Top 10 popular idol bands in China
By Zhang Junmian, China.org.cn, May 31, 2016
10. Fahrenheit (飞轮海)
Fahrenheit [File photo]
Fahrenheit is a Taiwan boy band made up of Wu Chun, Calvin Chen, Jiro Wang and Aaron Yan. The band was formed in 2005 and rose to stardom as a result of acting together in the 2005 Taiwan idol drama series "KO One." The group, managed by Comic International Productions, became a trio after Wu Chun left it in 2011. Some of their signature songs include "I Have My Youth," "Superb," "Love You More and More," "Lonesome Sprint" and "Super Hot."
9. Michael & Victor (无印良品)
Michael & Victor [File photo]
Michael & Victor was a Mandopop duo made up of Michael Wong and Victor Wong. The band was founded in 1995 after the two boys' music talent was discovered by Jonathan Lee, a famous Taiwan singer, songwriter and record producer. The band split in 2000 as both members decided to pursue their solo careers. Some of their signature songs include "Palm," "Having You Beside Me" and "Wanna See You."
8. Grasshopper (草蜢)
Grasshopper [File photo]
Grasshopper is a Hong Kong Cantopop male trio founded in 1985. The trio consists of Edmond Chi-Wai So and brothers Calvin Yat-Chi Choy and Remus Yat-Kit Choy. In 1985, the trio was discovered by late famous singer and actress Anita Mui, who was reputed as the "Madonna of Hong Kong." They once served as back-up dancers and singers for Anita and released their first album in 1988. The veteran group, which maintained great popularity in both China and Asia during the 1980s and 1990s, has never disbanded though they began to pursue their solo careers in 2000. They have continued to hold concerts across the world throughout the years.
7. TFBOYS
TFBOYS [File photo]
The teenage boy band TFBOYS, also known as The Fighting Boys, is managed by Chongqing-based entertainment agency TF Entertainment. The group, known as the youngest pop band in the Chinese entertainment industry, consists of lead singer Wang Junkai (Karry Wang), Wang Yuan (Roy Wang) and main dancer Yi Yang-qian-xi (Jackson Yi). The eldest member, Wang Junkai, was born in 1999 and the other two were born in 2000. TFBOYS, who made their official debut in August 2013, gained great popularity on the Internet thanks to the strength of social media. They quickly topped China's music charts and have built a large and loyal fan base in Southeast Asia. Some of their representative songs include "Heart," "Start to Love," "Magic Castle" and "Go for Dreams."
6. Yu Quan (羽•泉)
Yu Quan [Photo/CNTV]
Yu Quan, the most popular pop duo on the Chinese mainland, was founded in 1998. The duo consists of Chen Yufan and Hu Haiquan, both of whom were born in 1975. The duo, with a healthy image and "next-door boy" style, has numerous fans, both old and young. The award-winning band, well-versed in music creation, demonstrates their great music talent and diversity in each of their 16 albums with total sales exceeding 12 million copies. The duo won first place in the popular Chinese reality TV show "I Am a Singer" in 2013, and served as mentors in "Sing My Song" Seasons 2 and 3 (2015-2016). Some of their signature works include "Most Beautiful," "Be Cruel to the End," "Deep Breath," "Paradise" and "Ye Zi."
5. Phoenix Legend (凤凰传奇)
Phoenix Legend [File photo]
Phoenix Legend is a Chinese pop music duo formed in 1997. The duo, made up of female vocalist Yangwei Linghua and male rapper Zeng Yi, features a unique music style blending folk music with rap and hip-hop elements. The duo shot to fame with their performance on the popular CCTV talent show Star Boulevard in 2005. In the same year, their first album Above the Moon became a hit in China. So far, their albums have sold more than 6 million copies. Some of their signature songs include "Above the Moon," "Fly Freely," "The Most Dazzling Folk Style," "Moonlight over the Lotus Pond" and "I am from the Grassland." These songs rank high on the country's online download charts.
4. S.H.E
S.H.E [File photo]
The Taiwan girl group S.H.E has three members: Selina Jen, Hebe Tien and Ella Chen. The band, which is contracted with HIM International Music Inc., released their first album "Girls Dorm" in 2001 and instantly drew public attention. The premier group, dubbed "The Number One Girl Group" by the media, has gained great success with their natural compositions, cheerful style and unique vocal ranges. The group has recorded 12 albums with total sales exceeding 10 million. Some of their best-known and award-winning songs include "Don't Wanna Grow Up," "Super Star," "SHERO," "Persian Cat" and "Chinese Language." They are also actresses and TV hosts.
3. Twins
Twins [File photo]
The Hong Kong Cantopop duo Twins consists of two cute girls, namely, Charlene Choi and Gillian Chung. The duo, contracted with Emperor Entertainment Group (EEG) in 2000, became famous the next year with their signature song "Open Love, Secret Love, Tutoring Institute." Some of their representative songs include "Love Is Bigger Than the Sky," "Kite and the Wind," "The Next Station is Tin Hau" and "I Really Want to Love Him." The popular idol band has a large fan base in China as well as in many other countries including Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the United States, Canada and Australia. In 2008, the band temporarily dissolved as Gillian Chung was involved in Hong Kong actor Edison Chen's sex scandal. In celebration of the band's 15th anniversary, the duo held a cross-year concert in Hong Kong at the end of 2015.
2. F4
F4 [File photo]
F4, also known as JVKV,
is a Taiwan boy band founded in 2001 when their TV drama "Meteor Garden," an adaptation of the popular Japanese manga series "Hana Yori Dango," gained extreme success in Asia. The group, which consists of Jerry Yan, Vanness Wu, Ken Chu and Vic Chou, has starred in a series of equally successful TV dramas and released three albums entitled "Meteor Rain (2001)," "Fantasy 4ever (2002)" and "Waiting for You (2007)". In 2006, F4 became the first Asian band to receive an exclusive interview from CNN. In 2007, the group changed its name to JVKV, which used the initials of its members' first names to avoid copyright issues. The group has never been formally dissolved, and its members appear together on the stage from time to time. The group represents an era in the eyes of its massive diehard fans across the world.
The Little Tigers (小虎队)
The Little Tigers [File photo]
The Little Tigers, a Taiwan pop boy band established in 1988, has been recognized as the most popular idol band of all time in China. The trio, which had three members, namely, Nicky Wu, Alec Su and Julian Chen, rose to fame immediately throughout Asia due to their pleasant melodic singing and healthy image. Some of their most influential songs include "Happy New Year," "Free and Unfettered to Play," "Red dragonfly," "Love" and "Starry Night." In 1997, the group split up and all members began to pursue their solo careers. In 2010, the band briefly reunited on the stage of CCTV's Spring Festival Gala, taking the limelight again with their captivating performance.
***
I could not say China.org did a not so good job by omitting one of the bands that should have been at the top, Sodagreen, 苏打绿. It would be perhaps difficult to list them as an idol band because of their high quality music.
But, they still deserve a special mention here. Hailing from China, Taiwan.
