A-Mei facts for kids

Quick facts for kids A-Mei
Kulilay Amit
A-Mei in 2024
Born	Kulilay Amit (1972-08-09) 9 August 1972 (age 52) Beinan, Taitung, Taiwan
Nationality	Taiwanese
Other names	Chang Hui-mei
Alma mater	National Taitung Junior College
Occupation	Singer record producer
Years active	1996–present
Agent	Mei Entertainment
Partner(s)	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	Pop rock
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	EMI, Universal Music Taiwan
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	張惠妹
Simplified Chinese	张惠妹
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhāng Huìmèi Wade–Giles Chang1 Hui4-mei4
A-Mei
Chinese	阿妹
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Āmèi Wade–Giles A1-mei4

Kulilay Amit, also known by her Chinese name Chang Hui-mei (Chinese: 張惠妹; pinyin: Zhāng Huìmèi), is a famous Taiwanese singer and record producer. She is best known by her stage name, A-Mei (Chinese: 阿妹). Born on August 9, 1972, A-Mei is from the Puyuma, one of Taiwan's indigenous groups.

She started her music career in 1996 and quickly became a leading star in Mandopop (Chinese pop music). A-Mei is celebrated for being a pioneer for Taiwanese indigenous peoples in mainstream music. She is also a strong supporter of LGBT rights and gender equality. People often call her the "Queen of Mandopop" and the "Pride of Taiwan." Her long and successful career, along with her amazing talent, has made her a true pop culture icon in the Chinese-speaking world.

A-Mei was born and grew up in Beinan, Taitung, Taiwan. She moved to Taipei when she was 20 years old in 1992. Her first album, Sisters, came out in 1996 and sold over a million copies in Taiwan. Her second album, Bad Boy (1997), became the best-selling album ever in Taiwan. Other albums like Holding Hands (1998), Can I Hug You, Lover? (1999), and Regardless (2000) were also very popular.

Her albums Truth (2001), Amit (2009), and Faces of Paranoia (2014) each won her a Golden Melody Award for Best Mandarin Female Singer. This makes her one of the singers who has won this award the most times. A-Mei has sold over 50 million records, making her the best-selling female artist in Taiwanese music history. She is seen as having a huge cultural impact in the Chinese-speaking world, much like artists such as Madonna in Western music. In 2017, Forbes magazine in Asia included her in their "Charity Heroes List."

Life and Career Highlights

Early Life and Music Dreams (1972–1995)

A-Mei was born on August 9, 1972, in the Tamalakaw tribe, part of the Puyuma people, in Beinan, Taitung, Taiwan. Her Puyuma name is Kulilay Amit. She was the seventh of nine children. Growing up, her family faced tough times. A-Mei's mother worked hard to keep the family together.

Even without formal music lessons, A-Mei loved to sing and perform from a young age. She was surrounded by tribal music and loved listening to the radio. She would even get other children in her village to use flashlights to create "stage lighting" for her performances! Besides music, A-Mei was also good at sports. In elementary school, she earned a second-degree black belt in taekwondo.

In 1992, A-Mei moved to Taipei. Her father encouraged her to join a TV singing contest called "Five Lights Singing Contest." She reached the finals but didn't win. Her father told her to try again, saying she had a special talent. She entered again in 1993 and won the championship the next year. Sadly, her father passed away before seeing her victory.

After her father's death, A-Mei found it hard to sing again. But in 1995, she started singing in local pubs with a rock band called "Relax," formed by her cousin. Her performances caught the attention of famous music producers Chang Yu-sheng and Chang Hsiao-yen. In March 1996, she signed a record deal with Forward Music.

Becoming a Star (1996–1997)

After signing her deal, A-Mei sang a duet on Chang Yu-sheng's album in July 1996. She also sang a theme song for a radio station, which made people notice her even more. On December 13, 1996, A-Mei released her first album, Sisters, guided by Chang Yu-sheng.

The record company was worried that her indigenous background might cause problems because of discrimination at the time. But A-Mei proudly told the media about her aboriginal identity, becoming the first mainstream pop star to do so. The album was a huge success! It was number one on the Taiwan IFPI chart for nine weeks and sold millions of copies across Asia. The songs "You Don't Want Anything" and "Sisters" became very popular. For "Sisters," Chang Yu-sheng even invited A-Mei's family to sing in the chorus, adding special Puyuma music elements.

On May 17, 1997, Billboard magazine called A-Mei Asia's most popular singer. On June 7, 1997, she released her second album, Bad Boy. This album was even more successful, selling over a million copies in Taiwan and becoming the best-selling album in Taiwanese music history. It also sold millions more across Asia. Songs like "Can't Cry" and "Listen to the Sea" became huge hits and are still loved today.

Sadly, five months after Bad Boy was released, her mentor Chang Yu-sheng passed away in a car crash. A-Mei was very sad and released a special song, "Listen to You, Listen to Me," to honor him.

