Angela Chang
Ang 5.0
The new version isn’t always better than the old version – Microsoft has demonstrated this brilliantly in its Windows series. Angela Chang’s album, called Ang 5.0, while not bad, doesn’t show itself as worthy as her previous albums. This album is composed of songs with a supposingly more cheerful side. But when compared to her past albums, which always contained slightly darker material in it (Yu Yan, Na Han, Mama Mama MV, Bu Tong MV), it fails to illustrate the colorful personality Angela has as a girl with huge dreams.
We’ve seen Angela play the role of a dark enchantress, the sweet girl next door, the colorful sunshine girl without a care, the sophisticated and stylish lady, and the rebel. This album has painted too simple a portrait of Angela for the public to believe. They’ve tried to spice this album up with the simplest rock chords (in the most inappropriate places), a Jay Chou song (I seriously could not tell which one was the Jay Chou song), and unfitting makeup (and cleavage) in the MVs. But all of this can’t substitute for Angela. And I miss the real Angela.
Four of these songs (Wo yao lian ai, Bu xiang dong de, Neng bun neng yong gang shuo ai, and Le yuan) are from Angela’s just-finished drama, Gong Zhu Xiao Mei, which might draw many fans of the drama eager to hear the songs (there was no OST released). The last two tracks are instrumental versions of Bu Xiang Dong De and Le Yuan. To those who haven’t heard these songs before, they embody the typical Taiwanese drama – sweet-happy-sappy/poignant-heartbreaking-lonely. They also represent the rest of the songs in this album.
Tracks 1, 5, 9, 10 are the more cheerful songs. The rest of the album (6 songs+2 songs) are basically ballads, but definitely not as emotional as most of Angela’s past ballads. Angela shocked me by actually singing off-pitch in the beginning of the second track, “Bu xiang dong de.” The recording of almost all these songs seem carelessly done. They seem like they were all recorded in the space of a few days, at most. I was disappointed that Angela didn’t even serenade us with her unique and beautiful vibrato, going for a sweeter and smoother feel in her singing. Unfortunately, attempting this detracts from the natural emotion of her singing. In almost every single of her past ballads, she was able to touch my heart with her voice.
It’s different in this album. Beside from the fact that she didn’t inject her unique strength into most of the singing, the emotion was conspicuously missing as well. Angela just didn’t seem like she was very into the music – she just sang, and that was it. I think much of the problem lies with the ballads themselves – most of them don’t have a moving melody and arrangement. I mean, some of the songs might really be below-average. Jay Chou’s composition (Qing Ai De… Zhe bu shi Ai Qing) certainly was. The better songs on this album are Wo Lian Ai Le and Bu Xiang Dong De, theme songs for Angela’s drama. Chuang Bian Gu Shi is a very sweet-sounding lullaby; I would say it is the best track on this album.
I think mainstream Chinese pop is suffering from the same epidemic. The whole mainstream industry has forgotten the foundations on which they’ve built these singers. This was a disappointment from Angela. A very mediocre album at best. I still love Angela, and will continue to, but the songs in this album, and the album itself, only merits a 5/10. There are many albums released in the past year to merit your money.
Track Listing:
1. 我恋爱了 (Wo Lian Ai Le - I’m in love)
2. 不想懂得 (Bu Xiang Dong De - Don’t want to understand)
3. 亲爱的… 那不是爱情 (Qin Ai De… Na Bu Shi Ai Qing - Honey… that isn’t love)
4. 床边故事 (Chuang Bian Gu Shi - Bedside story)
5. 铁头甜心 (Tie Tou Tian Xin - Stubborn Sweetheart)
6. 重来 (Chong Lai - Again)
7. 能不能勇敢说爱 (Neng Bu Neng Yong Gan Shuo Ai - Can you bravely say you love me?)
8. 失忆 (Shi Yi - Amnesia)
9. 乐园 (Le Yuan - Paradise)
10. 谁爱谁 (Shei Ai Shei - Who loves whom?)
11. 不想懂得 (Bu Xiang Done De - Piano Instrumental)
12. 乐园 (Le Yuan - Waltz Instumental)
Written by Jed on Dec 18, 2007
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36 Comments, Join the discussion
Steve
Nice that you reviewed it. I just got in touch with this album yesterday, my first listening response was…ummmmm *sigh
Dec 19th, 2007
Cindy
Thanks for the review. I actually quite dislike the first song and like the 2nd and 3rd songs but think that overall the album is disappointing.
