ThaiPop
words romana dalgleish

Thai singer/actor/model Tata Young has sold over 12 million albums over the last 12 years. With that many people happily listening to her music, you’d expect some sort of brilliance… or maybe not. Perhaps sexually charged lyrics and music videos are all it takes.

Most artists would cringe at being compared to Britney Spears, whose biggest success since 2001 has been keeping a firm place in the tabloids. Tata Young, however, is flattered: ‘She is very talented and if somebody thinks I’m as good as her, it is such a compliment.’ Perhaps it is but hopefully Tata’s talent doesn’t extend to Britney-like lip syncing.

As the overtly sexual nature of her branding is typical of the pop industry, who can blame her for doing what she can to be noticed in an excessively competitive market. And she must be doing something right to have accumulated such a substantial fan base.

When asked what she sees herself doing in the future, Tata says ‘The same thing. I love singing!’ And on who she would like to collaborate with: ‘Any talented artist. In Asia, maybe Rain…’ More important than collaboration at the moment is infiltration -– into the US music industry, that is. Tata seems sure of her eventual success. ‘I don’t think I’ll let go of anything. I’ll show how a new oriental style can mix with Western styles.’

Her PR doesn’t even try to turn her unresponsive attitude into anything intriguing and even her website (which doesn’t seem to have been updated since March 2008) paints Tata Young as a mass-produced Eastern pop star hoping to become a mass-produced Western pop star.

Rather than struggling any further to gain any insight into the phenomenon that is Tata Young, it would be easier to just embrace it when she takes to the stage on April 12 at the Venetian’s Cotai Arena, performing her second full-length English album Temperature Rising. The concert starts at 7:30pm in the Venetian ballroom. Tickets are MOP$1,590, MOP$1,190, MOP$590 and MOP$390. www.venetianmacao.com Tel: 853-2882 8818, 852-6333 6660

Jenny Tseng
A singer since the ’70s, USA-based Jenny Tseng is back home performing at the Venetian on April 11. Having experimented with Mandopop, Cantopop, and TV and film acting, Jenny has developed a vast repertoire of performance skills. This resident of San Francisco won’t be back for a while, so make sure you catch her while you can! Her concert starts at 8pm in the Cotai Arena. Tickets are MOP$980, MOP$600, MOP$350, MOP$180. www.venetianmacao.com
Tel: 6333 6660