Jane Zhang facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jane Zhang
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Zhang in 2019
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| Born |
Zhang Liangying (张靓颖)
October 11, 1984 |
| Education | Sichuan University |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 2003–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Michael Feng Ke (冯柯)
(m. 2016; div. 2018) |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | |
| Chinese name | |
| Simplified Chinese | 张靓颖 |
| Traditional Chinese | 張靚穎 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Zhāng Liàngyǐng |
| Jyutping | Zoeng1 Leng3 Wing6 |
| Hokkien POJ | Tiuⁿ Chēng-éng |
| Signature | |
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Jane Zhang (born October 11, 1984) is a famous Chinese singer, songwriter, and music producer. She is known for her amazing singing voice, especially her ability to sing in the whistle register. This special skill earned her the nickname "Dolphin Princess."
Jane started singing in pubs when she was a teenager. This helped her family earn money. In 2005, she signed with Huayi Brothers Media Corporation. She then released her first album, The One, in 2006. Her second album, Update, came out in 2007. She continued to release successful albums like Jane@Music (2009) and Believe in Jane (2010). Her 2011 album, Reform, was very popular and sold many copies.
Jane has performed at big events like the 2017 Victoria's Secret Show. She was also featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Her song "Dust My Shoulders Off" was a hit, reaching high spots on music charts. She has attended the Grammy Awards twice and was a judge at the Montreal International Film Festival. Jane has many fans, with over 40 million followers on China's social media platform, Weibo. She has won the "China Best Female Artist" award seven times. In 2019, she released her first English album, Past Progressive.
Jane has won many awards throughout her career. These include nine Beijing Pop Music Awards for Best Female Singer and an MTV Europe Music Award. She was also listed in Forbes China's celebrity lists for several years.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Music
Jane Zhang was born on October 11, 1984, in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. She chose the English name "Jane" because she loved the novel Jane Eyre. Her father, Zhang Huaqing, was a truck driver, and her mother, Zhang Guiying, worked in a department store.
When Jane was 15, her father passed away. Her mother also lost her job. To help her family, Jane started singing in a public bar. She earned money to support them. She once shared that she "lived in a bar for 6 years" while growing up.
In 2003, Jane began studying at Sichuan University. Her singing career took off in 2005 when she won third place in the Chinese singing contest, Super Girl. Even though she didn't win first place, her amazing voice gained her many fans. The next year, she signed with Huayi Music.
Music Journey
Starting Out: 2004–2009
In 2004, Jane won the "Chinese College Student Singer Competition." The next year, she became famous after Super Girl. Many music companies wanted to sign her. She chose to work with Huayi Brothers Company and Hurray Company. Huayi Brothers handled her music production, while Hurray Company focused on her digital music.
Jane released her first EP (a mini-album) called Jane, Love in January 2006. Famous American musicians helped create songs for it. This EP sold over 500,000 copies in China.
In October 2006, Jane sang "Only for Love," the theme song for the Chinese film The Banquet. She worked with famous composer Tan Dun and pianist Lang Lang. Her first full album, The One, was released that same month. It sold over a million copies in China.
Her second album, Update, came out in 2007. It featured R&B and jazz music, which was a new style for her. The album was a big success. In 2008, she sang "One World, One Dream" with Andrea Bocelli for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Jane performed in Tokyo in May 2008. She helped promote cultural understanding between China and Japan through her music. Her third album, Jane@Music, released in 2009, included more jazz and faster songs. She even performed on The Oprah Winfrey Show to sing songs from this album to an American audience.
Growing Success: 2009–2015
In November 2009, Jane signed with Universal Music Group. She focused on the Chinese music market. Her fourth album, Believe in Jane, came out in February 2010. It included the popular song "If This Is Love." She also sang "Wavin' Flag" with Jacky Cheung and K'naan at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. In August, she started her first "Believe in Jane Tour" across China.
On June 1, 2011, Jane released her fifth album, Reform. This album showed many different styles, from R&B to rock and hip-hop. She even wrote lyrics for three of the songs. The album sold very well and was certified double platinum.
In 2012, Jane released a live album called Listen to Jane Z Live. She was inspired to create this album after seeing a live show in Las Vegas. It showed off her wide vocal range.
In July 2014, Jane signed with Sony Music. At the same time, she released her sixth album, The Seventh Sense. This album took two years to make and included two English songs. Jane wrote the lyrics for the title song based on her experiences. This album was also special because it connected music with Chinese fashion. Jane was a jury member at the 38th Montreal World Film Festival that year.
