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{{Short description|Chinese female singer}} | |||
{{POV-date|July 2006}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} | |||
{{Infobox |
{{Infobox officeholder | ||
| |
| name = Wei Wei | ||
| alma_mater = ] | |||
|Img = WeiWeiSthlmWiki.jpg | |||
| termstart1 = 2005 | |||
|Img_capt = Wei Wei performing in Stockholm | |||
| 1namedata1 = ] | |||
|Background = solo vocalist | |||
| 1blankname1 = President | |||
|Birth_name = Zhang Juxia Wei | |||
| office1 = Standing Committee Member of the ] | |||
|Present_name = Wei Wei | |||
| residence = Beijing | |||
|Origin = Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China | |||
| citizenship = {{flagicon|China}} People's Republic of China | |||
|Genre = ], ballads, ] | |||
| children = Symington W. Smith, Remington W. Smith, Vinson W. Smith | |||
|Occupation: Singer, songwriter, actress | |||
| nationality = Chinese | |||
|Years_active = (1973) 1986—present | |||
| birth_place = ], Inner Mongolia, China | |||
|Label = Wei Wei Music (Independent) | |||
| native_name = {{nobold|韦唯}} | |||
|URL = | |||
| spouse = ] (1995–2004) | |||
| awards = 24th ] Winner & Miss Photo Category Winner (1987) <br> Honorary Doctorate, ] (2009) <br> Golden Phoenix Award (2008) <br> 1st Level National Professional Qualification Certificate (1986) | |||
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1963|9|28}} | |||
| 1blankname = Chairperson | |||
| 1namedata = | |||
| occupation = Singer, ], professor | |||
| native_name_lang = zh-Hans-CN | |||
| termend1 = 2010 | |||
| office2 = Ambassador of the ] | |||
| 1blankname2 = President | |||
| 1namedata2 = ] | |||
| termstart2 = 2008 | |||
| termend2 = 2009 | |||
| 2blankname1 = Vice President | |||
| 2namedata1 = ] | |||
| office3 = Ambassador of Forestry of the ] | |||
| term3 = 2009–2010 | |||
| 2namedata3 = ] | |||
| 2blankname3 = Minister | |||
| profession = | |||
| image = | |||
| caption = | |||
| honorific_prefix = ] | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{family name hatnote|]|lang=Chinese}} | |||
'''Wei Wei''' ({{zh|s=韦唯|t=韋唯|p=Wéi Wéi}}; born 28 September 1963) is a Chinese ] singer, actress, philanthropist and professor. Nicknamed "The Empress of Pop",<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 19, 2012 |title=韦唯 |trans-title=Wei Wei |url=https://m.mnr.gov.cn/zt/hd/hyr/sjhyrjqghyxcr/sjhyrjqghyxcrhygyxxds/201808/t20180802_2158364.html |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China |language=Chinese |quote=著名歌手韦唯从14岁出道演艺界和歌坛,先是靠一首《爱的奉献》唱红了全国,再是以《亚洲雄风》唱红了半个世界。接下来是铺天盖地的邀约和荣誉,使她成为中国流行歌坛上天后级的重磅人物。}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2023 |title=4大歌坛天后现状:张惠妹,韦唯 |trans-title=The Four Empresses of Song: Zhang Huimei, Wei Wei |url=https://www.sydneytoday.com/content-1023472659323011 |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Sydney Today |language=Chinese}}</ref> she has been widely recognized for her artistry and vocal performances. She has been regarded as one of the greatest Chinese entertainers of her generation, and her contributions to music and visual media have made her a prominent and influential Chinese pop culture figure during the 1990's and early 2000s. | |||
Wei started performing in various state-sponsored singing and dancing competitions as a child, singing state-sanctioned revolutionary music. Her breakthrough came alongside the ] in 1986 when she won both the National Young Singers contest in China, and the 24th ] in Poland. Four years later, she performed a duet with Spanish singer ] at the ] in Shanghai. | |||
'''Wei Wei''' (韦唯) is a ] pop singer, song writer and actress. She was born in ], ] and grew up in ],]. | |||
After a career in China spanning twenty years Wei Wei is said to be the country's greatest singer in modern times.{{fact}} By the media Wei Wei has been named “China’s Whitney Huston”, “China’s Madonna” and “China’s Celine”, amongst others. According to estimates her music has been distributed through more than 200 million cassettes and CD’s in China , which makes her one of the greatest selling single artists in the world. She sings in Mandarin and English and she is one of the most requested artists for big events and television shows in the country, as well as for Chinese events abroad. She is also requested as an ambassador for China at international events. | |||
Wei Wei has been an Olympic Ambassador for China since 1993 when the Chinese Olympic Committee for the first time applied for the games. She is supporting the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics by performing at the major Olympic events in China and abroad. Wei Wei was the single representative for Asia at the 100 years anniversary show at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA 1996. | |||
This year (2006) Wei Wei celebrates 20 years on stage. The anniversary is highlighted by the production of new recordings of her 20 greatest hits – The Wei Wei 20X20 Celebration Collection. The recordings are being produced in Stockholm, London and | |||
Los Angeles. | |||
Her breakthrough came in ], when she won the National Young Singers contest on ] television. The year after in 1987 China sent a representative to an international pop competition for the first time ever: The 24th Poland Sopot International Song Festival. She won the competition, and the "Miss Photo-category” as well, which brought her even more attention. Four years later, she was chosen to perform at the 11th ] in ], and sang a duet with Spanish singer ] at the ] East Asian Games in ]. | |||
Since 1999 she has been living in Sweden. | |||
==Biography== | |||
===Early life=== | |||
Wei Wei was born in ], ] Her father was employed by China Central Railway. While in ], she practiced different instruments, classical ballet and singing and was trained to perform in front of large audiences from the age of four. Aged seven, Wei Wei’s family moved to ] in ] province. At the age of 14 Wei Wei moved to ] by herself and started to work for one of China’s largest performance units: the ]. As a young unit member she participated in all kinds of performances as well as the activities around them – dancing, singing, playing instruments, choreography, stage design, lights etc. The unit traveled all over the country, often doing several live performances in one day. | |||
===1986–1987 The breakthrough=== | |||
'''1986''' | |||
Wei Wei won the National Young Singers contest on Chinese television with the song “Want to take one more chance to look at you”. | |||
'''1987''' | |||
Representing China in the nation’s first participation in an international pop competition: The 24th Sopot International Music Festival in Poland. She participated and won with her song. | |||
===1988–1992 The rising stardom=== | |||
'''1988''' | |||
Star of the night with the theme song for CCTV’s Chinese New Year’s Eve Show "Gathering the Year of the Dragon." The song was also presented at CCTV’s Spring Festival Live Show. | |||
Obtained a special award for the hit song “Enamored pursue” at the Mysamy International Music Festival. | |||
The hit “Same song” won the gold medal in the Beijing International Song Festival. | |||
'''1989''' | |||
Her song “Dedication of love” became a national hit she became the symbol for charity fund raising activities. Wei Wei was crowned “The Icon of Love” by Chinese media. | |||
The song “Today is your birthday” won the gold medal at Jian Brand Cup and Beijing Radio Song Competition. It has since been used as the theme song for the national day. | |||
'''1990''' | |||
The song “Asian Mighty Winds” was introduced at the Asian Games and immediately became a national hit. Wei Wei was dubbed “Queen of Sports” in Chinese media and has since been considered the Icon of Sports Music. | |||
'''1991''' | |||
Initiated and staged a charity fundraising show in China for saving victims of flooded areas in Eastern China. Her song “Our shared homeland” crowned the event. It became a hit and the show was the most successful fundraising event of the year. | |||
Starring in the movie “The Diva's story” which, during it’s time, was considered China’s most popular music film. | |||
'''1992''' | |||
Warmly welcomed in the South Pacific as she made a special performance at the “Miss Asia Competition Show” in Hong Kong. | |||
Lead singer in the fist concert tour in American major cities arranged by the China Central Song and Dance Group. | |||
===1993–1996 The international boost=== | |||
'''1993''' | |||
Lead singer at the East Asian Games opening and closing ceremony together with Spanish singer and star Julio Iglesias. | |||
Representing China for the Beijing Summer Olympic bidding campaign in Monaco. | |||
Lead singer at the Asian Games opening show in Hiroshima. | |||
'''1994''' | |||
Star of the night at the “Chinese New Years Show” in Carnegie Hall, New York, broadcasted by CCTV. | |||
The song “Wind coming from the East” became a hit at a show in Shanghai Oriental TV. The song is since the TV-station’s theme song. | |||
Released the first English album in China: The Twilight. | |||
'''1995''' | |||
Concert tour "Wei Wei and the World" in major cities on mainland China: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Kunming amongst others. | |||
'''1996''' | |||
Representing Asia at the centennial anniversary of the Olympic Games in Atlanta. Portrayed in a CNN 15-minute special as the only Asian representative for the Olympic anniversary shows; one show for each Olympic ring and continent. Performed in front of 60,000 people in the audience at the Olympic Park in Atlanta. | |||
Participated in the new Beijing Capital Stadium Opening Show | |||
===1997–2002 The national icon=== | |||
'''1997''' | |||
Main performer at The Night of Hong Kong Return to China; A live show held at Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The new song “Broad highway” became a national hit and is since then considered a “national pop song.” | |||
'''1998''' | |||
Star of the evening with the song “Dedication of love” at this year’s largest charity fundraising show for the victims of the flooded Yangtze River. The show was held in the People's Hall in Beijing, with stars from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Tai Wan. Broadcasted by CCTV. | |||
Lead singer at several national galas for the celebration of China’s 50th anniversary. | |||
'''1999''' | |||
Compilation album “Wei Wei’s Devotion” named the most popular pop album in China. | |||
Concert at American Ceasar’s Palace in Paris. | |||
'''2000''' | |||
Member of the Chinese Olympic Committee and representing China in the bidding campaign for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics. | |||
Lead singer at a live show together with Sydney Opera and Shanghai Opera. | |||
'''2001''' | |||
Ambassador at charity fundraising concerts for the victims in Sri Lanka. | |||
'''2002''' | |||
Star of the night at China’s New Year’s galas on CCTV Beijing. | |||
===2003–2005 The New Wei=== | |||
'''2003''' | |||
Special invited artist at galas arranged in Beijing in the honor of healthcare staff after the Sars-epidemic. | |||
Initiating an international management company Wei Wei International Management in Stockholm for the purpose of developing her international career - weiweiint.com. | |||
'''2004''' | |||
