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1st July, 2009
Hong Kong’s Eason Chan and Taiwanese pop prince Jay Chou garnered top honours Saturday at Taiwan’s Golden Melody Awards, dubbed the Chinese-language Grammys.
Chan picked up the most coveted Best Album of the Year accolade for “Don’t Want to Let Go,” although he missed out on the top singer prize to the absent Chou, who took three awards.
“I am especially happy to receive the award from” fellow Hong Konger Jacky Cheung, an emotional Chan told the crowd.
“I want to thank the judges … I love you. I love Taiwan,” he said as cheering fans chanted his name.
Chou, who led the race with eight nominations, saw off Chan, heartthrob singer/actor Leehom Wang and Kong Kong’s Khalil Fong to take the Best Mandarin Male Singer title. He also took Best Song of the Year for the heart-warming “Fragrant Rice” and Best Music Video for the dazzling “Mr. Magic” he directed and performed from the top-selling album “Capricorn.”
Versatile Taiwan singer Sandee Chan was the night’s dark horse when she was crowned Best Mandarin Female Singer for “If One Thing Is Important” which she also produced. “I am very happy to receive this award. I am not naturally great at singing but I spend a lot of time to do better,” she said.
Chan beat last year’s winner Tanya Chua of Singapore, five-time nominee Jasmine Leong of Malaysia and Taiwanese veteran singer Tsai Chin.
Hong Kong’s “God of Songs” Jacky Cheung and Taiwanese-language songstress Jody Chiang won the audience vote on the most popular songs in Taiwan in the past two decades.
However, this year’s ceremony struggled to attract much star power, with the absence of Jay Chou, Leehom Wang or other big names such as pop diva A-Mei.
Performers from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore competed in more than 20 categories at the 20th Golden Melody Awards.
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