Nicholas Tse ... YEAH! .. He can sing Likes A Rockstar,play ROCK guitar,Rock Stage ACT,and it is truly his truly personality (Not Company who choose the singer's image!!).Despite of his music moving towards by ROCK primarily, he can sing some popular tunes too. He began his first album "My Attitude" (1997).My fave one on this first album is definitely Hope And desire (Track 7) with classic flavor of rock n roll. Unluckily, At that moment People always doubted his ability of being a singer, as well as criticized on the quality of his album (Which I dun agree with that opinion Nic can sing well ROCK enough). Such the same thing happened to his two later albums: "Silence Imitating Sound" and "Horizons". However, Nic did not give up his dream and try hard get realizing wut he want to more rockinn his music.
But then EEG start to respect wut Nic want to his music ... After Nic went to Canada during time he composed and produced single Call Of The End Century at the end year 1998 (it's still pop music but with unpopular lyric which also written by Nic), This moment is truly showing his opposition feeling in wut his company want. The release of this single began to change point of views from the public then.
In February 1999, he released the album "Believe". Four songs from this album (400 GIG, Must Go, Wrong Estimation, Reproduced Humans) were plugged. Still remember.. when his company against out one song which composed by him (Wrong Estimation - Track 6 Believe Album - 1999) which first step of Nic rebellious music. It's composed during time he's still 16 years old, showing his anger during teenager time when his parents got divorced. Also For this song Nic get collaborating with Anodize Which insist to Rock N Roll. In the same year, he released his debut Mandarin album "Thank You for Your Love 1999", this album mostly bring some Taiwanese Rock-Ballad flavor which successfully opened the doors of Mainland China and Taiwan music markets. At the end of 1999, he released his first greatest hits album, "Most Wanted". The first version of this CD even had been out of stock 3 hours after its released.
In the spring and summer of year 2000, Nic released a Cantonese album "Zero Distance" (Song recommended : Not A Rule Track 6 which's Time and Tide rockish song), and He also released a Mandarin album "Understand" in rushed time. Nearly all of the plugged songs in these two albums were written by himself. This further affirmed his singer-songwriter role in Hong Kong music market. In November of the same year, Nic had his first personal concert "VIVA Live" taking place in the Hong Kong Coliseum. In fact, this was his greatest HK ROCK Concert at that year. Although not perfect, his singing ability then was quite outstanding for his age and his guitar solos etc. Not forgetting about his image then. He looked so cool up their on the stage filled with confidence to make the crowd scream like hell.Oh ya, he also released his album, "VIVA" during before the concert started. Song Recommended on VIVA album are Viva (Track 1), which show feeling of Life and Happiness, Individual Ideas (Track 8) unique tunes with well growing up clean-hard rhythmic , and Final Exam (Track 9) with classic-rock flavor.
Year 2001 could be treated as the peak of Nic's music career.In May 2001, he released album "Jade Butterfly". This album generated tons of debates and critiques focusing on Nic's music and his personality. Besides writing songs alone, Nic started to work on his music together with those famous music production musicians, and bands from Japan(Sugizo,Shinya,Sheena Ringo) Hong Kong and China respectively. However, NONE of the eleven songs in that album shared a similarity with those normal pop singers' plugged music. Instead, the whole "Jade Butterfly" album simply sounded like an underground band production, while the artist was trying to yell out and express the anti-society emotion through music. It's still My favorite NIC album till now ^__^. Songs Recommended on Jade Butterfly are Velvet Dragon (Track 2) which's inspired by Metallica but then Nic choose collaborating with Beijing Philarmonic Orchestra for this Brilliant HARD ROCK song, Today Is Ur Bday (Track 3) which is written by J-Rock Guitarist Sugizo, Unchaotic Sky (Track 4), and Circus In The Dark (Track 8), which is wickedly dark and sounds gothic.