Release of the new Western produced songs All there is and Where we are. Launching of a new photo book. | |||
Main performer at several major Olympic events: Celebration as the Chinese Olympic medalists were welcomed home from the Olympic Games in Athens, Olympic Cooperation Show in Hong Kong, the presentation of the Beijing 2008 logo, the symbolic construction start of the new Olympic Stadium in Beijing. | |||
Voted “The most requested opening singer at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics”, on an internet survey. | |||
Lead singer at the opening ceremony show for the Formula 1 Racetrack in Shanghai. | |||
'''2005''' | |||
Star of the largest New Year’s celebration show in China, with a song of praise dedicated to China and the rest of the world. The show was broadcasted to several hundreds of millions of television viewers in China and internationally. | |||
Lead singer at several Olympic Shows, the launch of the Olympic Games mascots and the countdown from 1000 days. Opening artist at the opening ceremony of the 10th China National Games – considered a "dress rehearsal" for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. At the show for the international unveiling of China's Olympic slogan: "One World – One Dream” Wei Wei performed Andrew Lloyd Webber's song Love Changes Everything. | |||
Named one of “Top Ten Heroic Women in China.” Nomination and selection were made by Unesco Beijing, Peking University, China Youth Daily, China Reform Daily, CETV, Sohu.com and Macau STV. | |||
===2006–2007 Celebrating 20 years on stage=== | |||
'''2006''' | |||
Wei Wei celebrates 20 years on stage. The anniversary is highlighted by the release of twenty new recordings of her 20 greatest hits. The first one, a medley that consists of parts of her five greatest hits, was launched on May 8: The 20X20 Dance Loop. | |||
Wei Wei released worldwide on digital download distributor iTunes Music Store. | |||
Released the new official site – www.weiweimusic.com | |||
International tour for the celebration of the Chinese New Year: Los Angeles, Vienna, Toronto and Barcelona. Star of the evening at the Olympic Show held in Toronto. | |||
Jury member in China’s largest song competition: “The National Young Singers Grand Award.” | |||
Performing with her new theme song One World One Dream at an Olympic Show at the Great Wall and the same evening in a Beijing performance together with Olympic athletes. | |||
==SONGS AND MUSIC== | |||
===Singer and training=== | |||
Wei Wei had a classical training since early age in kindergarten. | |||
She has recorded more than one thousands songs, performed several thousands of times, and she regularly performs in front of massive audiences, both live and on television. | |||
She has made film music and also acted in the movie "The Singer’s Story" which, during it’s time, was considered China’s most popular music film. | |||
===Song list=== | |||
Songs in mandarin (names translated to English) from three of her latest records: | |||
Dedication of love | |||
Asian wind | |||
The red flower | |||
Tears of a lover | |||
Love song to the moon | |||
Understanding | |||
Looking at you | |||
You are the one | |||
Woman like a bird | |||
True feelings | |||
A soft world | |||
The same homeland | |||
Today is your birthday | |||
The lolo song | |||
True love | |||
Searching for love | |||
Telling to the spring | |||
The same song | |||
Welcome to Beijing | |||
This wonderful world | |||
Common holiday | |||
Good luck to you | |||
Sparkling sky | |||
Love for Chishui | |||
Green snares of love | |||
Look up at the sparkling sky | |||
Thanks | |||
I believe in China | |||
'''Songs in English:''' | |||
All there is / Multiplay | |||
Where we are /Multiplay | |||
Love Changes Everything / Andrew Lloyd Webber | |||
If you believe / Peter Jöback/Anders Bagge | |||
A completed list of songs will be published within shortly. It is now (August 2006) being translated from Chinese to English./weiweimusic | |||
===Western influences=== | |||
Wei Wei was in early age influenced by western music. With friends she secretly listened to forbidden radio stations from the west. The Swedish group ] is an example of what inspired Wei Wei to become a pop singer and to learn English. | |||
Wei Wei has an international career and has performed with several western artists. Since 2003 she produces new music in studios in Stockholm, London and Los Angeles and her new music is produced by western teams. | |||
All there is / Multiplay Music – Vinny Vero, Peter Malmrup, Andreas Hedlund, Erik Nova | |||
Where we are / Multiplay Music – ], Brian Hobbs, Andreas Aleman, Anderas Hedlund, Erik Nova | |||
"Love Changes Everything" / ] | |||
If you believe (Duet with Peter Jöback) / Murlin Music – ] | |||
The Dance loop / Eclectic – Johan Åberg | |||
:- Broad Highway | |||
:- It’s all different | |||
:- Asian Wind | |||
:- The lolo song | |||
:- Welcome to Beijing | |||
==OLYMPICS== | |||
===Olympic ambassador=== | |||
Wei Wei is the musical Olympic Ambassador of China since 1993. She has been representing and supporting the Chinese Olympic Committee in their work to obtain the Olympic Games in Beijing. After winning the games that day in Moscow July 13 2001, Wei Wei has performed as leading star at most of the shows held to celebrate the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics. | |||
'''1993''' | |||
Olympic Application Campaign. Monaco | |||
'''1996''' | |||
Olympic 100 years celebration Show. Atlanta, USA | |||
'''2000''' | |||
Olympic Application Campaign. Moscow, Russia | |||
'''2004''' | |||
Launch of Olympic Logo. Beijing, China | |||
Start Building Olympic Stadium “The Bird nest”. Beijing, China | |||
Olympic Investment Meeting Hong Kong-Mainland. Hong Kong | |||
Athén Olympic Medalist Celebration Show. Beijing, China | |||
Olympic Song Program Show. Beijing, China | |||
Olympic Sports Film Festival. Beijing, China | |||
'''2005''' | |||
Launch Olympic Slogan “One World One Dream”. Beijing, China | |||
Olympic “dress rehearsal” Opening 10th National Game. Nanjing, China | |||
Launch of Olympic Mascots. Beijing, China | |||
1000 Days Countdown Show. Beijing, China | |||
'''2006''' | |||
Olympic Celebration Show. Toronto, Canada | |||
Great Wall Olympic Show. Great Wall, China | |||
Olympic Athletes Celebration Show. Beijing, China | |||
Olympic Sailing City Opening Ceremony. Qingdao, China | |||
Two Years Countdown Show. Beijing, China | |||
See pictures of the | |||
===The two year countdown=== | |||
Wei Wei’s role as Olympic Ambassador is expected to accelerate as the preparations for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are getting more intense. Wei Wei is a member of the Chinese Olympic Committee and is working closely together with the different groups arranging the ceremonies and events for the Olympics. | |||
Wei Wei is expected to be the singer of the Official Olympic Song at the opening ceremony. | |||
==CHARITY== | |||
===The good cause=== | |||
Largely associated with sports culture and the Olympics, Wei has been an Olympic Cultural Ambassador for China since 1993, a role she assumed when the ] submitted its initial application to host the Olympic Games. Wei was the sole cultural representative for Asia at the ],<ref name=":1" /> and has performed at several major events, including the opening ceremony of ],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/dfpd/expo2010/2010-05/01/content_9800795.htm|title=上海世博会举行开园仪式|website=China Daily|access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref> the closing ceremony of the ],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.circleid.com/posts/wei_wei_first_music_downloads_mobile/|title=Pop Superstar Wei Wei is First to Make Music Downloads Available Directly to Consumers via .mobi Web|website=circleid.com|access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=韦唯:2008,"雄风"再起(全球知名华人寄语北京奥运)|url=http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrbhwb/html/2007-09/07/content_19120274.htm|date=2007|website=People's Daily|publisher=]|access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref> and the opening and closing ceremonies of the ] of China.<ref>{{Cite web|title=中华之光 让时代为我们喝彩--全运会会歌回顾_综合体育_新浪竞技风暴_新浪网|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/o/2011-06-07/09465609515.shtml|website=Sina News|publisher=]|access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref> | |||
Wei Wei is one of the country’s foremost personalities supporting money fundraising activities. She is a member of several organizations and can regularly be seen on | |||
charity events and TV shows – as a performer as well as a VIP-guest. | |||
Wei's songs have been used as the official theme songs for many major sporting events in China. Her single "I Want to Fly" was chosen by the Chinese Olympic Committee as the official theme song for the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=韦唯受聘青岛环球形象大使,奥帆赛宣传歌曲首发 |url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/o/2007-03-25/10072824532.shtml |access-date=6 February 2020 |website=Sina News |publisher=] |language=zh}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=韦唯受聘青岛环球形象大使,奥帆赛宣传歌曲首发 |url=http://2008.sohu.com/20070325/n248952984.shtml |access-date=6 February 2020 |website=Sohu News |publisher=] |language=zh}}</ref> In 2007, The ] recognized Wei's contributions to Chinese sports culture by designating her the "Queen of Sports".<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Go Girl Go – All China Women's Federation |url=http://www.womenofchina.cn/womenofchina/html1/news/sports/9/31-1.htm |access-date=29 April 2020 |website=Women of China |publisher=All-China Women's Association}}</ref> | |||
Some examples: | |||
Having sold an estimated 100-200 million records worldwide,<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":10" /> Wei is one of Asia's best-selling recording artists. Considered a "national treasure" in China,<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":14" /> Wei is the first ] pop singer to have competed abroad representing the ],<ref name=":0" /> the first ] ethnic minority artist to represent China internationally, the first woman to be selected as China's Olympic Cultural Ambassador, and one of China's earliest artists to use the internet for the digital release of music.<ref name=":15" /> The ] dress designed for Wei by ] for the '08 Olympics is on permanent display at the ] in Sweden.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Evening gown, Lars Wallin for the artist Wei Wei, 2008 |url=https://kulturpunkt.org/article/4877/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=KulturPunkt |language=nb |quote=Wei Wei ordered the dress from fashion designer Lars Wallin for her appearances at major venues and television galas prior to the Olympic Games in Beijing. The ‘Guldknappen’ design, described below, was proposed – but in bright colours like cerise and orange. A pair of tall orange leather boots were custom-made for the look (not in Nordiska museet’s collections).}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014 |title=Klänning av Lars Wallin i rosa tyll, inv nr NM.0331120 märkt "Larsa Wallin Couture" |trans-title=Dress by Lars Wallin in pink tulle, inv. no. NM.0331120 marked "Larsa Wallin Couture" |url=https://digitaltmuseum.se/011013853923/klanning-av-lars-wallin-i-rosa-tyll-inv-nr-nm-0331120-markt-lars-wallin |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=Nordic Museum |language=Swedish}}</ref> | |||
