Sun Nan (; born February 18, 1969) is a pop singer from
Dalian
Dalian () is a major sub-provincial port city in Liaoning province, People's Republic of China, and is Liaoning's second largest city (after the provincial capital Shenyang) and the third-most populous city of Northeast China. Located on the ...
in
mainland China
"Mainland China" is a geopolitical term defined as the territory governed by the People's Republic of China (including islands like Hainan or Chongming), excluding dependent territories of the PRC, and other territories within Greater China. ...
. His songs include "Be there or Be Square", "The Wind Goes to North", "Save", and his song for the
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and also known as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes from 204 Na ...
, "Forever Friends". Sun's album ''Crescent Moon'' was released in 1990. He has released 12 albums with over 10 million sales in total. Since 2012, Sun has judged or hosted numerous singing competitions in China.
Sun has held over 30 concerts in Asia and over 100 concerts around the world.
Early life
Sun Nan was born in
Dalian
Dalian () is a major sub-provincial port city in Liaoning province, People's Republic of China, and is Liaoning's second largest city (after the provincial capital Shenyang) and the third-most populous city of Northeast China. Located on the ...
in
Liaoning
Liaoning () is a coastal province in Northeast China that is the smallest, southernmost, and most populous province in the region. With its capital at Shenyang, it is located on the northern shore of the Yellow Sea, and is the northernmost ...
, China, on February 18, 1969. Sun Nan was born into a family of artists. His father was a tenor who taught
bel canto
Bel canto (Italian for "beautiful singing" or "beautiful song", )—with several similar constructions (''bellezze del canto'', ''bell'arte del canto'')—is a term with several meanings that relate to Italian singing.
The phrase was not associat ...
and his mother, sister, and brother all participated in a dance troupe. Raised in such a family environment, Sun Nan learned to play the piano and the guitar and formed a band at an early age. Though he did not consider music to be his life's work after graduating from high school, he was soon attracted to pop songs from
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
and
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
. Under those circumstances, he opted for a career in music and learned to sing.
Career
In the 1990s, Sun was a popular singer in the
Beijing
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Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
music scene.China.org.cn. China.org.cn " ''Chinese pop music since the 1990s p5.'' Retrieved on 2009-01-10. He rose to international prominence after 2002.
In August 2012, Sun served on the judging panel of ''
Asian Wave
''Asian Wave'' is a 2012 Chinese reality singing talent show featuring contestants from many different Asian countries. The show premiered on 11 July 2012 on Dragon Television.
On 20 September 2012, Malaysian singer-songwriter Shila Amzah won t ...
'' on
Dragon Television
Shanghai Dragon Television or Dragon TV () is a provincial satellite TV station. It launched in October 1998 as "Shanghai Television" but changed its name to Dragon Television on October 23, 2003.Senkaku Islands between China and Japan.
On February 17, 2015, he participated in the 2015 CCTV Spring Festival Gala and performed the song "Hands". On January, Sun took part in the third season of Hunan TV's ''
I Am a Singer
''I Am a Singer'' () is a popular South Korean singing competition program; a part of MBC's '' Sunday Night'' lineup. Seven talented, veteran Korean singers perform for a selected audience, which votes to eliminate one singer after each week's ...
'' as one of the seven initial singers and a host. However, Sun withdrew from ''I Am a Singer'' due to the fact that he wanted the rest of the singers to stand a higher chance in the title. In July, he participated in
Jiangsu Television
Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation (JSBC) () is China's third biggest television network after China Central Television (CCTV) and Hunan Broadcasting System (HBS). The television network is owned by the Jiangsu provincial government. The network is ...
's "Mongolian Song King", eventually winning. In November, he participated in the "China Star" competition airing on Dragon Television. He won the grand prize on "China Star" and subsequently traveled to the United States to participate, receiving the 58th Recording Academy's President's Merit Award.
On October 28, 2017, Sun Nan held the "Xi Xi Ya Ji" in
Hangzhou
Hangzhou ( or , ; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), also romanized as Hangchow, is the capital and most populous city of Zhejiang, China. It is located in the northwestern part of the province, sitting at the head of Hangzhou Bay, whi ...
's Xixi Wetland. Director Zhang Jizhong, "New Weekly" publisher Sun Wei, and other guests attended the event and released "Nan's Story" under the brand of Guoxue. This traditional craft is intended to spread the beauty of Chinese traditional culture to every Chinese person.
The documentary ''
Amazing China
''Amazing China'' () is a 2018 Chinese propaganda documentary film that depicts Chinese advancements in science, technology, and industry, and poverty reduction during Xi Jinping's tenure as the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party ( ...
'' ends with a song performed by Sun.
