Diary entry 41

Wed, 24 Mar 2004

Dear Friends,

So much has transpired since my last diary entry, I don't know where to begin. The chaotic Taiwanese election, the Japanese album, the Chinese album, the English album, the new concert tour, the movie "Mahiruno Hoshizora", the recent birth of my first nephew, meeting with my idol Stevie Wonder in Osaka...the list goes on and on!
It's altogether too much to talk about in one diary entry, so I'll start with what's going on today. I am currently in an airplane en route to Thailand! This is my first ever trip to Thailand, and I am looking forward to this very much. I was invited by Sony Thailand and Channel V to attend the annual Thai Music Awards. I am up for the Best Asian Artist award, but to be honest, I'm just excited to be going to a new country for the first time! Thailand, here I come!
During the past few months, I have spent most of my time recording for the Japanese album and song-writing for the Chinese album. Both will be coming out very soon (April 21, first single "Dream Again", Chinese album October, 2004)!I really hope you all enjoy the Japanese, because I made it for YOU! Let me know if my Japanese has improved...ok, su ko shi?
The Chinese album is still in the works. I have been meeting with professors of ethnomusicology from National Taiwan University, and Central Music Conservatory in Beijing, and have done considerable research already into the musics of Chinese ethnic minorities. The musics of Xin Jiang, Yun Nan, Tibet,Mongolia (and more) have been a huge influence on the sound of this album, and have helped me to create a clearer sonic identity for Chinese popular music.Now that the Japanese album is complete, I will be focusing more on thisproject in the months to come!
Well, that's som of what's on my mind today! The plane is about to land, so I've got to put my computer to sleep now! Thanks for your support, and I'll SEE YOU SOON!

Love, peace and music,

Leehom

Diary entry 40

Tue, 09 Sep 2003

Dear Friends,

I've been sooo busy recently! Sorry for not writing sooner!I'm on a plane now from Shanghai to Taiwan, thinking of you all. So many big things are happening in this next month, I feel like the fruits of so many people's efforts are coming together and creating such an amazing energy!The new japanese maxi-single, "Ai No Ki Se Ki" coming out 10/1, the new book coming out 10/15, the new Chinese album is almost ready, the concert in Taipei stadium 10/11cthere is so much going on! In addition to all this excitement, I have also just recently been chosen by McDonalds to be their spokesperson for China and Taiwan. I recorded a fun song called, "I'm lovin it" and shot the music video yesterday in Shanghai. In the U.S., the spokesperson is Justin Timberlake, and he sings the English version of this song, which is really cool, too! The McDonalds people told me who the spokesperson might be for Japan, but I am not allowed to tell anyone this secret yet! Keep on the look out for this news, it is sure to be a great artist!
So over the past six-days I visited 5 cities in China: Shenzhen, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai to attend and perform at the McDonalds "staff rallies".Just this morning, I met the world-wide CEO of McDonalds, Jim Cantalopo, and one of the original founders of McDonalds the legendary Fred Turner. What a great experience! I'll be arriving in Taipei tonight, and I know I'll immediately turn on my computer to put the finishing touches on the Chinese album. I really really hope you all like it!In the meantime, thanks for all your support! I am hoping to see you all October in Japan at the events. Isn't INC great?! When you guys see Tawa-san and the INC staff, please give them lots of support and positive response! They have been working so hard!See you all soon, and thanks for your support!Love, Peace and Music,