'''1989''' | |||
==Early life== | |||
Her song “Dedication of love” became a national hit she became the symbol for charity fund raising activities. Wei Wei was crowned “The Icon of Love” by Chinese media. | |||
Wei was born to a ] family in ], Inner Mongolia to Zhang Yu, a ] veteran and railway official, and Wei Xiuqun. While in kindergarten, she began practicing the ]. When she was 7 years old, her family moved to ] in Guangxi, and at the age of 14, she moved to Beijing and started to work for the China National Song & Dance Ensemble.<ref>{{Cite book|last=唐似亮|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-1DWDwAAQBAJ&q=%E9%9F%A6%E5%94%AF%E4%B8%AD%E5%A4%AE%E6%AD%8C%E8%88%9E%E5%9B%A2&pg=PT26|title=月亮天上走|date=1 October 2012|publisher=Beijing Book Co. Inc.|isbn=978-7-5482-1291-1|language=zh}}</ref> As a young unit member her education included dancing, singing, playing instruments, choreography, stage design, and lighting. The unit traveled throughout China, often doing several live performances in one day. She finished her education at the ] in Beijing, China.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
== Career == | |||
'''1991''' | |||
===1986–1987: Breakthrough and National Qualification=== | |||
Initiated and staged a charity fundraising show in China for saving victims of flooded areas in Eastern China. Her song “Our shared homeland” crowned the event. It became a hit and the show was the most successful fundraising event of the year. | |||
In 1986, Wei won the National Young Singers contest on Chinese television with the song ''Wanna Take One More Chance to Look at You''.<ref name=":0" /> In 1987, she won the ] in Poland as China's first representative to an international pop competition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rozpoznajemy.pl/lata-70-80-90/piosenka-z-sopot-festival-1987/i142494|title=Piosenka z Sopot Festival 1987 – Lata 70' / 80' / 90'|website=Rozpoznajemy.pl|language=pl|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://retro.pewex.pl/478895|title=Wei Wei – Kocham cię życie (Sopot '87)|website=retro.pewex.pl|language=pl|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livexlive.com/artist/wei-wei|title=Wei Wei – LiveXLive – Premium Live Music|last=Inc|first=LiveXLive|website=LiveXLive|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> In 1986 at the age of she was awarded a ''"2nd Level National Performer Professional Qualification Certificate"'' by the ]. A year after, the ministry awarded her with a ''"1st Level National Performer Professional Qualification Certificate"'', the highest professional qualification of her field in China, equal to a ], and which enabled her to teach at professor level in music academies in China.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=42WIRdipNsEC&q=%E9%9F%A6%E5%94%AF+%E5%9B%BD%E5%AE%B6%E4%B8%80%E7%BA%A7%E6%BC%94%E5%91%98&pg=PA18-IA66|title=精神损害赔偿案件|date=2005|publisher=中国法制出版社|isbn=978-7-80182-634-3|language=zh}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title="国家一级演员"韦唯,远嫁国外连生三子却不幸遭家暴,简直手段残忍 - 娱乐资讯(存满娱乐网)|url=http://www.cunman.com/new/c25c2d7d469d4fa2aeafe70e7ac82730|website=Cunman Entertainment|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> | |||
'''1998''' | |||
===1988–1992: ''Dedication of Love'' and Rise to Stardom=== | |||
Star of the evening with the song “Dedication of love” at this year’s largest charity fundraising show for the victims of the flooded Yangtze River. The show was held in the People's Hall in Beijing, with stars from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Tai Wan. Broadcasted by CCTV. | |||
In 1988, Wei sang the theme song for China Central Television's ], ''Gathering of the Year of the Dragon.'' In 1989, her rendition of the Chinese song ''Dedication of Love -'' a performance credited with truly starting her career<ref name=":7">{{Cite book|last1=Turner|first1=Graeme|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7a1Ao1usX3wC&q=dedication+of+love+song+chinese+wei+wei&pg=PA100|title=Television Studies After TV: Understanding Television in the Post-Broadcast Era|last2=Tay|first2=Jinna|date=27 March 2009|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-134-02167-3|language=en}}</ref>– became a national hit in China,<ref>{{Cite book|last=周文主|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uc1eDwAAQBAJ&q=1995+%E9%9F%A6%E5%94%AF%E6%BC%94%E5%94%B1%E4%BC%9A&pg=PT278|title=电视艺术概论|date=1 December 2017|publisher=Beijing Book Co. Inc.|isbn=978-7-5657-2153-3|language=zh}}</ref> and she became a symbol for charity and fund-raising activities as her performance had raised enough funds to help a rural ] from ] to recover from spinal surgery.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sun|first=Wanning|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qFWFBfZU-McC&q=dedication+of+love+song+chinese&pg=PA55|title=Maid in China: Media, Morality, and the Cultural Politics of Boundaries|date=21 January 2009|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-134-16482-0|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> In the same year, her song ''Today is Your Birthday'' won the Gold Medal at the Jian Brand Cup and Beijing Radio Song Competition, and has since been used as a theme song to celebrate China's National Day.<ref>{{Cite web|title=《爱的奉献》作者黄奇石、刘诗召回忆当年创作|url=http://ent.163.com/09/0909/17/5IPM4BFR00033JI6.html|date=9 September 2009|website=NetEase Entertainment|publisher=]|language=zh|access-date=6 February 2020}}</ref> In 1990, her new single ''Asian Mighty Winds'' was selected as the theme of the ], and she performed it alongside Chinese singer ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=历届亚运会主题曲精萃 《亚洲雄风》脍炙人口,综合体育|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/o/2008-11-01/01524044171.shtml|website=Sina Sports|publisher=]|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> The song quickly became another national hit, and Wei was dubbed the "Queen of Sports" by the Provincial Government of ], Liuzhou.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://liuzhou.gov.cn/zjlz/mllz/qjlz/201408/t20140829_681018.html|title=体育歌后—韦唯-全景柳州-广西柳州市人民政府门户网站|website=liuzhou.gov.cn|access-date=6 February 2020}}</ref> That same year, she starred in the film ''The Story of A Songstress'' alongside Chinese actor ] and ];<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dy.163.com/v2/article/detail/EG1MAK3405452KS0.html|title=韦唯张国立主演,女歌星的故事,姜黎黎徐敏参与演出_网易订阅|website=dy.163.com|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://movie.douban.com/subject/4294261/|title=女歌星的故事 (豆瓣)|website=movie.douban.com|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> and performed at the '']'' show in Hong Kong in 1992, also becoming the lead singer in the first concert tour in American major cities arranged by the China Central Song and Dance Group. | |||
'''2001''' | |||
===1993–2000: Carnegie Hall and International Recognition=== | |||
Ambassador at charity fundraising concerts for the victims in Sri Lanka. | |||
]]] | |||
In 1993, Wei was the lead singer at the ] opening and closing ceremonies together with Spanish singer ].<ref>''The International Who's Who 2004'' (2003). Pg. 1785. Europa Publications.</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Publications|first=Europa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=neKm1X6YPY0C|title=The International Who's Who 2004|date=2003|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-1-85743-217-6|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Bell|first=Daniel|title=Encyclopedia of International Games|publisher=McFarland and Company, Inc. Publishers|year=2003|isbn=0-7864-1026-4|location=Jefferson, North Carolina}}</ref> She then performed her single ''Asian Mighty Winds'' again at the ] opening show in ], Japan, and the lyrics of her songs became the subject of academic discourse and analysis in Japan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ir.lib.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/files/public/4/46784/20190117111854788526/BullGradSchEducHU-Part2_67_181.pdf|title=A Contrastive Analysis of Feminine Images in Japanese and Chinese Pop Song Lyrics: During 1990s and 2000s|last=Zhou|first=Mi|date=4 October 2018|publisher=Hiroshima University}}</ref> Later that year, Wei was one of only two singers chosen to join a 200-member Olympic delegation visiting ] to campaign for the Beijing Summer Olympic Games bid.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title="人民喜爱的60位艺术家"评选候选人—韦唯--娱乐--人民网|url=http://ent.people.com.cn/GB/80644/9875757.html|website=People's Daily|publisher=]|access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Chen |first=Ping |date=October 1, 1993 |title=New CD Sound |pages=7 |work=]}}</ref> A year after, in 1994, she was named Star of the Night after her performance of her hit single ''Dedication of Love'' at the ] in ], New York.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/0128/c70731-24248716.html|title=韦唯:音乐之外的都能放下--时政--人民网|website=People's Daily|access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref> In the same year, the song ''Wind Coming From the East'' became a hit at a show in Shanghai Oriental TV, and subsequently became the TV station's theme song. Her first English album was released, titled ''The Twilight''. | |||
After her performance at Carnegie Hall, she started her concert tour "Wei Wei and the World", which included visits and performances in the major cities in Mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, ], and ]. | |||
'''2003''' | |||
], ] and ] of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games confirmed Wei as Asia's sole cultural representative to the Olympics after meeting in 1996.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |last=DeVault |first=Russ |date=March 30, 1995 |title=Chinese Star, Olympic Boss Meet |work=] |publication-place=Atlanta}}</ref> Wei performed in front a 60,000 crowd alongside ], ],<ref name=":10" /> ], ] as a Cultural Olympiad performer at ] in ] in 1996.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Ben |date=March 23, 1995 |title=Let the Olympic arts extravaganza begin |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hqgj/2008-08/28/content_6978561.htm|title=韦唯做客中国日报网:用音乐感动体育|website=China Daily|access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.china.com.cn/sports/2012/2012-07/23/content_25988120.htm|title=第二十六届奥林匹克运动会概况,中国网|website=china.com.cn|access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref> For being Asia's sole cultural representative to the games, Wei was interviewed in a ] fifteen-minute special. The year after in 1997, Wei entered into a one-year endorsement agreement with American hair care company Nioxin, becoming its product ambassador in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.<ref>Performer Endorsement Agreement with Wei Wei, Nioxin Research Laboratories, Inc. 1997.</ref> In 1999, Wei's ] ''Wei Wei's Devotion'' was the most popular pop music album in China,<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=The biggest pop stars you've never heard of|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2008/jun/14/theworldsbiggeststars|last=Thomson|first=Graeme|date=14 June 2008|work=]|access-date=8 February 2020}}</ref> and she held a concert at Caesar's Palace in Paris, France to further promote the album. In 2000, she joined the ] and represented the People's Republic of China in campaigning for the ], and performing with the ] and ].<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=中国驻悉尼总领事与悉尼华人华侨共度"电影时光"|url=http://www.gov.cn/gzdt/2006-06/13/content_308364.htm|website=State Council of the People's Republic of China Official Webpage|publisher=]|access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref> Her rendition of ''The Same Song'' won her a Golden Phoenix Prize at the 6th China Music Television Competition.<ref>{{Cite web|title=第七届金鹰节_网易娱乐|url=http://ent.163.com/special/00032TUJ/08jyj.html|website=NetEase Entertainment|publisher=]|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> | |||