On February 15, 2018, in the 2018 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, Sun Nan and Tan Weiwei performed "New Beginning of Happiness". On March 2, he participated in the 2018 CCTV Lantern Festival and performed "New World".
On February 4, 2019, the Central Radio and Television General Station Spring Festival Gala invited Sun Nan and Zhang Jie to perform the song "The Distance of Time".
Personal life
Sun Nan married Chinese actress Mai Hongmei (买红妹) in 2000. They had a daughter and a son. Due to Sun's frequent traveling for his concerts, Sun and Mai communicated less and less frequently. In 2009, Sun filed for divorce.
In 2009, Sun married hostess Pan Wei (潘蔚). Sun's interests and hobbies include
Formula One
Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...
,
golf
Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible.
Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standardized playing area, and coping wi ...
, and
soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
; he is the captain of the Meng Zhou soccer team.
Discography
* 1990: Curved Moon (弯弯的月亮)
* 1993: We're All Sad People (我们都是伤心人)
* 1995: Life after Life (生生世世)
* 1997: Understanding (认识孙楠)
* 1998: Go there and be Healed (不见不散)
* 1999: Aurora (南极光)
* 2001: Marvellous Nan (楠得精彩)
* 2002: Heaven's Destiny (缘份的天空)
* 2003: First Nan Protagonist (第一楠主角)
* 2004: Burning Fire (燃烧)
* 2005: Can't Forget You (忘不了你)
* 2009: Happiness (痛快)
* 2011: First Nan Protagonist 2011 or SUN-NAN2011 (第一楠主角2011)
* 2012: Journey (旅途)
TV series theme songs
Sun has performed several theme songs for Chinese television series, including the following:
* "Ai Tai Nan" (爱太难) To Love is Too Difficult, Da Xi Fa theme song (
China Central Television
China Central Television (CCTV) is a Chinese state- and political party-owned broadcaster controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Its 50 different channels broadcast a variety of programing to more than one billion viewers in six lan ...
, 2012)
* "Ai Ni Ai Bu Gou" (爱你爱不够) Can't Love You Enough, Zhang Xiao Wu's Spring opening theme song (
China Central Television
China Central Television (CCTV) is a Chinese state- and political party-owned broadcaster controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Its 50 different channels broadcast a variety of programing to more than one billion viewers in six lan ...
, 2010)
* "Bi Tian Geng Gao" (比天更高) Higher than the Sky, The Prince's Education opening theme song (
China Central Television
China Central Television (CCTV) is a Chinese state- and political party-owned broadcaster controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Its 50 different channels broadcast a variety of programing to more than one billion viewers in six lan ...
, 2008)
* "He Ni Zai Yi Qi" (和你在一起) Together with You, Sword Stained with Royal Blood ending theme song (2007)
* "Dun Huang Ri Yue" (敦煌日月), The Great Dunhuang opening theme song (
China Central Television
China Central Television (CCTV) is a Chinese state- and political party-owned broadcaster controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Its 50 different channels broadcast a variety of programing to more than one billion viewers in six lan ...
, 2006)
* "Bu Mie De Xin" (不灭的心) Inextinguishable Heart, Lotus Lantern opening theme song (
China Central Television
China Central Television (CCTV) is a Chinese state- and political party-owned broadcaster controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Its 50 different channels broadcast a variety of programing to more than one billion viewers in six lan ...
, 2005)
* "Zhen Qing Zhen Mei", Legend of the Condor Heroes ending theme song, with Valen Hsu (
China Central Television
China Central Television (CCTV) is a Chinese state- and political party-owned broadcaster controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Its 50 different channels broadcast a variety of programing to more than one billion viewers in six lan ...
, 2003)
* "Zhi Yao You Ni", Young Justice Bao ending theme song, with Na Ying (2000)
* "Wu Kui Yu Xin" (无愧于心), Young Justice Bao opening theme song (2000)
* "Jin Sheng De Ai Zou Yuan" (今生的爱走远),
Love Story in Shanghai ''Love Story in Shanghai'', also known as ''Symphony of Rain'', is a 2001 Chinese period television drama series directed by Zhao Baogang, set in 1930s Shanghai.
The show was broadcast on 14 national networks almost simultaneously beginning in late ...
ending theme song, with Ai Yu (2000)
* "Shi Fou Ai Guo Wo" (是否爱过我),
Love Story in Shanghai ''Love Story in Shanghai'', also known as ''Symphony of Rain'', is a 2001 Chinese period television drama series directed by Zhao Baogang, set in 1930s Shanghai.
