Wanting Qu

Wanting Qu was born and raised in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China, where her mother {{ill|Zhang Mingjie (politician)|zh|张明杰 (官员)|lt=Zhang Mingjie}} worked as a city official. She moved to Canada at 16 to study, eventually earning a degree in international business, and relocated to Vancouver where she began her musical career.[http://www.nwasianweekly.com/2012/10/vancouver-based-wanting-qu-starts-north-american-tour/ Vancouver-based Wanting Qu starts North American tour] at Northwest Asian Weekly; published October 15, 2012; retrieved October 19, 2012

In 2009, she became the first Chinese artist to be signed to the Nettwerk label;[http://misunderrated.com/2012/04/17/interview-wanting-qu/ INTERVIEW: Chinese-born, Vancouver-based singer-songwriter Wanting Qu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908071310/http://misunderrated.com/2012/04/17/interview-wanting-qu/ |date=September 8, 2012 }} at Misunderrated; by Jessie Lau, Jaime Chu, and Sherlock Lam Giang; published April 17, 2012; retrieved October 19, 2012 she is managed by Terry McBride.[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/entertainment/2012-08/24/content_15703064.htm A bright future for Qu Wanting] at China Daily, by Chen Nan; published August 24, 2012; retrieved October 19, 2012 Her first album, Everything in the World (produced by Winston Hauschild and jointly released with Universal Music China in 2012)[http://music.cbc.ca/#/blogs/2012/10/Wanting-the-most-popular-artist-youve-never-heard-of Wanting: the most popular artist you've never heard of], at CBC.ca, by Brad Frenette; published October 16, 2012; retrieved October 19, 2012 went platinum in China within its first week on sale,[http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2012/07/18/vancouver-singer-songwriter-wanting-goes-platinum-in-china/ Vancouver singer-songwriter Wanting goes platinum in China] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022191040/http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2012/07/18/vancouver-singer-songwriter-wanting-goes-platinum-in-china/ |date=October 22, 2012 }} at the Vancouver Sun; published July 18, 2012; retrieved October 19, 2012 and her singles "You Exist in My Song" and "Drenched" were used in the soundtrack for the Hong Kong film Love in the Buff.[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2012-08/10/content_15657281.htm On an express train to stardom] at China Daily, by Chen Nan; published August 10, 2012; retrieved October 19, 2012 The music video for "You Exist in My Song" is one of seven Chinese music videos to reach 200 millions on YouTube.

In 2013, she became the first ever tourism ambassador for Vancouver, with the intention of raising Canada's profile among destinations for Chinese visitors.{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Jeff|title=Chinese singer-songwriter Wanting Qu new Vancouver tourism ambassador|url=https://vancouversun.com/travel/Chinese+singer+songwriter+Wanting+Vancouver+tourism+ambassador/7965085/story.html|work=Vancouver Sun|access-date=March 28, 2013}}

Qu appeared on the 2013 CCTV New Year's Gala, where she performed "You Exist in My Song".{{cite news|last=Mackinnon|first=Mark|title=Celine Dion to headline China's big televised new-year gala|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/celine-dion-to-headline-chinas-big-televised-new-year-gala/article8389768/|work=The Globe And Mail|date=February 9, 2013}}

The song "Star in You" from the album Everything in the World was featured in Degrassi: The Next Generation in the episode "Bitter Sweet Symphony, Part II" on February 22, 2013.{{cite web|title=Degrassi Season 12 Episode 32 February 22 2013 "Bitter Sweet Symphony (2)"|url=http://www.tunefind.com/show/degrassi/season-12/13174|work=TuneFind}}

On October 26, 2015, while making the third album; Qu released her new English single "Love Birds" on her YouTube channel.

It was reported in January 2015 that Qu and Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson were dating,{{cite news |last1=Young |first1=Ian |title=Chinese pop star Wanting Qu, dating Vancouver's married mayor, says she believes in 'commitment of marriage' |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1681668/chinese-pop-star-wanting-qu-dating-vancouvers-married-mayor-says-she?page=all |access-date=13 January 2021 |agency=South China Morning Post |date=19 January 2015}} and they publicly confirmed that they were in a relationship in February 2015.{{cite news |title=Mayor Gregor Robertson, singer Wanting Qu exchange Valentine's Day wishes on Weibo |access-date=13 January 2021 |agency=Vancouver Sun |date=17 February 2015 |url=http://vancouversun.com/news/mayor-gregor-robertson-singer-wanting-qu-exchange-valentines-day-wishes-on-weibo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612212045/http://vancouversun.com/news/mayor-gregor-robertson-singer-wanting-qu-exchange-valentines-day-wishes-on-weibo |archive-date=12 June 2018}} The relationship drew criticism from some as Robertson was still married to Amy Robertson (although the two had separated).{{cite news |last1=Mooney |first1=Harrison |title=Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, pop star Wanting Qu have broken up |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/vancouver-mayor-gregor-robertson-pop-star-wanting-qu-have-broken-up |access-date=13 January 2021 |agency=Vancouver Sun |date=7 July 2017}} Qu and Robertson broke up in May 2017.