Dec 21st, 2007
Wang
I think you are nuts! I love this CD. I just received it from YesAsia.com this Monday, and it’s been playing non-stop in my car ever since. I’ve never heard any of her music before, but I got this because of watching Romantic Princess. I can’t detect any off pitch singing in song 2, although at 1:34 it seems like the bass player kicked in two beats too early.
Jan 10th, 2008
TonYep
Wang, well you’ve never heard any of her previous albums before and thus cant compare this album to her previous ones.
This album is below avergae; much like Jay’s latest album. Good work Jed!
Jan 10th, 2008
Jed
Haha, Thank You for the support, Tony. Much appreciated. :)
Jan 10th, 2008
Yoshico
I kinda like Angela Zhang. The cd is very happy.
Jan 15th, 2008
xiatian
she’s so beautiful with this hair style.
Jan 19th, 2008
slam
as much as i like her voice
i think she can really sing well. can tell she puts in a lot of effort to sing well too (she has tt concentrating real hard look during performances lol)
but somehw shes really getting prettier by the day
and to be honest i think she went for some plastic surgery (sorry fans but really just compare her now and her pics of her much older albums and tv dramas)
vast difference! way too vast …her features now are so much more well defined
but anw i like track 2 and 8
im starting to lose faith in jay chou’s creations
track 3 is no good
neither is the new song he wrote for twins
he used to have it all. but not anymore. pity
Jan 21st, 2008
Nut
i tink i love all her song maybe she’s trying to try other gengres of music ans stlye i tink overall she done well i always will buy her CD and i tink those who like or do not not likeis actually to their own preference so i can understand ….and the image of her this time make look refreshing too…
Jan 22nd, 2008
Cybie
Angela is coming to Singapore on March 29. I’m so eager for her coming. I’ve watch the dvd of her concert in Taipei. Fantastic..! Really looking forward..!
Jan 23rd, 2008
astrid
I really like Neng Bu Neng Yong Gan Shuo Ai, this song very cool for me, after I watch romantic princess….go angela…bravo….
Jan 24th, 2008
jocelyn
Angela is more beautiful with this hairstyle…
I’ve watch her MV “wo lian ai le” she’s very cute
Jan 24th, 2008
Lily
wow.. such big words….
i think it’s weird.. i saw the MV on Hunan the other day and it was reallii weird …. but her songs from romantic princess are good… enough for me…
Jan 25th, 2008
michael lilo
I like the 2nd song… it really touching… touch until inside my heard deaply… :)
Jan 25th, 2008
michael lilo
the 2nd song touching me.. feeling just like I miss him so so much… my dear stitch, Michael… I will always there when u every need me… love… from ur LILO…
Jan 25th, 2008
Angela
Personally, I love Neng Bu Neng You Gan Shou. It’s my second favorite next to Aurora. ^^;
Jan 27th, 2008
Catriona
I completely agree with your review. This album was a disappointment for me in light of all her other albums. I love listening to Angela because she’s not afraid to set her voice free when she sings, but this was sorely lacking from this album. Some of the songs have grown on me, but Chuang Bian Gu Shi followed by Chong Lai are really the only ones I like.
Feb 6th, 2008
Free Falling
Must admit this was a little bit of a letdown for me also. It a nice album to listen to but not without its production faults, this was always going to be a difficult follow up album.
Feb 7th, 2008
uyenuyen
what’s matter with all of you/ track 3 is not on a par with track 2 or 4 but it is good, a sweet and smôpth ballad. jay chou has still been a budding composer. All the songs in this album are good, too. I love all Angela’s albums
Feb 8th, 2008
Angela Fan
I personally LOVE all the tracks in the album (as with her other albums)…And I really love the song that Jay composed for Angela.
This album might be a little different from Angela’s previous styles, but I think she was going for this style. Though I have to admit, I like some of her other albums a lot more, but I still love this one and I love her. Keep up the great work ANGELA!!!
Chuang Bian Gu Shi, Neng Bu Neng Shuo Ai Wo, and Qing Ai De .. Na Bu Shi Ai Qing are amazing!!!!
