A very nice article of Jay Chou’s past and how he became the pop-star king of Taiwan. I am not the owner of this article and it’s possible that some of the stories were sugar-coated, but it’s a good read, and a very heart-warming story about Jay. Strangers to Jay’s “chou pi” (Cocky) attitude will understand him more with this article. ~yanaliao
Source: tw.gigacircle.com/1296579-1
Translated by: yanaliao
What you don’t know
Behind Jay Chou’s moving story. Growing up from a broken family, his compositions were so weird that Jacky Wu (Wu Zhong Xian) trashed them all away.
“He came from a broken family, his weird compositions were all thrown away by Jacky Wu, even the heavenly king, Andy Lau and A-mei rejected his compositions.”
Maybe you’re not fond of Jay Chou
Maybe you’re wondering why is he so famous
Don’t rush and leave
If you read this, you might be moved by him
Maybe you’ll pick-up something new about life, family and good parenting
Good luck to you!
Jay Chou came from a broken family, [His mom gave up everything for him with love]
Jay Chou, many youngsters are hooked with his music, he’s idolized by everyone, has a very deep relationship with his mom, it’s because during his helpless and lonely days, his mom gave him all the love he can get and wrapped her arms around him to support him. That’s why Jay always says: “As long as mom is happy, I’m will to give everything.”
A music genius with a broken family
Jay Chou was born January of 1979, his mother’s name is Ye Hui Mei (叶惠美) and was a secondary school Arts Teacher in Tamkang University, his father was a Biology teacher of the same university. When Jay Chou was 4 years old entering kindergarten, Ye Hui Mei sent him to Tamkang Yamaha Kindergarten Music School to learn the piano. This very naughty and active little Jay would mysteriously stand silently in front of the piano. He would listen to his teacher as he played and Jay played along at the same time. The teacher told Ye Hui Mei that her son has a very big potential.
Due to this, Ye Hui Mei invested all her family’s savings to be able to buy Jay his own piano and hire the best piano teacher to coach him. His father on the other hand felt otherwise and thought that it’s not necessary to give up everything, that she need not exaggerate everything. In the end, Ye Hui Mei still bought the piano without the consent of her husband, Jay’s dad wasn’t too happy about it. While he was still in Grade 3, Jay Chou overheard Tsaikovsky’s famous “Swan Lake”, He was fascinated with the Cello’s poignant sadness, Ye Hui Mei did not even negotiate with her husband and bought Jay a Cello.
Jay’s dad scoffed off Ye Hui Mei trying to put all the eggs in one basket, he kept blaming her on anything until the warmth of this home has gone and the fights grew more. Jay was clueless why his dad always argued with his mom, he used an innocent phrase to express the he felt disturbed and sad about that situation:
从小到大只有妈妈的温暖為什麼我爸爸那麼兇
Cong Xiao dao da zhi you mama de wen nuan wei shen me wo de papa na me xiong
When I was young I always felt mom’s warmth but I wonder why my dad was always furious
如果真的我有一双翅膀两双翅膀随时出发
Ru guo zhen de wo you yi shuang chi bang liang shuang chi bang sui shi chu fa
If one day, I get to have a pair of wings, 2 pairs of wings, I will leave at once
偷偷出发我一定带走我妈妈……
Tou tou chu fa gua yi dieng dai gua ma kia huh…
Secretly leave and bring my mom along
This sentimental verse became a part of lyrics of one composition, it’s this very sad song which touched a lot of fans-- “Dad, I’m back”
When Jay was in 2nd year Junior High School, his parents decided to get a divorce. A 14-year-old Jay wrote then: “There’s no more love left between both of my parents, is this the true meaning of life?” Through this, Jay began to stay silent, stubborn and rebellious.
People never knew a man’s lingering anguish
Jay Chou is indeed a music genius, but he has poor grades in school. His exams during Junior High had only a total of a hundred points, he can’t even pass a normal junior high entrance exam, realizing his future is a bleak, both mother and son remain speechless, will this be the end for his son? Fortunately, Tamkang Junior High School opened its first semester of music course and Jay was accepted.
