Cindy Yen
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Short description|Taiwanese-American singer-songwriter (born 1986)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{infobox person
| name = Cindy Yen
| image = Cindy Yen (2010, cropped).JPG
| alt = see caption
| caption = Cindy Yen in 2010
| birth_name = Cindy Wu ({{lang|zh-hant|吳欣雲}})
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|11|14}}
| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S
| occupation = Singer-songwriter, record producer, composer, actress
| years_active = 2009–present
| awards =
| website =
| module = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes|title=Cindy Yen
| t = 袁詠琳
| s = 袁咏琳
| p = Yuán Yǒnglín
}}
| module2 = {{infobox musical artist
| embed = yes
| origin = Taiwan
| instrument =
}}
Cindy Yen (born Cindy Wu {{zh|t=吳欣雲|link=no}}; 14 November 1986) is a Taiwanese-American singer-songwriter, actress, composer, and record producer. She is signed to JVR Music since 2009 and released her first debut album in October of same year entitled Cindy Yen,{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cindy/id339036913 |title=Cindy Yen's album on iTunes |website=Apple iTunes |date=2010-04-13 |access-date=April 4, 2014 |archive-date=October 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002024827/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cindy/id339036913 |url-status=dead }} as well as her first song, "Sand Painting", a duet composed by her and sang along Jay Chou. She is known for R&B, soul, pop, classical, rock, acoustic folk, and hip-hop.
Early life and education
Yen was born on 14 November 1986 in Houston, Texas. Her parents were divorced when she was 12, and solely was raised by her mother.{{Cite web |url=http://www.88news.net/2010/01/13/cindy-yen-thanked-mom-and-dad-for-divorcing/#more-10836 |title=Cindy Yen thanks Mom and Dad for divorcing |website=88 News |date=January 13, 2010 |access-date=September 24, 2010 |archive-date=March 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322174837/http://www.88news.net/2010/01/13/cindy-yen-thanked-mom-and-dad-for-divorcing/#more-10836 |url-status=dead}} As a child, she had interest in music especially the musical instrument, piano, which she calls her "best friend", and "part of what makes her happy".{{cite web |url=http://www.ampedasia.com/article/Cindy-Yen-Interview/ |title=Cindy Yen's in-depth interview with Amped Asia |website=Amped Asia |date=2010-06-01 |access-date=September 24, 2010 |archive-date=August 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806183105/http://www.ampedasia.com/article/Cindy-Yen-Interview/ |url-status=live }} Yen attended Bellaire High School in Texas in 2004 and furthered to The University of Texas at Austin, where she majored in piano performance and broadcast journalism.{{cite web |url=https://www.asiantexasexes.org/2010/february-alumni-spotlight-cindy-yen/ |title=Cindy Yen featured as Texas Exes' February Asian Alumni Spotlight |website=Asian Texas Exes |date=2010-02-10 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-date=March 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308041406/http://www.asiantexasexes.org/2010/february-alumni-spotlight-cindy-yen/ |url-status=live }}
In 2008, Yen auditioned for American Idol in Dallas, but was eliminated by Randy Jackson. In the fall of 2008, she moved to Taiwan—her native land and proceeded into beauty pageantry though desired to be a musical artist. She won the 2008 Miss Chinatown Houston and the Miss Chinatown USA in 2009.{{cite web |url=http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/100308/3/gwtz.html |title=袁詠琳最怕選美泳裝照曝光 – 星島日報 |trans-title=Cindy Yen is scared to wear bikinis in beauty pageants |website=QingDao Daily News |date=2010-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312034530/http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/100308/3/gwtz.html |archive-date=March 12, 2010 |lang=zh}}
She was signed by Jay Chou into JVR Music as the first artist in February 2009.{{Cite web |url=http://culture.022china.com/2010/02-02/217875_0.html |title=Cindy Yen, Jay Chou's first new artist |website=022China.com |date=2010-02-02 |access-date=September 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207020715/http://culture.022china.com/2010/02-02/217875_0.html |archive-date=February 7, 2010 |url-status=dead}}
Career
= Music =
