Serene Koong
{{Short description|Singaporean singer }}
{{family name hatnote|Koong|lang=Chinese}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Promotional|date=January 2025}}
{{Expand Chinese|龔芝怡|date=August 2012|topic=bio}}
}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Serene Koong
| image = Serene Koong.jpg
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption = Koong in 2014
| birth_name =
| alias = Gong Zhiyi
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1988|9|21}}
| birth_place =
| origin = Singapore
| death_date =
| death_place =
| genre = {{hlist|Mandopop|R&B}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|producer}}
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|piano|guitar}}
| years_active = 2010–present
| label = [http://www.goodgirlmusic.com GoodGirlMusic]
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|serenekoong.com}}
| module = {{Infobox Chinese |child= yes|hide= no |headercolor=lightblue
| name1 =
| t = 龔芝怡
| s = 龚芝怡
| p = Gōng Zhīyí
}}
}}
Serene Koong (born 21 September 1988) is a Singaporean singer, songwriter and producer. She is a three time Global Chinese Golden Chart Award,{{cite web|title=《第4届全球流行音乐金榜颁奖典礼》得奖名单|url=http://my.com.my/Special/MYGCGC.aspx|publisher=MY FM|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527213144/http://my.com.my/Special/MYGCGC.aspx|archivedate=27 May 2014|df=dmy-all}} three time Singapore Hit Awards,{{cite news|title=The Singapore Hit Awards 2013: The winners|url=http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/music/singapore-hit-awards-2013-winners|publisher=Today Online|date=23 November 2013|archive-date=1 July 2015|access-date=7 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701095428/http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/music/singapore-hit-awards-2013-winners|url-status=live}} Star Awards winner,{{cite web |title=Star Awards 20: 'Show 1' Winners List |url=http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/buzz/asia/star-awards-20-show-1-winners-list |publisher=MSN |access-date=27 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429131101/http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/buzz/asia/star-awards-20-show-1-winners-list |archive-date=29 April 2014 |url-status=dead }} and Asian Academy Creative Awards National Winner.{{Cite web |title=Felicia Chin, Gurmit Singh, Mind Jumper Among Singapore Winners In Asian Academy Creative Awards 2021 |url=https://www.todayonline.com/8days/seeanddo/felicia-chin-gurmit-singh-mind-jumper-among-singapore-winners-asian-academy-creative |access-date=2021-10-18 |website=TODAYonline |archive-date=18 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018043932/https://www.todayonline.com/8days/seeanddo/felicia-chin-gurmit-singh-mind-jumper-among-singapore-winners-asian-academy-creative |url-status=live }}
Career
=2010-2013=
File:Serene Koong 龚芝怡 at Singapore Hit Awards 幸福不难 The Dream Makers.JPG ) during the Singapore Hit Awards. |280px|alt= Serene Koong 幸福不难]]In May 2010, Koong released her debut Mandarin album, 55:38:7, composed of ten original compositions.{{cite web |url=https://freshmusic.sg/2010/06/05/%E8%AF%95%E5%90%AC%E4%B8%93%E8%BE%91%EF%BC%9A%E9%BE%9A%E8%8A%9D%E6%80%A1%E3%80%8A55%EF%BC%9A38%EF%BC%9A7%E3%80%8B/ |title=试听专辑：龚芝怡《55：38：7》 |date=June 5, 2010 |website=freshmusic.sg |language=zh}} Her single "明知我愛你" peaked at number 3 on YES 933 醉心龙虎榜.{{cite web |url=http://http.cc/music/rewrite.php/read-7790.html |title=2010年-第26周-YES933醉心龙虎榜 |website=
http.cc音樂-音樂排行榜 |access-date=February 28, 2025 |language=zh}} The single was nominated for Best Local Composition at the 2010 Singapore Hit Awards; Koong received four nominations total and won the Most Popular Newcomer award and the Meritorious Newcomer award.{{cite web|title=Singapore Hit Awards 2010 Winners List unveiled!|url=http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/buzz/asia/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4427813|publisher=MSN|accessdate=29 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421170423/http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/buzz/asia/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4427813|archive-date=21 April 2012|url-status=dead}}
Koong was also involved in song production for television series and films with "在我左右" for Mediacorp Channel 8's television series New Beginnings and "手中线" for the film Love Cuts starring Zoe Tay and Kenny Ho. Same year, Koong had filmed two advertisements with Fraser and Neave, one of which featured her original song "Lala" performed with Jiahui Wu.{{cite web |url=https://fmmusic.com.sg/portfolio/lala-fn-jingle-wu-jia-hui-%E4%BC%8D%E5%AE%B6%E8%BE%89-serene-koong-%E9%BE%9A%E8%8A%9D%E6%80%A1/ |title=LALA (F&N Jingle) – Wu Jia Hui 伍家辉 & Serene Koong 龚芝怡 |website=fmmusic.com.sg |access-date=February 28, 2025 |language=zh}}
In March 2012, Koong made her debut in Taiwan with the album 聲.體.輿言, distributed by Warner Music Taiwan.{{Cite web |date=1 March 2012 |title=聲.體.與言 {{!}} 華納線上音樂雜誌 |url=http://www.warnermusic.com.tw/store/item/2827 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529052535/http://www.warnermusic.com.tw/store/item/2827 |archive-date=29 May 2014 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=}} In the same year, she performed at the Esplanade's Huayi Chinese Festival of Arts.{{cite web|title=in::music Serene Koong 龚芝怡|url=http://www.huayifestival.com/2012/inmusicserene/index.html|publisher=Huayi Festival|access-date=3 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606233135/http://www.huayifestival.com/2012/inmusicserene/index.html|archive-date=6 June 2014|url-status=dead}}
