Jenny Tseng

'Jenny Tseng - Yan Nei' (Chinese: 甄妮) (20 February 1953), is a Macau-born singer, actress and producer, mostly known in Cantonese-speaking regions, based in Hong Kong for much of her career. Tseng is one of the most popular female singer in Hong Kong during the Golden Age of Music and remained popular throughout the late 70s all through to the early 90s.

Her career has spawned for 4 decades, and she has become one of the most successful cantopop singers, she has released over 130 albums and sold over 10 million records worldwide

Early life and career beginning

Jenny Tseng (甄妮), was born 20 February 1953. Tseng Grandmother comes from Gaundong, China. Tseng's mother comes from Shanghai, whilst her farther comes from Austrian decent. The family lived in Taiwan until their divorce.

Tseng graduated from World News College first five professionals (世界新聞專科學校) becoming the fourth person to do so in Taiwan. Tseng eventually went to university to Chinese Culture Institute (now the Chinese Culture University) (中國文化學院), During an interview Tseng stated that she intended to become a stewardess, as she stated that she loved to travel. During her time at university producers from a movie asked whether she wanted to become part of the cast, she then asked to sing 2 English-numbers which eventually became a hit.

She then went on to release her debut album "心湖" in Taiwan, through Galaxy Records (銀河唱片) in 1971, thus beginning a 4 decade and counting career, After her parents divorced her mother remarried and they relocated in Hong Kong,

Career

Marriage and Hong Kong breakthrough

In 1977 Tseng married Hong Kong martial arts film star Alexander Fu-Sheng. (full name Chang Fu-Sheng, 張富聲). The marriage was portrayed as turbulent in the media, however Tseng dispelled all the rumors during the 今夜不設防IV-12完 interview in 1990 with long-term friends and collaborator James Wong (黃霑).

In 1978 Tseng released her debut Hong Kong album "奮鬥" which broke records sales by seling 250,00 copies within the first 2 months, and was ranked top selling album for 12 weeks. According to the IFPI the albums total sales remains one of the highest. Her debut single " 明日話今天" was voted and became a ‘Top Ten Hong Kong Golden Songs’ one of the first songs to ever enter.

Continued Success and collaboration with Roman Tam

In 1981, Tseng and Fu-sheng founded their own independent music production company (JenFu), within the 2 years Tseng produced 3 platinum albums ("不要再重逢“，”心聲“，”憶夢/木頭人“) and two gold albums (“衝擊”，“播音人”).

In 1983 Jenny and Roman Launched the soundtrack for the hit TV series 'Legend of the condor Heroes’ " ‘射雕英雄传’. The songs became instant hits with classics including: 鐵血丹心 and 世間始終你好 . As the drama in the eighties in the provinces broadcast in mainland China, "鐵血丹心" won the domestic pop music critic acclaimed as one of the top ten Chinese classics of the twentieth century. These collaborations are still continuously re-sung and are still the most successful and well-known collaborative songs.

Alexander Fu-Shengs Death first career hiatus

July 6, 1983, Fu-Sheng, who was shooting in Clear Water Bay Road Studios, was in a Porsche 911 and crashed into a mountain during his drive, during which Tseng was in Japan. In July 8, 1983 after returning to Hong Kong Tseng declared Fu-Sheng had died, age 29; Tseng stopped all media appearances and flew back to Taiwan for a 15 month-break.

Comeback and Further Success

In 1984 Tseng joined CBS / Sony and launched a new album. "再度孤獨／迷人的五月". The album sales were only matched by with Alan Tam " 霧之戀 and 愛的根源 " sales wise, and finished third behind Tams 2 albums. Tseng also became the first ever female artist (second after Sam Hui 許冠傑) to sell out Hong Kong Coliseum where Joseph Koo (顾嘉煇) composed, a live recording was released and managed to sell 200,000.Tseng also made a notable appearance in the hit film 全家福 with Sam Hui whereby the hit 無敵是愛 was released.

During the Jade Solid Gold Awards (a new award show more developed and recognized compared to RTHK) Tseng won 3 times including 2 top 10 songs 再度孤独, 無敵是愛 (with Sam Hui） and the first ever Female singer of the year losing artist of the year to Alan Tam. Tseng doesn't win again until she 2011 where she wins her honour golden needle award

Further Career and Melody Tseng

In 1985 Tseng released 明天會更好 a bestselling charity single. she also re-entered Hong Kong Coliseum to celebrate her 15 years being in the business 甄妮再見十五年演唱会. Meanwhile, she released 為你而歌 a nominated song during the Jade Solid Gold Awards.