Within eight months of signing, Yen released her debut single, "Sand Painting", a duet she composed and sang along Jay Chou.{{Cite web |url=http://asianfanatics.net/forum/topic/693225-jay-chous-new-duet-with-newcomer-cindy-yen-will-be-released-on-hit-fm-today/ |title=Jay Chou's new duet with newcomer Cindy Yen "Sand Painting" |website=Asian Fanatics |date=2009-10-13 |access-date=September 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212035926/http://asianfanatics.net/forum/topic/693225-jay-chous-new-duet-with-newcomer-cindy-yen-will-be-released-on-hit-fm-today/ |archive-date=December 12, 2010 |url-status=usurped}} The song received critical acclaim and topped Billboard China and KTV. The album was listed under Top 10 on the G-Music charts and top listened in KKBox Charts.{{Cite web |url=http://tw.kkbox.com/artist/htr19eYCMbx2OyK0F0BEg08J-index-1.html |title=Cindy's Album on KKBox |website=KKBox Taiwan |date=2009-10-30 |access-date=September 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111131951/http://tw.kkbox.com/artist/htr19eYCMbx2OyK0F0BEg08J-index-1.html |archive-date=January 11, 2010 |url-status=dead}} In 2010, "Sand Painting" was rated as the top ten "most popular hit songs" in China by the Mandarin Web Original Composition Pop Music Charts.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnhan.com/gb/content/2010-11/23/content_1224322.htm |title=China's 2010 Mandarin Web Original Composition Pop Music Charts |website=CNHan News |date=2010-11-23 |access-date=November 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722073126/http://www.cnhan.com/gb/content/2010-11/23/content_1224322.htm |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |url-status=dead}} She later re-wrote the lyrics for its English version—"Another One Like You". Following the success of her song, she became a "featured girl" for FarEasTone, a Taiwan technological industry.{{cite web |url=http://www.nownews.com/2009/10/23/11490-2523407.htm |title=Jay Chou's new prodigy Cindy Yen – Cries as she watches her first commercial on TV |website=Now News |date=2009-10-23 |access-date=September 24, 2010 |archive-date=December 15, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215020116/http://www.nownews.com/2009/10/23/11490-2523407.htm |url-status=live }} On 30 October 2009, Yen released her self-titled album "Cindy Yen".
File:Cindy Hong Kong Performance.jpg
Despite the challenges of western influence in Asian musical culture, her album was musically R&B, rock, hip-hop, pop rock, hard metal and Latin hip-hop dance beats and included hits including "Stupid Fish", "Very Traveling Love", "Singing a Song Because of Longing", and "Dancing With Threat."{{cite web |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/music-picks-cindy-yens-birthday-concert-new-album-from-k-pop-boy-band-sf9 |title=Music Picks: Cindy Yen's birthday concert, album from K-pop boy band SF9 |website=The Straits Times |last=Ang |first=Benson |date=December 10, 2021 |access-date=22 April 2024 |archive-date=December 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203105905/https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/music-picks-cindy-yens-birthday-concert-new-album-from-k-pop-boy-band-sf9 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.grooveasia.com/news/5613/Newcomer-Cindy-Yen-s-debut-solo-MV- |title=Cindy Yen's debut solo MV |website=grooveasia.com |date=2009-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711131004/http://www.grooveasia.com/news/5613/Newcomer-Cindy-Yen-s-debut-solo-MV- |archive-date=July 11, 2011}} Since her debut, Yen opened her own mini-concert in Hong Kong.{{cite web |url=http://blog.fooyoh.com/pandakun/entry/Cindy-Yen-opens-concert-uncomfortable-seeing-Jay-Chou?category=0 |title=Yen opens her first mini-concert in Hong Kong |website=fooyoh.com |date=2010-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305000132/http://blog.fooyoh.com/pandakun/entry/Cindy-Yen-opens-concert-uncomfortable-seeing-Jay-Chou?category=0 |archive-date=March 5, 2012}} She was on tour with Jay Chou's 2010 "The Era" Concert Tour as a regular guest performer.{{Cite web |url=http://news.singtao.ca/toronto/2010-09-20/entertainment1284962000d2740216.html |title=Cindy Yen guest performer at Jay Chou's "The Era" concert tour |website=SingTao Daily |date=2010-09-20|access-date=September 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322232321/http://news.singtao.ca/toronto/2010-09-20/entertainment1284962000d2740216.html |archive-date=March 22, 2012 |url-status=dead}}
Yen released her second album, "2 Be Different" on September 29, 2011.{{Cite web |url=http://www.95magazine.com/artist-cindy.html |title=Cindy Yen Talks About Her Second Album |website=95magazine.com |date=2011-10-01 |access-date=October 31, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021074652/http://www.95magazine.com/artist-cindy.html |archive-date=October 21, 2011 |url-status=dead}} In an interview with Razor TV, she said her album was to "empower women".{{cite web |url=http://www.razor.tv/site/servlet/segment/main/entertainment/70418.html |title=Cindy Yen Discusses What it Means to Her "To Be Different |website=Razor TV |date=2011-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419071413/http://www.razor.tv/site/servlet/segment/main/entertainment/70418.html |archive-date=April 19, 2012}} Yen received the Best Stylistic New Artist at the Beijing MTV Super Awards in 2011,{{Cite web |title=杰威爾音樂 JVR Music |url=http://www.jvrmusic.com/artist/profile/1152117529989222400 |access-date=2020-08-06 |website=jvrmusic.com |language=zh-TW |archive-date=July 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705083657/http://www.jvrmusic.com/artist/profile/1152117529989222400 |url-status=live }} and the Best Single of the Year for "Trap". In 2012, she was awarded the Stylistic Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the Beijing Music Awards.
