Taipei, Aug. 21 (CNA) The major Golden Melody Awards (GMA) on Saturday were split evenly among various artists, with Sangpuy, Soft Lipa, Hebe Tien and Olvia Tsaoemerging as the biggest winners of the night.
Sangpuy, whose full name is Sangpuy Katatepan Mavaliyw, took home the album of the year and best Indigenous language singer awards for his third studio album "Pulu'em," which the jury lauded as "healing" and "transcending the boundaries of language."
In his acceptance speech for album of the year, the artist thanked his ancestors and his family. He said that he was deeply moved by the opening performance at this year's GMA, which featured numerous Indigenous singers, including last year's album of the year winner Abao.
"I hope the different ethnic groups in Taiwan will support, encourage, and appreciate each other, so that Taiwan can become a more beautiful and better place," said the artist, who is of Puyuma Indigenous heritage.
This year, at the 32nd GMA, Sangpuy won album of the year for the second time, after taking home that prize in 2017.
Rapper Soft Lipa won the award for best Mandarin album and best Mandarin male singer, with his album "Home Cookin," and he also won best music video for the album's title track.
In his acceptance speech, the rapper read part of a message his mother had written for him prior to the ceremony.
"Soft Lipa is responsible for supporting a family of five people, one cat and a dog, and he does so without complaint," the message read. "Everyone, please take care of him at work. Thank you!"
The jury said that the rapper's tempo and lyrics are "full of imagination," and that his album had "brought the Mandarin music scene into the grand age of hip-hop."
Meanwhile, Hebe Tien took home three awards for her album "Time will Tell" -- best album producer, best lyricist for the song "Untold," and for the first time, best Mandarin female singer.
The artist appeared overwhelmed as she accepted the award, saying that she felt weak in the knees when she was walking onto stage, despite being an avid hiker.
Hebe, who rose to fame as part of the Taiwanese girl group S.H.E., thanked the two other members of the group, Selina (任家萱) and Ella, and her family.
The artist said that the microphone was her outlet and that she could pour all her worries into her songs.
"These are difficult times, and everyone is facing hardships in life," she said. "I hope each of you can find an outlet like this, and you can be safe and sound."
The jury said Hebe's latest album showed her transformation as a singer, from a member of a popular idol group to a sophisticated artist. Her album portrays her personal characteristics but also appeals to popular taste, according to the jury.
Also among the biggest winners was Olivia Tsao, who took home the best Taiwanese album and best Taiwanese female singer awards for her album "tsu-pun." Her song "Flavor" also won Baby C the best arranger award.
In her acceptance speech, Tsao thanked her family for being understanding about her career, which she said takes her away from home for long periods of time.
"I really want to go get a drink now," she said, before bursting into laughter.
Tsao's album was praised by the jury as "nearing perfection" in terms of both production and singing technique. It "redefined what was possible for Taiwanese songs," they said.
The Beijing-based jazz-funk group "The Spice Cabinet" took home three awards as well. They won best instrumental album and best instrumental album recording for "The Adventures of Pie Boy," and Terry Hsieh and Derrick Sepnio won best instrumental composer for the song "Bitter Sweet."
Crowd Lu won song of the year with "Your Name Engraved Herein," which was featured in a 2020 film of the same name. Set in Taiwan in the late 1980s, the movie tells the story of two male high school students who fall in love with each other.
Lu said that every time he performs the song, he thinks of how gentle it is.
"I hope the world can become a gentler place, a place where love of all shapes can be looked upon gently. Love wins," he said.
The best indigenous language album and best Hakka album were won by Outlet Drift for their productions "Lady of the ocean" and ChuNoodle for "Till," respectively.
The GMA was established in 1990 with the goal of promoting and recognizing excellence in the local music industry and is one of three major annual awards presented in Taiwan, along with the Golden Bell Awards for television and radio, and the Golden Horse Awards for film.