Later in October 2001, in order to maintain his share in the Mandarin music market, Nic released his third Mandarin album,"The Prophecy". On This album, I like song Impatient (Track 1) which is straightforward and it is said that NEVER get sick of this song because of it! it gives a simple rock feel, a song you can just bob your head to all the time. the ostenato (sp?) instrumental stuff provides the groove,bass and electric guitar solo in the middle make this song. the bass brings in a slight jazz/blues feel and then continues to introduce the listener into Nic kick-ASS guitar solo which musically gives off the feelings of angst and unsatisfaction communciated through the excellently-written lyrics of this song.I also luv song Panic (Track 3) which's also composed by Nic and arranged by Veegay with classical symphony - harp sounds flavor.
In January of 2002, Nic released his Cantonese album, "ME". Whichmake FANS said that this cd is certainly different to Nic's previous cds, becoz the sound is somewhat different, more Funk, more sound effect and less rock - guitar.The most interesting part that Nic show his photography - design skill on this album (Yeah the CD cover, A4 booklet all of them were managed by Nic himself ^^). Songs Recommended on ME are Winds Up (Track 7) which's arranged by Veegay sounds meditative, great melody aria and rhythm, Wrong about You (Track 10) with Western Pop-Rock Flavour, and Nic composed piece Let Me Die (Track 12) the english song with Aerosmith music flavor and lyrics more like "I'll be There For U (Bon Jovi)". There's also cantonese version on this song with title Revelation (Track 1),which has the music aspect feeling related with "911" the terrorist event, the lyric's truly have world meaning. Later in August of the same year, after releasing a movie theme CD single Meditation (Tiramisu Soundtrack) - the song with mellow tunes and orchestra background and a Mandarin best collection album -> "Invisible", Nic announced his temporary leaving from the Asian music market.
In June of 2003, Nic appeared on the stage again. He released his first Cantonese CD album since his leaving, "Reborn". In the following two years, Nic only released three albums, which were "Listen Up", "Yellow (Best Selections)", and "One Inch Closer" - > with my favorite song is Wolf - Track 1 which's obstinance and sounds classic ROCK -> Jimmy Hendrix flavor really growl and satisfy your ROCK hearing). Although those music professionals could hear and feel his improvements on the quality of music as well as the singing skills, But still feel that there's some lack of his ROCK spirit on those albums above which make some FANS (including me!!) thinks Nic gone SOFTLY :(.
In November 2005, Nic's latest Mandarin album, "Released" was on sale. This album was a turning point for his career, since so far the sale was reaching 3 millions. In fact, Nic did also have a very high expectation for this album as he had prepared for its release together with other China, HK, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore singer-composers and Bands for more than two years. The responses from the sale demonstrated that the public was impressed by the quality of the album. Like Nic said the idea on this album start from statement : Wut We Do In Life , ECHOES Eternitiy. This album truly show full concept Big Love and humanity theme. Songs Recommended on "RELEASED" are Path of Loneliness (Track 6)which totally show divulging youth inhibited (written by Ah Xin-Mayday),plus there's Nic guitar solo jamming with MONSTER, Previous Next (Track 7) More-Rockish one, and Dun Fear (Track 8) a good song written by Tanya Chua with free feeling to console some life difficulty.
Nicholas Tse Music ...which is truly spoken his mind, produce one kind of spirit, one kind of manner, got some rocky attitude and stand out for wut his thinking... Every song Nic has ever composed is just speechless. Its so rhythmatic and fluent-ial (if there is such word.) This makes easy arrangements for most arrangers since the melody or tune is so good. They hardly need to put any effort into it to produce a very good song. Though not all arrangers are good at there jobs. The SAD thing is.... Nic now decided to focus more on his acting than doing music. But in some interview ... Nic emphasizes that he doesn't give up with music. YEAH he proves with wut his doing nowadays. Recently he just compose and produce two new song which are Winner To Be King (Pepsi Soccer Themesong) and First Move Get Control - Bravery Make Person (Dragon Tiger Gate Soundtrack), though it sounds for commercial purpose.. but these two songs make music FANS feel that Nic come back with a VENGEANCE.. esp the last mentioned song which truly ROCKSS, kills Deeply, HEAVY, and fab music. Just Want To Say ...Keep Rockinnn NIC [headbang] !!!
Nicholas Tse once said Rock freely does not have the boundary, it's wild and uninhibited, it may release my deep loneliness, the HK pop rocker says.