It is said, "Happiness grows from pain, and pain dwells in happiness". If that's the truth of life, we'll have some bittersweet tastes in today's China Beat by listening to the story of Ai Jing, our featured musician of this week. And that conclusion in retrospect is also given by female folk singer songwriter, Ai Jing.

Her story began back in 1987, when Ai Jing came out of her remote hometown in Shenyang to join the Beijing Oriental Song and Dance Troupe. She was first a novice singer of bel canto, but later shifted to the pop style due to her prime interest. Ai Jing did win some fame by recording songs during the brief half a year or so. But then she moved to the southern city Guangzhou, which around the end of the 1980s boasted the most vibrant pop music scene in China. Ai Jing's quest for music started by covering songs by some then-acclaimed singers from Taiwan and Hong Kong. Such an experience ensured her a quite sufficient life, but she felt inadequate as regards her own musical pursuit.

In 1989 Ai Jing turned back to Beijing for the study of acting in The Central Academy of Drama. In 1990 she got her first solo album "My 1997" recorded with all songs specifically written for her. It's a collective effort of a bunch of musical elites in Beijing of that time. It was released first in Taiwan and received an unexpected welcome there. One year later, listeners on the Chinese mainland were also surprised at Ai Jing's beautiful melodies integrated with her unadorned lyrics. Here's the titled track of the album, "My 1997".

(My 1997)

Ai Jing's songs surprised many listeners, and she herself was also surprised at her popularity even among fans outside China. In Japan, Ai Jing, became a pop idol with her first album's sale exceeded 30 thousand copies without any public promotion. The positive reviews won Ai Jing opportunity to perform in front of 50 thousand audience with other celebrated musicians.

In 1996, Ai Jing covered a song originated by a Japanese band The Boom with the Chinese lyrics written by herself. The covered song's titled as On the Island, through which Ai Jing tried to experience the feeling of being restricted by the boundary of an island but still yearning for the unfettered state of freedom.

(On the Island)

Once visiting a temple in Japan, Ai Jing wrote a line on a bamboo slip though she's like a meek chicken, she can fly on a pair of phoenix wings. On the stage of her first concert in Japan in 1995, she lifted up the curtain with an aria of the tradition Ping Opera, which she learned from her mum as a little girl. Ai Jing says such singing can take her back to her innocent years, when she's childish yet unafraid, holding a strong interest in singing.

At the 1996 New Year Concert in Japan, Ai Jing got the chance of cooperating with the world celebrated figures like conductor Seiji Ozawa, cello master Yoyo Ma, former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. According to Ai Jing, it was the climax of her musical career.

In 1994, Ai Jing released her second album, "Story of the Yanfen Street", which was also fervently received. But now we'll hear a song called The Girl from China in a Japanese Restaurant. It's written during Ai Jing's first visit to Japan. She met this Chinese girl working as a waitress in a restaurant. This song is about their brief encounter.

(The Girl from China in a Japanese Restaurant)

In consideration of her popularity in Japan, Ai Jing got her third album produced there. It's very intricately arranged, especially in regard to the use of percussion. It was highly reviewed by some Hong Kong hi-fi magazines. However, songs on this album shifted from Ai Jing's initial style, that is, soaked with local folk flavor. Probably due to this reason, its estrangement from the Chinese listeners dimmed its own value in the sense of music.

Now let's spare some time for another listen to the title track of this album, "Moon Chasing" in a more objective sense for the sheer sake of music.

(Moon Chasing)