With a good hand in playing the piano, pull a good hand in playing cello, constant playing of basketball, Jay Chou became a popular face and topic among the girls. But Jay Chou always wore a poker face and he seldom smiles, aside from having good merits in music, his other subjects were all a line of red marks. His teachers said that he might have a lower IQ than other kids, worst was his English teacher telling Ye Hui Mei his son has a mental disorder. Ye Hui Mei thought hard but still decided to cultivate his talent, at least he could end up as a piano teacher. Ye Hui Mei never criticized Jay, she thought that Jay continues to be rebellious and cold is because he didn’t have a complete family to begin with, she trust her instincts that her child is not mentally disabled. She tamed him by treating him like a brother and tried applying the “3 don’ts” to herself: [Don’t scold him, don’t criticize and don’t force him to do things].
The assessment of his teachers were true, he was never accepted at any university. After making inquiries, Ye Hui Mei encouraged Jay to try Tai Da University’s music course, in the end he wasn’t able to make it as well. Jay Chou clenched his teeth as he tried to take the entrance exam again but still failed the 2nd time around. His mom and grandmother were very concerned of his future, what could this child do?
In extreme confusion, Jay patiently waited for his military service to start, during those time, he was diagnosed with Ankylosing spondylitis, what’s more depressing is that this kind of sickness still has no cure to date. This can only be subsidized by medicine to ease the pain, when this worsens, the body will stiffen like a zombie and could also lead to paralysis, this made Ye Hui Mei and his grandmother burst in to tears.
Under his mother’s care, he became a success
After his sickness was remedied, Jay Chou found himself a job as a waiter, he serves food in trays and most of the time he breaks one of them. His salary was almost half gone by the end of the month due to broken cups and plates. This restaurant has a piano, one time while he was on a break, he played a piece by Chopin. The restaurant owner was stunned and made up his mind to have Jay play the piano instead of serving food in that restaurant. The owner even invited a reporter from a TV station to hype things up. This made the restaurant more famous and saved a few costs for hiring a pianist.
Ye Hui Mei greatly felt Jay’s music talent that she even brought and registered him to Taipei Star TV’s show “Hottest New Star” (超猛新人王) . Jay meticulously composed a song “Dreams have wings” (梦有翅膀), but since he’s not confident enough with his voice, he asked someone else to sing his song. The singer didn’t understand his style in music, even how he played the piano was quite weird at that time, it did not favor the audience at all and his first performance was a big disaster.
Ye Hui Mei was so worried, she is quite an introvert herself but she picked up her courage and gave the sheet music of “Dreams have wings” to the host of the show, Jacky Wu. Jacky Wu was the boss of Alfa Music during those times and his first impression with Jay was not so good. He took the music sheet out of courtesy and brushed on it, his eyes brightened because the music sheet was not only transcribed neatly, it was also a very complicated sheet. He quickly changed his mind and said: “This child looks okay, tell him to start working in my office tomorrow.”
Jay Chou started his job in the music company as an arranger’s assistant, with his mom’s encouragement, she offers to buy bentos for his colleagues and they eventually got a good feeling over Jay. While Ye Hui Mei was always worried about Jay’s coldness, stubbornness and tactlessness, she’s also worried that he might get into trouble with his colleagues and bosses due to his attitude. She made it a point to wait at the company’s entrance and offer yummy pizzas and fried chickens for the staffs, telling them to bear with her with regards to Jay’s attitude. In due time, Jay’s colleagues became familiar with his mom, and they all know that Jay has a good mother.
Jay has started composing massive music sheets, but Jacky Wu was clueless why his compositions were all weird, it’s like everyone in show business doesn’t like his work. There was one time when Jay Chou submitted one of his best compositions to Jacky Wu to have it read, this time Jacky Wu didn’t even look at it and balled it up and threw it in the garbage can beside him. Jay was in tears that time.
Shall he give up or continue? His mom’s existence at the company’s lobby was already a landscape, he will be sorry for his mother if he gives up at once. Not long, he recommended “Nunchucks” (双截棍)to the very famous A-Mei, unfortunately, she also rejected the song. Jacky Wu gave Jay another last chance, he can sing his own compositions, and if it still doesn’t work, he’ll have to let go of him. He called Jay into his office again and seriously said: “Jay, I’m giving you 10 days, if you can write 50 songs and I’ll be able to like 10 in those 50 songs, I’m going to help you produce an album.”
The boss’ words motivated Jay that he got so excited, he called his mom and told her the news, then he went out and bought a big box of instant noodles. He thought, whatever it takes, he’ll try to make it to this fight.
Jay Chou made it to his 50 songs after sleepless nights, he made sure that the songs were written in a reasonable structure and neatly. At last, Jacky Wu smiled and was able to pick 10 songs, during 2001, Jay was able to release his first self-titled album.