Tours and Global Recognition (1998–1999)

In January 1998, A-Mei started her first solo concert tour in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Her concert in Taiwan broke records for how quickly tickets sold out. Her amazing voice and energetic stage performances became her trademark, making her a top star in Chinese pop music.

Because of her huge fame, the Japanese TV station NHK invited A-Mei to represent Taiwan at their "Asia Live Dream" event in February 1998. On October 12, 1998, she released her third album, Holding Hands. This album included songs written by her late mentor Chang Yu-sheng and new collaborations with singer David Tao. It sold over a million copies in Taiwan and millions more in Asia.

In January 1999, A-Mei became the face of Sprite in Greater China. By this time, she had won over 30 awards in just two and a half years, and her total album sales were over 10 million. Her EP (mini-album) Feel, released in April 1999, became the best-selling mini-album in Taiwan's history.

On June 8, 1999, A-Mei released her fifth album, Can I Hug You, Lover?. This album was number one on the charts for a record-breaking 11 weeks and sold over a million copies in Taiwan. It became A-Mei's highest-selling album in Asia, with more than 8 million copies sold.

A-Mei then went on her second Asia concert tour, "Mei Li 99." She was the first Taiwanese singer to perform at the Shanghai Stadium and Beijing Workers' Stadium, drawing huge crowds. She also set records in Hong Kong and became the only female singer to fill the entire Taipei Municipal Stadium with nearly 50,000 people. Her popularity was so great that newspapers called it the "A-Mei syndrome." In September, she sang a song to help victims of the 921 earthquake and donated her concert earnings to charity.

Challenges and New Beginnings (2000–2003)

The year 2000 started well for A-Mei. She sang for Sprite again and was even called "China's Madonna" by an American magazine. She performed at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, a very big event in mainland China, and was interviewed by CNN.

However, on May 20, 2000, A-Mei sang the National Anthem of the Republic of China at a presidential ceremony. This angered the government of the People's Republic of China, and they stopped her from visiting mainland China until July 2001. Sprite also ended her contract, and her music was temporarily not played on Chinese radio. A-Mei clarified that she had no intention of getting involved in politics and wanted more "peace and love."

Despite this, she released her fifth album, Regardless, in December 2000, which sold over a million copies across Asia.

In January 2001, A-Mei was featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine, a rare honor for a Taiwanese singer. In June 2001, she joined Warner Music Taiwan. She sang the Chinese theme song for the movie Pearl Harbor. In August, she was invited to sing at the opening ceremony of the 2001 Summer Universiade in Beijing, where 80,000 people cheered for her.

Her first album with Warner, Truth, released in October 2001, was a big success, selling millions of copies. Songs like "Remember" became very popular. In December, A-Mei held seven concerts in the United States and Canada.

In 2002, A-Mei won the Best Female Vocalist award at Taiwan's top Golden Melody Awards for her album Truth. She was also named one of the "20 Asian Heroes" by Time magazine. Her seventh album, Fever, released in August 2002, sold millions of copies across Asia. She also won an MTV Asia Award for Favorite Artist Taiwan.

In 2003, A-Mei joined other famous musicians to sing a charity song called "Hand in Hand" to help during the SARS epidemic. In June, she released the album Brave and starred in a movie of the same name. The song "Brave" became a champion song in a vote for gay love songs that year.

A Break and a Comeback (2004–2007)

In 2004, A-Mei won "Taiwan's Most Popular Singer Award" at the MTV Asia Awards for the second time. She also received a World Peace Music Award for her focus on indigenous culture.

However, she faced more political issues when a concert in China was canceled. This led to misunderstandings and criticism. A-Mei continued to promote peace and love. She held a benefit concert for victims of Typhoon Mindulle and performed successfully in Beijing again.

Her album Maybe Tomorrow, released in September 2004, had a different sound. Its music video for "Love Is The Only Way" showed a same-sex wedding and was banned in mainland China. Sales for this album were lower than her previous ones, leading A-Mei to consider taking a break. At the end of 2004, she decided to temporarily leave the music scene to study English in Boston, Massachusetts.

In February 2005, she studied at Boston University. This trip was for self-discovery. After returning to Taiwan, she became an ambassador for World Vision International and visited southern Sudan to help.

On February 17, 2006, A-Mei released her tenth album, I Want Happiness?. This album was seen as her big comeback. It sold many copies in Taiwan and millions across Asia, helping to revive her career. Songs like "Hostage" became very popular in KTVs. In June, she performed at the 17th Golden Melody Awards. In December 2006, she produced a musical called In Love with Carmen.

In April 2007, EMI Taiwan signed A-Mei with a huge contract, making her the highest-paid female singer in the region at the time. On August 3, 2007, she released her eleventh album, Star. This album was highly praised and earned her three Golden Melody Award nominations. It sold over a million copies in Asia. A concert was held to celebrate the album's success, attracting 30,000 fans.

In September 2007, A-Mei became the first Taiwanese singer to be interviewed by the news agency Reuters. In October, she became the "Rainbow Ambassador" for the 5th annual Taiwan Pride parade, showing her strong support for her gay fans and the LGBT community. In November 2007, she started her fourth concert tour, the Star Tour, visiting many cities around the world.

