 | Currently Playing Inspiration (includes Bonus DVD) By William Hung see related |
Yesterday, after lunch, I picked up William Hung's debut CD, Inspiration.
All I have to say is -- I admire William's courage, but yikes -- this is everything I feared would happen and more. The vocals seem worse than his American Idol audition (I read that they actually pitch-bended it to make it sound worse than it actually was, which I find very disturbing if true) Songs like "Hotel California", and romantic Disney songs like "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" are butchered by his accent. I wonder if William is even trying to improve himself at all -- or if he's even aware many people are laughing at him, not with him.
It's obvious that Koch is capitalizing on William's current lack of musical aptitude in this release, because were it not for William's existing cult following, it would be ridiculed and slammed beyond belief. Maybe Inspiration is a comedy act, or a musical parody, in which case it fits well. But the tracks, including sound bites of William relating "inspirational" messages, seem to indicate it's something seriously marketed in earnest.
Others have already written about the damaging potential the public's misguided perceptions of William could have on other Asian-Americans, and I agree.
I will add too, that yes, William burst onto the scene because of his musical skills, or more precisely, lack thereof. But more importantly, he became an overnight hit because of his resilience and perseverance in the face of crushing defeat. And this is the spirit of William that Koch and everyone else should be embracing. William should be developing his own vocal abilities, rather than just quickly agreeing to a record for some quick cash.
William does seem to be a very decent guy -- from the interviews I've seen/read of him, he hasn't let his newfound fame really get to him and inflate his ego much at all, a rarity these days it seems. I do believe that if he'd get his "professional training", he'd have some potential at least in a few years -- maybe singing Cantonese pop songs rather than English ones, but he'd still be a hit in Asia and amongst fobulous Asian Americans, so it would be potential nonetheless.
Well, we can take solace in the fact that it's just his first album. However, if his nascent career is to take off, I only pray he finds a better manager focused on development, and not exploitation.
Comments (2)
I am happy for Will... he has achieved something many people only dream about. I don't think Will is so oblivious that he doesn't know that some people make fun of him.
I do have reservations about Koch records motives- Will was an overnight phenomenon and a marketing gold mine waiting to be capitalized. However, I'm not as upset/worried about the potential ramifications Will's album could have on how Asian Americans are portrayed. I think we could spend so much enegry being angry (see http://www.angryasianman.com/angry.html for example) about the seemingly lack of postivie media spotlight on Asian Americans, but in the end with whom does our value rest? Also, doesn't such fears only make us retreat to the comforts of hanging around other Asians only? It's this us (Asians) against them (eveyone else) mentality that gets propogated.
I don't mean to condone Koch's handling of the situation, but I don't think we should blow things out of proportion. When I think about all the other suffering in the world right now I think the Will Hung controversy is trivial. If anything, I consider it humor and I leave it as such. We should be happy and proud of Will Hung.
Posted by collinlee | April 8, 2004 2:03 AM
Posted on April 8, 2004 02:03
Funny thing is, his mom is his manager, and his mom...
(From Leno interview).
Posted by away24 | April 10, 2004 6:59 AM
Posted on April 10, 2004 06:59