Cherry Boom
Dear Prince (Qing Ai De Wang Zai)
Cha-cha (lead vocalist), Gua (guitarist), Xiao-qian (bassist), and Da-tian (drummer) make up Cherry Boom, a band they formed as students of Fu Jen Catholic University. Jolin Tsai and Faye of F.I.R. are also alumni of said school. But that’s besides the point.
Yes, the fact that it is an all-female rock band is enough for some people to just buy the album out of curiosity or intrigue. But if you don’t buy this album, just let me assure you that you are missing out on one of the better Chinese pop albums released so far this year.
And, in case you were wondering, it’s not a recording company’s attempt to make a female pop group seem credible by dressing them in punk-rock garb and electric guitars. They actually play their own instruments and write most of their own music (gasp!). The four-member rock band is composed of more than some pretty faces, for once. Let’s move on to their lead vocalist, Cha-cha. She has a crisp, young, spirited voice with tons of energy and a lot of attitude. Her voice basically grabs you and says, “Hey! Listen to me!” without being grating to the point where you’d rather give that Rainie Yang CD a few spins. Her sweet, powerful, emotion-filled voice juxtaposed with heavy rock is a perfect fit. I am using the term “rock” a bit loosely though. Some may still consider Cherry Boom to have a relatively more pop sound: so be it. It’s good pop then.
Now, on to individual songs. I figure I should just warn point out to you, their lyrics are occassionally sugarcoated evil. Look on to get what I mean.
If you didn’t know the lyrics of “清新早晨” (A New Morning), you’d think it’s some optimistic love song. But no. It’s about poisoning your ex-boyfriend. In the morning. Cheers.
Oh, don’t let the song title “親愛的王子” mislead you as well. “Dear Prince”? Think fairytale…gone very wrong. If the witch from Snow White had a music box, this creepy tune would play everytime it opened. The one word “eerie” basically encapsulates this song.
“再見我的愛” (Goodbye My Love) is one of the more pop-sounding songs on the album, so it makes sense that it is the first single off the album. Though it has a more mainstream feel to it, it’s still arranged very well and doesn’t stray too far from the other rock material.
“蝕月” (Lunar Eclipse), one of few slow songs, is a lulling, beautiful number that avoids boredom due to the great background instrumentals (the electric guitar goes well with all the songs on the album).
Though they didn’t compose “I Wanna Rock”, it’s a great song. Fun, energetic, perfectly fitting its name. “我的空氣” (The Air I Breathe) is upbeat as well.
My personal favorite is “不對也要愛” (Have to Love Even if It’s Not Right). It’s a cover of some song written by Natalie Hemby and Angela Lauer. Anyhow, I don’t know what about this song makes it so amazing to me. Maybe it’s just an appealing melody and some talented composition. Nonetheless, I do feel Cha-cha’s voice seals the deal. A singer with just a more emotionless voice would have just broken the song. She accomplishes it flawlessly.
01. 清新早晨 (A New Morning)
02. 親愛的王子 (Dear Prince)
03. 秘密花園 (Secret Garden)
04. 再見我的愛 (Goodbye My Love)
05. 蝕月 (Lunar Eclipse)
06. I Wanna Rock
07. 我的空氣 (The Air I Breathe)
08. 小丑世界 (Clown World)
09. 不對也要愛 (Have to Love Even if It’s Not Right)
10. 黑夜來臨 (Night Approaches)
It’s not every day that you’ll find a Taiwanese girl band that writes and plays its own songs. So savor the opportunity. And no, I’m not saying they’re the next female Led Zeppelin. But they’re pretty damn good at what they do.
Discuss this album here.
Watch the music video of “再見我的愛” on Youtube.
Written by Christine on Jul 31, 2006
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37 Comments, Join the discussion
christine/ zhong zhao shi
great review! it has a fresh feel to it, just like their music! :) bu dui ye yao ai and wo de kongqi are my favorites on the album.
Aug 4th, 2006
Steve
Christine really does have a thing for those who compose their own songs.
Just saw the music video. Good enough (plus the review) to convince me to get their album.
I just hope their record company allow them to make more of their own music style rather than dress them like a doll :D
Aug 4th, 2006
shez
female rock band?!?! =O wow!!! i’m gona try to get my hands on this!!! great review christine!! ^_^
Aug 4th, 2006
Christine
Thanks guys. Steve, you’re exactly right.
Aug 5th, 2006
stephanie
The MV for Dear Prince is amazingly..freaky O.O They seem really punk-ish.
Aug 5th, 2006
Amber
one word - TEMPTED.
Period.
