Agnes Chan to release Forget Yourself

By editor: Jermy Leeuwis on February 03, 2006.

Singer/author/activist Agnes Chan’s 'Forget Yourself,' an album primarily inspired by the children she met through her missions with UNICEF and other charity activities in Ethiopia, Thailand, the Philippines, Sudan and Nepal, will be released on February 21, 2006 on Bungalo Records. Chan’s album incorporates elements of dance, rock, world music and hip-hop into its broad-eared pop sensibility. A portion of the proceeds from the powerful album will benefit UNICEF.

Chan personally witnessed children struggling against hunger, war and oppression in underdeveloped regions worldwide but she has also been inspired by their will to survive. She brings several of those stories to life on this remarkable album. In the haunting "Sorrow Lives In This Village," featuring Andy Vargas, lead singer for Santana, Chan takes on the voice of a child soldier whom she met in war-torn Sudan. The dance-pop of "Thirteen" belies a serious portrayal of a child prostitute in Manila. The affecting "One Step At a Time" is about two Ethiopian orphans she met. Although facing rampant malnutrition, she witnessed eight-year-old Arage nurse a three-year-old girl, Arumeto, back to health by sharing his small rations with her.

Details Artist: Agnes Chan Title: Forget Yourself Release date: 02/21/06 Record label: Bungalo Records Single: Forget Yourself Official website: Agnes Chan Buy at: Amazon Send to a Friend

“As an entertainer, I believe awareness is one of the most important ways we can bring attention to these serious issues. I want to spread the message that these kids are real and not just images on tv,” said Chan. “At the same time, I wanted the songs to be liberating and uplifting, close to the heart but true to reality.”

Other songs on the record offer more insight into Chan’s personal life. The moving, “It’s a Wonder,” which features a guest appearance by her superstar friend Jackie Chan, is about becoming a mother to her three sons. Agnes said, “The song is arranged in a slightly Chinese flavor and it seems most appropriate when Jackie Chan joined me to sing along.” She rounds out the record with the graceful “All The Days of My Life” which sums up her personal philosophy and the final message of the album. She says, “All the days of my life, I will try to give, whatever it takes to make a world where love lives.”

Along with Jackie Chan and Vargas, additional special guest musicians include JR Richards from the platinum recording group Dishwalla and the female pop duo The Dilettantes.

Although her U.S record label Bungalo Records is primarily known for hip-hop and R&B acts -- super producer/performer Rodney Jerkins, hip-hop star Heavy D and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s Bizzy Bone -- President Paul Ring says working with Chan was an opportunity to get involved with her music and the causes she supports. Bungalo will donate nearly all of its proceeds from Chan’s album to these organizations. Bungalo Records is exclusively distributed by Universal Music and Video Distribution.

“Musically it’s a great album. I think [producers] Michael Carey and Robbie Siedman did a phenomenal job and Agnes is on top of her game, “ said Ring. “However, I was unaware of some of the atrocities that Agnes sings about. It was pretty enlightening.”

Originally hailing from Hong Kong, Chan has been a superstar since the age of fourteen. A renaissance woman, she earned a PhD in education from Stanford University in 1994 and was named Japan’s ambassador to UNICEF in 1998. The activist/performer has authored over seventy books. An undeniable cultural force, she is also a university professor, television host, clothing designer, public speaker, mother and children's right advocate.

Biography

Agnes Chan was born in Hong Kong and started her singing career when she was fourteen years old. Her single “The Circle Game” was a smash hit and she became a household name not only in Hong Kong but in South East Asia over night. She debuted in Japan in 1972, and her first Japanese single “Hinageshi no Hana” also became a big hit and brought her to teen pop idol status with numerous musical awards. Since then, Agnes had released more than 100 records and CDs in Asia and Japan. After studying at Sophia University in Japan, she entered the University of Toronto and graduated with a degree in developmental psychology. In 1984, deemed the International Year of the Youth, she received the IYY award for an essay written about world peace.

1985 was a very memorable year for Agnes. Both her first charity concert in Beijing and then her volunteer work with the children in Ethiopia changed her life. After these experiences, even though her work as an entertainer was demanding, Agnes dedicated herself to charity and cultural activities. Agnes married her manager and producer, Tsutomu in 1986. In 1986 aside from her concerts, and regular guest appearances on TV and radio, Agnes began lecturing at universities. Agnes continued to work right up until her son’s birth. When Agnes brought her son to work , one of the biggest controversies in Japanese feminism history erupted. It was known a the “Agnes Controversy”. People argued about whether mothers should work. This controversy raised the public’s awareness to the plight of working mothers. It later hastened the implementation of legislation for equal gender rights in the work place and maternal leave. In the same year, the name “Agnes” was chosen as one of the Most Popular Names of the year award.

In 1989, Agnes entered the doctoral program in the School of Education at Stanford University. While studying for her Ph.D. in Education, Agnes launched her own line of children and women clothing called “Dear Agnes” . In 1990, she released a one hundred song collection of children’s songs. In 1991, her book “Shiawase nanoni, naze namida ga deruno? (Even though I’m happy, why am I crying)” became a best seller. In 1994, she received her doctoral degree of a Ph.D. in Education from Stanford University.