Leehom

Diary entry 39

Fri, 20 June 2003

Dear Friends,

I'm writing to you all from New York right now, where I ambusy recording parts of the new Chinese, Japanese, and English albums. It's good to be back home with my family.The big news here is that Lee-kai is graduating from high school next week and will be attending MIT in the fall.I can't believe my little brother has grown up so fast!To be honest, my diary these days might read something like this: Today I came up with a cool guitar part for one song and recorded it,and then threw away the lyrics to another song and decided to write a whole new set AGAIN...blah, blah, blah,but you haven't heard these songs yet, so it would be premature to start talking about them now. Instead, I'll talk about something that happened recentlyin my life that was extraordinary. It is a song called, "Hand in Hand".On May 12, my good friend David Tao and I were approached by AZIO TV to write and produce a song to help alleviate the SARS situation in Asia. We sat down and decided that what the people really needed, and what we could provide to combat this virus was not charity money, but rather education and awareness of how to stop the spread of SARS. At the time, we felt in particular that people were not being responsible to the community because they were afraid. People disobeyed government quarantines, escaping from hospitals and cordoned off sections of the streets. We felt that this "battle", in order to be won as quickly as possible,needed everyone working together as a team. Therefore, those are the messages of "Hand in Hand": teamwork and the reassurance to not be afraid.David and I wrote the song the next day, and gave the demo to AZIO, who then distributed the song to every Chinese singer who was interested in being part of this project. It turned out to be a whopping 85 of the most popular talents of today and legendary singers of past generations.It was so humbling and awe-inspiring to know that this song would bring so many great artists together to do something for our community.From writing, to arranging, to recording, to turning in the final mixed song, we took all of 7 days. I've never worked so fast and slept so little in a week! All I can remember is going home and crying in my Taipei apartment while listening to the finished product in my computer. It was just an overwhelming feeling of 1,000 emotions all at once.Sometimes we get used to reducing music to sonic furniture, something in your room, placed there to make a fashion statement, or because it just feels comfortable. The danger of this is that it makes us forget to strive for something more than just furniture because the audience is liking it. So seldom do we get a chance like this one, to really make a difference with our music.The whole experience of "Hand in Hand" reminded me of the power of music. The power to communicate, and bring people together in harmony, the power to release some of that nuclear magic from inside the human spirit."Hand in Hand" reminded me of why I am a musician.For me, this song will always be one of the highlights of my career.

Love, Peace, and Music,

Leehom

Diary entry 38

Year 2003
Fri, 02 May 2003

Dear Friends,

It's been a long time since I wrote to you last.So much has happened, so little has happened, but right now, I am in shock from the news of my good friend Leslie.I'm not sure what to do right now, who to talk to, so I'm writing this letter, to my diary.It is so important that we tell one another how much we love them.Each person that we meet in life is a chance coincidence, and a unique encounter.Each person that we meet in life is a living, breathing, loving human being. We often forget that dimension, don't we? It's easier for us to categorize people and see their surfaces only, as suits and ties, as record company staff, as fans, as stars, as Americans, as Iraqis.We are all the same.We are all so weak and vulnerable, lonely, and sad.We are all twisted and sick, misunderstood and in pain. Yet we live for those moments of parting clouds and warm smiles.I believe that each encounter with another human being is a chance to create these moments, and am more convinced today than ever, that "breaking the ice" and disarming our fellow human beings of their fears and isolation is the key to letting us live in harmony.We should all be able to be ourselves, and connected at the same time.Leslie was beautiful, rich, talented, successful...we all adored him.I can't imagine why he would, of all people, feel the desire to end that life.Yet at the same time, I can.It's so easy to fall so subtly down into that black hole, to get consumed by the darkness, and before you realize what has happened, you're trapped inside.We all know the darkness.It comes and it takes a hold of you like you haven't even got a say in the matter.It controls you.Every time I end up there, I am luckily pulled out by something, anything, and lo, I wake up as if from a dream. The darkness is gone without a trace, and I'm free.And in retrospect, I always find it funny how simple and easy it was to get out.It is simple, and a lot simpler, when you have people who are with you in your life.I'm not just talking about a wife, or a girlfriend, but more so about the guy who works the counter at the 7 eleven, the taxi driver, the guy behind me in line at customs...Each is a chance to help each other stay free and in touch with ourselves, to nourish the living, breathing, loving human beings inside the superficial shells of our bodies.Each is an opportunity for a parting cloud.We come into this world alone.We leave alone.But in the meantime, we are here together.Let's try and function like a network, a team, a family, and communicate with one another, because each of us is a part of the whole.These are my thoughts one day after Leslie took his own life.

