As more than 400 fans scream her name, Li Yuchun appearsonstage in a black-and white outfit, her short hair cut in itstrademark style. With her latest album I Met You in 1987, Li provesthat if China's show business has to select a representative, she isthe one.
Known by her English name Chris Lee in the West, Li hasappeared twice on the Asian cover of Time Magazine sincewinning the televised singing competition Super Girl in 2005, whenshe got more than 3 million votes from around the country.
Li broke the stereotype of China's female pop idols with hertomboy image.
With six albums under her belt, the singer has won the 2013 MTVEurope Music Award for Best Worldwide Act
The latest album marks Li's musical return after a two-year hiatus,during which she took on roles in movies, including the kung-fu film The Guillotines directed byAndrew Lau and the play A Dream Like a Dream directed by Stan Lai.
"I listened to the songs in the new album over and over again. I try to make sure everything in thealbum expresses myself properly," she says.
"I turned 30 this year and this album is like a gift for myself as well as for my fans."
The album follows the dance-oriented pop music style from her earlier albums - Dancing YoungLiterati in 2011 and Old If Not Wild in 2012.
She invited veteran songwriter-producer Zhang Yadong to collaborate on the album. Though thetwo have been working together since Li's 2006 debut album The Queen and the Dreams, Lisays their cooperation this time is fresh.
They spent a lot of time in the studio, drinking tea and sharing their mutual interest inphotography, and watched live shows and soccer games. Many ideas for the album came fromtheir random chats.
