Interviewed by Max Teh on 11 - Aug - 2003 |
Background:
Jack Li is the webmaster for Taiwan's 80s Eurobeat Board. At present, he lives in Taiwan and he is one of the most loyal fans to 80s Italo/Euro Disco. He has a comprehensive knowledge and very experience in 80s Italo/Euro Disco. Besides, he also acts as the adviser and consultant for anything relating to 80s Italo/Euro Disco for his board members in Taiwan.
In short he is a very famous, influential and also a great leader to promote 80s Italo/Euro Disco to all the people in Taiwan. |
Max Teh: Hello Jack! My name is Max. I'm the webmaster and founder of Asia Italo Disco, formally known as Max Robin Italo Disco. Nice to meet you. How are you doing today? |
Jack Li: Hello Max, I am Jack from Taiwan. I am also very honor and pleasure to have your interviewing / joyful with you to popularize 80s Euro/Italo Disco music in Asia. Nice to know you too. |
Max Teh: First thing first. Can you introduce yourself to us? |
Jack Li: I am just an ordinary people working at Taiwan CKS International Airport and I am not engaged in relating to any music. I was merely by myself interested and stubborn to establish the first Taiwan Club focus on 80’s Eurobeat music due to I feel than 80’s Eurobeat music was so weak (unpopular) in Taiwan. We wish everyone come together to cherish the memory of music of glorious in those past years . |
Max Teh: How old were you when you started to listen to Euro/Italo Disco music for the first time? Why did you like this kind of music? |
Jack Li: 86’s Modern Talking---“Brother Louie” was my first touch to foreign music. I felt in love for this romantic and relaxing kind of music when I first listened to them. From that moment onwards, the Eurobeat music was much more popular in Taiwan. I was so lucky that live in the most brilliant age of Eurobeat and fell in the enthusiastic with this kind music. When listening to the 80’s Eurobeat, so comfortable, no pressure, even though I cannot dance but I can listen entirely while drinking the coffee. I think that is the unique charming of 80’s Eurobeat with relaxing, romantic, simple, and melodious. |
Max Teh: Is Euro/Italo Disco music still popular in Taiwan even today? How about back in 80s and 90s era? |
Jack Li: Eurobeat had two periods during the time frame of 1985~1989 /1993~1996 is really great popular in Taiwan. So many Eurobeat CDs/Tapes (Cassettes) available for sale in public in Taiwan during that time frame and therefore it become the mainstream music in the album market .
From the return of Modern Talking in 1998, further pushing forward a series of collection available for sale in public and 80’s Eurobeat Club foundation (my club) was established timely. More and more people started to pay much attention to 80’s Eurobeat music, club vitally day by day indirect driving Taiwan 80’s Eurobeat collection marketing. Today, Taiwan Italo/Eurobeat volume of circulation is more than past years and be a main consumption in reminiscence of 80’s music market. |
Max Teh: In your view, can you best describe to me about Euro/Italo Disco music? How it differs from other main stream music like pop or rock? |
Jack Li: I preferred Germany /Italy Eurobeat style music that emphasized in melody, fluently with un-noise, flowing with Eurobeat romantic character in the songs. Maybe the cause of “ Pisces “ preferred romantic and colorful of style of songs. I like this kind songs of feeling is like to my first love of music – Modern Talking . |
Max Teh: Is it easy to get Euro/Italo Disco CDs, vinyl or cassettes nowadays (today) in Taiwan? What are the major Record company in Taiwan who distribute Euro/Italo Disco music? |
Jack Li: It is inferior to gain 80’s Eurobeat information in Taiwan than in Japan /Korea or near to south-eastern Asia. Although Taiwan is still issuing some of Eurobeat combination collection, but cassettes and vinyl exchanging is stil not easier .
Many people have plentiful of collection in our club. It is so hard to buy 80’s Eurobeat vinyl in the present market. Taiwan has not specifically issuing for Eurobeat CDs corporation, one of the record company which is Alpha / AVEX / Imagination record corporation were issuing more than others. |
Max Teh: I noticed there are very few (almost none) of websites regarding Euro/Italo Disco music from Taiwan except your great Taiwan's 80 Eurobeat Board? What are the main reasons causing this? Taiwan people don't like Euro/Italo Disco music? |
Jack Li: This is a good question! I am also doubt. Why there is no specific introducing about 80’s Eurobeat /Italodisco web in Taiwan ? But near Taiwan countries like Japan/Malaysia can develop so smooth. This is why I popularize this style music. Everyone is more familiar with UK/USA billboard singers and songs after all. It is much easier to gain the related information about them. Most of people in the past were unable to research about the singers and songs of Eurobeat. Even though many people really like Eurobeat music, but they just hide in the every corner of Taiwan, and 80’s Eurobeat fans cannot obtain the related information via Internet at that time. That is the reason why many people cannot understand what is the different about 80’s Eurobeat music, just think disco music is quite disco music . They cannot make out what is different and which charming between Eurobeat and UK/USA beat music |
Max Teh: Comparing among the Asia countries, which country do you think has the most influenced by Euro/Italo Disco music? |
Jack Li: Of course, Japan had the most influenced by Euro/Italo disco music in Asia .
Japan’s popular music had huge echoed with Italo disco music, that is lead to many Euro disco singers issued CDs collection or developed their music career in Japan . |
Max Teh: Have you ever surf or come across other Euro/Italo Disco website from Asia that impressed you the most? Give me some of the names. Why did you get impressed with them? |
Jack Li: First of all is you, Max's website, I saw your website for a long time ago. I admired you so much for your professional knowledge and popularize Euro disco music .