Leehom

Diary entry 37

Entry VII/2001

Dear Friends,

I just finished my "Unbelievable" concert in Hong Kong, and what a night it was! To be honest, I am still reeling from the high of 12,000 energized fans surrounding the Coliseum stage from all four sides. At every angle, every turn, smiling faces, thousands of voices, singing along.
The two and a half hour concert flashed by like lightning. I actually felt like I was dreaming the lights, the sounds, the banners, the dancing, everything was all too beautiful to comprehend. I want to thank each one of you for giving me this unforgettable experience. All of my supporters, whether you attended the concert or not, I know you were there in spirit. AND a special thanks for all those gorgeous flowers from my fanclubs in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan! Thanks to all of those fans who flew to Hong Kong from all parts of the world just to see my concert! I hope you enjoyed the concert as much as I did! My fans are the GREATEST!!!! Thank you!!
And now...life after 2/2/02! It somehow never occurred to me that there would be a third of February! In fact, almost every waking moment for the past 6 weeks before the concert was geared towards that evening. From the gym, to the dance studio, to the nightly jog at Taipei's Sun Yat Sen Memorial, to the frequent meetings with my management company, and concert producers, to the band rehearsals, to the re-arranging of each song's live version, to the piano, drum and violin practicing, to the memorizing of lyrics, the meetings with my costume designer...the list goes on.
I must say, I did suffer from this "post-222 syndrome", and on 2/3 felt like keeping even more silent than usual. The feeling is hard to explain, it was a bittersweet "it's over", combined with the rush of "I did it!". I can't really share this feeling with anyone else, it's not like a milkshake, or a bag of popcorn. It was a long drawn out moment, like a deep sigh, like a sunset...a special, and unique memory, just for me.
That day, I did not go to the gym. And on the plane ride to Beijing that afternoon, I enjoyed a glass of red wine, my first sip of alcohol in 6 weeks. I earned that sip. And it tasted good.
After arriving in Beijing, I proceeded to shoot two new commercials for China, the first, E Lai Te sneakers, the second, Gang Shi Lung men's casual wear. I guess life doesn't stop after 222 does it?
Today, I am writing to you from Shenzhen, where I will be performing in China's Central TV Annual Chinese New Year's Special. This being the single most watched TV event in China, it is truly an honor to have been asked to sing live infront of the world's largest television audience. I can't help but think back to my days at Williams College singing with my a cappella group, the Springstreeters for audiences of sometimes a hundred or less. Or my days at Sutherland High School performing in musicals each night for packed houses of 700. In all the performances of my lifetime, I'm sure none comes close to 1.2 billion viewers...I am going to remember tomorrow for the rest of my life I'm sure.
And so, along with the new year, seems to have arrived a whole slew of events that have put me in great spirits! I feel so hopeful and optimistic for the future...one thing is for sure, we are off to a brand new beginning! Let's "JIA YO" together!
Happy New Year, God Bless, Gong Xi Fa Cai, Shen Ti Jian Kang, Wan Shi Ru Yi!