Special invited artist at two galas arranged in Beijing in the honor of healthcare staff after the Sars-epidemic. | |||
===2000–2014: ''Go, Girl Go!,'' The 2008 Beijing Olympics & I Am A Singer=== | |||
Wei Wei speaks – the audience cries. That was the headline in Beijing Evening News the day after the large outdoor performance in Chao Yang Park arranged by the Ministry of Health for all the staff at all the Beijing Hospitals. | |||
In 2003, Wei was invited as a special guest at galas arranged in Beijing in the honor of healthcare staff after the SARS epidemic, and initiated an international management company, ''Wei Wei International Management'', in Stockholm for the purpose of further developing her international career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allabolag.se/5566421938/wei-wei-international-management-ab|title=Wei Wei International Management AB – Företagsinformation|website=allabolag.se|language=sv|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> In 2004, she continued her performances for Olympic and sports related events, and inaugurated the construction start of the new ]. During this time, she was also the main performer at the opening ceremony show for the Formula 1 Racetrack in Shanghai.<ref>{{Cite web|title=F1牵手"同一首歌"|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/2004-08-24/0219482206.html|website=Sina News|publisher=]|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> At a show for the international unveiling of China's Olympic slogan "One World, One Dream", she performed ]'s song ''Love Changes Everything''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=组图:歌手韦唯性感依旧,畅谈感情和事业发展|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/s/m/2005-08-18/0940813727.html|publisher=]|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> In a 2004 online survey about who should sing the theme song for the Chinese Olympics, Wei emerged as the most voted candidate.<ref></ref> | |||
'''2004''' | |||
From 2005 to 2010, Wei served as a Standing Committee Member of the ].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=中华全国青年联合会第十届委员会委员名单--时政--人民网 |url=http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/8198/50927/50930/3564136.html |access-date=28 April 2020 |website=] |language=zh}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=中华全国青联选出第十届委员会 张朝阳当选常委-搜狐新闻中心 |url=http://news.sohu.com/20050725/n226430680.shtml |access-date=28 April 2020 |website=Sohu News |publisher=] |language=zh}}</ref> | |||
Performed at China’s largest charity ball for the cause of handicapped. The Deng Family with Deng Pu Fang, son of the former Chinese leader Deng Xiao Ping, organized a charity gala for disabled people in Beijing. Wei Wei performed with her song Dedication of Love, which she sang with a blind artist, Yang Haito. | |||
] | |||
In 2006, she celebrated twenty years on stage with the publication of her biography ''The New Wei, My New Way,'' written by Swedish author Catarina Lilliehöök.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lilliehöök |first=Catarina |title=The New Way, My New Way |year=2006 |edition=2nd |location=Stockholm, Sweden}}</ref> She also released twenty new recordings of her 20 greatest hits. The first one, a medley that consists of parts of her five greatest hits, was launched on 8 May: the ''20X20 Dance Loop''. She also released worldwide on digital download distributor iTunes Music Store, and commenced an international tour for the celebration of the Chinese New Year, which included performances in Los Angeles, ], Barcelona, and ] in Toronto, where she was welcomed by China's Ambassador to Canada, Lu Shumin and Consulate General of Toronto Chen Xiaoling.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXzVp47X6BA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/bXzVp47X6BA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Dedication of Love – Wei Wei (Toronto 2006)|date=25 December 2014|via=YouTube|access-date=29 April 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://toronto.china-consulate.org/chn/xw/t231374.htm|title=《同一首歌》走进加拿大2006新春大型歌会获圆满成功|date=16 January 2006|website=Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Toronto|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=中国央视《同一首歌》下周再赴加拿大(02/06/07)|url=http://www.china-embassy.org/chn/xw/t295623.htm|website=The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Washington, D.C. Official Webpage|publisher=]|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> During this time, she also served as a judge on China's largest singing competition, The National Young Singers Grand Awards, and performed the Olympic theme song ''One World, One Dream'' at an Olympic Show at the Great Wall together with Olympic athletes. | |||
In 2007, she was appointed Ambassador for the ],<ref>{{Cite web|title=中国女足形象大使产生,著名歌手韦唯幸运当选,搜狐体育|url=https://sports.sohu.com/20070816/n251622572.shtml|website=Sohu Sports|publisher=]|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=视频-韦唯担任女足形象大使 发布会现场激情燃烧_NIKE新浪竞技风暴_新浪网|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/c/bn/2007-08-15/23263935.shtml|publisher=]|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> and her single ''Go, Girl Go!'' was appointed the official theme song of the ].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=https://news.cision.com/wei-wei-international-management/r/men-s-geatest-salute-to-female-athletes,c293620|title=Men's Greatest Salute to Female Athletes|website=News Powered by Cision|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> ] players ], ], ] and others joined Wei in the ''Go, Girl Go!'' music video as a salute to women's football players.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Wei to Go|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bjweekend/2007-08/31/content_6070612.htm|website=China Daily|publisher=]|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Go girl go|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2007-09/13/content_6105429.htm|website=China Daily|publisher=]|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> | |||
'''2005''' | |||
In 2008, she performed as part of the ], and ]'s ''Chinese New Year All Star Show 2008''. The show was filmed in ], Canada, on 18 January, and included a duet from Wei and classical-crossover soprano ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.giorgiafumanti.com/en/biography/|title=Biography|website=Giorgia Fumanti|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lifeofguangzhou.com/node_981/node_989/node_996/node_1017/node_1114/2016/06/13/1465804407175302.shtml|title=Soprano Giorgia Fumanti to Appear in Guangzhou_Life of Guangzhou|website=lifeofguangzhou.com|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.1968magazine.com/index.cfm?ID=34195|title=1968 Magazine {{!}} Giorgia|website=www.1968magazine.com|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> Wei also performed at Swedish show ] with host ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Årets Allsångs-artister klara! |url=https://www.qx.se/noje/7021/arets-allsangs-artister-klara/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=QX.se |language=sv-SE |quote=Wei Wei (Svensk-kinesisk sångerska som sjunger officiella OS-låten)}}</ref> During this time, she also served a one year term as Ambassador of the ], and as the year drew to a close, she collaborated with ], ], ], ], ] and others to remix her original hit song ''Dedication of Love'' in English.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BoA sings for SICHUAN'S EARTHQUAKE !|url=https://boamyjewel.wordpress.com/2008/06/07/boa-sings-for-sichuans-earthquake/|date=2008-06-07|website=Jewelry Box|language=en|access-date=2020-05-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=韦唯与歌坛九大巨星同唱《爱的奉献》英文版-搜狐娱乐|url=https://yule.sohu.com/20080603/n257247171.shtml|website=yule.sohu.com|publisher=]|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> | |||
Wei Wei performed at the charity show “The Happiness Project” for mothers in Shenzhen. The project works to support mothers still having difficulties in one of the fastest growing regions of China. Shenzhen has developed from a poor agricultural community into one of the richest cities in the country in less than a generation. | |||
At closing ceremony of the ], Wei performed ''Surpass'' alongside Chinese singer ], and then assumed her position as China's Forestry Ambassador to the United Nations of the ] from 2009 to 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=联合国森林论坛国家倡议会议在桂林举行_重要国际会议_国家林业和草原局政府网 |url=http://www.forestry.gov.cn/main/115/20091125/302697.html |access-date=28 April 2020 |website=forestry.gov.cn |publisher=] |language=zh}}</ref> | |||
===Wei Wei Trust Foundation=== | |||
In 2014, Wei competed in ] alongside ], ], ], ] and others.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cheng |first=Zhang |date=2014 |title=《我是歌手》韦唯出局不意外罗琦退赛意外 |trans-title="I Am a Singer" Wei Wei Exits Competition |url=http://media.people.com.cn/n/2014/0125/c40606-24225817.html |access-date= |website=People's Daily}}</ref> | |||
Wei Wei is (2006) initiating a charity fund in Sweden with the purpose of supporting charity organizations and projects in China. The purpose is also to bridge cultural gaps and help to overcome difficulties between Eastern and Western fund raising projects. | |||
=== The 2022 Winter Olympics & The 2022 Asian Games === | |||
==PERSONAL life== | |||
