Taiwan's Golden Melody Nominations Are Out, and Mainland Artists Are on the List Again

Su Yunying is up for both Best New Artist and Best Female Mandarin Singer, while Cui Jian and his album Frozen Light came away with nothing.

On the afternoon of May 13, the 27th Golden Melody Awards published its list of nominees. As in the past few years, plenty of mainland Chinese musicians are on it.

Run since 1990 by the Government Information Office of Taiwan's Executive Yuan, the Golden Melody Awards are the biggest music prizes in Taiwan; together with the Golden Bell Awards for television and the Golden Horse Awards for film, they make up Taiwan's three big annual awards. Carried by the reach of Taiwanese pop, the Golden Melody has also long been one of the most important music awards in the Mandarin-speaking world.

The mainland music scene has never had an awards show with any real authority, so in recent years many mainland musicians have treated the Golden Melody as the place to prove themselves, and have put it on their calendars. At the ceremonies of the past few years, mainland artists including Li Jian, Li Ronghao and Chang Shilei have already won.

This year Cui Jian joined the race too, entering his album Frozen Light. In all, 192 acts, 482 albums and 11,177 works were submitted, and 128 works ended up nominated across 26 categories. Cui Jian's new album was not among them, in any category.

For the sake of Chinese rock, he has over the years made a phone, made films, staged a dance drama, gone on reality shows, and most recently released his own app. Apart from showing well on the reality shows I Am a Singer and China Star, none of it has amounted to much. This time he and Frozen Light have lost again.

Mainland artists did well enough in this round of nominations, though. Huang Qishan is up for Best Female Mandarin Singer, Li Jian for Best Male Mandarin Singer, and Su Yunying for both Best New Artist and Best Female Mandarin Singer — the happiest surprise among mainland artists so far.

Su Yunying was the runner-up in the second season of Sing My Song. Her own song "Wild Child" won Most Noteworthy Song of the Year at the 16th Chinese Music Media Awards, and she was named Best New Artist at the 16th Music Billboard annual ceremony.

The biggest winners in this round, though, were still Taiwanese. A-Mei and Sodagreen both made the lists for Song of the Year and Album of the Year, and each also picked up a nomination in their own category — Best Female Mandarin Singer for A-Mei, Best Band for Sodagreen. Sodagreen's Winter Endless led the field with eight nominations.

For mainland artists, entering the Golden Melody really is hard. Under the entry rules, a submitted work has to be released first in Taiwan, or released there at the same time as on the mainland — which means a mainland artist must put the album out in Taiwan through an overseas agent, and arrange a Taiwan launch.

That does shape how mainland artists do overall. Two years ago, at the 27th Golden Melody Awards, the mainland artists who fared best on the nomination list were Li Jian and Li Ronghao. But the mainland singer who made the most noise in Taiwan that year was neither of them — it was Song Dongye. His album North of Anhe Bridge, however, came out on the mainland long before it reached Taiwan, which left him unable to enter at all.

The Full Nominee List for the 27th Golden Melody Awards

【Vocal Categories】

【Publication Awards】

■ Song of the Year

"Don't Give Up (Aka Pisawad)," mother-tongue version, from the film soundtrack Children of the Sun (Wawa No Cidal) / Suming Studio (performer: Suming Rupi)

"Matrilineal Society," from AMIT2 / EMI Records Co., Ltd. (performer: AMIT)

"A Song Written for No One," from Experimental Album: From M.E. to Myself / Warner Music Co., Ltd. (performer: JJ Lin)

"A Rainy Night," from Winter Endless / Universal Music Co., Ltd. (performer: Sodagreen)

"A Little Happiness," from Our Times / HIM International Music Co., Ltd. (performer: Hebe Tien)

■ Best Mandarin Album

Swing Power Company / Wande Music Co., Ltd. (performer: Peggy Hsu)

Eli Hsieh / Charlie: Progress Reports / Shiquan Media Entertainment Marketing Co., Ltd. (performer: Eli Hsieh)

AMIT2 / EMI Records Co., Ltd. (performer: AMIT)

Aphasia / Asia Muse Entertainment Co., Ltd. (performer: Tanya Chua)

Winter Endless / Universal Music Co., Ltd. (performer: Sodagreen)

∞ Infinity / Renren Yougonglian Music Studio (performer: Kumachan)

■ Best Taiwanese-Language Album

Taiwanese New Wave / Dongmai Music Culture Communications Co., Ltd. (performer: Huangshan Liang)