On April 24, 2015, Qu's mother Zhang Mingjie was arrested in China due to severe corruption, embezzlement (of roughly $350 million CNY or $55 million USD) and abuse of power, claiming that she had participated in the "sale of state properties below market value for personal profit". Qu's mother had previously been relieved from her duties related to the city's urban construction and renewal activities in the fall of 2014. Qu did not publicly comment on the matter, but uploaded an "enigmatic" photo to her Weibo account urging "patience". She later posted a message on Instagram saying "I want nothing but love, health and happiness for her. She's my mother. I'm her only child. No one can replace her in my heart. Despite our differences, we share the same blood." Both Qu's record label and Mayor Robertson's office declined to comment, with Robertson's director of communications saying "That's not something that this office would be commenting on".{{cite web|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1775058/mother-wanting-qu-pop-star-girlfriend-vancouvers-mayor-arrested|title=Mother of Wanting Qu, pop star girlfriend of Vancouver's mayor, is arrested for corruption in China|date=April 24, 2015|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/metro/Wanting+mother+reportedly+arrested+China+corruption+charges/10999078/story.html|title=Tough to get information on arrest of Wanting Qu's mother: mayor|first=Matthew Robinson and Peter|last=O'Neil|publisher=}} In 2016, it was reported that Qu's mother is facing the death penalty in China.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/07/27/wanting-qu-mom-china-vancouver-gregor-robertson_n_11223860.html|title=Wanting Qu's Mother Facing Death Penalty In China|date=July 27, 2016|publisher=}}

On March 9, 2018, Qu gave an update on her mother's case, saying that she believed Chinese law was "perfect and righteous" and that she had faith there would be a positive outcome. She added that no judgment had been issued since the trial's end in 2016. Qu's comments regarding her mother being "her hero" have caused controversy in China, with some accusing Qu of overlooking the seriousness of the case and refusing to believe her mother could be guilty.{{cite web|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/2136465/pop-star-wanting-qu-issues-update-mothers-death-penalty-case-declaring|title=Pop star Wanting Qu issues update on mother's death-penalty case, declaring Chinese law 'perfect and righteous'|first=Ian|last=Young|publisher=South China Morning Post|date=2018-03-09|access-date=2018-06-09}}{{cite web|url=http://www.macleans.ca/politics/gregor-robertson-his-pop-star-girlfriend-and-a-corruption-trial/|title=Gregor Robertson, his pop-star girlfriend and a corruption trial|first=Nancy|last=Macdonald|publisher=Maclean's|date=2016-08-03|access-date=2018-06-09}} On 18 November 2021, Qu's mother Zhang Mingjie was sentenced to life imprisonment after the courts of China found her guilty of bribery and abuse of power.{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3156446/canadian-pop-star-wanting-qus-mother-sentenced-life-imprisonment|title=Canadian pop star Wanting Qu's mother is sentenced to life imprisonment for corruption in China|website=South China Morning Post|date=18 November 2021|access-date=21 November 2021}}

{{main|Wanting Qu discography}}

• Everything in the World (2012)
• Say the Words (2013)
• LLL (2017)

Qu has won three Global Chinese Music Awards.{{cite web|title=Global Chinese Music Awards 2012 Winners List unveiled|url=http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/buzz/asia/storyviewer.aspx?cp-documentid=251022811#page=0|work=XinMSN|access-date=March 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013060155/http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/buzz/asia/storyviewer.aspx?cp-documentid=251022811#page=0|archive-date=October 13, 2013|url-status=dead}}

{{awards table}}

|-

| rowspan="3"|2012 || rowspan="2"|Wanting Qu || Best Newcomer || {{won}}

|-

| Outstanding Regional Artist Award (Beijing) || {{won}}

|-

| "You Exist in My Song" || Best Song || {{won}}

|}

Qu has won four Chinese Music Awards.{{cite web|title=第20屆中歌榜頒獎典禮獲獎名單|url=http://dailynews.sina.com/bg/ent/music/sinacn/20121229/03074106282.html|access-date=March 28, 2013}}

{{awards table}}

|-

| rowspan="4"|2012 || rowspan="3"|Wanting Qu || Best New Artist || {{won}}

|-

| Best New Original Artist || {{won}}

|-

| Best Music Composer || {{won}}

|-

| "You Exist in My Song" || Best Song || {{won}}

|}

Qu has won one Music Times Award.{{cite web|title=曲婉婷EXO抢占风云榜舞台 海内外势力正面交锋|url=http://ent.qq.com/a/20120912/000518.htm|access-date=March 28, 2013}}

{{awards table}}

|-

| 2012 || Everything in the World || Best Album of the Year || {{won}}

|}

{{Reflist}}

Her mother embezzled a huge amount of public funds for his study abroad and his father's consumption, which led to the breakdown of countless families in China that year

• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120506003058/http://www.wantingqu.com/ Personal Official Website]}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120914043342/http://www.nettwerk.com/artist/wanting/ Official biography] at Nettwerk
• [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/wanting-mn0002891716 Biography] at AllMusic
• [https://v.douyin.com/kMkRtfp] at TikTok

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Qu, Wanting}}

Category:1984 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Chinese women singers

Category:21st-century Chinese women pianists

Category:Chinese expatriates in Canada

Category:Chinese women singer-songwriters

Category:Musicians from Harbin

Category:Nettwerk Music Group artists

Category:Seneca College alumni