=D
Aug 5th, 2006
quadshock
sounds to me like a new wave of the pseudo emo and pseudo hardcore trend that hsa been going on in the US for the past few years
Aug 7th, 2006
Jason
I love them so much! Cherry boom. Zhen mei li and liao bu qi.
Haha
Aug 9th, 2006
CPop4U
shoot, I better not let my ex-gf listen to this, I might ended up in her deadly hands next morning shoot.., who knows? ~~~ 晕
Aug 10th, 2006
Cali
Not bad, some of the songs are different and pretty good. ‘Dear Prince’ definitely sticks out, and yeah, it does remind me of the emo/hardcore stuff that’s popular in america right now.
Aug 10th, 2006
JadedAngel
Just the fact that they were an all female rock band (as predicted in the review) was enough for me to want this album. But it is really good. “Qing Qin Zao Chen” and “Zai Jian Wo De Ai” are my two favorites, but I really love all the songs.
Aug 11th, 2006
Fire
This band is only active in Taiwan, if Cha-cha left the band, Gua do vocal & guitar, this band can active in Hong Kong & Singapore.
After Cha-cha left the band, will be added into HK rock band, DEAR JANE.
Aug 24th, 2006
Fire
Member position(After Cha-cha left):
Gua(Unknown real name)-
Guitar, Vocal
Xiaoqian(Unknown real name)-
Bass
Datian(Unknown real name)-
Drum
Aug 24th, 2006
Fire
In support to other artist as SE7EN, Cha-cha play guitar instead of doing vocal.
If Gua left the band, Cha-cha play guitar as additional position, the band can active outside Taiwan.
Member position(After Gua left):
Cha-cha(Unknown real name)
Vocal, Guitar
Xiaoqian(Unknown real name)-
Bass
Datian(Unknown real name)-
Drum
Aug 28th, 2006
meemi
wait, so did chacha leave the band? or has gua left? what are you talking about fire?
Sep 23rd, 2006
Christine
She’s lying. Just ignore her.
Sep 23rd, 2006
Fire
I have played all of their songs with my drum cover, also, there have 3 songs played by my bass cover:親愛的王子Dear Prince, 再見我的愛Goodbye my love, 清新早晨New morning!
Another rock band, So What, all member are opposite sex of all member of this band, Ahuo is from same university with all member of this band.
Ahuo is cannot play guitar as same time as singing, so he only can play guitar when the band support other singer.
http://www.rocksowhat.com
Cha-cha is able to play guitar, she also able to sing & play guitar at same time, if she play guitar as same time as singing, there is powerful performance!
During this bane support other singer, Cha-cha play guitar instead of doing vocal, standard song(Single guitar version) is only Cha-cha play guitar, double guitar version is Cha-cha play guitar together with Gua, pop-rock style is Cha-cha play guitar, Gua play keyboard.
Guitar=Electric guitar for rock music
Keyboard=Electronic organ
Oct 11th, 2006
Fire
Member position of this band support other singer:
-Standard(Single guitar version)-
Cha-cha(Cha Jiawen)-Guitar
Xiaoqian(Unknown)-Bass
Datian(Unknown)-Drum
-pop-rock style-
Cha-cha(Cha Jiawen)-Guitar
Xiaoqian(Unknown)-Bass
Gua(Unknown)-Keyboard
Datian(Unknown)-Drum
-Double guitar version-
Cha-cha(Cha Jiawen)-Guitar
Gua(Unknown)-Guitar
Xiaoqian(Unknown)-Bass
Datian(Unknown)-Drum
Oct 12th, 2006
Fire
To All:
I went to tomlee music yesterday, during I try electric guitar, I picked up Fender Stratocaster electric guitar & play these songs with my guitar cover!
-再見我的愛Goodbye my love
-清新早晨New morning
-黑夜來臨Dark approaches
I also play 2 of their songs with my drum cover(I do not played Dark approaches).
I cannot see black guitar used by Gua, I see very much color Telecaster & Stratocaster used by Cha-cha, but she use full pink body electric guitar, I cannot see guitar in relation color used by Cha-cha, so no full pink body guitar available!
Oct 18th, 2006
fizzie-zombie23
taiwan’s first female rock band!! these girls have worked their butts off to get into the performing circle (meaning that they weren’t just randomly chosen off the streets), they deserve to get all the attention; plus the amazing fact that their songs are just unique in the azn atmostphere!!!! i think “dear prince” was okay, very minor and evil, but still great! but i would much rather prefer “eclipse of the moon” and “secret garden”. omg, i admire the bandmembers so much~~ rock onnnn~
Dec 24th, 2006
Fire
Kamiki Aya have performed live in Taipei, she is supported by this rock band, all of her song are require double guitar, so cha-cha play guitar together with gua.