Singing Into the Villages / Luanyin Productions Co., Ltd. (performer: Shi Wenbin)

Columbia / Xihuan Records Co., Ltd. (performer: Chen Jianwei)

Zhang San Li Si / Anle Maosi International Enterprises Co., Ltd. (performer: Zhang San Li Si)

A Slow Love / Dongmai Music Culture Communications Co., Ltd. (performer: Jiang Huiyi)

■ Best Hakka-Language Album

At the Foot of Da Ling / Tonglu Enterprises Co., Ltd. (performer: Qiu Lin)

A Moment of Surprise / Shangxing Entertainment Co., Ltd. (performer: Luo Wenyu)

Gorgeous / Yishibao Enterprises Co., Ltd. (performer: iColor)

A Stranger in a Strange Land / Youliao Music Co., Ltd. (performer: Huang Zixuan)

■ Best Indigenous-Language Album

A Journey of Freedom / Teng Music Studio (performer: Suwana and the CMO Band)

Homeward Migration / Wind Music International Co., Ltd. (performer: Wu Haoen)

Songs of the Dabaliujiu Tribe / EMI Records Co., Ltd. (performer: Dabaliujiu)

■ Best Music Video

"Eternal Summer," from Eternal Summer / B'in Music International Co., Ltd. (director: Su Jianyi)

"As If Sorrow Had Been Downloaded Twice," from As If Sorrow Had Been Downloaded Twice / Asia Muse Entertainment Co., Ltd. (director: Tan Zongfan)

"I'm Not Yours," from Play / Warner Music Co., Ltd. (director: Chen Yiren)

"I Am Alive feat. Jason Mraz," from New Earth / Warner Music Co., Ltd. (director: Liu Gengming)

"I Want to Know Everything About You," from Chance and Fate / Xiangzhi International Co., Ltd. (director: Chen Hongyi)

【Individual Awards】

■ Best Composer

Chen Jianwei — "Black Bird," from Columbia / Xihuan Records Co., Ltd. (performer: Chen Jianwei)

Tanya Chua — "Aphasia," from Aphasia / Asia Muse Entertainment Co., Ltd. (performer: Tanya Chua)

JJ Lin — "A Song Written for No One," from Experimental Album: From M.E. to Myself / Warner Music Co., Ltd. (performer: JJ Lin)

Wu Qingfeng — "A Rainy Night," from Winter Endless / Universal Music Co., Ltd. (performer: Sodagreen)

JerryC — "A Little Happiness," from Our Times / HIM International Music Co., Ltd. (performer: Hebe Tien)

■ Best Lyricist

Xie Mingyou — "A Stranger's Love Song," from Columbia / Xihuan Records Co., Ltd. (performer: Chen Jianwei)

Wu Xiong — "Tear It Down," from Zhang San Li Si / Anle Maosi International Enterprises Co., Ltd. (performer: Zhang San Li Si)

Chen Sa — "Matrilineal Society," from AMIT2 / EMI Records Co., Ltd. (performer: AMIT)

Wu Qingfeng — "Exhilarating Sorrow," from Winter Endless / Universal Music Co., Ltd. (performer: Sodagreen)

Wu Qingfeng — "He Raised His Right Hand to Call the Roll," from Winter Endless / Universal Music Co., Ltd. (performer: Sodagreen)

■ Best Arranger

Chen Jianwei, Chen Junhao, Jakub Kubi Groos, Aodi, Li Dawen — "Would You Be My Girl," from Columbia / Xihuan Records Co., Ltd. (performers: Chen Jianwei, Dwagie)

Xu Yuying, Lu Lüming — "A Letter to Mr. Tim Burton," from Swing Power Company / Wande Music Co., Ltd. (performer: Peggy Hsu)

Zhao Zhao — "A Search in the Deep Sea," from Li Jian's Sixth Album of Original Songs / Ocean Butterflies Music Co., Ltd. (performer: Li Jian)

Chang Shilei, An Dong — "Being Alive Is the Best Death," from Aphasia / Asia Muse Entertainment Co., Ltd. (performer: Tanya Chua)

Sodagreen, Lin Weizhe — "Exhilarating Sorrow," from Winter Endless / Universal Music Co., Ltd. (performer: Sodagreen)

■ Best Album Producer

Peggy Hsu, Wang Xiwen — Swing Power Company / Wande Music Co., Ltd. (performer: Peggy Hsu)

