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Rainie storm just hot air
Vocal Tao denies TV idol attack, slams paparazzi instead
MERVIN TAY
plus@newstoday.com.sg
DAVID Tao is known for being vocal about issues regarding the pop industry, and the Taiwanese singersongwriter raised a few eyebrows again last week in Taiwan.
Press reports quoted him as criticising actors of idol dramas for turning to singing, and using Taiwanese artiste Rainie Yang as an example. Host-turned-singer Yang, ironically, was one of the best-selling new acts this year.
In town to prepare for his concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Saturday, the 36-year-old was solemn, but eager to clarify his alleged comments about Yang.
“I was taken out of context and misquoted,” said the America-bred, Taiwan-based David. “I didn’t direct any criticism at Rainie.”
“In fact, it was a private conversation between me and a label executive in a restaurant, but the paparazzi sat at the next table and secretly recorded the conversation. I didn’t know they were there until I was about to leave.”
While he denied chastising Yang, David, who last performed here in April, maintained his stand about what he called “cross-marketing” in the music industry.
“It seems like currently the way to sell records and succeed is not by making music,” he said. “I’m concerned people are paying less attention to the intrinsic quality of music and are instead buying into the marketing aspects of it.”
Which is why David places much emphasis on his music, the primary element of his concert, instead of stage effects or costumes. Singapore is the third stop of his world tour, after Shanghai and Beijing. He moves on to Taipei and America next year.
“The best-selling concert performers in the world are The Rolling Stones, and their main draw is music,” he said. “If the music isn’t good, it’ll be a disappointment, regardless of whatever stage effects there are.”
Speaking of music, David does not see his own work going the way of “cross-marketing”, and said: “Maybe some people out there want to see David Tao dance. But ultimately, I believe they will appreciate and look for the inner value of a quality product — music included.”
WHAT: DAVID TAO ‘LOVE CAN’
WORLD TOUR 2005
WHEN: SATURDAY, 8PM
WHERE: SINGAPORE INDOOR
STADIUM, TICKETS FROM SISTIC
