The Taiwan singer gave a successful performance on the New Year eve in Beijing. This concert means a lot to Luo Dayou’s life and career. While presenting a New Year gift to his Beijing fans, he also brought himself a beautiful memory of the past.

“One’s life is very limited, he will be the happiest to live in the world, if he can accomplish one of his beloved careers,” Luo said. He was happy because he saw off 2002 and greeted 2003 in Beijing, the city he loves.

Moving His Music Studio to Beijing

Luo predicted that Beijing would become China’s pop music center in 2003. That’s why he had chosen Beijing as the venue for his solo concert on the last day of 2002.

Following is the dialogue between Luo Dayou and a China Newsweek reporter, which may help us know more about the singer’s Beijing complex.

China Newsweek: Many Taiwan musicians have moved to the mainland. While most of them choose Shanghai as their base, for example, Li Zhongsheng, why do you choose Beijing?

Luo: I am wondering if it is something powerful in the universe that draws me to Beijing. I visited Beijing in March 2002, and the two-week stay enabled me to make the decision to set my office in Beijing. Even I myself do not know why. It seems like when you fall in love with a woman, you write songs for her without knowing why. I had lived in many places and moved my home frequently. I knew there will be a bigger room for me in Beijing. Beijing is definitely to become the cultural center of all the Chinese in the world.

Back to 1993 when I first visited Beijing, I saw banners everywhere carrying slogans such as “Uphold one center and two basic points.” But this time, I haven’t seen any of them. This had a great impact on me, and it is the impact of the times.

China Newsweek: It has been about half a year since you moved to Beijing. How do you like the city?

Luo: The year 2002 is a year of great changes. Since its success of the 2008 Olympics bidding, Beijing has been involved in busy construction. New projects are being built every day and the city looks like a huge construction site. You had never heard as many noises as in 2002. I want to know the position of 2002 in the 5,000-year Chinese history. The core of music is heart and emotion. No matter where you are, as a musician, you will focus on people. I am seeking the meaning of being a human being.

China Newsweek: How is your music factory in China? Why isn’t there action yet?

Luo: As a matter of fact, opening a music factory is very much like writing a piece of music. It is impossible for me to write Beijing in Taipei and I must be rooted in Beijing in order to better describe Beijing. The reason why my Beijing music factory has not set to operation is mainly because Beijing is changing dramatically, and I need time to observe and judge it. But I do believe a great era is coming to China. I’m sure by the end of 2003, Beijing will become the center of the world’s Chinese-language pop music.

Zhong Means Balance

China Newsweek: Many of your songs are about emotions and love. Did they all come from your personal experience? Or you got the feelings in other ways?

Luo: Songs, in my opinion, are nothing but emotion. Most of my inspiration, motives and gains in music are from my feelings about people, land, nation, family, friends and love.

China Newsweek: Li lie and you had been in love for about 10 years, why did the two of you separate soon after you got married?

Luo: That’s why I say marriage is harmful. Now the whole era is testing the true feeling between people. I have doubt on the so-called permanent contract legalized by a marriage certificate. I think the most important thing in a marriage is the magic power linking the two together.

China Newsweek: How do you like the impact of the changing times on your creation?

Luo: Sure there is the impact. It is impossible for one to break through the limit of the times by creating a song. It won’t work with one blow and you have to make progress step by step. Instead of breaking through something, I always concentrate my thought on whether a new creation will be accepted.

After the Sept.11 event, a lot of changes have taken place, in both the West and the East, not only in politics and economy but also in terms of mentality and values. I feel the Sept.11 issue is a breakout of the confrontation between Muslim and Christianity that had existed for thousands of years. What is China’s position in this issue? The Chinese character zhong (which means “central” and also China) is a very interesting expression. China stands between the two major religions of the world, so zhong means balance. In this sense, the Sept.11 event did have a great impact on the mentality of the people in the world, and its influence will last for quite a long time.

China Newsweek: As a creator of pop music, are you sure you need to think about all the questions concerning society, history and life, and put them into your music?

Luo: I like to observe and think about people. I studied medicine and I have the experience of operating on patients and working in the emergency room. After seeing those bloody scenes and witnessing people dying in front of me, I obtained a profound understanding of death and people. “Whether Or Not” is the song I wrote at the age of 28 when I had just finished my seven-year schooling as a medical student and had little contact with society. The great change in my life after my first album was published and my father’s death not long ago all had enormous impact on me, helping me grow up. These are what I have to think about and put into my songs.

(China.org.cn translated by Zheng Guihong January 11, 2002)