Yisa Yu or Yu Kewei (Chinese: 郁可唯; pinyin: Yù Kěwéi; born 23 October 1983), is a Chinese singer. She started out singing in bars and participated in several singing competitions. Her career took off after she achieved fourth place nationally in the 2009 season of Hunan TV's Super Girl. Her fans are called Yu jin xiang (郁金香), which means "tulip"; personally named by Yisa.[1]
Yisa Yu | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
郁可唯 | |||||||
 | |||||||
| Born | Yu Yingxia 郁英霞 23 October 1983 Chengdu, Sichuan, China | ||||||
| Nationality | Chinese | ||||||
| Education | Bachelor of Arts (Major in English) | ||||||
| Alma mater | University of Electronic Science and Technology of China | ||||||
| Occupation | Singer | ||||||
| Years active | 2005–present | ||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 郁可唯 | ||||||
| |||||||
| Musical career | |||||||
| Also known as | Yu Kewei | ||||||
| Origin | China | ||||||
| Genres | Mandopop | ||||||
| Instrument | Piano/guitar/drums | ||||||
| Labels | Rock Records (2009–2017) HIM International Music（2017–present） | ||||||
Early life
editYu was born on 23 October 1983 as Yu Yingxia (Chinese: 郁英霞) in Chengdu, Sichuan to parents working in the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group. She studied English Language at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. She briefly took singing lessons at the insistence of her father but failed to complete.[2] At college, Yu took part in a national singing competition for college students and defeated Li Yuchun to take the gold award.[3]
Career
editAfter her graduation, Yu worked in a company for a few months before leaving to become a singer at the famous Lianhua fudi music bar.[1] During that time and before the 2009 Super Girl, She recorded several original songs and released three cover albums.[4]
In 2005 Yu auditioned, and failed, for the Chengdu Super Girl competition. The following year she auditioned again, only to fail once more. Not content with the result, she traveled to Guangzhou to enter the local competition, where she reached the last 20 before being eliminated. Her third try, in 2009, finally landed her among the winners at Chengdu to qualify to the national Super Girl.[1] There she won the first game of the top ten to feature on the cover of Elle magazine and in the Cover Girls compilation album released by the competition.[5] Then she was able to reach the top four before being eliminated.[6]
Soon after the competition ended, Yu was invited to record the theme song for The King of Milu Deer, China's first 3D animated film.[7] Then she became the first of her Super Girl peers to be selected by a label, when she signed with Rock Records on 8 December 2009. The Taiwanese label immediately announced that they have assembled a team of top producers to work on her first original album.[8] That album was released in May 2010, titled Blue Shorts.[9] In the latter part of the year she featured on the OST of the hit Taiwanese drama The Fierce Wife, and took part in a series of concerts to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Rock Records.[10]
In 2011 Yu was nominated for the 22nd Golden Melody Award in the "Best New Artist" category. That caused controversy however, as she had cover albums released in mainland China before 2010, which would make her ineligible for the "new artist" category if they were released in Taiwan.[4][11] She was eventually disqualified.[12] In a statement, she respected the decision of the judge panels and said: "I would like to thank the Golden Melody Awards for the recognition the judges have given me. Although I was disqualified, it has inspired me to work harder in the future."[13]
Yu's second album, Wei Jia Xing Fu (meaning "add a little happiness"), was released in June 2011.[14] She continued the collaboration with big names in Taiwanese music. The most prominent was famous rocker Wu Bai.[15][16] Several songs from this album were featured on the sound track of yet another popular drama, Office Girls.
The summer of 2012 saw the release of a third album, Lost Love.[17] One of the songs (幸福難不難/"Happiness is hard") was also the theme song for the movie version of The Fierce Wife, which was released around the same time. In 2020, she participated in Sisters Who Make Waves.
Discography
edit| Album # | Title | Released date | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Blue Shorts (蓝短裤) | 5 May 2010 | Rock Records Pte Ltd |
| 2nd | Add a Little Happiness (微加幸福) | 30 June 2011 | Rock Records Pte Ltd |
| 3rd | Lost Love (失恋事小) | 23 July 2012 | Rock Records Pte Ltd |
| 4th | Warm Water (温水) | 25 June 2014 | Rock Records Pte Ltd |
| 5th | 00:00 | 27 December 2016 | Rock Records Pte Ltd |
| 6th | Walking by the World (路過人間) | 10 May 2019 | HIM International Music Inc. |
| 7th | Dear Life | 24 August 2022 | HIM International Music Inc. |
Movie/drama soundtracks
edit| Year | Title | Movie/Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "Time Boils the Rain" (时间煮雨) | Tiny Times |
| 2016 | "To Ask the Moon" (问明月)[18] | Legend of Nine Tails Fox |
Cover albums
editFirst two albums were released under her real name, Yu Ying Xia (郁英霞).