His company didn’t expect too much out of the album, it’ll be great if the album sales breaks-even. But when “Jay Chou” album was released, it was like a massive typhoon came and swept Taiwan, the fans swooped over all the albums. The “Jay Chou” album was able to bag awards for “Best Taiwan pop music album, Best producer and Best composer” all these three major awards. The “Jay Chou” album was an unexpected success for the company, this caught every singer in Taiwan by surprise, they were all wondering who this Jay Chou was? If you think that Jay’s first album had a little bit of a success, then Jay Chou’s 2nd album “Fantasy” became a phenomenon throughout China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South East Asia. Awards for this album poured in left and right.
Jay Chou has succeeded, he deeply understands that without his mom shedding light and warmth during his dark days, he won’t make it to what he is now, his mom never re-marries, every bit of love was given to him. He hands over all his savings to his mom, even though he lives at his own apartment, every weekend, he tries to go home and be with his mom and grandmother. Ye Hui Mei had mixed emotions, those times when his husband became sarcastic, the disapproval look on the teachers’ faces, this hard life was already yesterday.
After Ye Hui Mei retired, Jay Chou was worried that she might be lonely. Whenever he’s in Taiwan, he would go home and be with his mom. Every weekend, he would take his mom to watch midnight movies, his mom loves to watch classic movies so Jay also watches this with her while he on the other hand loves Avant Garde, so Ye Hui Mei joins him as well. Jay Chou’s 4th album is “Ye Hui Mei”, this was a gift to his mom.
Ru guo zhen de wo you yi shuang chi bang liang shuang chi bang sui shi chu fa
If one day, I get to have a pair of wings, 2 pairs of wings, I will leave at once
偷偷出发我一定带走我妈妈……
Tou tou chu fa gua yi dieng dai gua ma kia huh…
Secretly leave and bring my mom along
This sentimental verse became a part of lyrics of one composition, it’s this very sad song which touched a lot of fans-- “Dad, I’m back”
When Jay was in 2nd year Junior High School, his parents decided to get a divorce. A 14-year-old Jay wrote then: “There’s no more love left between both of my parents, is this the true meaning of life?” Through this, Jay began to stay silent, stubborn and rebellious.
People never knew a man’s lingering anguish
Jay Chou is indeed a music genius, but he has poor grades in school. His exams during Junior High had only a total of a hundred points, he can’t even pass a normal junior high entrance exam, realizing his future is a bleak, both mother and son remain speechless, will this be the end for his son? Fortunately, Tamkang Junior High School opened its first semester of music course and Jay was accepted.
With a good hand in playing the piano, pull a good hand in playing cello, constant playing of basketball, Jay Chou became a popular face and topic among the girls. But Jay Chou always wore a poker face and he seldom smiles, aside from having good merits in music, his other subjects were all a line of red marks. His teachers said that he might have a lower IQ than other kids, worst was his English teacher telling Ye Hui Mei his son has a mental disorder. Ye Hui Mei thought hard but still decided to cultivate his talent, at least he could end up as a piano teacher. Ye Hui Mei never criticized Jay, she thought that Jay continues to be rebellious and cold is because he didn’t have a complete family to begin with, she trust her instincts that her child is not mentally disabled. She tamed him by treating him like a brother and tried applying the “3 don’ts” to herself: [Don’t scold him, don’t criticize and don’t force him to do things].
The assessment of his teachers were true, he was never accepted at any university. After making inquiries, Ye Hui Mei encouraged Jay to try Tai Da University’s music course, in the end he wasn’t able to make it as well. Jay Chou clenched his teeth as he tried to take the entrance exam again but still failed the 2nd time around. His mom and grandmother were very concerned of his future, what could this child do?
In extreme confusion, Jay patiently waited for his military service to start, during those time, he was diagnosed with Ankylosing spondylitis, what’s more depressing is that this kind of sickness still has no cure to date. This can only be subsidized by medicine to ease the pain, when this worsens, the body will stiffen like a zombie and could also lead to paralysis, this made Ye Hui Mei and his grandmother burst in to tears.
Under his mother’s care, he became a success
After his sickness was remedied, Jay Chou found himself a job as a waiter, he serves food in trays and most of the time he breaks one of them. His salary was almost half gone by the end of the month due to broken cups and plates. This restaurant has a piano, one time while he was on a break, he played a piece by Chopin. The restaurant owner was stunned and made up his mind to have Jay play the piano instead of serving food in that restaurant. The owner even invited a reporter from a TV station to hype things up. This made the restaurant more famous and saved a few costs for hiring a pianist.