In 2022, Wei reappeared after a 8 year hiatus<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=58岁韦唯时隔八年官宣复出,献唱北京冬奥会,风采不减当年 |trans-title=58-year-old Wei Wei makes her comeback after an eight-year break, sings at the Beijing Winter Olympics |url=https://new.qq.com/omn/20220126/20220126A067TV00.html |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=Tencent News}}</ref> as one of the lead singers for the ]' theme song "Together for the Future".<ref>{{Cite web |title='Now until the Future' as the official promotion song of Hangzhou Asian Games unveiled |url=https://www.hangzhou2022.cn/En/presscenter/spotnews/latestnews/202303/t20230307_57040.shtml |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=Hangzhou 2022 |quote=The performance is delivered by Wei Wei as the representative singer of Asian Mighty Winds as the famous song of the Asian Games Beijing 1990 as well as more than 100 athletes and performers at home and abroad.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=冬奥口号推广音乐短片《一起向未来》定档大年初初一 |trans-title=The Winter Olympics Promotes Short MV "Together to the Future" |url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_16460456 |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=The Paper}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Liu |first=Xiaozhuo |date=March 8, 2023 |title=Hangzhou Asian Games Theme Song Launched |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202303/08/WS64083e9ea31057c47ebb31c7.html |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=] |quote=The official promotional song of the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games... Led by renowned singer Wei Wei, the music video features more than 100 athletes and celebrities from home and abroad, such as short-track speed skater Wu Dajing, pop singer Zhou Shen and singer Lyu Wei.}}</ref> On February 18, 2022, Wei's online encouragement of her eldest son Symington to "learn from" Olympic skier ] became a trending topic on ] and made headlines in the Chinese press.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=韦唯和儿子因谷爱凌夺冠拌嘴场面搞笑 |trans-title=Wei Wei and son argue over Olympic champion Eileen Gu |url=https://www.toutiao.com/article/7065982733427671582/?channel=&source=search_tab |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=]}}</ref> The same year, she was appointed Visiting Professor of Music and a doctoral advisor specializing in ] at ],<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Zhong |first=Yuhao |date=2022-06-30 |title=歌手韦唯受聘泰国西那瓦大学博导:招收艺术表演与传播学博士 |url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_18807481 |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=The Paper}}</ref> a private international university in Thailand established by former Prime Minister of Thailand, ]. | |||
===Relationships and family=== | |||
=== 2023–2024: Return to China - Theatre, Fashion & Entrepreneurship === | |||
Information will be added within shortly: | |||
Wei returned to China in 2023 and made her first debut into ], performing as a lead actress in musical ''Ghetto,'' created and directed by Israeli artist Joshua Sober and premiering in ] city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=阔别舞台十年,这部以色列话剧“救”了60岁的韦唯 |trans-title=After a 10 year absence from the stage, this Israeli drama "saved" the 60-year-old singer Wei Wei. |url=https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20230911A09ZLR00 |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=TenCent News}}</ref> On November 24, 2023, Wei walked the red carpet at Elle China's 35th Anniversary Gala, and received the 2023 Elle Style Award.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-24 |title=ELLE China 35周年风尚大典与众星相聚余杭,致敬过往,热望未来 |trans-title=For ELLE China 35th Anniversary Gala, Stars Gathered in Yuhang, Paying Tribute to the Past and Looking Forward to the Future |url=https://www.ellechina.com/fashion/news/a45935155/elle-china-35/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=ELLE China |language=zh-CN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ELLE 35岁生日聚会,老友新朋都来了 |trans-title=For ELLE China's 35th birthday party, old and new friends all arrive |url=https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20231109A053GS00 |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=TenCent News}}</ref> In 2024, Wei chaired the 2024 Yale Sinovation Forum at the Yale Center Beijing, promoting and discussing the role of women in entrepreneurship,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-01 |title=耶鲁创新学者北京社群活动—2024女性影响力论坛 |trans-title=Yale Sinovation Fellows — 2024 Women's Impact Forum |url=https://centerbeijing.yale.edu/zh-hans/node/805 |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=Yale Center Beijing}}</ref> and performed at China's Strawberry Music Festival, with a lineup including American indie pop band ] and Chinese singers ] and ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beijing gears up for Strawberry Music Festival during May Day holiday |url=http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2024-04/22/content_117141704.htm |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=China.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-29 |title=大张伟、韦唯 首演草莓!2024北京超级草莓音乐节全阵容来了! |trans-title=Da Zhangwei and Wei Wei perform at Strawberry for the first time. Full lineup of the 2024 Beijing Super Strawberry Music Festival is revealed. |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/www.sohu.com/a/767685924_121888475 |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=Sohu}}</ref> | |||
== |
== Charity work == | ||
], 2011]] | |||
Throughout her career, Wei has performed at a variety of charity shows. In 1991, she performed her song ''Dedication of Love'' at a charity fundraising show in China for victims of the ] at the ] in Beijing. In 2004 she performed ''Dedication of Love'' together with Yang Haito, a blind Chinese artist, at a charity ball for the handicapped hosted by ], son of the former Chinese leader ]. In 2005 she performed at the charity show "The Happiness Project" for mothers in ], China. | |||
In 2012, she attended a charity auction in Beijing alongside her three children to auction a dress she wore during her performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It sold for a record CNY ¥300,000 (US$42,800), and all proceeds were donated to charity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=韦唯携三子做慈善:镶钻演出服拍出30万 |url=http://ent.163.com/photoview/00AJ0003/41351.html#p=6RACC01000AJ0003 |access-date=8 February 2020 |website=] |publisher= |language=zh}}</ref> In the same year, she was also appointed China's Oceanic Goodwill Ambassador by the ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 19, 2012 |title=海洋公益形象大使韦唯 |trans-title=China's Goodwill Ambassador for Oceans, Wei Wei |url=https://m.mnr.gov.cn/zt/hd/hyr/sjhyrjqghyxcr/sjhyrjqghyxcrhygyxxds/201808/t20180802_2158364.html |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Ministry of Natural Resources for the People's Republic of China |language=Chinese |quote=韦唯获得了国家海洋局颁发的“中国海洋公益形象大使”的荣誉称号及证书}}</ref> | |||
Together with her former husband Wei Wei has three boys: Symington, Remington and Vinson. They were born in Atlanta, USA. The three boys have been travelling with Wei Wei from an early age. They have been seen on several performances, TV-shows and talk shows in China, and are today well known and popular in the country. | |||
In 2013, to raise funds for cancer research and to spread awareness for cancer patients, she performed ''Dedication of Love'' at the 15th Beijing Hope Run & Dash held in ], Beijing to an audience of over 5585 people, for which she was awarded a world record for "the most number of people who sang ''Dedication of Love'' using sign language at the same time in the world" by the World Record Association of Hong Kong.<ref name=":5" /> | |||
Since 1999 Wei Wei lived with her family in Tyringe, in southern Sweden. In 2004 the children moved with Wei Wei to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. | |||
== Personal life == | |||
Wei Wei has sole custody of the three boys since December 21 2005. All of them have permanent residence permits in Sweden. | |||
Wei married American composer ] in 1995,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pan |first=Wang |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/878527500 |title=Love and marriage in globalizing China |date=2015 |isbn=978-1-138-02425-0 |location=Abingdon, Oxon |pages=Chapter 5 |oclc=878527500}}</ref> and the couple had three children, Symington W. Smith, Remington W. Smith & Vinson W. Smith.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sohu.com/a/379826471_220938|title=一段婚姻三个娃,前夫比她大25岁,韦唯用一生呵护混血儿子,迈克尔·史密斯|website=sohu.com|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> They divorced in 2005, and she moved with her children from Stockholm, Sweden to Beijing, China.<ref>{{Cite web|title=韦唯一生的痛:被父亲痛骂决裂,离开付笛声远嫁瑞典钢琴家被家暴|url=http://www.sohu.com/a/377271453_220938|website=sohu.com|publisher=]|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> | |||
Wei has been a long-time friend of Hong Kong actor ], who appeared with her and her children at a charity event in Beijing,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinanews.com/yl/news/2009/12-29/2044716.shtml|title=成龙热情派龙吻吓坏小朋友 韦唯混血帅儿子亮相(3)——中新网|website=chinanews.com|publisher=ChinaNews|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> and Chinese-Singaporean actress ], who in pictures released by ] in 2014 showed Gong embracing Wei's eldest son, Symington, at Wei's home in Beijing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com//photo/2014-03/07/c_126236998_2.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726195504/http://www.xinhuanet.com//photo/2014-03/07/c_126236998_2.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 July 2020|title=韦唯罕见旧照曝光 巩俐抱着长子韦紫明合影_图片频道_新华网|agency=]|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ln.ifeng.com/news/detail_2014_03/08/1949542_0.shtml|title=韦唯一家20年前罕见照曝光 巩俐喜抱长子(图)|website=ln.ifeng.com|publisher=]|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ahtv.cn/c/2014/0307/00235047_all.html|title=韦唯罕见旧照曝光 巩俐抱着长子韦紫明合影|website=ahtv.cn|publisher=AHTV|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> | |||
===The divorce=== | |||
In December 2009, Swedish tax authorities accused Wei of owing an estimated SEK 80–104 million ] (approximately US$10 million) in taxes to the Swedish government for incomes earned in China during the years 2003–2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/kvallsposten/wei-weis-skuld-100-miljoner-kr/|title=Wei Weis skuld: 100 miljoner kr|website=Expressen|language=sv|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Hon är skyldig 80 miljoner|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/Rx6aEr|website=Aftonbladet|publisher=]|language=sv|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> In response, she released a public letter addressed to then-Prime Minister of Sweden, ], asking for help and arguing that the tax authorities had illegally confiscated her assets because the tax authorities had proceeded with confiscation without a warrant or court order.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nyheter24.se/nyheter/372963-kinesisk-popsangerska-vadjar-till-reinfeldt|title=Kinesisk popsångerska vädjar till Reinfeldt|date=28 April 2010|website=nyheter24.se|language=sv|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/musik/kinesiska-popstjarnan-wei-wei-vadjar-till-statsminister-reinfeldt-i-skattearende/|title=Kinesiska popstjärnan Wei Wei vädjar till statsminister Reinfeldt i skatteärende|date=28 April 2010|website=Dagens Nyheter|language=sv|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> The Swedish tax authority's accusations were ultimately rejected by Swedish courts due to a lack of concrete facts.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bergström|first=Marie|date=2010-02-18|title=Wei Wei överklagar skattebeslut|language=sv|work=]|url=https://www.svd.se/wei-wei-overklagar-skattebeslut|access-date=2020-05-01|issn=1101-2412}}</ref> | |||
On April 17 2004, after 10 years of marriage, Wei Wei was divorced by her American husband Michael Joseph Smith. | |||
==Legacy== | |||
