Vivian Hsu

Vivian Hsu
Birth name	徐淑娟 (pinyin: Xú Shújuān; Wade–Giles: Hsu Jo-hsüan)
Origin	Taiwan
Born	(1975-03-19) March 19, 1975 Taichung, Taiwan
Occupation	Singer, actress, model
Genre(s)	Pop
Label(s)	Toshiba EMI (1995–1996) BMG (1999–2001) Avex Trax (2003–2007) Warner Music (2007–2010) Universal Music (2010-present)
Years active	1990–present
Associated acts	Shao Nü Dui (1990–1992) Black Biscuits (1997–1999) The d.e.p. (2001) Vivian or Kazuma (2003)
Official Website	www.avex.com.tw/vivian

Vivian Hsu (Chinese: 徐若瑄; pinyin: Xú Ruòxuān; Wade–Giles: Hsu Jo-hsüan; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chhî Jio̍k-soan; Japanese: ビビアン・スー Bibian Sū; born March 19, 1975 in Taichung, Taiwan) is a Taiwanese singer, actress, and model who has gained remarkable popularity in East Asia, mainly in Taiwan and Japan.

Hsu rose to prominence in Japan, where she made her first appearance in 1995 and has become a highly-recognized celebrity with her countless appearances in media during the late 1990s.

She was also the main vocalist for Black Biscuits, a Japanese dance band which released four singles, Stamina, Timing, Relax, Bye-Bye, and one album Life. All of these four singles reached the top 5 spots of the Oricon singles chart, and Life reached #6 in the album chart.

Early career

The second of three children, Hsu was born to a Taiwanese father and Tayal-Taiwanese mother as Hsu Su-chuan (Chinese: 徐淑娟; pinyin: Xú Shújuān), and used this name until she began her modeling career. Her parents divorced when she was a young child. She attended Taipei Jianxing Elementary School and Taipei Shulinguo Junior High School.

Hsu's career in entertainment industry started after winning first place in a "Talented Beautiful Girl" contest held by Taiwan's CTS in 1990. At that point, she was working by delivering food on her bicycle, and her customers began to recognise her from her television appearances. The same year she joined a musical trio named "Girls' Team" (少女隊). They released two albums, in 1991 and 1992, then broke up. Following this, Hsu started modeling.

Modelling

As a model, she posed in two photobooks titled Angel (天使心) and Venus. Angel, published in 1995, was shot in Capri and Sicily. Venus, published on July 7, 1996, was shot in Mexico and had separate runs in Taiwan and Japan.

Hsu's success in modeling achieved its zenith in July 1996 when she was featured on the cover of two Asian-edition Penthouse magazines (the Japanese edition, and the comparatively low-distribution Hong Kong edition). Like the photobooks, both these items have become very sought after by collectors and fans.

Hsu has continued to model for designers such as Hang Ten, Gucci and Mode Marie, and has modelled in all three of her brief, autobiographical books: Earth Onigiri (2001), Privacy (2001, ISBN 4-88745-060-5), and Wo Ai Taiwan (2002). In addition, most of her musical albums contain substantial inserts featuring new modelling work.

Acting

Main article: Vivian Hsu filmography

Hsu has appeared in a number of films and television programs both in Taiwan and Japan. She appeared in the ambitious 2006 mainland China-Taiwan-Hong Kong collaboration The Knot, a romance film that takes place between the CCP's takeover of mainland China and the present. Her debut film was Shaolin Popey (1994), a comedy film which became a box office hit in Taiwan and Hong Kong. She also has some experience as a voice actress, having voiced Aisha in Gundam SEED for three episodes.

Hsu also starred in three Hong Kong Category III films, Hunting List, Devil Angel and Angel Heart. She played the role of Chao Jiale in Love Storm (2003), alongside Vic Chou and Ken Chu. She also composed and sang the opening theme for this series, Decide to Love You (決定愛你), which was released as a single in 2003. As with many actors and actresses, she appears from time to time in commercials and as spokesperson for various causes. In 2006, Hsu played a role in the film The Shoe Fairy of Do Do, a modern fairy tale.