| Album # | Title | Released date | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Paramount (百乐门) | 7 April 2008 | Shenzhen Co. |
| 2nd | Cabaret (茴香小酒馆) (a.k.a. Fennel Bistro) |
19 September 2008 | Shenzhen Co. |
| 3rd | So Charmed Yu's Sound! (郁音绕梁) | 3 September 2009 | Guangdong Audio-Visual Press |
Awards
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nomination | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Music Radio China Top Chart Awards (Music Radio中国TOP排行榜) |
Best New Artist – Mainland | Yu Kewei | [19] |
| 2010 | Sina Music 2010 Year Review (新浪音乐2010年度盘点) |
Newcomer of the Year – Mainland | Yu Kewei | [20] |
| 2010 | Sina Music 2010 Year Review (新浪音乐2010年度盘点) |
Most promising album – Mainland | Blue Shorts | [21] |
| 2011 | Hunan TV – Baidu Entertainment Boiling Point (湖南卫视 百度娱乐沸点) |
Hottest Mainland Newcomer | Yu Kewei | |
| 2012 | 3rd MY Astro Music Awards (MY Astro至尊流行榜颁奖典礼) |
Best breakthrough international female singer | Yisa Yu | |
| 2012 | 3rd MY Astro Music Awards (MY Astro至尊流行榜颁奖典礼) |
Best original song for TV | Hope (from The Fierce Wife) | |
| 2012 | Global Chinese Music Awards (全球華語歌曲排行榜) |
Top 20 Hit of the Year | Hao Peng You Zhi Shi Peng You | [22] |
| 2012 | 2012 TVB8 Golden Music Awards (2012年TVB8金曲榜頒獎典禮) |
Top Ten Golden Melodies | Shi Lian Shi Xiao | [23] |
| 2012 | 20th China Music Awards (中歌榜) |
Songs of the Year | Shi Lian Shi Xiao | [24] |
References
edit- ^ a b c "HD video online viewing - MangoTV" 重庆晨报:郁可唯：这是第三次参加快女了 (in Chinese). Hunan TV. Archived from the original on 1 August 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ^ "Mandopop singer Yisa Yu Kewei's 'Tiger Dad'". AsiaOne news. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ^ "HD video online viewing - MangoTV" 踮起脚尖回首青葱 ——“快女”10强校园觅踪 (in Chinese). Hunan TV. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ^ a b "Controversy over Yisa Yu's GMA nomination". CpopAccess.com. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
- ^ "HD video online viewing - MangoTV" “快女”结束首场十强赛 郁可唯成封面女声 (in Chinese). Hunan TV. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- ^ "HD video online viewing - MangoTV" 2009“快乐女声”全国3强诞生 郁可唯遗憾止步 (in Chinese). Hunan TV. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- ^ 郁可唯献声《麋鹿王》 出道首单挑战国际水准 (in Chinese). Sina Corp. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ^ "Yu Kewei signs up with Rock Records". China.org.cn. Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ^ 十大音乐人联手打造 郁可唯《蓝短裤》正式发行 (in Chinese). Tencent Entertainment. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ 中国联通携手滚石30周年演唱会献唱广州 (in Chinese). ccdy.cn (Chinese Culture Media Network). Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
- ^ "Golden Melody Awards Nominations Faces More Controversy". jpopasia.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
- ^ "Yisa Yu disqualified for Golden Melody Awards". CpopAccess.com. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- ^ "Yisa Yu Responds To Disqualification From Golden Melody Awards". jpopasia.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
- ^ 郁可唯新专辑《微加幸福》今起预购 30日发行 (in Chinese). Netease Entertainment. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ "郁可唯化身时尚摩登女郎与伍佰演绎新歌MV". China Daily (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ "Bobby Chen made her cry twice (Yu Kewei Pt 1)". Razor TV interview. Razor TV. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- ^ "HD video online viewing - MangoTV" 郁可唯新专辑预购海报曝光 7月25日预购起跑 (in Chinese). Hunan TV. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ "《青丘狐传说》主题曲MV 郁可唯献声《问明月》-搜狐娱乐". yule.sohu.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ^ "'Super Girls' Top Music Radio Awards". crienglish.com. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
- ^ 2010内地乐坛年度人物：王菲秒杀一切浮云 (in Chinese). Sina Corp. Archived from the original on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
- ^ 2010年度华语唱片十宗“最” (in Chinese). Sina Corp. Archived from the original on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
- ^ "Global Chinese Music Awards 2012 Winners List unveiled". xinmsn. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
- ^ "2012 TVB8 Golden Music Awards: Raymond Lam and Joey Yung Sweep Awards". jaynestars.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ "Winners And Performances From The 20th 'China Music Awards' In Taipei". 24-7kpop.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.