Love, Leehom

Diary entry 36

Entry V/2001

Dear Friends,

I'm writing to you today from my hotel room in the Genting Highlands, Malaysia, which was the site of the Malaysian golden melody awards, 2001. What an honor to be awarded "Producer of the Year", "Composer of the Year", and "Song of the Year" for "Wei Yi, the One and Only"! I would like to reiterate what I said in my acceptance speeches...thanks to all of you, the listeners of my music. You continue to give me strength and inspiration. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do what I love. Without your ears, there would be no music.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving, which traditionally is the time when my family and I MUST get together to sample Mom's latest culinary inventions, as well as her standard classics: pumpkin pie, apple pie, corn-on-the-cob, pan-fried ribs, and of course, succulent stuffed turkey! This year's Thanksgiving also coincided with another celebration, Mom and Dad's 30th year wedding anniversary!
Congratulations Mom and Dad, you guys are the greatest! To be together and in love for 30 years is such a rare and special thing, I only hope that I can have that kind of success as a husband! Even though a phone call is no substitute for returning home to New York to celebrate these two momentous occasions, we'll have to reenact the festivities during Christmas time, when we meet up together in Las Vegas, OK? Lots of love to my family!
Touring between China, Singapore, and Malaysia this week was kind of fast paced, but it sure kept me busy. It was especially nice to be back in Taiwan the last few days, I hadn't been back to Taipei in three weeks, and was really beginning to miss my friends there!
Between album promotion, and preparing for the release of my new music book, I also have begun visiting the gym regularly in preparation for my world tour! Ouch! It's been a while since I've worked out like this, and my body is making me pay for it!
Take care everyone and I'll be seeing you soon！

Peace on earth, Leehom

Diary entry 35

Entry V/2001

Dear Friends,

I'm writing to you today from my hotel room in the Genting Highlands, Malaysia, which was the site of the Malaysian golden melody awards, 2001. What an honor to be awarded "Producer of the Year", "Composer of the Year", and "Song of the Year" for "Wei Yi, the One and Only"! I would like to reiterate what I said in my acceptance speeches...thanks to all of you, the listeners of my music. You continue to give me strength and inspiration. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do what I love. Without your ears, there would be no music.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving, which traditionally is the time when my family and I MUST get together to sample Mom's latest culinary inventions, as well as her standard classics: pumpkin pie, apple pie, corn-on-the-cob, pan-fried ribs, and of course, succulent stuffed turkey! This year's Thanksgiving also coincided with another celebration, Mom and Dad's 30th year wedding anniversary!
Congratulations Mom and Dad, you guys are the greatest! To be together and in love for 30 years is such a rare and special thing, I only hope that I can have that kind of success as a husband! Even though a phone call is no substitute for returning home to New York to celebrate these two momentous occasions, we'll have to reenact the festivities during Christmas time, when we meet up together in Las Vegas, OK? Lots of love to my family!
Touring between China, Singapore, and Malaysia this week was kind of fast paced, but it sure kept me busy. It was especially nice to be back in Taiwan the last few days, I hadn't been back to Taipei in three weeks, and was really beginning to miss my friends there!
Between album promotion, and preparing for the release of my new music book, I also have begun visiting the gym regularly in preparation for my world tour! Ouch! It's been a while since I've worked out like this, and my body is making me pay for it!
Take care everyone and I'll be seeing you soon！

Peace on earth, Leehom

Diary entry 34

Entry IV/2001

Dear Friends,

Today I'm writing to you all from Singapore, backstage at the Live House Pub. In one hour, I'll be giving a mini-concert here for the promotion of my new album, "The One and Only". Wish me luck!
Wow! The work of the day is finished, and I am now writing to you from the business center at the Four Seasons Hotel. The concert went really well! Parts of it were quite interesting, funny and unforgettable! I was in a sentimental mood during the concert, as I think many of the audience could sense. I sang a lot of slow songs with emotions straight from my heart. I think I performed well, and was so happy to see so many smiling faces in the crowd. I can't believe it's been a whole year since I was last here in Singapore! It's good to be back!
NEWSFLASH! At the request of countless numbers of music-loving fans, I am pleased to announce that I will be releasing a music book in December, complete with sheet music for all of this album's songs! In addition, I have written my own comments next to each song, consisting of thoughts, feelings and stories that I would like to share with all of you. In light of this book's imminent release, I will not use the weekly diary as the forum to discuss each new song in detail just yet. I don't want you all to say, "Oh, I've read this already in his journal!" when you read the book!
So...this week. This week has been absolutely crazy. I went from Nanning to Changsha to Shanghai to Hong Kong to Singapore in the last 7 days. At each city, my schedule was crammed with TV and radio appearances, press conferences and fan gatherings. I must say, this week really flew by because the pace was nothing short of relentless. I am glad to have had the opportunity to see so many fans in so many different places. Weeks like this remind me what a huge stage Chinese pop music plays on, and what an honor it is to be making music for so many people. Thanks to everyone who came out to my events! You guys always give me energy and put me in a great mood!
Also this week, I just want to say, thank God for e-mail and cell phones. I love SMS! I don't know what I'd do without these means of keeping in touch with my friends and family! Thanks to all you mobile phone service providers who let me roam around Asia on one SIM card...but can you please give me a break on your prices?! They're out of control!
Thanks for reading.