The show was broadcast on 14 national networks almost simultaneously beginning in late ...
opening theme song (2000)
Notable achievements
Sun has had numerous notable achievements early on in his career:
* 1987 to 1989:
Beijing
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Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
coal mine Art
* 1990 to 1991:
Dalian
Dalian () is a major sub-provincial port city in Liaoning province, People's Republic of China, and is Liaoning's second largest city (after the provincial capital Shenyang) and the third-most populous city of Northeast China. Located on the ...
Churos
* 1991 to 1993: The central song and dance ensemble (
Gu Jianfen
Gu Jianfen ( zh, 谷建芬; born 1935) is a Chinese composer. She is best known for writing "The Kiss from Mother", "Young Friends Come Together," and "The Affection of Green Leaves to the Roots".
Early life and education
Gu was born in Osaka ...
Art Center)
* 1990: Sun's first album, ''Curved Moon'', was released by Guangdong Media Publishing House
* 1992: Sun Nan went to
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
as one of the ten most popular singers in China. (The other nine members were:
Na Ying
Na Ying (born 27 November 1967) is a Chinese singer and musical judge. She is known for her prominent roles as a judge on Chinese TV singing shows such as ''The Voice of China''. She later transferred to the show '' Sing! China'' and remained th ...
, Xie Xiaodong,
Mao Amin
Mao Amin ( born 1962)Zu-yan Chen, Robert Daly, and Hong Zhang, ''Chinese Through Song'' (2001)1994 is a Chinese singer known by the " honorific title" of Dajieda ("Big Sister"), "was one of China's most famous and senior female pop stars" by "the ...
, Cai Guoqing, Cheng Fangyuan, Yang Yuying, Tao Jin, Xie Jin, and Teng Geer.)
* 1992: Sun Nan held six concerts "The night of Sun Nan" in
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, and that was the first time a Chinese pop singer can hold a concert in another country.
* 1993: Sun Nan joined Music Impact Ltd. (Taiwan), other artists including Andy Liu,
Tony Leung Chiu-Wai
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Rosamund Kwan
Rosamund Kwan Chi Lam (born Kwan Kar Wai on 24 September 1962) is a Hong Kong former actress, best known for starring as the female lead "Thirteenth Aunt" in the 1990s ''Once Upon a Time in China'' film series. She had since retired from acti ...
,
Max Mok
Max Mok ( zh, t=莫少聰; born 2 December 1962 in Hong Kong; also credited as Benny Mok, Benny Mok Siu-chung and Max Mok Siu-chung) is a Hong Kong actor and singer. Mok was recruited by the Shaw Brothers Studio and has been a major film star si ...
Serene Koong
Serene Koong is a Singaporean singer, songwriter and producer. She is a three time Global Chinese Golden Chart Award, three time Singapore Hit Awards， Singapore Star Awards winner， and Asian Academy Creative Awards National Winner.
Recog ...
.
Awards
* 1996 Ten golden song Awards: Most Popular Chinese Song of the Year
* 1997 The song 《淡淡的忧》 became the Top ten songs of 1997 in China
* 2001 CCTV-MTV Music Festival: The mainland's most popular male singer (3rd)
* 2002 CCTV-MTV Music Festival: The mainland's most popular male singer (4th)
* 2004 Pepsi Music Chart "Golden song" and "Male singer of the year"
* 2008 Ten golden song Awards: Most popular Chinese song of the year
* 2008 TVB ten golden song Awards " The best pop singer of Mainland China"
* 2010 CCTV-MTV Music Festival: The mainland's most popular male singer (Sun was the first person to win this award three times)
* 2012 The Knowledge China "Special Contribution of the year"
Concerts
* Marvellous Nan Tour (2001)
* Concert in
Changchun
Changchun (, ; ), also romanized as Ch'angch'un, is the capital and largest city of Jilin Province, People's Republic of China. Lying in the center of the Songliao Plain, Changchun is administered as a , comprising 7 districts, 1 county and 3 c ...
* Concert in
Dalian
Dalian () is a major sub-provincial port city in Liaoning province, People's Republic of China, and is Liaoning's second largest city (after the provincial capital Shenyang) and the third-most populous city of Northeast China. Located on the ...
* Concert in
Shanghai
Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flow ...
* Nan Era Music Festival (2009)
* Concert in
Beijing
}
Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
* Concert in
Wuxi
Wuxi (, ) is a city in southern Jiangsu province, eastern China, by car to the northwest of downtown Shanghai, between Changzhou and Suzhou. In 2017 it had a population of 3,542,319, with 6,553,000 living in the entire prefecture-level city ar ...
* Concert in
Shenzhen
Shenzhen (; ; ; ), also historically known as Sham Chun, is a major sub-provincial city and one of the special economic zones of China. The city is located on the east bank of the Pearl River estuary on the central coast of southern province ...