Zhang Liyin

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Zhang Li Yin
Background information
Born	February 28, 1989
Origin	Chongqing, Sichuan, China
Genre(s)	K-pop, R&B
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	2006 – present
Label(s)	SM Entertainment
Associated acts	SMTown
Website	Official Site

Zhang Liyin
Hangul:	장리인
Hanja:	张力尹

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zhang (张).

Zhang Li Yin (Korean: 장리인, Jang Ri'in; Simplified Chinese: 张力尹; Traditional Chinese: 張力尹; pinyin: Zhāng Lìyǐn; born February 28, 1989) is the first (and currently the only) Chinese solo singer to break into the Korean music industry. Subject to much publicity, Zhang Li Yin has been nicknamed the "Chinese BoA" and the next leader of the Korean wave. She speaks both Mandarin (which is her first language) and moderate Korean and has released singles in both Korea and China, singing in both languages. She has also received lessons from a Chinese broadcaster on intonation and pronounciation to make her Sichuan accent disappear since they plan to use her to help break into the Chinese market. ^[1]

Contents 1 Background 2 Pre-debut 3 Debut - Timeless 3.1 First Mutizen Award 3.2 Rookie of the Month 3.3 Best New Solo Artist 4 Zhang Li Yin's visa 5 2007 activities 6 Discography 6.1 Solo 6.2 Joint discography 7 Awards 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Background

Zhang grew up with classical music. She was born to two violinists in Sichuan, China as a native of Chongqing. Throughout her childhood, they took her to their concerts exposing her to a variety of music. At three years old, she began to learn the violin. Zhang was so accustomed to classical, American, and European pop music that she claims she never sang children's songs when she was a child. She also developed the ability to sing a song after hearing it only once^[2]. When she was nine years old, she showed her musical ability when she sang Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On"^[2].

As she grew older, Zhang became more absorbed into pop music than classical music. She had to secretly listen to pop music because her parents were against it. When she was 12 years old, she got into the middle school affiliated to Sichuan Music College after scoring the best grade with her violin talents, but she opted to become a singer and not a violinist. Eventually, her parents began to support her dream to become a singer and she gained confidence when she was selected as the top 10 teenager singers in a national singing competition under the sponsorship of Beijing.

[edit] Pre-debut

Zhang Li Yin was discovered after Beijing partners informed the head of SM Entertainment of a young talent, and thus she started training in 2003 at the age of thirteen. The singer received three years of special singing and dance training under SM Entertainment. Under the direct direction from producer Lee Soo Man, Zhang discovered her R&B voice. ^[2]

[edit] Debut - Timeless

Zhang Li Yin's debut was anticipated not only in Korea, but Asia, due to SM Entertainment's advertising of her being the 'Chinese BoA' as well as Lee Soo Man himself stating he was training her to be the next leader of the Korean wave. Before her official debut, it was already known that her song was a duet with popular TVXQ member Xiah Junsu which generated even more interest and anticipation in her. Before the release of her song, "Timeless" was available for free download between August 31 and September 6 on her official website^[3].

On September 8, 2006, Zhang released her first single, Timeless. She made her stage debut on MBC Music Core on September 9, 2006 singing "Timeless" with Xiah JunSu. The first day Zhang Li Yin debuted she was ranked #2 on the famous Korean music website, Melon^{[citation needed]}; the following day she topped this chart and held her place respectively for two full weeks. The same day she also ranked #2 on the online charts of SBS Inkigayo, just after popular boy-band, Shinhwa's "Throw My Fist". "Timeless" also placed 1st on Daum's Music Video chart as well as hitting the highest search number on the famous search engine, Naver.^{[citation needed]}

The "Timeless" music video was ranked number one on Melon's Video Chart for four full weeks. Within ten days of debuting, Zhang entered the "Take 7" chart on SBS Inkigayo (complied from internet and industry statistics).