In 2013, Koong formed her music company, GoodGirlMusic, to manage her career.{{Cite web |last=Zhuang |first=Zara |date=5 January 2016 |title=Serene Koong writes sub-theme song for Dream Makers 2 in half a day |url=https://www.8days.sg/local-buzz/serene-koong-writes-sub-theme-song-dream-makers-2-half-day-510901 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=8days |language=en}} She produced, wrote, and performed the theme song "Happiness Isn’t Hard" (幸福不难) for Mediacorp Channel 8's television series The Dream Makers. Her song was selected from 55 musicians who submitted their work to Mediacorp. That year, Koong was named "Top Downloaded Female Artist" by MeRadio at the {{Interlanguage link|18th Singapore Hit Awards|zh|第18屆新加坡金曲獎}} for the song "Happiness isn’t Hard".{{Cite web |date=23 November 2013 |title=The Singapore Hit Awards 2013: The winners |url=https://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/music/singapore-hit-awards-2013-winners |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=Today |language=en |archive-date=25 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425102111/https://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/music/singapore-hit-awards-2013-winners |url-status=live }}
=2014-2017=
File:Serene Koong龚芝怡 AsianTelevisionAwards2014 TheDreamMakers Best Theme Song Nomination.jpg where her work "Happiness isn’t Hard", which she wrote, produced and performed for the drama series The Dream Makers, was nominated for the Best Theme Song Award.]]
In 2014, Koong won the Best Theme Song at the Star Awards for "Happiness Isn't Hard."{{cite news|title=Jeanette Aw, The Dream Makers win big|url=http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/television/jeanette-aw-dream-makers-win-big|accessdate=6 January 2015|date=2014-04-22|archive-date=30 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130143831/http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/television/jeanette-aw-dream-makers-win-big|url-status=live}} The song was also named the Top Dedicated Hit Song by UFM1003{{cite web |url=https://www.am1470.com/pdf/GCGC.pdf |website=am1470.com |title=獎項歌手/歌曲 |language=zh |access-date=February 28, 2025}} and reached number one on the Singapore iTunes Mandopop chart.{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10152905179539641&set=a.430643019640 |title=Serene Koong's Facebook: Finally! Memorable moments 2014 #1 & Happy New Year 2015: #幸福不难 Number 1 on #iTunes SG! |date=December 31, 2014 |website=Facebook}} Koong received two Global Chinese Golden Chart Awards including "Outstanding Artiste Award" (Singapore, UFM1003) for the song and a nomination for Best Theme Song at the 19th Asian Television Awards.{{Cite web|title=Serene Koong 龔芝怡 – JUST IN! 《幸福不难》 Nominated for Asian Television Awards 2014 "Best Theme Song"! Thank you MediaCorp, 感恩, Thank you so much ATA for the nomination! 喜欢《幸福不难》的朋友们，好开心能和你分享这个好消息呀！ :*) ❤️ ＃zzsf {{!}} Facebook|url=https://www.facebook.com/198822144640/photos/a.430643019640/10152790332729641/|access-date=2021-10-18|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}} Koong was the Mandarin lead singer for the theme song, "网织同心" (Knit with One Heart), of the Singapore Chingay Parade 2014, which was presented at the parade with Lee Wei Song as music director.{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10151915808677279&set=a.10151915803257279 |location=People's Association|title=Our amazing singers for the theme song for Chingay 2014! |date=17 October 2013}}
In July 2015, Koong wrote a song "Precious" (心肝) for Kelvin Tong's film (Grandma Positioning System) in the SG50 anthology film 7Letters.{{cite web |title=Pay-as-you-wish for SG50 movie '7 Letters' – inSing.com Movies |url=http://movies.insing.com/feature/7-letters-directors-give-back-to/id-26723101/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619041728/http://movies.insing.com/feature/7-letters-directors-give-back-to/id-26723101/ |archive-date=2015-06-19 |website=movies.insing.com}} She was inspired by the eulogy of Lee Kuan Yew to his wife Kwa Geok Choo. She was the producer, vocal producer, songwriter and performer of the song, which peaked at number five on the Singapore iTunes Mandopop chart.{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10153528972614641&set=a.430643019640 |title=Serene Koong's Facebook: TGIF! 《心肝》is #5 on the SG iTunes Mandopop Top Songs! |website=Facebook |date=September 4, 2015}} In December, her single "All Alone" (当世界只剩下我一个人), which she wrote, produced, and performed for The Dream Makers II, peaked at number two on the Singapore iTunes Mandopop chart.{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10153731296999641&set=a.430643019640 |title=Serene Koong's Facebook: NUMBER 2 on iTunes Mandopop Charts SG!!! Woohooo thank u guys!! |website=Facebook |date=December 15, 2015}}
In August 2016, Koong was among the three Singaporean artists whose works charted on the Global Chinese Golden Charts TOP 20 (first half of 2016).{{Cite web |title=《全球流行音乐金榜》上半年20大 孙燕姿、林俊杰上榜 |url=https://www.uweekly.sg/showbiz/31707 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305161840/https://www.uweekly.sg/showbiz/31707 |archive-date=5 March 2021 |access-date=16 March 2020 |website=优1周 – UWeekly}}Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/oTa329OBn6U Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170202075526/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTa329OBn6U Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTa329OBn6U| title = 【HITO LIVE線上直播】-2016全金榜上半年20大金曲公布 | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} On 7 May 2017, Koong received the Outstanding Artist of The Year presented by UFM100.3 award at the Global Chinese Golden Chart Awards.