By the end of 1986 Tseng released the soundtrack of the same name " 海上花". The song became very popular and won a RTHK top ten song awards, other notable hits from that year included: 最後的玫瑰, 冷冷的秋.

In 1987 Tseng controversially gave birth of a daughter "甄家平 (Melody)", and till this day there has been many speculations on who the farther is but Tseng has remained secret stating that, 'that is her privacy' during the appearance james wong 黃霑 she stated that she and Fu sheng had difficulty bearing children and had 4 miscarriages, and that the person of whom this child is from is not marriage material. Strangely, in 2012 her long term friend Jessica Chen spoke out that the child was from Fu Sheng sayin "All martial arts film stars back in the days are worried that they might be rendered impotent from shooting accidents. That's why most of them have their sperm stored in hospitals. Alexander was one of them, which is how Melody was conceived,".

Tseng entered Hong Kong Coliseum for the last time until 2000 with the concert 甄妮88演唱會.

Second Career Hiatus

After the image change of Anita Mui and the rise of competition Tseng's appearances and promotions became notably fewer for the majority of the 90s. However, Tseng became one of the highest paid Hong Kong female recording artists in 1991.

With only a few appearances, Tseng made a notable appearance on her long term friends and collaborator Joseph Koo and James Wong(顧嘉煇•黃霑•真友情演唱會), along with many other artists they performed a total of 13 shows in the Hong Kong Coliseum, Guangzhou and Singapore.

Concerts and Revival

In 1999 Jenny was invited to participate James Wong and Joseph Koo millennium show "香港煇黃2000演唱會",. A total of 16 performances were completed in Hong Kong Coliseum, followed by performances in Singapore and Malaysia

On March 10, 2000 until March the 12th after a 12-year break, Tseng re-entered the Hong Kong coliseum headlining a whole concert named ‘一份真 演唱會’. The concert spawned 2 dated with both dates selling out and attendance rate of 100%.

2001 (有你有我演唱會), 2004 (停不了演唱会)and 2006 (自然瘋演唱會) Tseng held concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum, all 3 concerts were extremely successful, but the 自然瘋演唱會 sold out, and furthermore the audience refused to leave. Eventually the showed extended half an hour longer.

Long term collaboration partner Lau-Ka Cheong(劉家昌) invited Tseng for an appearance for the songs that he wrote for her in the ‘往事只能回味演唱會’ concert.

愛SHOW Farewell World Tour and Golden Needle Award

After a 6-year break from doing concerts Tseng announced her final concert tour which would last form 6 to 9 May at the Hong Kong Coliseum. The tour will through Taipei, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Guangzhou, Singapore, Genting tour. The tour continued all through the year and sold out once again 4 times. During in which one of the dates was her 60th birthday, where over 12,000 people sang happy birthday for her.

On August 18, 2013 and on the 19th at the Hong Kong Coliseum for the "century love songs century superstar concert" (世紀情歌世紀情巨星演唱會) finale performances. Wakefield and Ouyangfeifei to join the chorus, the interpretation of songs "熱情的沙漠" became an unexpected climax of the night.

December 2, 2011, on Radio RTHK announced that Jenny is "34th Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs" the guest of honour receiving the music industry's highest honour of the ‘Golden Needle Award’. Tseng expressed her thoughts by saying it was late but she was thrilled. Later that year, Tseng performed a medley of her hits during the ceremony.

Present

It was revealed that Tseng bought a large farm where she would reside after her world tour had finished. However, Tseng frequently holds concerts where she performs songs of her own as well as other artists.

Awards won

RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards

1972-1982) 每年的金骆驼奖

1978) 明日话今天(female artist of the year was non-existent during this time)

1979) 春雨弯刀

1981)東方之珠, and Female singer of the year

1983) 世間始終你好

1984) 再度孤独

1986) 海上花

Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation

1984) 再度孤独, 無敵是愛 with Sam Hui), Female Artist of the year

2011) Golden needle Award (金針獎)

Hong Kong coliseum shows

• 1984年 : 甄妮閃閃五月星演唱会(香港红馆)

• 1986年 : 甄妮再見十五年演唱会(香港红馆)

• 1988年 : 甄妮演唱会(香港红馆)

• 1999年 : 一份真演唱会(香港红馆)

• 2001年 : 有你有我演唱会(香港红馆)

• 2004年 : 停不了演唱会(香港红馆)

• 2006年 : 自然疯演唱会(香港红馆)

• 2010年 : 愛Show Farewell演唱会(香港红馆)

• 2013年 : 愛Show世界巡迴演唱會2013完美篇香港站(香港红馆)

References

^[1] - Translated ^[2]

External links

• Jenny Tseng at the Internet Movie Database