Ye Hui Mei greatly felt Jay’s music talent that she even brought and registered him to Taipei Star TV’s show “Hottest New Star” (超猛新人王) . Jay meticulously composed a song “Dreams have wings” (梦有翅膀), but since he’s not confident enough with his voice, he asked someone else to sing his song. The singer didn’t understand his style in music, even how he played the piano was quite weird at that time, it did not favor the audience at all and his first performance was a big disaster.
Ye Hui Mei was so worried, she is quite an introvert herself but she picked up her courage and gave the sheet music of “Dreams have wings” to the host of the show, Jacky Wu. Jacky Wu was the boss of Alfa Music during those times and his first impression with Jay was not so good. He took the music sheet out of courtesy and brushed on it, his eyes brightened because the music sheet was not only transcribed neatly, it was also a very complicated sheet. He quickly changed his mind and said: “This child looks okay, tell him to start working in my office tomorrow.”
Jay Chou started his job in the music company as an arranger’s assistant, with his mom’s encouragement, she offers to buy bentos for his colleagues and they eventually got a good feeling over Jay. While Ye Hui Mei was always worried about Jay’s coldness, stubbornness and tactlessness, she’s also worried that he might get into trouble with his colleagues and bosses due to his attitude. She made it a point to wait at the company’s entrance and offer yummy pizzas and fried chickens for the staffs, telling them to bear with her with regards to Jay’s attitude. In due time, Jay’s colleagues became familiar with his mom, and they all know that Jay has a good mother.
Jay has started composing massive music sheets, but Jacky Wu was clueless why his compositions were all weird, it’s like everyone in show business doesn’t like his work. There was one time when Jay Chou submitted one of his best compositions to Jacky Wu to have it read, this time Jacky Wu didn’t even look at it and balled it up and threw it in the garbage can beside him. Jay was in tears that time.
Shall he give up or continue? His mom’s existence at the company’s lobby was already a landscape, he will be sorry for his mother if he gives up at once. Not long, he recommended “Nunchucks” (双截棍)to the very famous A-Mei, unfortunately, she also rejected the song. Jacky Wu gave Jay another last chance, he can sing his own compositions, and if it still doesn’t work, he’ll have to let go of him. He called Jay into his office again and seriously said: “Jay, I’m giving you 10 days, if you can write 50 songs and I’ll be able to like 10 in those 50 songs, I’m going to help you produce an album.”
The boss’ words motivated Jay that he got so excited, he called his mom and told her the news, then he went out and bought a big box of instant noodles. He thought, whatever it takes, he’ll try to make it to this fight.
Jay Chou made it to his 50 songs after sleepless nights, he made sure that the songs were written in a reasonable structure and neatly. At last, Jacky Wu smiled and was able to pick 10 songs, during 2001, Jay was able to release his first self-titled album.
His company didn’t expect too much out of the album, it’ll be great if the album sales breaks-even. But when “Jay Chou” album was released, it was like a massive typhoon came and swept Taiwan, the fans swooped over all the albums. The “Jay Chou” album was able to bag awards for “Best Taiwan pop music album, Best producer and Best composer” all these three major awards. The “Jay Chou” album was an unexpected success for the company, this caught every singer in Taiwan by surprise, they were all wondering who this Jay Chou was? If you think that Jay’s first album had a little bit of a success, then Jay Chou’s 2nd album “Fantasy” became a phenomenon throughout China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South East Asia. Awards for this album poured in left and right.
Jay Chou has succeeded, he deeply understands that without his mom shedding light and warmth during his dark days, he won’t make it to what he is now, his mom never re-marries, every bit of love was given to him. He hands over all his savings to his mom, even though he lives at his own apartment, every weekend, he tries to go home and be with his mom and grandmother. Ye Hui Mei had mixed emotions, those times when his husband became sarcastic, the disapproval look on the teachers’ faces, this hard life was already yesterday.
After Ye Hui Mei retired, Jay Chou was worried that she might be lonely. Whenever he’s in Taiwan, he would go home and be with his mom. Every weekend, he would take his mom to watch midnight movies, his mom loves to watch classic movies so Jay also watches this with her while he on the other hand loves Avant Garde, so Ye Hui Mei joins him as well. Jay Chou’s 4th album is “Ye Hui Mei”, this was a gift to his mom.