A-Dizai, AMIT — AMIT2 / EMI Records Co., Ltd. (performer: AMIT)

An Dong, Tanya Chua — Aphasia / Asia Muse Entertainment Co., Ltd. (performer: Tanya Chua)

JJ Lin — Experimental Album: From M.E. to Myself / Warner Music Co., Ltd. (performer: JJ Lin)

Lin Weizhe — Winter Endless / Universal Music Co., Ltd. (performer: Sodagreen)

■ Best Single Producer

Xiao Heshuo — "Yabaowei," from Taiwan Melody Land / Dajixiang Integrated Marketing Co., Ltd. (performer: Xiao Heshuo)

Eli Hsieh, Cai Zhengxun — "Lights," from Eli Hsieh / Charlie: Progress Reports / Shiquan Media Entertainment Marketing Co., Ltd. (performer: Eli Hsieh)

Zhao Zhao — "A Search in the Deep Sea," from Li Jian's Sixth Album of Original Songs / Ocean Butterflies Music Co., Ltd. (performer: Li Jian)

Chen Jianqi — "Practicing Loss," from Halfway: Wan Fang's Little Theater / Rock Records International Co., Ltd. (performer: Wan Fang)

Chen Jianqi — "A Woman Past Her Prime," from A Woman Past Her Prime / Gold Typhoon Music & Culture Co., Ltd. (performer: Julia Peng)

■ Best Male Mandarin Singer

Namewee — Asia Sweep 2015 / Liangneng Cultural Creative Co., Ltd.

Li Jian — Li Jian's Sixth Album of Original Songs / Ocean Butterflies Music Co., Ltd.

Ke Zhitang — You Don't Really Want to Wander / Sony Music Entertainment Taiwan Co., Ltd.

Matzka — Southeastern Beauty / Sony Music Entertainment Taiwan Co., Ltd.

JJ Lin — Experimental Album: From M.E. to Myself / Warner Music Co., Ltd.

■ Best Female Mandarin Singer

Peggy Hsu — Swing Power Company / Wande Music Co., Ltd.

Xiao Xia — Xiao Xia / Sony Music Entertainment Taiwan Co., Ltd.

Su Yunying — 《冥明》 / Sony Music Entertainment Taiwan Co., Ltd.

AMIT — AMIT2 / EMI Records Co., Ltd.

Tanya Chua — Aphasia / Asia Muse Entertainment Co., Ltd.

Julia Peng — A Woman Past Her Prime / Gold Typhoon Music & Culture Co., Ltd.

■ Best Male Taiwanese-Language Singer

Chen Jianwei — Columbia / Xihuan Records Co., Ltd.

Chen Lei — Missing Your Mother / Qiankun Film & TV Communications Co., Ltd.

Xu Fukai — Xu Fukai: A Young Man's Dream / Huate International Music Co., Ltd.

Huangshan Liang — Living On for You / Dongmai Music Culture Communications Co., Ltd.

Liumang A-De — The Good-for-Nothing / Zimi Music Studio

■ Best Female Taiwanese-Language Singer

Xiulan Maya — Xiulan Maya: Star Overhead / Huate International Music Co., Ltd.

Huang Fei — Huang Fei: The Wordless Book From Heaven / Huate International Music Co., Ltd.

Cao Yawen — Cao Yawen: A Lifetime of Peace / Huate International Music Co., Ltd.

Jiang Huiyi — A Slow Love / Dongmai Music Culture Communications Co., Ltd.

■ Best Hakka-Language Singer

Qiu Lin — At the Foot of Da Ling / Tonglu Enterprises Co., Ltd.

Luo Wenyu — A Moment of Surprise / Shangxing Entertainment Co., Ltd.

iColor — Gorgeous / Yishibao Enterprises Co., Ltd.

Huang Zixuan and Shanpingkuai — A Stranger in a Strange Land / Youliao Music Co., Ltd.

■ Best Indigenous-Language Singer

Wu Haoen — Homeward Migration / Wind Music International Co., Ltd.

Balai (Gao Zhongjie) — Ancient Transparency / Muti Creative Studio Co., Ltd.

Sauniyao Jiufenlefen — Never Left / Sauniyao Traditional Arts Studio

■ Best Band

Mixer (Wu Shenghao, Lin Zhean, Zhang Yinuo, Lu Yifan, Yu Boxi) — Nameless Humans / Xiguo Entertainment Enterprises Co., Ltd. & Xiangzhi International Co., Ltd.

io Band (Hans Chen Sihan, Angus Chen Yinian, Cody Pan Guosheng) — III / Aiou Music Co., Ltd.

