Vanness Wu
V. Dubb
This album is watered-down, swished-around, and nicety-split Nelly, an imitator of style yet not of spirit. But if you’re really craving for some Chinese hip-hop, this might be the closest you can get without digging deep down into the underground industry. This album is decent at most - and though I thought it was atrocious at first, I must admit that I do find some of the songs occasionally getting stuck in my head.
The fast songs can be appreciated - I mean they’re not good (as with many hip-hop songs), but the beats do have a way of leaving you craving for more. Sadly, the hip-hop songs in this album basically had the same beat - you don’t have the variety that Jay Chou provides, nor the catchiness of American G-Funk that this album tries to imitate. While he puts house and dance influences inside the songs, they are still hip-hop.
The three ballads (tracks 3, 8, and 9) were more of a brighter spot. They wouldn’t merit a list in my everyday playlist but it was enjoyable to listen to him. His vocals aren’t bad, and a certain technique has him even showing emotions through his voice. The melodies were trying to be different - and while they were, they weren’t that catchy either.
I didn’t know where the company was trying to go with this album. It feels like they were trying to appeal to the mainstream, by imitating what’s hot, but such an approach almost never works. A mixture of average beats, trying-to-stand-out melodies, and mildly-suggestive lyrics, the album is only for Vanness or hot guy fans - or for those who can appreciate Wilber Pan and his contemporaries. Definitely not for those who admire Chinese music for its innovativeness (Jay and Leehom). As another person put it - none of the songs are bad, but neither are they amazing. A mediocre album deserves a mediocre rating - 5 out of 10.
1-01. 我的王國 (Wo De Wang Guo)
1-02. Never Let You Go
1-03. 放手 (Fang Shou)
1-04. Just One Dance
1-05. Friday Night
1-06. 幻想這愛 (Huan Xiang Zhe Ai)
1-07. 零時差 (Lin Shi Cha)
1-08. 媽媽 (Ma Ma)
1-09. 如果 (Ru Guo)
1-10. Eternity
1-11. 幻想這愛(House remix)中文版 (Huan Xiang Zhe Ai (House remix) Zhong Wen Ban)
Click here to buy the album (limited Macho version).
Click here to buy the album (preorder version).
Written by Jed on May 17, 2007
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24 Comments, Join the discussion
Cam Lam
OH MAN. I don’t like this album. I didn’t know it was gonna be hip-hop and not mandopopppp. =((
May 19th, 2007
Jed
Yeah… It’s mostly hip-hop. Did you listen to it?
May 19th, 2007
Cam Lam
Yeah, I listened to all of it. They’re really boring. None of them caught me.
May 19th, 2007
Elena/musicelliety
LOL “Vanness or hot-guy fans.” I’ll combine the two. ; )
I agree that the ballads were the better part of the album. And I find the name “Macho version” amusing.
I’m considering getting it though. For the reason at top of this comment. xD
May 19th, 2007
Jed
Cam Lam: Exactly what I thought
Elena: If you get it, at least I can earn some of the proceeds. :D GET IT GET IT!! Just kidding - maybe I’ll have to buy a coke for you when we have our CMB Bay Area get-together.
May 19th, 2007
Elena/musicelliety
Lol, Jed. But I wanted to get it at a local shop, and not Yesasia. Sorry! =P Wait, so you’re active in the forum too? Whoops, didn’t know that. What’s your forum username?
May 21st, 2007
TonYep
Jed is yellowyellowyellow
May 22nd, 2007
Elena/musicelliety
Hehe, yeah, I figured that out like.. really soon after I posted. Whoops, sorry!
May 23rd, 2007
kwoky
check eternity out “,
but to be honest I’m really disappointed!
May 23rd, 2007
appleface
his ballad are pathetic, but indeed it was a good effort by vanness. his rnb and rap are awesome!!. i love “wo de wang guo” and all other upbeat ones.
Ma Ma is the most acceptable ballad within the album, it’s great to finally hear a song about mother and one shall appreciates her more.