The long process of the divorce was a dark and difficult period in the family’s life. Due to the fact that the couple had lived in Sweden since several years back, the divorce had to be handled according to Swedish law, and take place in Swedish courts. | |||
Wei is largely considered a national treasure in China,<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|title=国宝级女歌手之一韦唯登场台下掌声如潮全场沸腾|trans-title=National Treasure and Singer Wei Wei Appears On Stage|url=https://k.sina.cn/article_6421087769_m17eba061900100iovm.html?from=ent&subch=variety|access-date=2020-07-19|website=]|language=zh}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite web|date=2020-01-10|title=力压毛阿敏获奖,和刘欢做搭档唱遍世界,韦唯不愧国宝级歌手 {{!}} 亚运会|trans-title=Winning over Mao Amin and singing with Liu Huan around the world, Wei Wei deserves the title of National Treasure|url=http://www.sohu.com/a/366127966_710081|access-date=2020-07-19|website=www.sohu.com|language=zh}}</ref> and one of its most iconic singers. Wei is the first ] pop singer after the ] period initiated under ] to have competed abroad officially representing the ],<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DGbyzKLVh30C&q=wei+wei+sopot+international&pg=PA318|title=Biographical Dictionary of the People's Republic of China|last=Song|first=Yuwu|publisher=McFarland|year=2014|isbn=978-1476602981|location=United States|pages=318}}</ref> the first ] ethnic minority artist to represent China internationally, the first woman to be selected as China's Olympic Ambassador, and one of China's earliest artists to use the internet for the digital release of music.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |last=Holm |first=Niklas |date=February 12, 2007 |title=Wei Weis album släpps bara till mobilportal |trans-title=Wei Wei's album releases only on mobile portals |url=https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2007-02-12/wei-weis-album-slapps-bara-till-mobilportal |access-date=29 April 2020 |website=Sydsvenskan |publisher=] |language=sv}}</ref> Winne Chung wrote for the '']'', "Wei Wei is China's biggest pop star and its most attractive ambassador."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chung |first=Winnie |date=July 3, 1995 |title=Cultural Exchange |volume=182 |work=] |quote=China's biggest pop star is ready to be its most attractive ambassador.}}</ref> Kristoger Stenneberg wrote for ''DiEgo'', a Swedish magazine that " Wei has a dark, almost masculine voice when speaking which suddenly becomes absent when singing. Her voice is a blend between ] and ]",<ref>{{Cite news |last=Steneberg |first=Kristofer |date=October 2006 |title=Svensk exil för Kina's Pophopp |script-title= |language=Swedish |trans-title=Swedish exile for China's popstar |volume=8 |pages=46 |work=DiEgo |quote=Hon har en mörk, nästan maskulin röst när hon pratar. Av den hörs inget när hon sjunger. Då låter hon som en blandning av Kylie Minogue och Ann Sofie von Otter.}}</ref> also remarking that "In China, the military stands double file to hold back her screaming fans."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Steneberg |first=Kristofer |date=October 2006 |title=I en värld där allt kopieras |trans-title=In a world where everything is copied |volume=8 |pages=7 |work=DiEgo |quote=I Kina ställer militären upp i dubbla led för att hålla bort fansen.}}</ref> | |||
Writing for ''Open Magazine'', Hong Kong journalist Huang Baolian remarked that "This unpretentious woman is China's radiant superstar, and everyone in China knows it. She's rightly regarded by her government as a national treasure.”<ref>{{Cite news |last=Huang |first=Baolian |date=October 1993 |title=蒙地卡罗归来:记中国大牌歌星韦唯小姐 |language=Chinese |trans-title=The Return from Monte Carlo: China's Superstar Wei Wei |pages=8 |work=Open Magazine}}</ref> Commenting on Wei's duet with ] at the East Asian Games, Swedish journalist Per Nillson wrote in '']'' "The high point for the jubilant masses was when Iglesias tried to sing in Chinese - a language he learnt from Wei, who also credits him with being a great student."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nilsson |first=Per |date=July 15, 1993 |title=Wei Weis väg västerut går via Österlen |language=Swedish |trans-title=Wei Wei's Way West Goes through Osterlen |work=] |publication-place=Malmö}}</ref> Interviewing Wei for ], journalist Adam Svanell described her as an "unwilling superstar who never dreamed of being a popstar" and a "most secret world artist".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Svanell |first=Adam |date=2008-07-27 |title=Motvillig stjärna |language=sv |work=Svenska Dagbladet |url=https://www.svd.se/a/70f2b0ef-01fb-3bff-9092-38d999f4b517/motvillig-stjarna |access-date=2023-06-18 |issn=1101-2412}}</ref> | |||
===The new life=== | |||
{{Quote frame|In the Swedish media, Wei has been routinely referred to as "China's Madonna". Musically, not so much but career-wise, yes. Both broke through in the 80s, have managed to maintain their popularity and sold a total of over 200 million full-length records. When she compares herself to Michael Jackson during our interview, I laugh a little, until it strikes me that it's a perfectly reasonable parallel.|Adam Svanell|Motvillig Stjärna|]|align=right|width=50%}} | |||
For Wei Wei, divorcing after 10 years of marriage, meant the start of a new life. The three boys became her sole responsibility, and having to raise children alone in Sweden while working in China, changed her entire situation. | |||
In 2015, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the ] and appointed Honorary Dean,<ref>{{Cite web|title=华东政法大学恢复招生三十周年文艺晚会隆重举行|url=https://wmcj.ecupl.edu.cn/2015/1209/c786a38923/page.htm|year=2015|website=East China University of Political Science and Law|publisher=]|language=zh|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> and she holds a world record for the largest number of people to perform a sing-along using ].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=韦唯-世界纪录协会官方网站 World Record Association|url=http://www.wrahk.org/%E9%9F%8B%E5%94%AF|website=wrahk.org|publisher=World Record Association|language=zh|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> She has sold an estimated 100-200 million records,<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|title=Sångerskans skattesmäll: 100 miljoner|url=https://www.realtid.se/sangerskans-skattesmall-100-miljoner|website=Realtid|language=sv|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://computersweden.idg.se/2.2683/1.82953/kinesisk-megastjarna-satsar-pa-webben|title=Kinesisk megastjärna satsar på webben|website=Computer Sweden|language=sv|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite news |last=Steneberg |first=Kristofer |date=October 2006 |title=Wei Wei har sålt 200 miljoner skivor i kina: kejsarinnan på kungsholmen |language=Swedish |trans-title=Wei Wei has sold 200 million records in China: The Empress of Kungsholmen |volume=8 |work=]}}</ref><ref name=":10" /> making her one of the best-selling ] artist during the 1990s, and leading her to be referred to as "China's Whitney Houston",<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Richburg|first=Keith|date=16 August 1995|title=The Singer Who's Going for the Gold|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1995/08/16/the-singer-whos-going-for-the-gold/abbb3662-1ddd-48e7-80e8-04f7fd0eba83/|access-date=6 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youlinmagazine.com/article/the-musical-road-of-wei-wei/MjY4|title=The Musical Road of Wei Wei|date=19 January 2015|first=Hong|last=Xiu|work=Youlin Magazine|access-date=15 May 2020}}</ref> and "China's Madonna".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.realtid.se/kinas-madonna-blaser-sina-svenska-leverantorer|title=Kinas Madonna blåser sina svenska leverantörer|website=Realtid|language=sv|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 2006 |title=Det här är Wei Wei |trans-title=This is Wei Wei |pages=35 |work=]}}</ref> | |||
For the purpose of her international career Wei Wei and her former husband had, prior to the divorce, initiated a management company in Stockholm: Wei Wei International Management Inc. | |||
== Discography == | |||
To work with new people, set up new goals, produce new music and search for new influences became an important factor to keep up the motivation and balance in Wei Wei’s life during the divorcing years. | |||
* ''The Album'' (1986) | |||
Wei Wei was inspired to search for new music, design, performance, dancing and entertainment as well as trying new things in life for herself and her children – like sailing, mountaineering, skating, cross country skiing and even down hill skiing. | |||
* ''Bright Eyes'' (1987) | |||
* ''The Four Points of Love'' (1988) | |||
* ''Endless Love 无限的爱'' (1989) | |||
* ''I Love My Motherland 我爱我的祖国'' (1990) | |||
* ''Famous Songs'' (1992) | |||
* ''The Twilight'' (1994) | |||
* ''Wei Wei'' ''韦唯'' (1998) | |||
* ''Wei Wei's Devotion'' (1999) | |||
* ''Dedication of Love 爱的奉献'' (2001) | |||
* ''Myths of China 中国的神话'' (2005) | |||
* ''Yang Chin'' (2006) | |||
* ''20x20'' (2008) | |||
== Filmography == | |||
The new lifestyle and spirit was expressed with new songs and a photo book in the spring of 2004. The songs “All there is” and “Where we are” was produced in English and Mandarin, and the photo book “The New Wei – my new way” was released in China. | |||
* ''The Story of a Star'' 女歌星的故事 (1991) | |||
==See also== | |||
*] | |||
== |
== References == | ||
{{Reflist}} | |||
*http://www.weiweimusic.com Wei Wei Official Site | |||
*http://cgi.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/95/1124/feat1.html | |||
*http://www.weiwei.net/bio.html | |||
{{Authority control}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 00:49, 19 August 2024
Chinese female singer
ProfessorWei Wei | |
---|---|
韦唯 | |
Standing Committee Member of the All-China Youth Federation | |
In office 2005–2010 | |
President | Zhao Yong |
Vice President | Peng Liyuan |
Ambassador of the Chinese Football Association | |
In office 2008–2009 | |
President | Yuan Weimin |
Ambassador of Forestry of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration | |
In office 2009–2010 | |
Minister | Jia Zhibang |
Personal details | |
Born | (1963-09-28) 28 September 1963 (age 61) Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China |
Citizenship | People's Republic of China |
Spouse | Michael Joseph Smith (1995–2004) |
Children | Symington W. Smith, Remington W. Smith, Vinson W. Smith |
Residence | Beijing |
Alma mater | Central Conservatory of Music |
Occupation | Singer, Mezzo-soprano, professor |
Awards | 24th Sopot International Song Festival Winner & Miss Photo Category Winner (1987) Honorary Doctorate, East China University of Political Science and Law (2009) Golden Phoenix Award (2008) 1st Level National Professional Qualification Certificate (1986) |
Wei Wei (simplified Chinese: 韦唯; traditional Chinese: 韋唯; pinyin: Wéi Wéi; born 28 September 1963) is a Chinese mandopop singer, actress, philanthropist and professor. Nicknamed "The Empress of Pop", she has been widely recognized for her artistry and vocal performances. She has been regarded as one of the greatest Chinese entertainers of her generation, and her contributions to music and visual media have made her a prominent and influential Chinese pop culture figure during the 1990's and early 2000s.
