Veterans, newbies split top Taiwan awards
TAIPEI: Veterans and newcomers split the top awards at the 28th Golden Melody Awards, Taiwan’s biggest music awards event.
Veteran rock band Mayday, as expected, won the Best Album in Mandarin and Best Lyricist with its phenomenal album History of Tomorrow.
But what turned the awards ceremony on its head was the triumph of newcomer Sangpuy Katatepan, known for performing tunes from a bygone era of his indigenous Puyuma tribe.
His eclectic musical style won him the night’s biggest award, Album of the Year, with Yaangad.
He also won the awards for Best Vocalist – Aboriginal Language and Best Vocal Recording Album.
Meanwhile, newbies No Party For Cao Dong won Best Musical Group, Best New Artist and Song of the Year with its debut album The Servile.
Considered a band with only an outside chance of triumphing, No Party For Cao Dong has been touted for their unbridled energy. Their album The Servile resonated with young fans struggling with low wages and a lack of opportunities.
Taiwan’s Eve Ai, who has been dubbed as “Taiwan’s Adele,” nabbed the Best Female Vocalist-Mandarin for her album Talk About Eve.
Hong Kong singer- songwriter Khalil Fong took home the Best Male Vocalist—Mandarin award for his album Journey to the West.
It was his first victory after six nominations.
The Special Contribution Award was awarded to 81year- old Taiwanese singer Chi Lu- shyia and the late singersongwriter Chang Yu-sheng.
During the ceremony,
Hong Kong singer-songwriter Khalil Fong took home the Best Male Vocalist—Mandarin award for his album ‘Journey to the West’. It was his first victory after six nominations.
folktronica and Cantopop singer Ellen Joyce Loo used the time on the stage to come out of the closet.
The Canadian-born artist won Best Arrangement in the vocal category at the ceremony and disclosed that she was a lesbian after thanking her wife in her acceptance speech.
“I have to thank her for making my life more complete,” Loo said. “I know the world is imperfect, my music is imperfect, I myself am not perfect, but with you, who needs perfection?”
The crowd erupted in cheers as the singer revealed she got married last year, and she credited her wife with helping to develop her music career in Taiwan.
Loo has been a vocal supporter of Asian LGBT rights for years, and even wrote a Facebook post about the story of her gender identity back in 2015. But when asked by a journalist if that was her way of coming out, she replied, “Sexual orientation isn’t a topic for fans. If I do get married, I will announce it to the world.”