A-Mei | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kulilay Amit | |||||||||
.jpg) A-Mei in 2024 | |||||||||
| Born | Kulilay Amit 9 August 1972 | ||||||||
| Nationality | Taiwanese | ||||||||
| Other names | Chang Hui-mei | ||||||||
| Alma mater | National Taitung Junior College | ||||||||
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1996–present | ||||||||
| Agent | Mei Entertainment | ||||||||
| Partner | Sam Yao (2011–present) | ||||||||
| Family | Saya Chang (sister) | ||||||||
| Awards | Golden Melody Awards – Best Mandarin Female Singer 2002 Truth 2010 Amit 2015 Faces of Paranoia Best Mandarin Album 2010 Amit Song of the Year 2010 Bold for My Love MTV Asia Awards – Favorite Artist Taiwan 2002, 2004 | ||||||||
| Musical career | |||||||||
| Genres |
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| Instrument | Vocals | ||||||||
| Labels | EMI, Universal Music Taiwan | ||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 張惠妹 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 张惠妹 | ||||||||
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| A-Mei | |||||||||
| Chinese | 阿妹 | ||||||||
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| Website | starmei | ||||||||
Kulilay Amit, Han Chinese name Chang Hui-mei[1] (Chinese: 張惠妹; pinyin: Zhāng Huìmèi), better known by her stage name A-Mei (阿妹, born 9 August 1972), is a Taiwanese singer and record producer of Puyuma descent. Born as Amit Kulilay in the rugged mountains of eastern Taiwan, she made her debut in 1996. A leading figure of the Mandopop music scene since the mid-1990s, A-Mei is widely known for breaking ground for Taiwanese indigenous peoples and being a voice for LGBT rights and gender equality.[2] She has been given the moniker "Queen of Mandopop" and the "Pride of Taiwan."[3] Her career longevity, resilience, artistry, and versatility have established her as a pop culture icon in the Sinophone world.
Born and raised in Beinan, Taitung, Taiwan, A-Mei moved to Taipei at age 20 in 1992. In 1996, she released her debut studio album, Sisters, which saw major commercial success and sold over a million copies in Taiwan.[4] Her sophomore record, Bad Boy (1997), found even greater success, eventually becoming the country's best-selling album overall.[5] Her follow up releases—Holding Hands (1998), Can I Hug You, Lover? (1999) and Regardless (2000)—received critical and commercial acclaim, with the first two albums also selling well over a million copies. A cross-straits controversy caused her to experience a decline in sales in 2004;[6] she would later experience a resurgence in 2006 with her album I Want Happiness?.[7]
Her albums Truth (2001), Amit (2009), and Faces of Paranoia (2014) each won her a Golden Melody Award for Best Mandarin Female Singer, making her one of the singers who won the category the most times. Having sold over 50 million records,[8] A-Mei is the best-selling female artist in Taiwanese music history. She is recognized as having the influence and cultural impact in Greater China equivalent to artists such as Madonna in Western music and popular culture.[9] In 2017, she was included in the "Charity Heroes List" by the Asian edition of Forbes, and her influence is even greater than that of many famous Taiwanese political and business figures.[10]
- ^ a b "A-mei concerts causing 'tremors'". Taipei Times. Taipei. 13 April 2022. p. 2. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ "A-Mei". Tatler Asia. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "Mandopop queen A-Mei dazzles Singapore crowd with 'Utopia 2.0 Carnival World Tour'". Retrieved 1 October 2018.
- ^ "紀念恩師! 阿妹重新詮釋"姊妹"". news.cts.com.tw (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 13 December 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "張惠妹《Bad Boy》黑膠專輯". 豐華唱片 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 15 August 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ "專輯銷售不佳 華納唱片建議阿妹休息". tvbs (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 19 October 2004. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "阿妹《我要快樂？》滿10年吐露低潮期「記得我哭了」". star.ettoday.net (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 18 February 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "Profiles #3: A-Mei張惠妹 – From Indigenous Sister to Mandopop Matriarch". Asian Pop Weekly. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ "舒淇张惠妹荣登美国"国际销魂风云人物榜"". ent.sina.com.cn (in Chinese (China)). 11 January 2000. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "舒淇张惠妹荣登美国"国际销魂风云人物榜"". www.enanyang.my (in Chinese (Malaysia)). 29 June 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2023.