Wei started performing in various state-sponsored singing and dancing competitions as a child, singing state-sanctioned revolutionary music. Her breakthrough came alongside the Chinese economic reform in 1986 when she won both the National Young Singers contest in China, and the 24th Sopot International Song Festival in Poland. Four years later, she performed a duet with Spanish singer Julio Iglesias at the 1993 East Asian Games in Shanghai.
Largely associated with sports culture and the Olympics, Wei has been an Olympic Cultural Ambassador for China since 1993, a role she assumed when the Chinese Olympic Committee submitted its initial application to host the Olympic Games. Wei was the sole cultural representative for Asia at the 1996 Summer Olympics, and has performed at several major events, including the opening ceremony of Expo 2010, the closing ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics, and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 11th National Games of China.
Wei's songs have been used as the official theme songs for many major sporting events in China. Her single "I Want to Fly" was chosen by the Chinese Olympic Committee as the official theme song for the 2008 Olympic Sailing events. In 2007, The All-China Women's Federation recognized Wei's contributions to Chinese sports culture by designating her the "Queen of Sports".
Having sold an estimated 100-200 million records worldwide, Wei is one of Asia's best-selling recording artists. Considered a "national treasure" in China, Wei is the first Mainland Chinese pop singer to have competed abroad representing the People's Republic of China, the first Zhuang ethnic minority artist to represent China internationally, the first woman to be selected as China's Olympic Cultural Ambassador, and one of China's earliest artists to use the internet for the digital release of music. The haute-couture dress designed for Wei by Lars Wallin for the '08 Olympics is on permanent display at the Nordic Museum in Sweden.
Early life
Wei was born to a Zhuang family in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia to Zhang Yu, a People's Liberation Army veteran and railway official, and Wei Xiuqun. While in kindergarten, she began practicing the performing arts. When she was 7 years old, her family moved to Liuzhou in Guangxi, and at the age of 14, she moved to Beijing and started to work for the China National Song & Dance Ensemble. As a young unit member her education included dancing, singing, playing instruments, choreography, stage design, and lighting. The unit traveled throughout China, often doing several live performances in one day. She finished her education at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China.
Career
1986–1987: Breakthrough and National Qualification
In 1986, Wei won the National Young Singers contest on Chinese television with the song Wanna Take One More Chance to Look at You. In 1987, she won the 24th Sopot International Music Festival in Poland as China's first representative to an international pop competition. In 1986 at the age of she was awarded a "2nd Level National Performer Professional Qualification Certificate" by the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China. A year after, the ministry awarded her with a "1st Level National Performer Professional Qualification Certificate", the highest professional qualification of her field in China, equal to a Professional Doctorate, and which enabled her to teach at professor level in music academies in China.
1988–1992: Dedication of Love and Rise to Stardom
In 1988, Wei sang the theme song for China Central Television's New Year's Gala, Gathering of the Year of the Dragon. In 1989, her rendition of the Chinese song Dedication of Love - a performance credited with truly starting her career– became a national hit in China, and she became a symbol for charity and fund-raising activities as her performance had raised enough funds to help a rural migrant worker from Anhui to recover from spinal surgery. In the same year, her song Today is Your Birthday won the Gold Medal at the Jian Brand Cup and Beijing Radio Song Competition, and has since been used as a theme song to celebrate China's National Day. In 1990, her new single Asian Mighty Winds was selected as the theme of the 1990 Asian Games, and she performed it alongside Chinese singer Liu Huan. The song quickly became another national hit, and Wei was dubbed the "Queen of Sports" by the Provincial Government of Guangxi, Liuzhou. That same year, she starred in the film The Story of A Songstress alongside Chinese actor Zhang Guoli and Jiang Lili; and performed at the Miss Asia Pageant show in Hong Kong in 1992, also becoming the lead singer in the first concert tour in American major cities arranged by the China Central Song and Dance Group.
1993–2000: Carnegie Hall and International Recognition
In 1993, Wei was the lead singer at the 1993 East Asian Games opening and closing ceremonies together with Spanish singer Julio Iglesias. She then performed her single Asian Mighty Winds again at the 1994 Asian Games opening show in Hiroshima, Japan, and the lyrics of her songs became the subject of academic discourse and analysis in Japan. Later that year, Wei was one of only two singers chosen to join a 200-member Olympic delegation visiting Monaco to campaign for the Beijing Summer Olympic Games bid. A year after, in 1994, she was named Star of the Night after her performance of her hit single Dedication of Love at the CCTV New Year's Gala in Carnegie Hall, New York. In the same year, the song Wind Coming From the East became a hit at a show in Shanghai Oriental TV, and subsequently became the TV station's theme song. Her first English album was released, titled The Twilight.
After her performance at Carnegie Hall, she started her concert tour "Wei Wei and the World", which included visits and performances in the major cities in Mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Kunming.
Billy Payne, president and CEO of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games confirmed Wei as Asia's sole cultural representative to the Olympics after meeting in 1996. Wei performed in front a 60,000 crowd alongside James Brown, Willie Nelson, Travis Tritt, Trisha Yearwood as a Cultural Olympiad performer at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta in 1996. For being Asia's sole cultural representative to the games, Wei was interviewed in a CNN fifteen-minute special. The year after in 1997, Wei entered into a one-year endorsement agreement with American hair care company Nioxin, becoming its product ambassador in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. In 1999, Wei's compilation album Wei Wei's Devotion was the most popular pop music album in China, and she held a concert at Caesar's Palace in Paris, France to further promote the album. In 2000, she joined the Chinese Olympic Committee and represented the People's Republic of China in campaigning for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, and performing with the Sydney Opera and Shanghai Opera. Her rendition of The Same Song won her a Golden Phoenix Prize at the 6th China Music Television Competition.
2000–2014: Go, Girl Go!, The 2008 Beijing Olympics & I Am A Singer
In 2003, Wei was invited as a special guest at galas arranged in Beijing in the honor of healthcare staff after the SARS epidemic, and initiated an international management company, Wei Wei International Management, in Stockholm for the purpose of further developing her international career. In 2004, she continued her performances for Olympic and sports related events, and inaugurated the construction start of the new Beijing National Stadium. During this time, she was also the main performer at the opening ceremony show for the Formula 1 Racetrack in Shanghai. At a show for the international unveiling of China's Olympic slogan "One World, One Dream", she performed Andrew Lloyd Webber's song Love Changes Everything. In a 2004 online survey about who should sing the theme song for the Chinese Olympics, Wei emerged as the most voted candidate.
From 2005 to 2010, Wei served as a Standing Committee Member of the All-China Youth Federation.
In 2006, she celebrated twenty years on stage with the publication of her biography The New Wei, My New Way, written by Swedish author Catarina Lilliehöök. She also released twenty new recordings of her 20 greatest hits. The first one, a medley that consists of parts of her five greatest hits, was launched on 8 May: the 20X20 Dance Loop. She also released worldwide on digital download distributor iTunes Music Store, and commenced an international tour for the celebration of the Chinese New Year, which included performances in Los Angeles, Vienna, Barcelona, and Roger's Center in Toronto, where she was welcomed by China's Ambassador to Canada, Lu Shumin and Consulate General of Toronto Chen Xiaoling. During this time, she also served as a judge on China's largest singing competition, The National Young Singers Grand Awards, and performed the Olympic theme song One World, One Dream at an Olympic Show at the Great Wall together with Olympic athletes.
In 2007, she was appointed Ambassador for the Chinese Football Association, and her single Go, Girl Go! was appointed the official theme song of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup. FC Barcelona players Carles Puyol, Lionel Messi, Deco and others joined Wei in the Go, Girl Go! music video as a salute to women's football players.
In 2008, she performed as part of the Fairchild Media Group, and Shanghai Media Group's Chinese New Year All Star Show 2008. The show was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on 18 January, and included a duet from Wei and classical-crossover soprano Giorgia Fumanti. Wei also performed at Swedish show Allsång på Skansen with host Anders Lundin. During this time, she also served a one year term as Ambassador of the Chinese Football Association, and as the year drew to a close, she collaborated with BoA, Ruth Sahanaya, Despina Vandi, Sonu, Daniela Mercury and others to remix her original hit song Dedication of Love in English.
At closing ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics, Wei performed Surpass alongside Chinese singer Sun Nan, and then assumed her position as China's Forestry Ambassador to the United Nations of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration from 2009 to 2010.
In 2014, Wei competed in I Am a Singer (Chinese season 2) alongside Phil Chang, Gary Chaw, G.E.M., Han Lei and others.
The 2022 Winter Olympics & The 2022 Asian Games
In 2022, Wei reappeared after a 8 year hiatus as one of the lead singers for the 2022 Winter Olympics' theme song "Together for the Future". On February 18, 2022, Wei's online encouragement of her eldest son Symington to "learn from" Olympic skier Eileen Gu became a trending topic on Weibo and made headlines in the Chinese press. The same year, she was appointed Visiting Professor of Music and a doctoral advisor specializing in vocal music at Shinawatra University, a private international university in Thailand established by former Prime Minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra.
2023–2024: Return to China - Theatre, Fashion & Entrepreneurship
Wei returned to China in 2023 and made her first debut into musical theatre, performing as a lead actress in musical Ghetto, created and directed by Israeli artist Joshua Sober and premiering in Harbin city. On November 24, 2023, Wei walked the red carpet at Elle China's 35th Anniversary Gala, and received the 2023 Elle Style Award. In 2024, Wei chaired the 2024 Yale Sinovation Forum at the Yale Center Beijing, promoting and discussing the role of women in entrepreneurship, and performed at China's Strawberry Music Festival, with a lineup including American indie pop band The Drums and Chinese singers Zhao Lei and Wowkie Zhang.
Charity work
Throughout her career, Wei has performed at a variety of charity shows. In 1991, she performed her song Dedication of Love at a charity fundraising show in China for victims of the 1998 China floods at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. In 2004 she performed Dedication of Love together with Yang Haito, a blind Chinese artist, at a charity ball for the handicapped hosted by Deng Pufang, son of the former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. In 2005 she performed at the charity show "The Happiness Project" for mothers in Shenzhen, China.
