Jessie Chung (simplified Chinese: 钟洁希; traditional Chinese: 鍾潔希; pinyin: ZhōngJiéXī; Jyutping: Zung1 Git3 Hei1; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Cheng Kiat-hi) is a transgendered Malaysian musician, singer, songwriter, actress, author, naturopath, and nutritional consultant.[1]
Jessie Chung | |||||||||||
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| Born | Kuching, Malaysia | ||||||||||
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1998–present | ||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 鍾潔希 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 钟洁希 | ||||||||||
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| Musical career | |||||||||||
| Origin | Malaysia | ||||||||||
| Genres | |||||||||||
| Instruments |
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| Labels | Warner Music Group | ||||||||||
| Website | Official Jessie Chung Website | ||||||||||
She released her album Home in 1998 and There is a Decision in 2000. After a 5-year hiatus, she released Loving You in 2006.[2] She is currently active in China, Southeast Asia, and Australia, and has released nine albums since the beginning of her career, most notably Love in You, Tearless Sky, There You Are and Be Strong. She currently serves as president of the Malaysia Naturopathic Association (MNA)[3] and vice-president of the Malaysian Anti-Cancer Association (MACA).[4] She has written several medical publications, including, Stay Away from Cancer and Stay Away from Diseases, and is the author of the Jessie Diary series.
Career
editEarly years
editJessie Chung, a descendant of the Hakka lineage from Dapu, Guangzhou, was born in Kuching, Malaysia. She is the second child in her family, with one elder sister, three younger sisters, and one younger brother. Chung grew up with a musical background and passed grade 8 organ at a young age. As a child and teenager, she participated extensively in singing competitions. She wanted to pursue a full-time musical career after graduating from high school, but in the end, she chose to focus on her studies. After graduating from university, Chung joined the medical and healthcare industry and founded Natural Health Farm.
2006–2011: Career beginnings
editIn 2006, Chung released Loving You with Symphony Musical House. The album was produced by Deng Zhi Zhang and contains 10 original tracks.[2]
In 2007, Jessie Chung began authoring and published her first book, Jessie Diary. The latest book in the series is Jessie Diary 7: A Starry Sky.
In 2009, Chung released Message of Love from the Moon through Symphony Musical House.[5]
In 2011, Chung released I Just Fall in Love Again through Symphony Musical House.[6]
2012–2014: Love in You and acting
editIn 2012, Chung invited Jet Yi and Wu Guan Yan to produce her album. They wrote ten songs and five song lyrics, while Chung herself wrote the lyrics for the other five.[7] On 30 November 2012, Chung abandoned US$33 million of inheritance and released Love in You in Taiwan. Her husband appeared to show his support.[8][9] The album topped Ai FM's Chart in Malaysia, occupying the number one spot for two consecutive weeks. The eponymous single “Love in You” was chosen as the theme song and ending theme for Fox Networks Group's Korean drama Secret Garden.[10]
Chung held her first concert in Taipei, the Love in You Concert on 21 December 2012. Her ex-fiancée flew from the US while her mother-in-law flew from Malaysia to attend the concert.[11]
In 2013, Chung starred as lead actress in the Griffin Group production Faces,[12] playing Li Yu and Yuan Yuan, the main character. Jackie Lui starred as the lead actor while supporting actors include Liu Hua, Law Kar-ying, and Cheng Pei-pei.
Chung was inducted into the Chinese Who's Who Society in 2013.[13]
Near the end of 2013, Chung starred in Unchanging Love, a film production organized by the students of One World Hanxing College of Journalism and Communication. Proceeds of the film went to fund treatments of underprivileged cancer patients.[14]
In 2014, Chung cameoed in the movie Kungfu Taboo, sharing the screen with Kara Wai, Frederick Lee, and Henry Thia.[15]
2015–2016: Tearless Sky
editOn 21 May 2015, Chung released Tearless Sky, an album that also presents itself as a self-narrative.[16] Renowned variety show host Hsu Nai-lin came to her album release party to show his support.[17] The album rose to 6th place on the Pop Radio Top Ten Music Chart, 20th place on Five Music's Mandarin Chart and 4th place on the i Radio Top Hits Chart.
On 4 June 2015, Jessie Chung was invited to appear on the Taiwanese variety show Kangsi Coming.[18] She was also invited to many other TV shows including Genius Go Go Go, GTO Reunion, Hot Door Night, 100% Entertainment, etc.