Eternity is the best song amongst others.
worth listening.
May 24th, 2007
Christine
Eternity had potential, but it was ruined because the music kept dying down to allow for Vanness’ voice to get through. It could have been a great rock song, but just ended up as sorry attempt at rock with weak vocals and little energy. The music should of escalated when he sang, not cut out completely.
May 25th, 2007
mai
im very love you vanness wu and like you sing song
Jun 17th, 2007
sxcbum
i loved 1-01. 我的王國 (Wo De Wang Guo). thought it was the hottest song ever.
Jun 26th, 2007
Lives
Being from America, this cd is unbelievably good, perhaps Hip hop isn’t as apreciated in Asia, but that’s the mainstream here, and honestly Van did an amazing job, his songs and beats are great. I don’t like the ballads, but comparing it to American hip hop it’s awesome!
Jun 29th, 2007
VanBOO
ONE WORD FOR HIM:
HE SUCKS!!
he aint handsome
he aint muscular -.-
Jun 30th, 2007
Cristina
I really love this cd. i personaly give it 10 of 10. vanness is my fav mandarin singer and this cd is way better than Body Will Sing from 2002
Jul 19th, 2007
fan
this album has got to b one of the best ones which came out recently. i loved the songs in it! mayb this may not b so appealing in asia cuz hip hop isnt rly the in the mainstream. But its a great album!! a great hip hop album
Jul 24th, 2007
Lillysweet27
Hmmmm, I am not so sure what to say about this album but the track “Ma Ma” is really amazing and this song makes me remember my mum more. Other than that, he has followed the HIP HOP stream. I think he has targeted to the Western Audiences rather than Asians… so I appreciate his efforts. Overall, it’s not so bad.
Jul 27th, 2007
Jenny
i agree with Lives. Maybe in Asia, hiphop is not really popular. but i thought his songs were amazing. he is so hot and he can sing. I love his song, Ma Ma. its so sweet. Being from America, I think his cd is the shit. :]
Aug 15th, 2007
Tiffany
I recently purchased the album. Im not sure where to start, most of the upbeat hip-hop songs are rocking but most of the ballads didnt really do it for me. If youre looking for some songs to dance to, this album is pretty good. But if youre looking for some ballads, Body Will Sing was better.
Aug 30th, 2007
critic
i bought this cd to support a friend, who wrote one of the ballads. i was pretty skeptical when i first bought it, but i have to say i actually like this album a lot. you have to let it grow on you. if you’re a fan of jay chou/ david tao/ wang lee hom, then you’ll find the ballads aren’t as strong as the fast tempo songs. being an authentic US hip hop fan, i’m impressed with Wo De Wang Guo. and i like Huan Xiang Zhe Ai, both versions. i think the content of a lot of the songs are solid, and although it’s not gonna win any awards, i give vanness some props for putting this album out. i hope more artists go in this hip-POP direction, b/c i’m sick of the poppy crap.
Sep 17th, 2007
Diana
I like this CD, and am patiently waiting for my very own copy to arrive! Been liking VANN since he starred in Peach Girl ~~ love seeing how he has changed and grown over the years! He just gets better, and better, and better, and better, and better, and better, and better, and better; ~~~~~~~~ you get the drift!
Dec 3rd, 2007
JENNY LI
I DON’T REALLY UNDERSTAN THE LYRIC BUT I LOVE IT .”MA MA ” -THAT I WANT TO SAY TO MY MOM ”MA MA MA MA BU YAO KU LE ” VANNESS THANKS
Dec 15th, 2007
Cassandra
I like the beat to a couple of the faster songs, I also enjoyed fang shou and mama. I enjoy the music vanness performs because of the mixture english/chinese words. A lot of the r/b and rap that has been airing lately all sounds the same. The singers voices are too augmented. If the song cannot be performed well in concert it was worked on too long in the studio.
I like kangta & vanness’s scandal the most.
Mar 4th, 2008
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