The package of the album Pakelang, a joint effort by The Chairman (董事長樂團), Chiang Chin-hsiang (蔣進興) and 2nd Generation Falangao Singing Group (第二代馬蘭吟唱隊), was designed by Li Jheng-han (李政瀚) and Yu Wei (于薇) from Taiwan and won the Best Recording Package at the 64th Grammy Awards in April this year. This was not only Taiwan’s first Grammy, it also put Taiwan on the world stage and displayed its culture and music to the world. In the “OCAC Guest House Interview” live stream program on July 25, The Chairman lead singer Wu Yong-Ji/ Ji Dong (吳永吉/吉董), guitarist Du Wen-xiang/Bai Dong (杜文祥/白董) and bassist Lin Da-jun Jun Dong (林大鈞/鈞董), the director of the 2nd Generation Falangao Singing Group Chiang Chin-hsiang, and designer Li Jheng-han shared the story behind this Grammy.
Amis ancient melody combined with rock music. Letting the world hear the beautiful voices of Taiwan's indigenous peoples
Pakelang means celebration in Amis language, is commonly called “celebration feast,” and is a part of Amis life; life, age, illness and death, delight, anger, sorrow, and happiness, weddings and funerals all have Pakelang. The album Pakelang was three years in the making and is the second work by The Chairman and Chiang Chin-hsiang. Using Amis language in the main, it merges reggae, techno, rock and other elements with ancient melodies. The unique Amis polyphony singing combined with diverse song styles create a unique style that exudes Taiwan indigenous culture.
Jun Dong said he first had the idea for the album after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics theme song incident. The song “Elders Drinking Song” by Amis man and wife Difang-Duana and Igay Duana was used without authorization in its song by a German band and also became a Olympic promotional song. “This stunned everyone but also let us know that the voices of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples sound heavenly to foreigners.” Indigenous music is an important cultural asset of Taiwan, so we decided to record an album that would send the beautiful voices of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples around the world.
“When producing this album, the objective was very clear, we set our sights on winning a Grammy for the music creation and for the recording package,” however, there were ups and downs along the way. Ji Dong revealed that the issue period for the Grammy Awards is different to Taiwan’s Golden Melody Awards and an album must also be physically sold by a US-registered company, which meant they were almost ineligible; the Grammy Awards also require that at least 51% of songs are original, meaning not all the album could be existing ancient melodies. To overcome this problem the members of The Chairman rushed between Taipei and Taitung “and had to join forces to get Chiang Chin-hsiang tipsy so we could improvise together” Ji Dong said, laughing.
Using mountains and sea and indigenous images to display the cultural diversity of Taiwan
Package designers Li Jheng-han and Yu Wei were responsible for the album package and deserve most credit for the Grammy.The design was inspired by the east cost of Taiwan. They used paper layers to form the shape of coast and mountains while at the same time outlining the profile of Difang-Duana and fellow Amis. The image of them singing with heads held high against a mountain backdrop also sang the diverse culture of the ocean people of Taiwan to the world through music and singing.
In the production process, due to the pandemic, they could only communicate online like netizens, confirming design without seeing the physical product. “Thanks to The Chairman for their complete trust. Their OK,OK let us do what we wanted” said Li Jheng-han. They tried many different materials and printed samples many times before making a work they were satisfied with. “Of course we were very pleased with the work but it really was expensive, more expensive than we had imagined, so I had to tell Jun Dong that we needed to quickly go and raise money” said Ji Dong with a big laugh.
“Diversity” is the core characteristic displayed by this album; both music and design are full of Taiwanese cultural connotations and power, not only conveying Taiwan’s unique local characteristics, letting the world feel the beauty of Taiwan.
"The more local, the more international." Guiding Taiwan’s local culture onto the international stage
Not only language, Taiwan has richly diverse culture. Dedicated to native language creation, The Chairman hope to take Taiwan’s traditional culture onto the international stage. “We never thought we’d be able to sing Taiwanese overseas!” said Jun Dong. With the creative background of temple culture, The Chairman’s album “The God Bless Taiwan” was their first step out into the world, combining traditional instruments with rock music to display Taiwan’s native cultural characteristics.
Bai Dong said at the time they embarked on a month long tour of North America and were also part of the OCAC’s Goodwill Mission to Asia and Europe. They were warmly received by overseas compatriots wherever they went. The Chairman’s members, who are down to earth and don’t behave like stars, interacted with local overseas compatriots like friends and, through this, met many musicians from around the world. “Foreigners don’t understand Taiwanese but can still jump around to our music.”
Jun Dong said “Music is borderless.” Ji Dong stressed “The more local the more international.” The Chairman uses the infectiousness of music to display Taiwan’s authentic appearance to overseas compatriots and foreigners so that the world better understands Taiwan’s music and culture.
When producing their twelfth album “The Offering”, The Chairman joined forces with renowned designer Xiao Qing-yang (蕭青陽) and were shortlisted in the Best Recording Package category at the 61st Grammy Awards, the first time they had entered this global music pantheon. “It is actually very difficult for Taiwan’s pop music to get noticed internationally, but look, indigenous child choruses often win prizes in international competition, showing that Taiwanese music can be seen!” said Jun Dong. This experience of exchanging with world famous singers made them even more certain that the singing voices of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples would not lose.
"Music without borders." Engaging in international exchange using Taiwanese culture
Bai Dong said “We grew up in this land Taiwan where we gained many nutrients and for which we have much feeling, which means the biggest source of inspiration is this land.” This is completely same as interprets the concept of Pakelang than Li Jheng-han and Yu Wei’s words “Taiwan is a beau-tiful and peaceful country” when they accepted the Grammy on stage.
Li Jheng-han said when they were shortlisted he was just happy to have a chance to travel overseas and to attend this legendary grand occasion for music. However, after winning the award he began to contemplate its significance. “This Grammy Award was the product of a joint effort by the music industry; issue by Wind Music, music accepted by the world made by The Chairman and Chiang Ching-hsiang, and government subsidy, and all the cultural team that supported Taiwan’s music.”
Li said modestly “We spent years building a ship to sail out into the world. We are just the first people to reach land, more people will take this ship out into the world in future.” Jun Dong also stresses that Taiwan is an island, so its people need to go overseas, following the idea of “looking at Taiwan from the world” rather than being limited by looking at the world from Taiwan, using Taiwan’s culture to exchange with the world.
At the end of the live stream, Chiang Chin-hsiang and 2nd Generation Falangao Singing Group performed Elders Drinking Song, a song that his father Difang-Duan, wrote at the time. The thick, high-pitched and penetrative singing voices captivated everyone. There is no word for “goodbye” in Amis language. Chiang Chin-hsiang and the Pakelang team used singing and dance to happily bring this live stream program broadcast to global overseas compatriots to an end.