peace on earth, Leehom

Diary entry 33

Entry III/2001

Dear Friends,

Tonight, like every night, I am alone in my hotel room. For some strange reason, the routine feels overbearing right now, and homesickness squeezes my heart sore all around my chest. Although the sound of the air conditioner's fan saves me from having to listen to utter silence, the wind is slightly too cold on my naked body. I turn it off, and then notice a slight ringing in my right ear. It is the ear that held the headphone monitor as I sang at tonight's "Ming Ge Yi Shu Jie" concert in Nanning. As usual, the crowd was a crazy sea of young noises, the music was pumped full of life, my voice was strong and passionate... I love my job.
But the nights are so lonely. The memories of tonight's CCTV live concert seem to only accentuate the stillness of my bedroom now. When my writing inspiration comes to an end, then I'll turn off this bedside lamp and sleep. I have come to believe that men mature in isolation. Isolation, being along with one's thoughts can be a form of meditation and enlightenment. Perhaps one matures when he realizes that he is ultimately alone in this world, and that he must take responsibility for his own life, because no one else will.
Physically being alone speeds up this realization. Like Tom Hanks in "Castaway". I believe in building from the ground up, whether it be corporate models, orchestra scores, or interpersonal relationships. For example, one needs to learn to love himself before being able to love others. One needs to be able to live in harmony with himself before being able to live together with another person. I guess if I look at it that way, I sure am leading the life these days, becoming a secure individual.
Thinking, meditating, feeling, composing,...searching for that rhythm in my soul that will make the whole world tap their feet. Yes, I miss my friends, and loved ones, but tonight, I wouldn't trade this loneliness for anything. Thanks for listening to my thoughts tonight, friends.

Goodnight.
peace on earth, Leehom

Diary entry 32

Entry II/2001

Dear Friends,

I'm writing to you today from the Kuala Lampur Airport in Malaysia. Last time I was here was to do promotion for "China Strike Force" more than ten months ago. Now, here I am again with my brand new album, "Wei Yi, The One And Only". I want to give a big thanks to all the fans in Malaysia for the huge turnout at my appearances in KL, Penang and Ipoh. What a great sight to see so many thousands of fans singing "Wei Yi" at the top of their lungs!
In this week's diary, let's start talking about the album itself. The songs, the melodies, lyrics and stories behind their conception…beginning with:

"Wei Yi, The One And Only"- this song was written on Mykonos Island, Greece between 5-6 a.m. This family vacation in mid-August was filled with slow afternoons and ocean-side breezes, tanned bodies and tall drinks, all the amenities of a proper summer vacation were in full effect. It had been almost two years since the last time I took a day off, let alone week, so there I was, finally having an opportunity to slow down and reflect on my life, my own personal life. There was no work to be done in Greece, my schedule was completely BLANK for the week! I do believe that time came to a grinding halt, actually forever stopped during the course of those few days, as part of my spirit continues to rock gently on a sailboat coasting across the Aegean Sea. It was those same Greek stars and night sky, that inspired countless classic stories of Gods with human character flaws, that gave me loneliness on the morning of August 17. I quietly crawled out of bed so as not to wake my sleeping brother and father, then exited the house and began to walk aimlessly in the cold, empty street. It was 5 o'clock a.m. and I watched my moonlight shadow jot a few lines in his palm pilot, the song thus began:

　　　　wo de tian kong duo me de qing xi
　　　　tou ming de cheng nuo shi guo qu de kong qi
　　　　qian zhe wo de shou shi ni
　　　　dan ni de xiao rong que kan bu qing
　　　　shi fou yi ke xing xing bian le xin
　　　　cong qian de yuan wang yi quan dou gei pao qi
　　　　zui jing wo wu fa hu xi lian zi ji de ying zi
　　　　dou xiang tao bi…tao bi.

