languages and it will be good if he's a bit taller than me. His shoulders might be wide. Since I left home at a younger age, so I want stability. The most important thing is that he can understand and support my work.
Really likes ping pong and golf
ARENA: What about athletes?
alan: It's fine. Athletes give people a very healthy and sunny feeling.
ARENA: Which athletes do you like?
alan: Beckham. He's very handsome and nice to his wife......
ARENA: What sports do you like?
alan: Ping pong and golf. I chose to play ping pong as my physical education credit in college. Ping pong can reflect my agility. Golf is pretty good too. It's just that I'm too busy with work that I don't really play it anymore.
Alan
English Name: Alan Dawa Dolma
Japanese Name: アラン·ダワジュオマ
Height: 158cm
Weight: 40kg
Astrological Sign: Leo
Favorite Sports: Ping pong and golf
Sports Want Try: Skiing
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