=2018-Present=
On 9 August 2018, Koong appeared on the prelude episode of SPOP Sing!,{{Cite news|url=https://video.toggle.sg/en/series/spop-spop/ep1/620717|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824034219/https://video.toggle.sg/en/series/spop-spop/ep1/620717|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 August 2018|title=SPOP Sing! Prelude SPOP听我唱 SING 乐飞扬|work=Toggle|access-date=2018-10-25}} a singing competition the search for the next homegrown talent. She also served the series as a vocal and performance Mentor to the Top 20 contestants.{{Cite web |title=SPOP SING! – Preparations For Quarter Finals |url=https://video.toggle.sg/en/video/series/contestants-spop-sing/ep1/628405 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212013724/https://video.toggle.sg/en/video/series/contestants-spop-sing/ep1/628405 |archive-date=February 12, 2019}}
In 2021, Koong served as the Vocal and Performance Mentor on SPOP Wave!.{{Cite web|url=https://video.toggle.sg/en/video/series/contestants-spop-sing/ep1/628405|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212013724/https://video.toggle.sg/en/video/series/contestants-spop-sing/ep1/628405|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2019|title=SPOP SING! – Preparations For Quarter Finals}} On 30 September, Koong was announced as the National Winner for Best Theme Song / Title at the Asian Academy Creative Awards, with her work "When It Leads Me Back To You", which she wrote, performed and produced for Mediacorp Channel 5's drama series Slow Dancing.https://www.facebook.com/asianacademycreativeawards/videos/272209418091231 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422052141/https://www.facebook.com/asianacademycreativeawards/videos/272209418091231 |date=22 April 2023 }} {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}
In 2023, Koong wrote, performed and produced the ending theme song for All That Glitters which began airing on September 18.
In 2024, "TENDER", written by Koong, Lai Zhenming, and Ferry, was presented on Melody Journey by Lai. The song was chosen and performed by Shan Yichun.{{cite web |url=https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20241014A06OD200 |title=薛之谦谱写"霸王别姬", 音乐缘计划 单依纯国风舞台令人沉醉! |trans-title=Xue Zhiqian composed "Farewell My Concubine", Melody Journey Shan Yichun's Chinese style stage was intoxicating! |website=Tencent News |date=October 14, 2024 |language=zh}}
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!Title !Album details |
| scope="row" |55:38:7
|
|
|---|
| scope="row" |聲 . 體 . 輿言
|
|
= Singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="1" scope="col" |Title ! rowspan="1" scope="col" |Year ! rowspan="1" scope="col" |Album |
| scope="row" |"Happiness Isn’t Hard" (幸福不难)
|2013 |Non-album single |
|---|
| scope="row" |"心肝"
|2015 |Non-album single |
| scope="row" |"当世界只剩下我一个人"
|2016 |Non-album single |
| scope="row" |"酸甜苦澀"
|2018 |Non-album single |
| "Save Me From Myself"
|2019 |Non-album single |
| "When It Leads Me Back To You"
|2021 |Non-album single |
| "Breathe Again"
|2023 |Non-album single |
| "直到最后 Eternally"
|2023 |Non-album single |
=Other songwriting credits=
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Credit !Title !Artist !Album |
| rowspan="1" |2016
|Writer |"独家献映" |BBF |王者之路 |
| rowspan="1" |2017
|Writer |"想象空间" |衛蘭 |
| rowspan="2" |2018
|Writer |"北极光" |北极光 |
| Writer
|"Honeymoon" (蜂蜜月亮) |绽放的绽放的绽放 |
| rowspan="1" |2024
|Writer |"TENDER" |单依纯 |
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.serenekoong.com}}
- [http://www.goodgirlmusic.com GoodGirlMusic Pte. Ltd.]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koong, Serene}}
Category:21st-century Singaporean women singers
Category:Singaporean singer-songwriters
Category:Singaporean women singer-songwriters
Category:Singaporean people of Chinese descent
Category:Singaporean Mandopop singers