International Recognition: 2015–2019
In 2015, Jane participated in the Chinese music show I am a singer. She sang English songs like "Bang Bang" and "All of Me," making them popular in China. She also sang "Fighting Shadows" with Big Sean for the American film Terminator Genisys. This was her first song for an English-language film.
Jane released "Dust My Shoulders Off" with Timbaland in October 2016. This song was the first single from her English album, Past Progressive. It reached the top 10 on the US iTunes chart. In November, she released "Battlefield" for the film The Great Wall.
In October 2017, Jane was invited to perform at the 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. She was the first Asian singer to perform there. Her songs "Work for It" and "808" were featured. "808" even made it onto the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.
In October 2018, the Hong Kong government used Jane's song "My Dream" for a fireworks display. The song encouraged people to follow their dreams. Her "Jane's Secret" World Tour Concert in 2018 was also very successful.
Her English album, Past Progressive, was released in April 2019. It received good reviews. Jane won the Best Female Singer Award at the Beijing Pop Music Awards for this album, making it her ninth time winning this award.
Recent Work: 2023
In 2023, Jane worked with Japanese rock star Yoshiki. They performed "Hero" for the documentary film Yoshiki: Under the Sky.
Artistry and Influences
Musical Style
Jane Zhang is known for her amazing singing voice and technique. She sings in many styles, including pop, R&B, rock, hip hop, and dance. Her voice is clear and expressive. She can change her tone and key easily. Her song "Painted Heart" showed off her folk singing skills and wide vocal range.
Influences
Jane grew up listening to many famous artists. These include Teresa Teng, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and P!nk. These artists have all influenced her music. When she started singing in pubs, she mostly sang English cover songs. She learned to pick songs that her audience would love. Many people compare her to her idol, Mariah Carey, because of her versatile voice.
Other Activities
Technology and Media
Jane is interested in technology and social media. She has spoken about how social media helped her career.
Movies and Sports
Jane has been involved with movies, attending the Cannes Film Festival in France. She was also a jury member at the Montreal World Film Festival.
In sports, Jane sang the theme song "Light up the Future" for the opening ceremony of the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. She has also been an ambassador for Major League Baseball in China and for the 31st Summer Universiade.
Helping Others (Philanthropy)
Jane uses her voice to help others.
- In 2013, she made an anti-smoking advertisement for the China Health Education Center. She wanted people to understand the dangers of secondhand smoke.
- In 2007, she joined many world-famous singers to record a song called "Give Your Love" for World Peace One.
- She cares about children's rights. In 2010, she hosted children from poor families at the Shanghai Expo. In 2014, she started 'Blue Action' to raise money for children with autism.
- Since 2011, Jane has been a volunteer for WWF to protect the endangered narrow-ridged finless porpoise. She encourages the public to help protect them.
- In 2013, she released the song "One Woman" for the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. This song celebrated International Women's Day.
Public Roles
Jane was an ambassador for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) University Volunteer Program in 2007. She wrote the song "We Are Together" for this event.
In 2013, Jane attended the Young Leaders Roundtable of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA). This forum brings together important leaders to discuss global issues. She spoke about the importance of children's mental health. She also attended the Hong Kong Youth Music Festival to support cultural interaction among Asian youth.
Jane has performed at charity dinners and welcomed US government envoys. She also sang with Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-Hsiung at an event in 2009.
Awards and Achievements
Jane Zhang has received many awards and honors. These include nine Beijing Pop Music Awards for Best Female Singer, two China Gold Record Awards, and an MTV Europe Music Award.
Discography
- The One (2006)
- Update (2007)
- Jane@Music (2009)
- Believe in Jane (2010)
- Reform (2011)
- The Seventh Sense (2014)
- Past Progressive (2019)
Filmography
- McDull, the Alumni (2006)
- The Olympic Adventures of Fuwa (2007)
Tours
- Celebrate Tour (2009)
- Believe in Jane Tour (2010)
- Jane's Appearance Tour (2011–2012)
- Bang the World Tour (2015)
- Jane's Secret Tour (2018)
Personal Life
Jane Zhang's personal life often gets attention from the media. In July 2015, she shared that she was in a long-term relationship with Michael Feng, the CEO of Show City Times. They got married in Italy in November 2016, but their marriage ended in April 2018.
Jane is a supporter of gender equality and has spoken out against unfair treatment based on gender.
See also
- List of sopranos in non-classical music