On 30 June 2015, Chung performed the Tearless Sky Concert in Taipei.[19]
On 21 September 2015, Faces, starring Chung and Jackie Lui, premiered in Malaysia.[20][21][22]
On 17 October 2015, Chung held her solo concert, the Love Unity Concert, to fund treatments of underprivileged cancer patients. Guest artists included Malaysian singers Fauziah Latiff and Ziana Zain, and the concert raised RM170,000.[23][24]
On 12 November 2015, Chung signed with Beijing CTV Star Culture Development Co., the same label that Eric Moo is signed to.[25]
On 6 May 2016, Chung opened the avant-garde Exquisite Chinese Orchestra Concert. She was accompanied by a 22-piece Chinese orchestra while she performed many classic songs, making her the first Malaysian act to completely replace a modern band with a traditional Chinese orchestra in concert. Ten shows in total were played in both West and East Malaysia.[26][27]
On 28 May 2016, Chung was cast as the main character Yang Xiao Fan in Moonlight, a large-scale stage production based on a true story. The stage play was shown all across Malaysia, and all proceeds went to fund treatments of underprivileged cancer patients.[28] During the third performance, Chung accidentally sprained her ankle but continued to perform until the curtain call, despite the pain.
2016–2017: Australian record deal and Be Strong
editIn 2016, Jessie Chung signed to Future Entertainment & Music Group Australia to prepare for her debut in the international music scene and began to record the album There You Are.[29]
On 23 August 2016, Jessie Chung released her debut English album There You Are. Ditching her usual softer personality, Jessie chose to rock a blonde hairstyle and rebellious obsidian dress to fit in with the new genre of her album.[30] Future Entertainment & Music Group Australia's CEO appeared at the release party to congratulate her.
On 23 August 2016, Chung released her debut English album There You Are.[30] Future Entertainment & Music Group Australia's CEO appeared at the release party to congratulate her.
On 24 August 2016, Chung started her There You Are Concert Tour, completing five shows in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Kuching.[31]
On 30 October 2016, Chung brought her There You Are Tour to Taipei Ximending.[32]
On 13 November 2016, Chung's album There You Are peaked at No.2 on Five Music's International Chart and No.2 on i Radio's International Chart, becoming the first Malaysian singer to enter into Five Music's International Chart. Her record label presented her with the Outstanding Achievement Award.[33][34]
On 16 December 2016, Chung released her second Australian-produced English rock album, Be Strong. At the press conference, Chung received the title “Princess of Rock” and a diamond-studded guitar as a gift from her record label.[35]
From 18 December 2016 to May 2017, Jessie Chung toured across Malaysia with the Be Strong Concert Tour. She also performed in China and Taiwan, bringing her shows to a total of 16 different cities.
On 30 December 2016, Chung's album There You Are achieved platinum status.[36]
On 3 February 2017, during Chinese New Year, Chung was struck on the nose by her partner in a badminton match and was sent to the emergency room.[37]
On 7 May 2017, a press conference for the release of Be Strong was held in Taipei, Taiwan.[38]
On 19 May 2017, Chung's album Be Strong sold over 15,000 physical copies and achieved platinum status.[39] In addition, the album topped both Five Music's International Chart and i Radio's International Chart with two No.1 positions, and the eponymous single shot to No.3 on UFO Radio's International Top Singles Chart. The music videos of Be Strong also exceeded 5 million views on YouTube.[40]
2018 - present: Stage Play
editIn December 2017, Chung was cast as the lead female role Sandy in Music Box, a large-scale stage production adapted from a true story and produced by Australian producer Neil McLean.[41] The stage play was performed in Taiwan,[42] Indonesia[43] and all across Malaysia. All proceeds went to fund treatments of underprivileged cancer patients.[44]
On 3 July 2020 to 18 July 2020, Chung was cast as the lead female role Yinglan Shia in the stage play Meant to Be, together with American actor Paul Lee.[45]
On 24 July 2020 to 23 August 2020, Chung was cast as the lead female role Lin Daiyu in the stage play adaptation of the renowned Chinese novel The Dream of Red Mansions (Chinese: 紅樓夢), with a total of 13 shows.[46][47]
On 28 August 2020 to 13 September 2020, Chung was cast as the lead female role Du Xiaomeng in the stage play Tearless Sky, with a total of 8 shows.[48]
On 26 September 2020 to 4 October 2020, Chung was cast as the lead female role He Peirou in the stage play Afterglow, with a total of 4 shows, which was interrupted due to the lockdown during the pandemic.[49]