I must have subconsciously been thinking about how unfair love can be. How two people can be in a relationship, yet feel so differently about one another. She might be unhappy, while he might be completely convinced that she is "the one and only". When two lovers are far apart, all they have to hold on to is their promise, which in this case, is already fading more and more transparent, floating away like yesterday's air. He wonders if the star that they had wished upon together had had a change of heart, perhaps decided to abandon their wish, as it seems to be falling apart. Finally, he considers giving everything up in order to make it work. Getting away from absolutely everything, even his own shadow seems to be the only way that he can be with her.
Many of the love songs that I have written in the past are about long distance relationships, "Forever's First Day", "You Can Tell Me","Mary Says", "Trust", to name a few. You can add "Wei Yi, The One And Only", and "An Quan Gan, Sense of Security" to this list now, too. I guess when it comes to writing love songs, I can't help but write from my heart. My own personal feelings at that given time move me and inevitably come to the surface. That is how I felt, sitting alone between 5 and 6 a.m. on Mykonos Island, Greece, August 17, 2001. Thanks for listening to this song and letting it into your lives.

Peace on Earth, Leehom

Diary entry 31

Year 2001
Entry I/2001

Dear Friends,

It's great to be back. Back here in Asia, back here on stage, back here with all of you! It's been a long time since I last wrote in my weekly diary, but here I am with a new album, "The One And Only". I missed you all so much and I thank you thank you thank you for the patience and support you have shown me in the interim. Lots of love to all the fans!!! There is so much that I need to share with you, and I still believe the weekly diary is the best place to do it, so thanks for reading!
As always, this album is very different from ones that I have done in the past. But I'm not going to do a song by song break down in this week's diary, I'll save that for later. Instead, I want to share a little with you about the last year and a half of my life, since "Forever's First Day". Perhaps it will give you some insight into understanding the reasons behind this album's changes, both musical and personal.
At first, when my album was released on September 27, the feedback was quite mixed. I actually expected this to be the reaction because of the more mature song-writing approach, a rougher live sound, and a more artsy image. A surge of positive and negative e-mails flooded my mailbox: "This is Leehom's best album yet!", "I like the old Leehom better!", "I like the songs, 'Bian Huai(#8)' and 'Bai Hu Li(#7)'", and "Leehom really needs a haircut!" were all popular titles.
Today, in my journal, I want to stress one point: I am the same Leehom you have known since the days of "Love Rival Beethoven". I am the same Williams College graduate born and raised in Rochester NY, who wrote "Frozen Dreams" with his fans in the summer of 1998. I am still the dreamer with strong ideals in his music, striving to communicate with young audiences, working hard to be the best musician that he can be. You all should understand that this is still who I am, and nothing will ever change that. Some recent events in my life have merely brought out different sides of me. These events are the ups and downs and imperfections in life, which like grains of sand in an oyster, may be painful, but often have beautiful results. The results, in this case, are the songs of my new album.
Last year was a rough time for me. I spent the entirety of the lonely year living in hotels; rarely did I ever even have the opportunity to see my friends and family. In addition, rumors about me were written up by the tabloids on several occasions...but that is all in the past now.
The events of the year and a half, both the good and the bad, are all reflected in this album's songs, giving what I believe to be an honest and accurate portrait of my feelings at this stage in my life. I have changed naturally, as always, in response to different experiences. However, it is important for my fans to know that who I am, and what I stand for, is still intact, along with my pride, integrity and dreams. I'm writing to you this week from my hotel in Taipei. Thanks for listening and we'll talk more next week!

Peace on Earth, Leehom