In 1997, Agnes witnessed the returning of Hong Kong to China and sang her hit song “Hong Kong, Hong Kong” at the memorial ceremony. Her live broadcast of this historical event, as well as other special programs, won high ratings and contributed to a better cultural understanding between the two countries.

Over the years, Agnes has released more than one hundred albums and CDs in several different languages. Agnes has more than 60 books published. The number of gold and platinum disks that she has received over the years shows that her thoughts and music have touched the hearts of many people throughout Asia.

In 1998, she was appointed to be the first ambassador for the committee of UNICEF Japan. She first mission to Thailand taught her about the situation of commercial and sexual exploitation of children. In 1999, she helped to lobby the law against child prostitution and pornography and won its passage in the diet. At the same year, Agnes went to Sudan, and studied about the situation of child soldiers. In 2000, she visited Timor in the mist of civil war. Agnes’ documentary programs on TV and radios helped raised funds and awareness to these problems. Since then Agnes had visited Cambodia, Moldova, Philippines, Iraq and Darfur for UNICEF. The committee for UNICEF in Japan becomes the number one fund raiser committee for UNICEF since 1999.

After her marriage, Agnes has concentrated on singing children’s songs and songs with a message. In 2000, Agnes was urged to sing love songs for the Japanese audience. Her single “Loving you is Killing me” sold more than 200 thousand copies and once again Agnes is on full swing as an entertainer with a new image. She won old and new fans, and is causing a new sensation with her sentimental love song. Agnes now releases one to two CDs per year in Japan

Agnes’ genuine feeling that she must share her good fortunes with others made her special and endeared her to Asian fans. Agnes is not only a singer, but an author, a professor, an advocator for child’s rights, an opinion leader and a great TV personality. She is truly a multi-faceted women of the 21st century. It is not possible to document all her achievements, so the following are some of her highlights and main awards:


1955 Born in Hong Kong
1969 Hong Kong debut with the song “Circle Game”
1971 Hong Kong’s Top Ten Singer Award
1972 Japan debut with the song “Hinageshi no Hana”
1973 Japan Records Grand prize, New Artist Award
Japanese Song Grand prize, New Artist Award
Golden Award, Shinjuku Music Award
Entered Sophia University
1974 Best New Artist Award, Golden Arrow Award
Best New Artist Award, Japan Cable Music Award
1978 Graduated from the University of Toronto
1980 Charity concerts for Cambodia in Hong Kong and Japan
1984 IYY Special Award for essay about world peace
1985 Charity concerts in Beijing
Visited Ethiopia at the peak of starvation
1986 S.J. Grand prize winner presented by the Association of women
Working in the Broadcasting system
Special Award from the association of Japanese Journalists
Galaxy Award
Lecturer at Shinshui and Reitaku University
1988 The most Popular Name of the Year Award
1989 Entered the Ph.D. program at Stanford University
1990 Started a new line of clothing called “Dear Agnes”
1993 Lecture at Nagoya Women’s Cultural College
1994 Received Ph.D. of Education from Stanford University
Assistant Professor at Mejiro University
1997 Professor at Nagoya Women’s Cultural College
Professor at Mejiro University
Best Eye Wear Award
Performed at the Official Returning ceremony of Hong Kong to China
1998 Ambassador of the Japan Committee for UNICEF
Visited Thailand as Ambassador for UNICEF about commercial and sexual exploitation of children
1999 “The Road Wind Uphill All the Way” published by MIT press
Visited Sudan to study about the situation of child soldiers. Documentary program aired on NHK.
2000 Visited Timor for UNICEF, TV special on NHK
Launched new image by releasing the song “Loving you is Killing me” which sold more than 200 thousand copies
Opened “Chan’s” boutique in “Little Hong Kong” in Odaiba Tokyo
2001 Invited to speak at the Foreign Journalist Club
Named Ambassador for Hong Kong and Japan
Release new song “Time to Say Goodbye”
Visited Philippines for UNICEF on the issues on child prostitution and street children. TV special broadcast on NHK.
Kyoei University Professor
UNICEF House opening. Escorted the Crowned Prince and Princess.
Released new song “My Love Story” and original album “My Love Stories”
2002 Hong Kong Charity concert commemorating the 30th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relationships between China and Japan
Five days ‘Teach In’ in UNICEF House about children’s situation around the world
Released new songs ‘International Airport Hong Kong’ and ‘Love’s trail’
2003 Visited Iraq for UNICEF
Released new song ‘Journey of the Heart’
2004Visited The Republic of Moldova for UNICEF on issues of child trafficking.
Released new song ‘Second Happiness’
Appointed as member of advisory group to the Prime Minister on Development in
East Asia
Published new book ‘The Japan I love’
Published new book ‘ The messages of small lives’
2005 Visited Darfur for UNICEF and campaigned for aid to displaced people
Hosted Celebration for the 50th anniversary of the Committee for UNICEF in Japan
Released a self cover version of ‘Glamour of the Fields’
Release new song ‘Flower of Happiness’

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