Zhang Liyin, also known by her Korean name Jang Ri-in, is the first (and currently the only) Chinese solo singer to break into the Korean music industry. Subject to much publicity, Zhang...

Zhang Liyin, also known by her Korean name Jang Ri-in, is the first (and currently the only) Chinese solo singer to break into the Korean music industry. Subject to much publicity, Zhang 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 pronunciation to make her Sichuan accent disappear since SM Entertainment plans to use her to help break into the Chinese market.

Debut: 2006-2007

Timeless
Zhang was discovered after Beijing partners informed the head of SM Entertainment of a young talent; thus she started training in 2003 at the age of thirteen. Singers 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.

Zhang'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.

On September 8, 2006, Zhang released her first single, "Timeless". This song is a translation of the English version, by Kelly Clarkson. She made her stage debut on MBC Music Core on September 9, 2006 singing "Timeless" with Xiah Junsu (from k-pop and j-pop group Tohoshinki). The first day Zhang debuted she was ranked #2 on the famous Korean music website, Melon; 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).


Y (Why)
Zhang promoted the second track of her debut single, "Y (Why...)," in early 2007. SM Entertainment also released a "Timeless" documentary version of her "Y (Why...)" music video. This music video revealed her hardships during training; it also showed many behind the scenes clips of her promotion of "Timeless", including never-before-seen footage of her and Xiah Junsu.

Zhang also performed with Korean boyband Tohoshinki at their second Korean concert in Seoul, Korea on February 23, 2007, as well as in Malaysia, on November 24, 2007. She sang BoA's part in the song "Tri-Angle", previously performed by BoA, Tohoshinki and The TRAX.

She also performed "Timeless" with Xiah Junsu at the Hallyu Expo in Korea on March 8, 2007. In July, along with Kangta, Tohoshinki, The Grace, and Super Junior, performed in Korea for SMTown's Summer Concert 2007.

As of now, Zhang has finished recording her second Mandarin single. A Mandarin remake of a famous Korean classic, "Magic Castle", which has been sung by Zhang, is in the latest LOTTE commercial featuring Song Seung Hun.





Last edit by luffa on Thursday 19 Jun, 2008 at 05:25 +100%

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