Cosmos People (Lin Zhongyu "Xiaoyu," Chen Kuiyan "Akui," Fang Kuitang "Fang Q") — 10,000 Hours / B'in Music International Co., Ltd.

Tolaku (Guoxi, Laoyou, Aji, Xiaofan, Jiangbao) — Mr. Hormone / Warner Music Co., Ltd.

Won Fu (Yao Junmin, Xie Jinru, Gu Xinyu, Du Binghong) — Dad, I Want to Be a Singer / Wande Music Co., Ltd.

Sodagreen (Wu Qingfeng, Xie Xinyi, Liu Jiakai, He Jingyang, Gong Yuqi, Shi Junwei) — Winter Endless / Universal Music Co., Ltd.

■ Best Vocal Group

cozy diary (Xiaolu, Yang Ziting) — Live Life Well / Dreamland Studio

Xibanzi (Jiang Niao [Jiang Jihong], Li Guanyun, Xu Wenxin, Zheng Yuxiao, Lin Yifan, Yang Qinghua, Tang Yuru, Liu Meiling, Li Zhaoping, Li Hanni, Gao Yujing) — What Those Africans Taught Me / Sanshi Erli Co., Ltd.

911 (Chen Haoyu, Liao Jianzhi, Hong Yuhong) — 9453 / Rock Records International Co., Ltd.

Zhang San Li Si (Zhang Xi'an, Li Baigang, Huang Bingxiang, Ma Shaoquan) — Zhang San Li Si / Anle Maosi International Enterprises Co., Ltd.

■ Best New Artist

Hello Nico — A Familiar Desolation / Black Market Music Co., Ltd.

Eli Hsieh — Eli Hsieh / Charlie: Progress Reports / Shiquan Media Entertainment Marketing Co., Ltd.

Ke Zhitang — You Don't Really Want to Wander / Sony Music Entertainment Taiwan Co., Ltd.

Yoyo Sham — here / Ruci Co., Ltd.

Zhang San Li Si — Zhang San Li Si / Anle Maosi International Enterprises Co., Ltd.

Su Yunying — 《冥明》 / Sony Music Entertainment Taiwan Co., Ltd.

Kumachan — ∞ Infinity / Renren Yougonglian Music Studio

【Instrumental Categories】

【Publication Awards】

■ Best Album

Simple Life / Andi Yinfu Culture Co., Ltd. (players: Yang Xiao'en, Lou Rainone, Lin Weisheng, Seiji Ochiai)

GRAND BAZAAR / Andi Yinfu Culture Co., Ltd. (player: BAZAAR)

Hear: Huang Yuxiang / HIM International Music Co., Ltd. (player: Huang Yuxiang)

SEMIFUSA, self-titled / SEMIFUSA Chamber Orchestra (players: Luo Siyun, Lu Siqian, Ye Diqi, Zhang Jiayu, Hong Weiting, Chen Yijun)

Wansei Back Home / Guohe Co., Ltd. (player: Zhong Xingmin)

【Individual Awards】

■ Best Album Producer

Yang Xiao'en — Simple Life / Andi Yinfu Culture Co., Ltd. (players: Yang Xiao'en, Lou Rainone, Lin Weisheng, Seiji Ochiai)

Lü Shengfei, Dong Shunwen — 6 / Weifu Music Co., Ltd. (player: Infinite Fusion Band)

Lim Giong — The Assassin, original film soundtrack / B'in Music International Co., Ltd. (player: none)

Yu Jialun, Ying Qixuan — SEMIFUSA, self-titled / SEMIFUSA Chamber Orchestra (players: Luo Siyun, Lu Siqian, Ye Diqi, Zhang Jiayu, Hong Weiting, Chen Yijun)

Zhong Xingmin — Wansei Back Home / Guohe Co., Ltd. (player: Zhong Xingmin)

■ Best Composer

Yang Xiao'en — "Simple Life," from Simple Life / Andi Yinfu Culture Co., Ltd. (players: Yang Xiao'en, Lou Rainone, Lin Weisheng, Seiji Ochiai)

Huang Yuxiang — "Hearing the Wind," from Hear: Huang Yuxiang / HIM International Music Co., Ltd. (player: Huang Yuxiang)

