S’PORE SINGER-SONGWRITER:
I was badly affected by Edison scandal
By Gan Ling Kai
November 28, 2009
IT IS not always a lucky thing to be able to rub shoulders with the rich and famous.
That’s what Singaporean singer-songwriter Hanjin Tan, 33, found out last year.
The Hong Kong-based crooner released his debut English-language album, Raw Jazz, only in March, but he has been a writer-producer for some top names since 1998.
He has worked with stars such as Korean idol Rain, US singer Christina Aguilera and Mando-pop sensations Jacky Cheung, Coco Lee, S.H.E and Leon Lai.
Collaborating with one celebrity led to unforeseen complications though. That is Hong Kong actor-singer Edison Chen, who was involved in the sex photo scandal last year.
Since 2000, Hanjin had written and produced more than 20 songs for Edison, including rap numbers Hong Kong Place and Impossible. The duo were also former business partners in entertainment company Clot Media Division, along with Hong Kong hip-hop scratchmeister DJ Tommy.
Hanjin – who is back in town for a concert at the Esplanade tonight – told The New Paper on the phone from Hong Kong: ‘I was badly affected by the scandal. The Hong Kong media knows I’m very close to Edison, and I was used as a weapon against him.’
Hanjin was romantically linked to Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung, with the media there claiming Edison had introduced them.
Cecilia was one of the starlets – alongside Gillian Chung, Bobo Chan and Rachel Ngan – whose intimate pictures with Edison turned up on the Internet.
When Edison didn’t immediately return from overseas to face the media last year, there were news reports that Hanjin insinuated on his blog that Edison is a ‘suo tou wu gui’ (cowardly tortoise in Mandarin).
Hanjin reportedly created a storyline using a toy tortoise and the plastic figurine of Xiaoyun, a character in comic book Dr IQ, and uploaded 11 photos of them on his blog.
Hanjin declined to answer our questions about this.
Furthermore, the scandal also took a dramatic turn when DJ Tommy confirmed the media’s speculation that Hanjin had left Clot Media Division, saying ‘(Hanjin) wants to focus on writing music’.
Hanjin now remains tip-lipped about the whole Edison Chen controversy.
He would not reveal whether he was aware of Edison’s sex photos before they were leaked online.
He told The New Paper that Edison, still his ‘good friend’, is misunderstood by many. ‘To most people, he’s a little arrogant. But that’s because he’s really shy.’
Stylish
He added that Edison truly lives up to his reputation in one area – as a ‘fashion icon’.
‘He has very good taste in clothes,’ said Hanjin. He also described Edison as a businessman who is very strong in marketing.
Earlier this year, Hanjin made waves in Hong Kong again – for Raw Jazz.
It is released under his own label BBS Records and contains 11 cover versions of famous jazz pieces, such as Cheek To Cheek and I’ve Got You Under My Skin.
One song in particular, Wave, made it to the top of the Commercial Radio Hong Kong chart the following month.
Yet, Hanjin – who has crafted more than 400 songs, mostly pop tunes – said: ‘I used to be afraid of jazz. Both for singing and writing, it’s technically very difficult.
‘It’s like rocket science!’
He felt inspired to sing jazz after he visited a Hong Kong jazz club last year. The band members, who are his friends, had invited him onstage for a jamming session.
So why did he take so long to become a singer?
Said Hanjin: ‘I was more interested in producing music than in singing.’
He also revealed that he had approached other record labels in the past, but they wouldn’t sign him up as a singer.
‘I could never quite figure out the reason. Maybe it’s because I’m ugly and fat?’ he said, laughing.
After all, he’s no pop idol, he admitted.
‘I won’t make little girls go gaga over me!’
FYI
WHAT: Late Nite@Esplanade – Raw Jazz By Hanjin
WHEN: Tonight, 9.30pm
WHERE: Esplanade Recital Studio
TICKETS: $25 from Sistic (www.sistic.com.sg or 6348 5555)
The NewPaper