Chiu Chiu Band Becomes a Nationwide Sensation

Source: Taiwan Rock — Tonight’s the Night
From: The Glory Days of Folk Songs, pp. 42–51Author: Kuo Li-chuan

Although Taiwan already had bands in a classic rock configuration as early as the 1960s, the popular music market remained broadly unable to accept this kind of musical performance — that is, until the emergence of the Chiu Chiu Choir in the 1980s.

The Chiu Chiu Choir was formed in 1981 and disbanded in 1984. Members included band leader and guitarist Chiu Chen, vocalist Kim Chih-chuan (Wawa), drummer Lin Chun-hsiu, keyboardist Lee Ying-lu, and bassist Lee Shih-chieh. Chiu Chen emphasized: “I don’t want to be categorized as a ‘folk singer’ anymore — I’m using the Chiu Chiu Choir to announce the end of my ‘campus songs’ era.” In 1982 they released their self-titled album, making them the first Taiwanese pop band to release an album. The album’s most celebrated track, “Tonight’s the Night,” became a classic. Their fluid melodies, powerful rhythms, raspy vocals, and lively stage presence brought a completely different musical sensibility to Taiwan’s then-dominant campus folk song scene; under their influence, Taiwan’s popular music world finally began to see the emergence of band groups.

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External Links

• Chiu Chiu Choir (Wikipedia)
• Taipei, Rock, Live Pub — A Brief History of Taipei Rock Bands, Starting from Wu Pai (Music Scheming Notes)
• Conflict, Institution, Collapse — A Brief History of Taiwan Independent Music from “Politics” to “*Noise Magazine*” (TAVIS.tw)
• Chiu Chiu Choir Revives “Tonight’s the Night” 25 Years Later (Vinyl Cinema Blog)
• Taiwan’s Political Ecology and Campus Folk Songs (Yidu)