[edit] First Mutizen Award

Zhang received the Mutizen Award on television programme SBS Ingigayo just 16 days after her debut, which both grew suspicion for industry watchers and audiences on her instant fame.

Netizens questioned, "Zhang Li Yin receives Mutizen Award just 16 days after her debut? What were the judging criteria?" While some netizens weren't pleased with the outcome, others seemed to be thrilled. A netizen by the ID name of PARK said, "I don't think it's the song that resulted in her getting the award after such a short time." A group of netizens quoted, "This can also be seen on the rankings of music websites, she's clearly number one. The result that SBS revealed on their website was correct."

[edit] Rookie of the Month

Zhang was selected as "Digital Music Award" September's "Rookie of the Month". The debut title track "Timeless" had the highest sales for a new singer in BGM's Cyworld mini homepage. Winners of the "Digital Music Award" are based on the data in BMG's Cyworld mini homepage. A singer can win the "Song of the Month" award when his or her song records the highest sales. For the "Rookie of the Month" award, a new singer must have stood out among other new singers.

[edit] Best New Solo Artist

At the 2006 MKMF Music Video Festival, she won the Best New Solo Artist Award.

[edit] Zhang Li Yin's visa

Similar to fellow SM Entertainment artist, Han Kyung of popular K-pop group Super Junior; Zhang holds an E-6 (Entertainment industry) passport, for foreigners in South Korea. Foreign artists carrying out promotional activities have limitations in terms of location and other factors. HanKyung's passport only allows him to work under SBS and KBS, while Zhang's allows her to work only with SBS and MBC, which is why she only performs on the two stages.

[edit] 2007 activities

Zhang Li Yin promoted the second track of her debut single, "Y (Why...)", in the early months of 2007. SM Entertainment also released a "Timeless" single Documentary version of her "Y (Why...)" music video. This music video showcased her hardships during training, and many behind the scenes clips of her promoting "Timeless", including never before seen footage of her and Xiah Junsu.

Zhang also performed with Korean boyband TVXQ at their second Korean concert in Seoul, Korea on February 23, 2007. She sung BoA's part in the song "Tri-Angle", which was previously performed by BoA, TVXQ and The TRAX.

She also performed "Timeless" with Xiah Junsu at the Hallyu Expo in Korea.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Solo

Single #	Single cover	Single Information	Tracking List	Copies sold
1st		Timeless Released: September 8, 2006 Studio Album: N/A Language: Korean	Timeless (Feat. Xiah Junsu) Y (Why...) Timeless (Feat. Xiah Junsu) (Instrumental) Y (Why...)(Instrumental)	12,786 (South Korea)[1]

[edit] Joint discography

Album #	Album cover	Album information	Track listing	Copies sold
5th		2006 WINTER SMTOWN - Snow Dream Released: December 12, 2006 Length: N/A Korea top 200 position: N/A Language: Korean	Snow Dream - SMTOWN 내가 그대 없이 (When We'll Be Together) - TVXQ Tic! Toc! - Super Junior Dreams Come True - CSJH The Grace 그것뿐이에요 (Just You) - Super Junior - K.R.Y. White Christmas - Kangta DOTCH - BoA Alone - The TRAX Heaven - Zhang Liyin Without You - Black Beat 눈의 이야기 (Winter of Memories) - Hyun Jin I Love Hoya - Choo Ka Yul Joyful Day - Song Kwang Sik	35,214 (South Korea)[2]

[edit] Awards

Years	Awards
2006	SBS Inkigayo - Mutizen Award for "Timeless" (September 24) Digital Music Award - Rookie of the Month (September) MKMF Awards - Best New Solo Artist (November 25)

[edit] References

1. ^ KBS Artist Search - Zhang Li Yin
2. ^ ^{a b c} Profile image on official homepage
3. ^ 뮤직 인터페이스 - MelOn - Timeless (Single) Editorial Review

[edit] External links

• (Korean) Zhang Li Yin's Official Site
• (Korean) SM Entertainment's Official Site

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