Chinese singers cover European and American songs, which is not a new thing at a time when there are countless variety shows and singing competitions. But in 1996, when physical music dominated, it took a lot of courage to make an album of cover English hits.
Therefore, Lin Yilian's "I Swear", which set a record for the sales of English cover albums by Chinese singers, exudes a unique charm that spans the era. Maybe "Love Is The Only" has been listened to and listened to by you on tape, maybe you have never heard of this album, today it is better to let us cycle once, this side is special Lin Yilian.
Record-breaking "Love Is Only"
Lin Yilian in 1996 has 20 music albums and has a good influence throughout Asia. Cantonese Chinese Shuangxiu chose to cover the popular European and American gold songs on the 21st album, which contributed to her debut English album "Love is The Only One".
"Love Is Only" is a consonant of the album's English name "I Swear", which is very much in line with the characteristics of Rolling Stone Records's puns and harmonics at that time. This is also one of the two English albums released during her Rolling Stones period, the other "Wonderful World" focuses on the old English songs of the 1960s, the original song is generally not high, Lin Yilian gave these songs a new life with a new arrangement.
"Love is the Only One" is different, the album "I Will Always Love You", "Hero" and other tracks have long been hit songs that have dominated the charts in Europe and the United States for several years, so producers Li Zongsheng and Lin Yilian did not drastically adapt, retaining the original song tone while giving it an oriental aesthetic interpretation, which fits the Chinese aesthetic.
In addition to Li Zongsheng and Lin Yilian, the co-singers of this album include Qi Yu, Du Lisha, Liu Meijun, Zhang Guorong, and any single singer is a hall-level singer.
At the same time, the lyrics of the album were translated by Li Zhuoxiong, the lyricist who has produced countless Chinese golden songs such as "Warm and Warm" and "The Fruit of Midsummer", Qi Yu served as a translation consultant, and the album also specially thanked Zhang Aijia.
Such a lineup to today, these names alone can cause quite a stir.
"Love Is The Only One" won the 5-week championship in the total sales chart of Taiwan's Golden Melody Dragon and Tiger Chart, ranking ninth in the year. It sold more than 300,000 copies in Taiwan, setting a record for the sales of English albums in Taiwan.
Compared with the gorgeous data of this album, "Love is Only" released as a physical CD and tape has also been a treasure in many fans' Walkman and CD players. Lin Yilian's Interpretation of these English golden songs with Chinese style gave the young people of that era more imagination for the world.
Western-style pop & Oriental style
Originally written by American country singer Dolly Parton, I Will Always Love You is best known for her version of Whitney Houston, which has won number one on the Billboard Singles Chart for 14 consecutive weeks, won three Grammy Awards, and is itself one of the most successful cover songs of all time.
Whitney Houston's typical American vocals are incredibly explosive, and the song is performed in a high-pitched and long-pitched way. And Lin Yilian's version is heavy, turning the majestic emotions in the song into delicate light words, which makes people feel that there is an oriental beauty holding the pipa and half-covering the picture.
"I Swear", which was jointly performed by Qi Yu, Du Lisha and Liu Meijun, is one of the most highly sung classics on this album. The original song came from The American country music king John Montgomery, who topped the Billboard Country Music Singles Chart and was later sung by the All-4-One group.
After the re-arrangement of "I Swear", romantic and tender, the combination of the four diva seems to portray a woman's wholehearted dedication in the face of love. In the same year, Lin Yilian and Qi Yu joined hands to hold the "Qi Hand Xianglian Super Singers' Club", and the two divas reunited again, which also achieved a rare classic scene of Chinese pop music.
"Hero" came from Maria Carey's 1993 album Music Box, which won the Billboard Singles Chart for four consecutive weeks and helped Niu Sister nominate for the 37th Annual Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocalist. The classic live version of the song in Tokyo's giant single was also included in the album "The Rarities Hidden Love" by Niu Jie.
Covering Niu Jie's song is a difficult challenge in itself, and it is even more difficult to sing a different taste. The original song of "Hero" is a soft board song with a mixture of popular elements and rhythm and blues elements, Lin Yilian's version is more clear and pure in tone, smooth and full of emotions, with a slightly humorous temperament, which can be unique in the major versions of "Hero".
In addition to the six cover tracks, Love Is The Only One features three original tracks, Brave, Was It Only Just a Dream, and From Now On. Interspersed among many European and American golden songs, there is no jerkiness, which shows the album's highly unified singing style.
Whether it is singing or arranging, this album now sounds full of retro nostalgia, each song has done a lot of rich and unique details, and an album integrates the characteristics of European, American and Chinese pop music in the 90s.
Therefore, "Love is The Only" is extremely suitable for restoring its authentic delicacy with a physical CD, as a work that records the dual significance of Hit Song and Lin Yilian's first English album in Europe and the United States in the 90s, it is also worth using physical music as a carrier to treasure.