Xiao Hu Dui
Xiao Hu Dui | |
---|---|
![]() L–R: Alec Su, Nicky Wu, Julian Chen | |
Background information | |
Origin | Taiwan |
Genres | C-pop |
Years active | 1988–1992 1994–1995 |
Labels | UFO (Taiwan) Co Ltd |
Past members |
|
Xiao Hu Dui (Chinese: 小虎隊), also known as the Little Tigers, were a Taiwanese boy band formed in 1988.[1][2][3] The band consisted of Alec Su, Nicky Wu and Julian Chen. The trio rose to fame during the late 1980s, achieving success in their native Taiwan and throughout Asia. Their success led to the recognition, popularity and creation of Taiwanese boy bands and other pop acts. Xiao Hu Dui are cited as the first boy band. After a brief hiatus, the group disbanded in 1995. The three members went on to pursue solo careers.[4][5][6] They sold over 15 million albums.[citation needed]
In 2010, Xiao Hu Dui briefly reunited, performing for CCTV's Spring Festival Gala. In March 2016, Su and Chen both attended Wu's wedding in Bali.[7]
Musical career
1988: Formation
In the late 1980s, due to the rise in popularity of campus folk songs amongst the Taiwanese society, members of the local music circles and scouts began looking for potential new faces, and Chinese pop music became active.
In July 1988, Zhonghua TV Company launched Zhang Xiaoyan’s talent show “TV Rookie Hegemony Station”, which consisted of three girls’ “Kit Team” as program assistants. In order to achieve balance, Kaili Creative Portfolio Brokers looked to select three boys as assistants. In the end, 18-year-old Nicky Wu, 17-year-old Chen Zhipeng and 15-year-old Alec Su stood out amongst the candidates. The group consisting of these three was named "Little Tigers". At the time, Wu was a sports student studying in Taichung. He had a judo and a Taekwondo foundation. The iconic movement was a clean and backward backflip, and the nickname was "霹雳虎". Chen studied ballet, has music and dance foundation, which is similar to Hong Kong star Leslie Cheung. He is known as "Little Shuai Tiger". Su was the youngest performer. He was a high school student at the prestigious Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School. At the end of 1988, the Little Tigers signed a contract with UFO Group.
1989–1992: The first active period
The original positioning of the Little Tigers was based on the imitation of the Japanese boy bands around that time, most specifically, Shonentai. The combination of the best fast songs and dynamic dances, the first single "Green Apple Paradise" was also adapted from Shonentai's song. During the New Year in 1989, the Little Tigers teamed up with the women’s group of the same company to release the album Happy New Year, and Green Apple Paradise was also included. The vibrant image of the Little Tigers quickly gained popularity among young people. The Little Tigers, which was originally a supporting role, developed independently.
1994–1995: The second active period
At the end of 1993, Chen Zhipeng retired from the army, and the Little Tigers held the "Stars are still brilliant" song club, and the release of the stars is still brilliant. At this time, the ecology of Taiwan's entertainment industry has changed, as well as the members beginning to profess their preference to develop their solo careers. In 1994 and 1995, the group released two albums, "The feeling of happiness is always the same" and "The mediocrity of the mediocrity". In the spring and fall of 1995, the Little Tigers held a number of "Tiger Screaming Dragons 95 Concerts" in Taiwan, Singapore, and China. During this period, UFO Group and major shareholder Warner Music had a disagreement, resulting in the resignation of the UFO team, and in 1996 UFO Group was acquired by Warner Music. As a result of the personnel change, the three members were now contracted to different companies, leading to the official disbandment of the group.
Members
English name | Chinese name | Nickname | Date of birth |
---|---|---|---|
Nicky Wu | 吳奇隆 | Quick-Thunder Tiger | (1970-10-31) 31 October 1970 (age 53) |
Julian Chen | 陳志朋 | Little Handsome Tiger | (1971-05-19) 19 May 1971 (age 53) |
Alec Su | 蘇有朋 | Well-Behaved Tiger | (1973-09-11) 11 September 1973 (age 50) |
Works
Discography
Chinese | Year | |
---|---|---|
01. | 新年快樂 | 10 January 1989 |
02. | 逍遙遊 | 30 April 1989 |
03. | 男孩不哭 | 21 September 1989 |
04. | 紅蜻蜓 | 28 February 1990 |
05. | 星星的約會 | 30 September 1990 |
06. | 愛 | 31 August 1991 |
07. | 再見 | 22 December 1991 |
08. | BEST – Dance Remix | 31 January 1992 |
09. | 星光依舊燦爛 | 9 December 1993 |
10. | 快樂的感覺永遠一樣 | 10 December 1994 |
11. | 庸人自擾 | 15 December 1995 |
12. | 虎嘯龍騰 – 狂飆,1995年演唱會全紀錄 | 22 March 1996 |
Film
- 遊俠兒 (1990)
Other
Advertising
- SYM Motors (1989)
See also
- Forever Friends – a 1995 film featuring Wu and Su. The Little Tigers disbanded after the film.
- My Fair Princess (season 1) – a 1998 TV series reuniting Su and Chen.
- TFBoys
References
- ^ Chung-kuo Hsien Tai Wen Hsüeh 2005 "..the disbanded pop group Little Tigers and young heartthrob Jimmy Lin."
- ^ Asiaweek Volume 19 1993 p51 "Lion City teens know him as a former member of Taiwan pop group The Little Tigers."
- ^ Guang Hua – Volume 17 1992 p. 119 "He notes that the Little Tigers average sales of about 300,000 in Taiwan for each record, and however you figure the ... From the early days of "natural popularity" to today's more exacting operations, Taiwan's pop music has really learned that ..."
- ^ Paul Clark Youth Culture in China: From Red Guards to Netizens 2012 1107379237- Page 119 "In 1990 a group of high school students formed Matchbox (Huochaihe), inspired by Taiwan boy band Little Tigers (Xiaohu dui). The following year, twenty-two high school soloists or groups competed in a national contest for high school pop ..."
- ^ Geremie Barmé Shades of Mao: The Posthumous Cult of the Great Leader 1563246791 1996 p 190 "Xiaohu dui was a teeny-bopper Taiwanese group of the early 1990s."
- ^ Xia Xiaojie (夏小芥) (2010). "No One Can Replace You in My Memory" 《没人能取代记忆中的你》. 《青年文摘》 [Youth Literary Digest] (in Chinese). Vol. 8. Beijing: China Youth Press. pp. 18–19. ISSN 1003-0565.
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ignored (help) - ^ "Actors Nicky Wu and Cecilia Liu to hold wedding ceremony in Bali". AsiaOne. Feb 23, 2016. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016.
External links
- Nicky Wu – Sina Weibo (in Chinese)
- Julian Chen – Sina Weibo (in Chinese)
- Alec Su – Sina Weibo (in Chinese)