New Music and Big Awards (2008–2010)

A-Mei performing in December 2010

In February 2008, A-Mei filmed a music video for the 2008 Olympics theme song "Forever Friends" in the Forbidden City. From March to May 2008, she performed in the musical Turandot in Japan. She performed 59 shows and was very well received. When the 2008 Sichuan earthquake happened, she donated her earnings from 11 performances to help the victims.

In March 2009, her Star World Tour ended. She became the first Chinese singer to perform five concerts in a row at the Taipei Arena. On June 26, 2009, she released her fifteenth album, Amit, using her aboriginal birth name for the first time. This album showed a big change in her music, with many songs featuring hard rock music. The album was very successful, selling over a million copies across Asia.

In September 2009, she became the spokesperson for the 2009 Summer Deaflympics in Taipei and sang the theme song. In March 2010, she became the spokesperson for Coca-Cola in Taiwan. At the 21st Golden Melody Awards, A-Mei won six awards for her album Amit, making her the most awarded artist that night.

Continued Success and Advocacy (2011–2019)

A-Mei performing during the AMeiZING World Tour Concert at Taipei Arena in 2012

In January 2011, the "BIO Biography Channel" (now FYI) made a special episode about A-Mei, which was shown in 23 countries. She was the first Taiwanese singer to be featured. In March 2011, she renewed her contract with Coca-Cola. On April 23, 2011, she released the album R U Watching Me?, which was one of the best-selling albums in Taiwan that year.

In May 2011, CNN interviewed A-Mei again for their "Asian Celebrity Chat Room" TalkAsia. In June 2011, Forbes magazine ranked her as the most famous Taiwanese person in mainland China. In September 2011, she started her sixth concert tour, the AMeiZING World Tour, to celebrate her 15th anniversary. She performed 59 shows around the world, including at The O2 Arena in London, making her the first Chinese-speaking female singer to hold a large concert there.

In July 2013, A-Mei became a judge on the Chinese talent show The Voice of China (season 2). In December of the same year, she held a free outdoor concert to support the legalization of same-sex marriage, paying for the entire event herself.

In January 2014, A-Mei was listed as an "Asia Gay Equality Hero" by an international gay magazine. In June 2014, she signed a new record deal with EMI Taiwan and became the chief brand officer for the label. On July 2, 2014, she released her fourteenth album, Faces of Paranoia. This album won her the Golden Melody Award for Best Mandarin Female Singer. In October, she appeared on the cover of Element Magazine wrapped in a rainbow flag to show her support for gay equality.

A-Mei at the Taipei New Year's Eve Party 2019

In April 2015, she started her seventh concert tour, Utopia World Tour. Tickets for her Taipei Arena shows sold out in minutes, setting a new record. The tour included 55 shows around the world. On April 4, 2015, she released her album Amit 2, which received five Golden Melody Award nominations.

In December 2016, she started an upgraded version of her tour, the Utopia 2.0 Carnival World Tour, to celebrate her 20th anniversary. In January 2017, tickets for her Kaohsiung Arena concerts sold out incredibly fast, bringing a lot of tourism money to the city. On December 12, 2017, she released her nineteenth album, Story Thief, which was very successful and topped sales charts.

On December 30, 2017, the Utopia World Tour ended in Shanghai, setting a record of 104 concerts for a Chinese female singer on one tour. In May 2018, her album Story Thief won Best Music Video at the 29th Golden Melody Awards. The music video also won other international awards. In September 2018, A-Mei was invited to sing with famous tenor Andrea Bocelli at a charity gala in Italy, singing in three languages. Her album Story Thief continued to sell millions of copies. On December 31, 2018, A-Mei was the final performer at Taipei City's New Year's Eve Festival, thrilling the audience with her performance.

Discography

• Sisters (1996)
• Bad Boy (1997)
• You Make Me Free Make Me Fly! (1997)
• Holding Hands (1998)
• Can I Hug You, Lover? (1999)
• Regardless (2000)
• Journey (2001)
• Truth (2001)
• Fever (2002)
• Brave (2003)
• Maybe Tomorrow (2004)
• I Want Happiness? (2006)
• Star (2007)
• Amit (2009)
• R U Watching? (2011)
• Faces of Paranoia (2014)
• Amit 2 (2015)
• Story Thief (2017)

Concert Tours

• Sister Power World Tour (1998)
• Mei Li 99 World Tour (1999)
• A-Class Entertainment World Tour (2002–2006)
• Star World Tour (2007–2009)
• Amit First World Tour (2009–2010)
• Ameizing World Tour (2011–2013)
• Utopia World Tour (2015–2017)
• ASMR World Tour (2022–2024)

Collaborations

• "Shouldn't Be" (with Jay Chou) from Jay Chou's Bedtime Stories (2016)
• "Equivalence Relation" (with Li Ronghao) from Free Soul) (2022)

See Also

In Spanish: A-mei para niños

• List of best-selling albums in Taiwan