Also appeared in the 2001 film The Accidental Spy, with Jackie Chan.

Music

Main article: Vivian Hsu discography

Hsu released her first solo single in 1995. She released her first full-length album, Tianshi Xiang (天使想) in 1996. Shortly thereafter, she took a speed course in Korean, and released a Korean version of the album titled Cheonsa Misonyeo (天使美少女). Unusually, neither of Hsu's first two albums was sung in her native language.

In 1997, with two Japanese comedians—Kyoya Nanami and Amazan—and later with a second female vocalist known as 'Keddy', she was included in a musical act known as the Black Biscuits. The group was formed primarily as a "rival band" for the Japanese music group Pocket Biscuits, which was the creation of the Japanese variety show Utchan Nanchan no UriNari. Between 1997 and 1999, they released four hit singles and a full-length album, Life. Their single CD "Timing" recorded 1.5 million sales in 1998. And, they participated in Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1998.

Towards the end of the group's run, they failed to accomplish one of the challenges set forth by the variety show and the resulting punishment was the disbanding of Black Biscuits.

During this period, Hsu also released two more solo albums: Da Mafan (大麻煩) in 1998, and Bubai de Lianren (不敗の戀人) in 1999. She followed Bubai de Lianren with a Japanese translation, Fuhai no Koibito, in 2000.

Later that same year she released another new album, Jiaban de Tianshi (假扮的天使).

In 2001, she formed The d.e.p with Masahide Sakuma, Gota Yashiki, Masami Tsuchiya and Mick Karn. The band was short-lived: by the end of the year they had released all the music they ever would. This amounted to two singles and a full-length album, 地球的病気 -We Are the d.e.p-.

Over the next two years, she released a few more singles, including, alongside Kazuma Endo of Siam Shade, Moment, the second opening theme to Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, followed in 2003 by her next solo album, The Secret to Happiness Is Love. Her last album is Hen Hen Ai (狠狠愛), released in April 2005. Her most recent album is Vivi and..., released in September 2006. For this album, Hsu collaborated with many artists and people including Jay Chou, Wang Leehom, Gary Cao, Nicky Lee and even her little brother and uncle.

Hsu's music, especially in her later work, covers a great range of genres. Included are slow love songs, R&B, hard rock, and of course J-pop. She has even dabbled in rap. This, combined with the fact that she is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Japanese makes her a very versatile artist.

Hsu is also an accomplished lyricist. Her lyric-writing talent first gained serious notice when she completed several songs for Taiwan's R&B singer/songwriter Jay Chou. By proving that she is not just another pretty idol, but a very capable artist, Hsu surprised both her critics and adorned fans. She continued to collaborate with Jay on his second and third albums after his triumphant self-titled debut, and co-wrote songs for other pop performers, such as Leehom Wang, Vanness Wu, Show Luo and Gigi Leung. Her lyric work is much praised for its clever and straightforward simplicity.

Some Jay Chou songs that she wrote lyrics for are as follows:

• Adorable Woman (可愛女人)
• Can't Say (開不了口)
• Istanbul (伊斯坦堡)
• Love's Cliff (愛情懸崖)
• Simple Love (簡單愛)
• Tornado (龍捲風)