On 25 February 2023, Chung was cast as the lead female role of Zhu Yingtai in the stage play adaptation of the Chinese legend Butterfly Lovers, together with 35 casts from Taiwan, US, Australia, and Malaysia.[50][51]
Marriage
editOn 12 November 2005, Chung was married to Joshua Beh at the Riverside Majestic Hotel in Kuching. Their marriage is not supported or recognized under Malaysia's law and they never received their marriage certificates from the government due to the fact that she was a male(transgender) and married to a male. They have stated that the situation is understandable under the Malaysian constitution that forbids same sex marriage.[52]</ref> On 7 May 2017, at the press conference for the release of Be Strong, Chung's artist manager brought her and Joshua their Australian permanent residence certificate and stated that Chung and her husband will soon legally register their marriage in Australia and hold a wedding once again at Gold Coast.[53]
Discography
edit| No. | Album Name | Label | Released | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Home (充满爱的心) | - | 1998 | Mandarin | |
| 2 | There Is a Decision (有了决定) | - | 2000 | Mandarin | |
| 3 | Loving You (爱你) | Symphony Musical House | 20 January 2007 | Mandarin | |
| 4 | Message of Love from the Moon (明月千里寄相思) | Symphony Musical House | 13 March 2009 | Mandarin | |
| 5 | I Just Fall in Love Again | Symphony Musical House | 13 January 2012 | English | |
| 6 | Love in You (爱在转瞬间) | Symphony Musical House | 20 November 2012 | Mandarin |
|
| 7 | Tearless Sky (没有泪的天空) | Warner Music Malaysia
Symphony Musical House |
15 May 2015 | Mandarin |
|
| 8 | There You Are | Warner Music Malaysia
Future Entertainment & Music Group Australia |
24 September 2016 | English |
|
| 9 | Be Strong | Warner Music Malaysia
Future Entertainment & Music Group Australia |
15 December 2016 | English |
Concert tours
edit| Title | No. of Shows | Location | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Love in You Concert | 1 show | Taiwan | 21 December 2012 | |
| Tearless Sky Concert | 2 shows | Taiwan | 3 June 2015 | |
| Malaysia | 1 July 2015 | Guest artist: Yi Jet Qi | ||
| Love Unity Concert | 1 show | Malaysia Megastar Arena | 17 October 2015 | Guest artists: Fauziah Latiff and Ziana Zain |
| Exquisite Chinese Orchestra Concert | 10 shows | Shah Alam Performing Arts Centre | 24 March 2016 | Accompanied by a traditional Chinese orchestra to disseminate Chinese culture |
| Shah Alam Performing Arts Centre | 26 March 2016 | |||
| Shah Alam Performing Arts Centre | 2 April 2016 | |||
| Shah Alam Performing Arts Centre | 9 April 2016 | |||
| Shah Alam Performing Arts Centre | 16 April 2016 | |||
| Shah Alam Performing Arts Centre | 23 April 2016 | |||
| Shah Alam Performing Arts Centre | 30 April 2016 | |||
| Shah Alam Performing Arts Centre | 21 May 2016 | |||
| Kenyalang Theatre, Kuching | 21 June 2016 | |||
| Shah Alam Performing Arts Centre | 28 June 2016 | |||
| There You Are Concert Tour | 5 shows |  Setia Alam
|
24 August 2016 | |
| Kuching | 28 August 2016 | |||
| Sunway Plaza | 2 September 2016 | |||
| Penang | 21 October 2016 | |||
 Taipei Ximending
|
31 October 2016 | |||
| Be Strong Concert Tour | 16 shows | Shah Alam Performing Arts Centre | 18 December 2016 | |
 Dongguan, China
|
23 December 2016 | |||
| Kelana Jaya | 31 December 2016 | |||
| Klang | 1 January 2017 | |||
| Kepong | 6 January 2017 | |||
| Kuala Lumpur | 7 January 2017 | |||
| Kluang, Johor | 13 January 2017 | |||
| Johor Bahru | 14 January 2017 | |||
| Butterworth, Penang | 19 January 2017 | |||
| Ipoh, Perak | 22 January 2017 | |||
| Kuching, Sarawak | 5 February 2017 | |||
| Kuantan | 10 February 2017 | |||
| Melaka | 12 February 2017 | |||
| Genting Highlands | 16 February 2017 | |||
| Taipei Ximending | 6 May 2017 | |||
| Setia Alam | 24 May 2017 |
Acting career
editTheatre
edit| Year | Production | Role | No. of Shows | Theater | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Moonlight | Yang Xiao Fan (main character) | 10 shows | Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) | 18 October 2016 |
| Penang PAC | 20–21 August 2016 | ||||
| Kenyalang Theatre, Kuching | 12 June 2016 | ||||
| Shah Alam Performing Arts Centre (SPAC) | 7–28 May 2016 | ||||
| 2017-2018 | Music Box | Sandy Qin (main character) | 17 shows | Clapper Studio, Taipei | 31 March 2018 |
| Auditorium of Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia | 7 March 2018 | ||||
| Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) | 16 January 2018 | ||||
| Penang Performing Arts Centre (Penang PAC) | 27 January 2018 | ||||
| Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) | 3 March 2018 | ||||
| Kenyalang Theatre, Kuching | 17 March 2018 | ||||
| Paragon International School Auditorium, Johor | 20 January 2018 | ||||
| Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara, Sabah | 14 April 2018 | ||||
