Jin Mei-er on Way to Stardom in China
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Jin Mei-er was born in China, but when the time came for her to choose a song she would sing in a competition that would change her life, she chose the Korean folk song ``Arirang.''
``It's like the Chinese version of `American Idol.' There were many contestants from minority races but when I was the only one who was left for the finals, I wanted to sing something that had my people's characteristic. I mostly sang pop songs at first, but I really wanted to sing `Arirang,''' Jin, 26, said at an interview Monday at SBS in Mok-dong, northern Seoul.
With more than 3,000 contestants competing to become the winner of the popular competition aired on CCTV (China Central Television), Jin made it to the top by singing a techno version of the traditional song many Koreans enjoy even today.
``The `Arirang' I sang started with the version from Hwanghae Province, North Korea, and slowly caught up to a faster beat of the version of Jindo, South Jeolla Province. The song is originally very sad, but I recreated it as an exciting song where the two Koreas get together,'' she said.
Jin, an ethnic Korean, was born in Jilin Province, China, and studied Korean folk songs at the Yanbian University. She also won an award at a singing competition where contestants had to perform foreign songs in 2005.
For her, singing was not a matter of entertainment, but rather survival.
``My father's business went bankrupt seven years ago, and that was when I started to sing part time in the country. I went through difficult times, but I realized that singing was everything to me. So I moved to Beijing to start a life as a professional singer,'' Jin said.
When asked what she thought of her identity, Jin hesitated and answered that the place she was born was not important to her.
``There are 56 ethnic races living in China, and all of them are minorities except for the Yanbian. My race would be Korean, but in terms of my home country, I'm Chinese. Personally, I think the place you are born and your roots are different matters and it's not that important to me,'' she said.
Things have been going well for Jin after she became a ``winner," garnering contracts for commercials and appearing with famous stars.
``When I woke up the next day, six major cosmetics companies had contacted me!'' she said excitedly.
She now represents one of the most famous cosmetics companies in China, and also participated in the ``Good Friend Concert'' hosted by Jackie Chan early this month.
``I am still thrilled and thankful for all the attention. Many singers in China don't dance much and they portray a more gentle image, but I'm more energetic and charismatic, so I think they see me as a unique singer back at home,'' Jin added.
Becoming a star in a country with more than 1.3 billion people would appear to many a heavy burden, but Kim said that her dreams kept her going.
``You really have to sing well to get noticed in China. I trained for six to seven hours every day, but I was never exhausted as I enjoyed dancing and wanted to become a singer ever since high school,'' she said.
And her favorite Korean star?
``Insooni! When I saw her singing almost every genre perfectly in her own style, I immediately wanted to be like her. I would love to meet her and learn singing and also her know-how as a singer,'' said Jin.
She is looking forward to meetings fans, even hoping to release an album here.
``I'm working on my first album in China. I heard that Korean fans are very warm and passionate toward singers. It would be great if I have the chance to perform here,'' she said.
Jin will meet her Korean fans for the first time this coming Saturday through SBS program ``Star King.'' It airs at 6:30 p.m.