Feb 13th, 2008
TONG
Good comments by Jed. I agree wif him. The MAMA MV from her previous album and songs like Aurora, Butong and Yinxing de Chipang fully brings out Angela’s voice quality and her bravado in creating music that is unique. Ang 5.0 defeated that natural quality that Angela usually displays in her albums, I guess its a case of ’songs taking control of singer’ when it should be the other way around. Like Angela described Ang5.0, its merely a supposed upgrade from her previous albums when it sorely isn’t. However, Chuang Bian Gu Shi is a good saving grace, not forgetting Angela’s new image too. Angela is the CUTE ONE!!! So based on the above 2 points I still find this album passable and my love for Angela will never die!!!
ANGELA RULES!!!!!!!
(just try to do a better album next time)
Feb 15th, 2008
yap yap
Good comments by Jed. I agree wif him. The MAMA MV from her previous album and songs like Aurora, Butong and Yinxing de Chipang fully brings out Angela’s voice quality and her bravado in creating music that is unique. Ang 5.0 defeated that natural quality that Angela usually displays in her albums, I guess its a case of ’songs taking control of singer’ when it should be the other way around. Like Angela described Ang5.0, its merely a supposed upgrade from her previous albums when it sorely isn’t. However, Chuang Bian Gu Shi is a good saving grace, not forgetting Angela’s new image too. Angela is the CUTE ONE!!! So based on the above 2 points I still find this album passable and my love for Angela will never die!!!
ANGELA RULES!!!!!!!
(just try to do a better album next time)
Feb 16th, 2008
sai
Angela like my name -_-
Feb 21st, 2008
yongshen
who’s tat tha’s me haha :(
Feb 21st, 2008
angela
hi all
u all plz pleave this web or i send virus to u all
Feb 21st, 2008
www.maplesea.com
all i gm band u from maple
Feb 21st, 2008
Sha
I would rate this 8/10. After seeing Romantic Princess and hearing her songs played on the drama, I fell in love with Angela almost instantly. Tracks like Neng Bu Neng Yong Gan Shuo Ai and Wo Lian Ai Le quite nice.
Feb 22nd, 2008
J
Before this CD I wasn’t a really huge fan of Angela, I knew her voice was amazing and she had some really good songs, but I disagree with your review. I think that the songs in this album are all very unique in their own ways. After listening to the CD a few times I slowly began to fall in love with each one. I think the effort that Angela put into making her voice match the energy and mood in each of the songs is very obvious. As for Bu Xiang Dong De being off pitch, it’s not, and the way she sang it is the style for the song itself. She does plenty of vibrato in the album, and I can’t see where its not well mixed, and trust me, I’ve listened to the whole album at least 30 times. The Jay Chou song, once you listen to it a few times it really does catch on and it is amazing. If you don’t think this album has attitude, listen to Neng Bu Neng Yong Gan Shuo Ai.
Mar 13th, 2008
Jed
Umm, I can guarantee you that parts of Bu Xiang Dong De are off-pitch. Like that highest note in the climax… And emotion-wise, this wasn’t good at all… Go listen to some A-Mei or past Angela, and you can tell the difference.
Some songs are well-mixed, like Bu Xiang Dong De. Some are just… not highest-quality.
Mar 14th, 2008
angela nguyen
hehe i met her before! :) ill be at her wedding~ yay! shes soo sweeeet and funny in person. loving person, everyone will get along, guaranteeeeeed . hehe =D
Mar 16th, 2008
doggie luver
love her songs so much…. soo.. nice… those who think that this album no good u must be joking pls listen care fully cindy , tony i agree with wang you r nuts (siao) i have a friend looks like her !
Mar 20th, 2008
doggie luver
love her songs so much…. so.. nice… those who think that this album no good u must be joking! pls listen carefully cindy , tony! i agree with wang you r nuts (siao) i have a friend looks like her !
Mar 20th, 2008
doggie luver
theres nothing wrong with track 2 its nice ( that means its ok) pls do not criticize people in their singing u cant sing like her can u ? dun be so bad pls may be u also sing out of tune !! NO OFFENCE !
Mar 20th, 2008
Angela Ding Mei Li
WOW!!!!!She has the same nickname as me! She sing very well AND very nice!!!! I buy all her albums…..I listen a lot till i can sing her song like Aurora,不 想懂得，影形翅膀，and many more!!!!!!!!! Almost all my classmates is her fans!!!!I will always be her first fans!!!!!! She will always be my idol!!!!!!
Mar 25th, 2008
Michelle
涵你太棒了我永遠支持你
Apr 26th, 2008
Bobbie
I just love listening to Angela, I have heard most of her songs, some are bettter than others but, but thats just the way it is. Keep up the good work Angela.
May 21st, 2008
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