Support Kamiki Aya position in Taipei:
查查cha-cha(cha jiawen)-guitar
瓜gua(unknown)-guitar
小倩xiaoqian(unknown)-bass
大恬datian(unknown)-drum
Datian also as drummer for these rock band without member on drum:
EVE(Disbanded by death of Kim Seheon)
AMP
TRAX
Cha-cha is not only a singer, also is guitarist, she can sing with guitar playing.
This rock band allowed to active in these region excluding Taiwan:
China(Beijing, Shanghai)
Hong Kong
Jan 20th, 2007
mandy
any idea where to find their chords and/or sheets for any of their songs?
Feb 23rd, 2007
Fire
2nd album releasing soon, on 24th May, but only available in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada(Vancouver & Toronto only) & Australia(Sydney & Melbourne only) may be later!
Cha-cha can play guitar, so during the band support other artist as TANK & korean & japanese artist, she play guitar instead of doing vocal!
She only use fender stratocaster electric guitar, I hope she sing with guitar playing, this will give the band very high level performance!
May 17th, 2007
Superfly
I like totally love cherryboom la ! hahas. I’m from sg and have not heard of them until one day i turn on mtv and see some chiobu hopping alround and i also follow. That was two years ago btw, bought this album. Still got dvd inside. Nice design also.
May 18th, 2007
Superfly
And why fire don’t want cha cha to sing. okay what. =\
May 18th, 2007
Fire
For support Younha, keyboard is played by Younha herself, so no need keyboard instrument support!
Position of the band supporting Younha:
查查cha-cha(cha jiawen)-guitar
小倩xiaoqian(unknown)-bass
大恬datian(unknown)-drum
May 18th, 2007
Fire
2nd album released, is “Goody goody”, I have played song “Goody goody” & “Do you love me” with my guitar & drum cover!
Cha-cha is not only singer, also is a guitarist, she use fender stratocaster electric guitar only, Gua is both guitarist & keyboard instrument player, she use PRS electric guitar, during support other musician, for song in single guitar version, only Cha-cha play guitar, for pop-rock style song, Cha-cha play guitar, Gua play keyboard instrument, for song in double guitar version are Cha-cha play guitar together with Gua!
Jun 3rd, 2007
seriousam
Fire, what are you talking about? what you’ve been talking about for months doesnt make any sense.
who are you?
Jun 18th, 2007
Kate
hello :)
My name is Kate, I am 23 and now I am in Germany :) and I love chinese music :)
I like for example Xie Ting Feng, Guang Liang, Jay Chou and many more :)
I wish to get to know Cherry Boom :)
Anybody can to help me?
here is my email
keito.desu@gmail.com
I am waiting for message ;)
Aug 23rd, 2007
Fire
Have anyone played Cherry Boom’s song with guitar, bass & drum cover?
You require a 5 string bass to play!
I have played these songs with my guitar & drum cover:
guaiguai(Goody-goody)
ni ai wo ma(Do you love me)
7
shougou(Had enough)
Sep 15th, 2007
Daniel
I’m from the states, and don’t understand them but I know while enough to know that “Cherry Boom” really rocks. I been seeing them on the music channel and on youtube so I decided to search all over for they Cd’s and it was hard but I got both of them, and every since then I been hooked.
Oct 30th, 2007
William
Without a doubt these girls rocks strong and hard, and i’m from the states and I have got to say with great enjoyment that “Cherry boom” can rock. The song that is called “Enough” is a tough and cutting edge that is like one of my favorites out of all of their songs, and I just can’t wait to see what next for them I bet it’s something very big ’cause “Cherry boom” deserve the big life.
Nov 5th, 2007
FIRE
This band is 4 member all-girl rock band, without support rhythm guitarist, so Cha-cha is lead singer & on rhythm guitar, Gua is on lead guitar, Xiaoqian is on bass, Datian is on drum.
Hong Kong is no all-girl rock band, only have all-boy rock band & rock band with girl member, all 4 members rock band(e.g girl singer of rock band) are lead singer play rhythm guitar to waive support rhythm guitarist.
Nov 21st, 2007
UpaUrs
http://youtube.com/watch?v=iXixo4oey_M
^_^
Feb 26th, 2008
peejay
you rock!!
can u please translate the song goodbye my love in english? thanks a lot
Mar 24th, 2008
Larry
I don’t know where you guys saw a video, but I made a fanvideo of
櫻桃幫 - 不对也要爱
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXixo4oey_M is the link.
Enjoy, please comment, rate, and favorite it :) It’s the first video I’ve ever made haha… very basic.
UpaUrs
Apr 9th, 2008
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