Advertising works

Peng Peng Hong Shower Gel 1996-1997, 2000 China Taiwan

Lei Niya sanitary pads Laurier Kotex 1999-2001 China Taiwan

UTENA Shampoo Series 1999-2001 Japan

The Shiseido PROUDIA Series 2002 Japan

Ko's Sifone Shampoo Series 2003 Taiwan

The ManTing Shower Gel 2005 mainland China

The BIOTHERM Skin Care 2005-2008 Taiwan

P & G-head & shoulders 2006-2008 endorsement mainland china \ TW \ HK

DERMES- Laser permanent hair removal 2009 HK

DR.WHITENING medical skincare products 2009-2011 of Mainland China CN

Natural Church moisturizer 2010 Mainland China CN

The Camay shower gel

Papaya Milk Juice 1991-1992 Taiwan TW

Beef Noodle Soup 1994-1995 Taiwan TW

ACE COOK iron man Ramen

ACE COOK Japanese Noodle 1996-1997 Japan JP

Meji Super Coup Ice Cream 1997-1998 Japan

OTSUKA Sport Drink 1998-2000 Japan

PIZZA-La 1998-2001 Japan

Super Supan Near Water Drink 1999-2000 Taiwan

MEKO Peach Water 2001 Hong Kong

AB Yogurt Drink 2001-2002 Taiwan

Vitalon Tea Drink 2003-2010 Taiwan

Plum Sake 2005 China Taiwan

Mousa chocolate 2006-2008 Mainland China

Peach John underwear 2003 Japan

HANG TEN clothing 2004-2008 Taiwan

Mode Marie underwear 2006-2007 Taiwan

Grace Gift leisure shoes 2008 mainland china \ Taiwan

Little beauty shoes 2009-2011 Mainland China

TIAN XIANG resist electromagnetic wave wear 2009-2011 Mainland China

Sampo Fax Machine 1995-1996 Taiwan

DDI Mobile Phone 1998 Japan

Fujitzu Air-Con 1998-1999 Taiwan

Panasonic Battery 2000 Taiwan

Far Eastern Telephone Card 2000-2001 Taiwan

Gamania On-Line Game 2001-2002 Taiwan

The Aviva Computer School 1997-1999 Japan

Senzyu Eyes Drop 1998-2000 Japan

Toyoto Ipsam Automobile 1998-1999 Japan

Padi Divin 1998 Japan

Tokyo Road Safety 1999 Japan

Tokyo Labor Insurance 1999 Japan

SEGA Pet Dog 2000 Japan

Fabrica repair and spareparts workshop 2001-2003 Japan

Iwin gold jewelry 2006 Taiwan

GARMIN GPS 2006 Taiwan

7-11 Winnie the Pooh 80 anniversary magnet bookmark 2006 Taiwan

Lyrics written by Vivian Hsu

Lovely Woman, Jay "Jay"

Tornado, Jay "Jay"

Istanbul, Jay "Jay"

Simple Love, Jay "Fantasy "

Can't say anything, Jay "Fantasy"

Love Cliff, Jay "Ye Hui Mei"

Want to love you, Jerry "Jerry for you the first time"

Imagine ten of you, Vanness Wu "Body Can Sing"

That girl, Vanness Wu "Body Can Sing"

Fantastic love, Vanness Wu "V.Dubb"

Reborn, Ken "Never Stop"

Journey, Fei "Trip EP "

Paradise, Harlem "Harlem Heaven"

Emergency Tears, Gigi "Magical Season"

Hold you tight, Gigi "Sense of Belonging"

Confessions, Zhang Huichun "Solo"

Love, Nicholas Tse "Release"

Happiness Hunters, Show Luo "Showtime"

You say yours I say mine, Show Luo "Speshow "

Love Castle, Cyndi "Honey"

Go with you Kim Jeong Hoon "Love Strategy"

If you love, Khalil "Orange Moon"

Listen to me, Ruby

Walking together, Kim Jeong Hoon "Love Strategy"

The Daily Recipes, Leehom Wang "Versatile"

The Everlasting Happiness, BoBo "Let's BoBo"

Return to Japan

Hsu returned to Japan after a seven-year absence to release her new single Beautiful Day on March 3, 2010. Since 2010 she has appeared in two NTV television shows, and two television commercials for the aesthetic salon Slim Beauty House, and Kao's Essential hair care brand line as one of its three newfaces along with Yuriko Yoshitaka and Nozomi Sasaki.

External links

• Vivian Hsu at Universal Music Japan (Japanese)
• Vivian Hsu at Ameba (Japanese)
• Vivian Hsu at Avex Taiwan (Chinese)
• Vivian Hsu at the Internet Movie Database
• Vivian Hsu's Advertising Works (Chinese)