Lo Ta-yu

Lo Ta-yu
Lo Ta-yu seated at a musical keyboard
Lo in 2011
Born (1954-07-20) 20 July 1954 (age 70)
Taipei, Taiwan
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active1974–present
Spouses
Lee Lieh
(m. 1999; div. 2001)
Elaine Lee
(m. 2010)
PartnerSylvia Chang (1976-1985)
Children1
Awards
Hong Kong Film AwardsBest Original Film Score
1990 Eight Taels of Gold
1992 The Twin Bracelets
1993 The Heroic Trio

Golden Horse AwardsBest Original Score
1990 Red Dust

32nd Golden Melody AwardsSpecial Contribution Award
2021

Chinese name
Traditional Chinese羅大佑
Simplified Chinese罗大佑
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLuó Dàyòu
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingLo4 Daai6-jau6
Musical career
Also known asLuo Dayou, Law Tai-yau
GenresRock, Mandopop, Folk, Blues, Reggae
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards, bass guitar, accordion
LabelsRock Records
Websitewww.luodayou.net

Lo Ta-yu (Chinese: 羅大佑; pinyin: Luó Dàyòu; born 20 July 1954), also known as Luo Dayou and Law Tai-yau, is a Taiwanese singer and songwriter. During the 1980s, Lo became one of the most influential Mandopop singer-songwriters with his melodic lyrics and love songs, and his witty social and political commentary that he infused in his more political songs, often to the point that some of his songs were suppressed in Taiwan and Mainland China during the 1980s.[1] He is recognized as a cultural icon in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Mainland China.

Stylistically, Lo defies classification, though his contribution to the Taiwan campus folk song genre was most significant. His early music in particular shows strong folk roots, and many of his songs tap into native Taiwanese cultural influences. Some songs are reminiscent of 1950s American diner and soda shop rock, and others exhibit a 1970s lounge lizard growl. What captured the hearts of a generation, however, were his lyrics, touching on issues of life, attitudes, social responsibility, and the political problems of both Chinese Mainland and Taiwan with an underhandedly critical strain of dark humor. The lyrical style is not particularly artsy or complex, but rather conversational; the cleverness comes in the meaning, not how the words are put together.[2]

  1. ^ Ong Sor Fern (2 December 2022). "Taiwanese singer Lo Ta-yu kicks off opening of Taipei Fine Arts Museum's new show | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  2. ^ Luo Dayou in Concert: Taiwan Singer-Songwriter an Inspiration to Mainland Musicians