Yen released her third album, "Fight For Love" in 2015 with hits, "Come To Mami" and "Bad Boy". She later collaborated with Della Ding, a Taiwanese singer from B'in Music and released the song entitled "I Want Me" (我要我).
= Acting =
Yen first made a special guest appearance in the television drama series Pandamen (2010).{{cite news |title=Jay Chou creates super panda men |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/18/content_10837969.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219042922/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/18/content_10837969.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 19, 2009 |agency=Xinhua News Agency |date=December 18, 2009}} On 5 July 2011, she starred as a supporting actress alongside Megan Lai and Yowei Lin in the TV series, {{ill|Invaluable Treasure 1949|zh|瑰寶1949}}. She has starred in the feature film, First Time 2012),{{cite web |url=http://www.cpopaccess.com/2012/01/cindy-yen-writes-song-for-mark-chao-in.html |title=Cindy Yen Writes Song for Mark Chao in Movie First Time |website=CpopAccess.com |date=2012-01-04 |access-date=February 9, 2012 |archive-date=January 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114060455/http://www.cpopaccess.com/2012/01/cindy-yen-writes-song-for-mark-chao-in.html |url-status=live }} Chinese reality show, Sisters Who Make Waves.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=June 26, 2020 |title=乘风破浪: 袁咏琳因没自信大哭引热议 |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/404269161_100288750 |access-date=August 29, 2020 |website=Sohu |archive-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422032712/https://www.sohu.com/a/404269161_100288750 |url-status=live }} She was eliminated at the fourth performance.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 7, 2020 |title=吴昕袁咏琳张萌淘汰! |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/411954807_120388781 |access-date=August 29, 2020 |website=Sohu |archive-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422032713/https://www.sohu.com/a/411954807_120388781 |url-status=live }} Since then, she has featured in First Time (2015), Sophie in Youth Power (2015), Fiona in Swimming Battle (2016), Inference Notes (推理筆記; 2017), Jenny in Memory Love (2017), Secret Lover (愛情教會我的事 – 秘密情人; 2018), Between .(三明治女孩的逆袭; 2018).
Influences
Yen's musical life was influenced by the Western culture, where she grew up. During her consent for recording her music, they were rejected as not suitable for Asia especially the Chinese music, which barely uses R&B and soul music genres.{{cite web |date=2009-10-30 |title=Cindy Yen's Background and History |url=http://www.hudong.com/wiki/%E8%A2%81%E5%92%8F%E7%90%B3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410161631/http://www.hudong.com/wiki/%E8%A2%81%E5%92%8F%E7%90%B3 |archive-date=April 10, 2010 |access-date=September 23, 2010 |website=Hudong}}
Legacy
In January 2010, Yen became TVBS' spokesperson for their "Lotus" charity event.{{cite web |url=http://www.todaynews.com.tw/bencandy.php?fid-6-id-1856-page-1.htm |title=Cindy Yen Spokesperson for TVBS' Lotus charity event |website=Today News |date=2010-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728024624/http://www.todaynews.com.tw/bencandy.php?fid-6-id-1856-page-1.htm |archive-date=July 28, 2012}}
= Awards and nominations =
Discography
Solo Albums
- Cindy Yen (2009)
- 2 be different (2011)
- Fight For Love (2015)
- The Moment EP (2018)
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{commons category|Cindy Yen}}
- {{IMDb title}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yen, Cindy}}
Category:American musicians of Taiwanese descent
Category:American women musicians of Chinese descent
Category:University of Texas at Austin College of Fine Arts alumni
Category:21st-century Taiwanese women singers
Category:21st-century Taiwanese singer-songwriters
Category:Moody College of Communication alumni