In 2012, she attended a charity auction in Beijing alongside her three children to auction a dress she wore during her performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It sold for a record CNY ¥300,000 (US$42,800), and all proceeds were donated to charity. In the same year, she was also appointed China's Oceanic Goodwill Ambassador by the China's Ministry of Natural Resources.
In 2013, to raise funds for cancer research and to spread awareness for cancer patients, she performed Dedication of Love at the 15th Beijing Hope Run & Dash held in Chaoyang Park, Beijing to an audience of over 5585 people, for which she was awarded a world record for "the most number of people who sang Dedication of Love using sign language at the same time in the world" by the World Record Association of Hong Kong.
Personal life
Wei married American composer Michael Joseph Smith in 1995, and the couple had three children, Symington W. Smith, Remington W. Smith & Vinson W. Smith. They divorced in 2005, and she moved with her children from Stockholm, Sweden to Beijing, China.
Wei has been a long-time friend of Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan, who appeared with her and her children at a charity event in Beijing, and Chinese-Singaporean actress Gong Li, who in pictures released by Xinhua News Agency in 2014 showed Gong embracing Wei's eldest son, Symington, at Wei's home in Beijing.
In December 2009, Swedish tax authorities accused Wei of owing an estimated SEK 80–104 million Swedish kronor (approximately US$10 million) in taxes to the Swedish government for incomes earned in China during the years 2003–2008. In response, she released a public letter addressed to then-Prime Minister of Sweden, Fredrik Reinfeld, asking for help and arguing that the tax authorities had illegally confiscated her assets because the tax authorities had proceeded with confiscation without a warrant or court order. The Swedish tax authority's accusations were ultimately rejected by Swedish courts due to a lack of concrete facts.
Legacy
Wei is largely considered a national treasure in China, and one of its most iconic singers. Wei is the first Mainland Chinese pop singer after the reform and opening-up period initiated under Deng Xiaoping to have competed abroad officially representing the People's Republic of China, the first Zhuang ethnic minority artist to represent China internationally, the first woman to be selected as China's Olympic Ambassador, and one of China's earliest artists to use the internet for the digital release of music. Winne Chung wrote for the South China Morning Post, "Wei Wei is China's biggest pop star and its most attractive ambassador." Kristoger Stenneberg wrote for DiEgo, a Swedish magazine that " Wei has a dark, almost masculine voice when speaking which suddenly becomes absent when singing. Her voice is a blend between Kylie Minogue and Ann Sofie von Otter", also remarking that "In China, the military stands double file to hold back her screaming fans."
Writing for Open Magazine, Hong Kong journalist Huang Baolian remarked that "This unpretentious woman is China's radiant superstar, and everyone in China knows it. She's rightly regarded by her government as a national treasure.” Commenting on Wei's duet with Julio Iglesias at the East Asian Games, Swedish journalist Per Nillson wrote in Expressen "The high point for the jubilant masses was when Iglesias tried to sing in Chinese - a language he learnt from Wei, who also credits him with being a great student." Interviewing Wei for Svenska Dagbladet, journalist Adam Svanell described her as an "unwilling superstar who never dreamed of being a popstar" and a "most secret world artist".
In the Swedish media, Wei has been routinely referred to as "China's Madonna". Musically, not so much but career-wise, yes. Both broke through in the 80s, have managed to maintain their popularity and sold a total of over 200 million full-length records. When she compares herself to Michael Jackson during our interview, I laugh a little, until it strikes me that it's a perfectly reasonable parallel.
— Adam Svanell, Motvillig Stjärna, Svenska Dagbladet
In 2015, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the East China University of Political Science and Law and appointed Honorary Dean, and she holds a world record for the largest number of people to perform a sing-along using sign language. She has sold an estimated 100-200 million records, making her one of the best-selling Mainland Chinese artist during the 1990s, and leading her to be referred to as "China's Whitney Houston", and "China's Madonna".
Discography
- The Album (1986)
- Bright Eyes (1987)
- The Four Points of Love (1988)
- Endless Love 无限的爱 (1989)
- I Love My Motherland 我爱我的祖国 (1990)
- Famous Songs (1992)
- The Twilight (1994)
- Wei Wei 韦唯 (1998)
- Wei Wei's Devotion (1999)
- Dedication of Love 爱的奉献 (2001)
- Myths of China 中国的神话 (2005)
- Yang Chin (2006)
- 20x20 (2008)
Filmography
- The Story of a Star 女歌星的故事 (1991)
References
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- "韦唯" [Wei Wei]. Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China (in Chinese). 19 April 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
著名歌手韦唯从14岁出道演艺界和歌坛,先是靠一首《爱的奉献》唱红了全国,再是以《亚洲雄风》唱红了半个世界。接下来是铺天盖地的邀约和荣誉,使她成为中国流行歌坛上天后级的重磅人物。
- "4大歌坛天后现状:张惠妹,韦唯" [The Four Empresses of Song: Zhang Huimei, Wei Wei]. Sydney Today (in Chinese). 12 February 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
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Wei Wei ordered the dress from fashion designer Lars Wallin for her appearances at major venues and television galas prior to the Olympic Games in Beijing. The 'Guldknappen' design, described below, was proposed – but in bright colours like cerise and orange. A pair of tall orange leather boots were custom-made for the look (not in Nordiska museet's collections).
- "Klänning av Lars Wallin i rosa tyll, inv nr NM.0331120 märkt "Larsa Wallin Couture"" [Dress by Lars Wallin in pink tulle, inv. no. NM.0331120 marked "Larsa Wallin Couture"]. Nordic Museum (in Swedish). 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
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{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - 精神损害赔偿案件 (in Chinese). 中国法制出版社. 2005. ISBN 978-7-80182-634-3.
- ""国家一级演员"韦唯,远嫁国外连生三子却不幸遭家暴,简直手段残忍 - 娱乐资讯(存满娱乐网)". Cunman Entertainment (in Chinese). Retrieved 29 April 2020.
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- The International Who's Who 2004 (2003). Pg. 1785. Europa Publications.
- Publications, Europa (2003). The International Who's Who 2004. Psychology Press. ISBN 978-1-85743-217-6.
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- Performer Endorsement Agreement with Wei Wei, Nioxin Research Laboratories, Inc. 1997.
- Thomson, Graeme (14 June 2008). "The biggest pop stars you've never heard of". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
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- China Daily
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- Lilliehöök, Catarina (2006). The New Way, My New Way (2nd ed.). Stockholm, Sweden.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - "Dedication of Love – Wei Wei (Toronto 2006)". 25 December 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2020 – via YouTube.
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- "Biography". Giorgia Fumanti. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
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Wei Wei (Svensk-kinesisk sångerska som sjunger officiella OS-låten)
- "BoA sings for SICHUAN'S EARTHQUAKE !". Jewelry Box. 7 June 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
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- "'Now until the Future' as the official promotion song of Hangzhou Asian Games unveiled". Hangzhou 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
The performance is delivered by Wei Wei as the representative singer of Asian Mighty Winds as the famous song of the Asian Games Beijing 1990 as well as more than 100 athletes and performers at home and abroad.
- "冬奥口号推广音乐短片《一起向未来》定档大年初初一" [The Winter Olympics Promotes Short MV "Together to the Future"]. The Paper. 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- Liu, Xiaozhuo (8 March 2023). "Hangzhou Asian Games Theme Song Launched". China Daily. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
The official promotional song of the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games... Led by renowned singer Wei Wei, the music video features more than 100 athletes and celebrities from home and abroad, such as short-track speed skater Wu Dajing, pop singer Zhou Shen and singer Lyu Wei.
- "韦唯和儿子因谷爱凌夺冠拌嘴场面搞笑" [Wei Wei and son argue over Olympic champion Eileen Gu]. Toutiao. 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- Zhong, Yuhao (30 June 2022). "歌手韦唯受聘泰国西那瓦大学博导:招收艺术表演与传播学博士". The Paper. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- "阔别舞台十年,这部以色列话剧"救"了60岁的韦唯" [After a 10 year absence from the stage, this Israeli drama "saved" the 60-year-old singer Wei Wei.]. TenCent News. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- "ELLE China 35周年风尚大典与众星相聚余杭,致敬过往,热望未来" [For ELLE China 35th Anniversary Gala, Stars Gathered in Yuhang, Paying Tribute to the Past and Looking Forward to the Future]. ELLE China (in Chinese (China)). 24 November 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- "ELLE 35岁生日聚会,老友新朋都来了" [For ELLE China's 35th birthday party, old and new friends all arrive]. TenCent News. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
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- "Beijing gears up for Strawberry Music Festival during May Day holiday". China.org. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- "大张伟、韦唯 首演草莓!2024北京超级草莓音乐节全阵容来了!" [Da Zhangwei and Wei Wei perform at Strawberry for the first time. Full lineup of the 2024 Beijing Super Strawberry Music Festival is revealed.]. Sohu. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
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- "海洋公益形象大使韦唯" [China's Goodwill Ambassador for Oceans, Wei Wei]. Ministry of Natural Resources for the People's Republic of China (in Chinese). 19 April 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
韦唯获得了国家海洋局颁发的"中国海洋公益形象大使"的荣誉称号及证书
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- Pan, Wang (2015). Love and marriage in globalizing China. Abingdon, Oxon. pp. Chapter 5. ISBN 978-1-138-02425-0. OCLC 878527500.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - "一段婚姻三个娃,前夫比她大25岁,韦唯用一生呵护混血儿子,迈克尔·史密斯". sohu.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 29 April 2020.
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- Chung, Winnie (3 July 1995). "Cultural Exchange". South China Morning Post. Vol. 182.
China's biggest pop star is ready to be its most attractive ambassador.
- Steneberg, Kristofer (October 2006). "Svensk exil för Kina's Pophopp" [Swedish exile for China's popstar]. DiEgo (in Swedish). Vol. 8. p. 46.
Hon har en mörk, nästan maskulin röst när hon pratar. Av den hörs inget när hon sjunger. Då låter hon som en blandning av Kylie Minogue och Ann Sofie von Otter.
- Steneberg, Kristofer (October 2006). "I en värld där allt kopieras" [In a world where everything is copied]. DiEgo. Vol. 8. p. 7.
I Kina ställer militären upp i dubbla led för att hålla bort fansen.
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- "Det här är Wei Wei" [This is Wei Wei]. Dagens Industri. October 2006. p. 35.