Huang Yuxiang — "A Little Trip by High-Speed Rail," from Hear: Huang Yuxiang / HIM International Music Co., Ltd. (player: Huang Yuxiang)

Zhang Yiqin — "Huji Dance," from The Assassin, original film soundtrack / B'in Music International Co., Ltd. (players: dizi, Qiu Yixing; sheng, Yang Zhibo; yangqin, Li Mengxue; percussion, Zheng Yaxin; percussion, Ma Junren; Central Asian strings, Zhang Yiqin; oud, Alebeng Guifei)

CinCin Lee — "Love Letter Over the Sea," from CinCin Lee and Chen Ruibin's Love Letter Over the Sea / CinCin Lee Music Productions Co., Ltd. (players: Chia-Hao Lee, Chih-Hong Tseng, Jerry Huang, Baobu Badulu)

【Technical Categories】

【Individual Awards】

■ Best Album Packaging

Wu Jianlong — Zhang San Li Si / Anle Maosi International Enterprises Co., Ltd.

Weiming Lin — The Law of Indestructibility / Shiyi Audio-Visual Co., Ltd.

Huang Jiaxian — Mr. Hormone / Warner Music Co., Ltd.

Fang Xuzhong — Southeastern Beauty / Sony Music Entertainment Taiwan Co., Ltd.

Zhao Yixiang — GIGO / Heguang Entertainment Co., Ltd.

Aaron Nieh — For the Attention of Ms. Qiu Yueyun / Luwei Huakai Music Arts & Culture Studio

【Publication Awards】

■ Best Vocal Recording Album

A New Heartbeat / Sony Music Entertainment Taiwan Co., Ltd.

(principal recording engineers: Peter Roberts, Lupo Groinig, Strawberry / principal mixing engineers: Richard Furch, George Dum / principal mastering engineer: Reuben Cohen)

Frozen Light / Sony Music Entertainment Taiwan Co., Ltd.

(principal recording engineers: Li You, Dou Ruyi, Zhang Bo, Yan Zhongkun / principal mixing engineers: Howie, Joe Hirst / principal mastering engineer: Ray Stuff)

AMIT2 / EMI Records Co., Ltd.

(principal recording engineers: Chen Wenjun, Chen Zhenfa / principal mixing engineer: Fan Naigang / principal mastering engineer: Joe LaPorta)

Aphasia / Asia Muse Entertainment Co., Ltd.

(principal recording engineer: Kyle Hoffmann / principal mixing engineers: An Dong, Richard Furch / principal mastering engineer: John Davis)

Falling in Love With Yourself / Taiwan Sun Entertainment Co., Ltd.

(principal recording engineers: Zhou Zhihao, Ye Yuxuan / principal mixing engineer: Wang Junjie / principal mastering engineer: Chris Gehringer)

■ Best Instrumental Recording Album

The Arti: The Adventure Begins, film soundtrack / Sony Music Entertainment Taiwan Co., Ltd.

(principal recording engineers: Yang Minqi, Li Zhaoyang, Wu Rong'en, Lin Xiaoqin, Zhu Jingran, Chen Yilin, Ke Zongyou, Jiang Songsong, Yang Banghao / principal mixing engineers: Yang Minqi, Craig Burbidge, Wang Junjie ("Xiao K"), Simon Li / principal mastering engineer: Sun Zhongshu)

Long Bridge / Fangzhou Music & Culture Co., Ltd.

(principal recording engineer: Zheng Li Shouxin / principal mixing engineer: Chen Zhenfa / principal mastering engineer: Wang Jiadong)

Simple Life / Andi Yinfu Culture Co., Ltd.

(principal recording engineer: Kyle Cassel / principal mixing engineer: Dave Darlington / principal mastering engineer: Dave Darlington)

A Room of One's Own / Asia Muse Entertainment Co., Ltd.

(principal recording engineers: Todd Carder, Pat Noonan [The Bunker Studio] / principal mixing engineers: Brian Montgomery, Wei Yuxian / principal mastering engineer: Systems Two Recording Studio)

SEMIFUSA, self-titled / SEMIFUSA Chamber Orchestra

(principal recording engineer: Yu Jialun / principal mixing engineer: Yu Jialun / principal mastering engineers: Jeff Lipton, Maria Rice)

【Jury Award】

■ Jury Award

Not awarded

【Special Contribution Award】

■ Special Contribution Award

Tracy Huang

Cover image source: bh-show.com