Second, my USSR friend – Sasha website ---http://www.orc.ru/~melnikl/, he do me some favors for me. Although my English is so poor, but we still have a friendly interactive. That is the first time to hyperlink USSR website .(meant Sasha website). Another Poland website http://www.search.progbit.pl/ had fully music information, also provided searching function . |
Max Teh: In europe, the Euro/Italo Disco community occasionally have gathering party to share the Euro/Italo Disco music and to exchange idea? At the same time they also invite the Euro/Italo Singers to sing? Do you have this kind of activities in Taiwan? |
Jack Li: We have gathering activities monthly in the present, sharing memories and music CDs with each other, we were also went to shopping second hand CDs store to look for 80’s music occasionally.
We will do that to invite Eurobeat singers to sing in case we have opportunities . |
Max Teh: Have you ever watched the Euro/Italo Disco live concert in Taiwan? So far, has any Euro/Italo Disco artist been to Taiwan either for promotion or concert? |
Jack Li: I have never seen before any Euro disco singers live concert, but MODERN TALKING/BAD BOYS BLUE/SANDRA/GAZEBO/JOY/KEN LASZLO/MICHAEL FORTUNATI/SABRINA/LONDON BOYS/C.C.CATCH/GRANT MILLER/SILENT CIRCLE/STACEY Q.....etc singers ever came to Taiwan for live concert when I was a child. One of the outstanding live concert ---Modern Talking on 1987 is shook Taiwan . As I know our club had over ten members had ever seen 1987 Modren Talking Live Concert. It is regrettable that I had no money due to just a student at that time. |
Max Teh: You have experienced the Euro/Italo Disco scene in the 80s and 90s. So what do you think about it, then and from today's perspectives ? |
Jack Li: I really wish those 80’s/90’s artists can keep striving for us that reminiscent fans, maybe these music are no longer mainstream music in the world .
But I quite believed that there are so many loyal Eurodisco fans all over the world, we also wish them to those who disappeared Eurodance singers resume the performance . |
Max Teh: Personally, what is your best Euro/Italo Artists and which Euro/Italo songs? It is hard just to mention one. You can give me 5 names. Then, how about your best Euro/Italo Producers? You can also give me 5 names. |
Jack Li:My most favorite music groups are Modern Talking / Bad Boys Blue / Joy / C.C.Catch / Fancy from Germany singers, I feel for them without any words I can say .
ZYX record corporation issued many collections were also I have my favorite singers from there. |
Max Teh: As you know now is 21st century with year 2003. However, there are still a small group of people around the world still loyal to 80s Euro/Italo Disco music. In your opinion, why they behave in this way? You may take yourself as an example? What are your favorites Euro/Italo Disco record companies? |
Jack Li: I thought that had our past nice memories of any music. Those are the reason why we are keeping forwarding power because of past years impressive memory .
I also preferred ZYX record corporation issued Eurodance CDs . |
Max Teh: Besides Euro/Italo Disco music, do you listen to other type of music. Please share with us. |
Jack Li: I was not repelled any style music, I have ever tried to write the music that is just for interest.
80’s music is still my favorite songs although any style music were very popular at that time .
I was also listened to USSR or India near to Middle-East etc. fashion music. |
Max Teh: What do you think about recent announcement of the Modern Talking's split? What is your feeling? |
Jack Li: It is quite regrettable thing that Thomas Anders and Dieter Bohlen did not work together anymore. But it is not a bad thing that spilt in the top duration, they left us 12 great collections after all. If I were Dieter Bohlen, I will do my best to collaborate with C.C.Catch and Thomas Anders for new collection chorusing .
It can make Dieter Bohlen higher success absolutely. But spilt is undoubtedly, we just wish they have better development, also wish Thomas Anders can encourage new idea with more outstanding music producer . |
Max Teh: Do you put high hope on the new Bad Boys Blue's album-Around The World? |
Jack Li: Of course, I had all “Bad Boys Blue “ albums .
This new album producer is also Fancy album producer lately. I really looking forward to this new collection . |
Max Teh: There is rumor saying that Blue System will be back and also Dieter might work together with CC Catch again for new albums. What is your opinion? |
Jack Li: I am expected that was not a rumor, is true thing completely. If Dieter can work together with C.C.Catch for new album again, I believe that they can get unprecedented success. If “Blue System “ could be back to the music platform, we can recollect like Modern Talking style music |
Max Teh: So far, is there any local artist from Taiwan who sing in Euro/Italo Disco style before (during 80s and 90s) or today? Please share with us. |
Jack Li: I thought Hong Kong singers/groups who sing in Euro/Italo Disco style music are more than Taiwan. Taiwan had less singers or groups who major sing in Euro/Italo Disco style music . |
Max Teh: I still remembered during 80s, there was one group from Hong Kong who called themselves as "Raidas".
Do you know them? They are famous with hits like "Smoking Lady". They sing in Cantonese. |
Jack Li: I knew this “Raidas” twin-people music groups . I also liked this song named “Smoking Lady “ This song which issued by Hong Kong had Euro/Italo dance music style . |
Max Teh: We almost come to the end of this interview, something special to say ? Something exclusively maybe ? |
Jack Li: I am very appreciated your lots of efforts and give me this chance that popularize Taiwan 80’s Eurobeat club to the music fans all over the world .
We all still wish have numerous 80’s Eurobeat fans in the world in the future. Thank you for your interviewing . |
Max Teh: Lastly, on behalf of Asia Italo Disco, I would to say thank you very much for today's great interview. Hopefully, we can meet again some other time. All the best to you Jack. |
Jack Li: Thank you. We all wish your website are very popular in the world and wish our club members have the chances to visit you in Malaysia . Welcome you come to Taiwan for traveling too . Thank Max and wish 80’s Eurobeat music keeping popular to the further. Sincerely. |
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