| Symphony Theatre | 15 December 2017
19 December 2017 21 December 2017 23 December 2017 30 December 2017 6 January 2018 13 January 2018 4 February 2018 7 April 2018 | ||||
| 2020 | Meant to Be | YingLan Shia (main character) | 8 shows | Symphony Theatre | 3 July 2020 - 18 July 2020 |
| 2020 | Dream of the Red Mansions | Lin Daiyu (main character) | 13 shows | Symphony Theatre | 24 July 2020 - 23 August 2020 |
| 2020 | Tearless Sky | Du Xiaomeng (main character) | 8 shows | Symphony Theatre | 28 August 2020 - 13 September 2020 |
| 2020 | Afterglow | He Peirou (main character) | 4 shows | Symphony Theatre | 26 September 2020 - 4 October 2020 |
| 2023 | Butterfly Lovers | Zhu Yingtai | 6 shows | Symphony Theatre | 25 February 2023 - 9 April 2023 |
| Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) | 26 March 2023 |
Film
edit| Title | Role | Release Date | Other Actors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unchanging Love | Sister (main character) | 2014
|
|
| Kungfu Taboo | Cameo | 25 February 2015
|
Kara Hui, Frederick Lee, Henry Thia |
| Faces | Li Yu Yuan Yuan after plastic surgery (main character) |
23 September 2015
|
Jackie Lui, Law Kar-ying, Cheng Pei-pei |
References
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- ^ "Malaysia Anti-Cancer Association: About Us". Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ "New album release, Jessie Chung achieves three of her dreams". Sin Chew Daily. 13 March 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Jessie Chung's new album selling well". Sin Chew Daily. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Jet Yi and Wu Guan Yan brought on the team, Jessie Chung does 600 takes for a song". Sin Chew Daily. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Jessie Chung abandons $33 million USD of inheritance, receives husband's support". NOWnews. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
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- ^ "Jessie Chung's Love in You highly acclaimed". Sin Chew Daily. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
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- ^ Lydia. "Jessie Chung induced into the Chinese Who's Who Society 2013". www.mingren168.org. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
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- ^ "Kungfu Taboo starts filming in May| NewsKaki.com". newsKaki.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
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- ^ Chung T'ien Television (3 June 2015), 2015.06.04 Kangsi Coming Preview, retrieved 9 June 2017
- ^ "Paragon of marriage equality, Jessie Chung and ex-fiancée become besties|20150530|Apple Daily". Apple Daily. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
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- ^ "Suspense with a touch of romance Jessie Chung stars in Faces". Oriental Daily News. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Lead female role highly acclaimed, Jessie Chung becomes the envy of many actresses| NewsKaki.com". newsKaki.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
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- ^ "A blonde Jessie Chung meets fans". China Press. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ Liberty Times Net (30 October 2016). "Jessie Chung live in Taiwan, speaks of 19-year-old son". ent.ltn.com.tw. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
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- ^ "Album "There You Are" Jessie Chung is now certified platinum - Selebriti Online". selebritionline.com. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
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- ^ "體力耐力大考驗 鍾潔希3小時45分演完《紅樓夢》". 光明日报 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 26 July 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "锺洁希《红楼梦》加至13场 《心念》EP为癌患筹款 | 娱乐". 東方網 馬來西亞東方日報 (in Simplified Chinese). 20 August 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "《没有泪的天空》公演 钟洁希突破疫情爱心洒人间 | 娱乐". 東方網 馬來西亞東方日報 (in Simplified Chinese). 2 September 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "钟洁希《微光》话剧926开跑 自爆有被男主动粗戏份 | 娱乐". 東方網 馬來西亞東方日報 (in Simplified Chinese). 24 September 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "《祝英台》破大马记录 锺洁希挑战6小时话剧 - 娱乐 - 大马娱乐". 星洲网 Sin Chew Daily Malaysia Latest News and Headlines (in Simplified Chinese). 7 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "重现梁祝传奇 钟洁希《祝英台》秀精湛演技哭足三小时! | 娱乐". 東方網 馬來西亞東方日報 (in Simplified Chinese). 6 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ Million ringgit fairy-tale wedding the talk of the town Archived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine, The Star Online.
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- ^ Chung Receives Platinum Record for There You Are, Borneo Post Online.
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