Lee Hom's " Forever 1st Day " Album Diary

89/10/28~89/11/03 @ Part 21

Dear Friends,

I've been writing in this diary for 20 weeks now, and have always kept it sincere and positive. Of course, just like you, there are many things in my life that are less than pleasant; why not write about those things? The answer is simple: I believe in contagious optimism. Love and music are stronger than hate and ignorance. It is easy to be swept by the waves of frustrated negative energy; it takes strength to stay positive.

Being a public figure means that I am subject to praise as well as criticism. I've had my healthy share of both. Of course I read the tabloids, of course I read the Internet, of course I have my finger on the pulse of public opinion towards me. So what happens when I hear news of a Taiwanese band's satirical version of "Descendants of the Dragon"? Well, to be perfectly honest, I don't care. It's not going to affect me or the people who really listen to and like my music. I know that many of my fans are upset about their rendition, but the beauty of music is that it is freedom of expression. If they wanted to spend the time to write a song making fun of another artist,that's their own prerogative. It is not my opinion, so I don't have to take responsibility for it.

I'm putting my heart and soul into my art, and learning a lot along the way. I'm more interested in spending time improving myself as a musician and a creator than using my energy in destructive ways.

Enough of that. This week I performed in Wen Zhou for the first time and then to Shanghai to finish filming for China Strike Force. That's right, China Strike Force is finally finished as of today! After four months of dangling off the edges of buildings, fighting bad guys and writing songs backstage, it's all over. And like any ending or goodbye, it is a bittersweet pill to swallow.

Although I have not even seen the fully edited version yet, I know this will be a good movie, and something I'll be able to watch over and over again. It's coming out first in HK on December 15th, subsequently in the rest of Asia and worldwide. I will be attending most of the premiers of CSF in many different countries, so keep a look out!

From now until the end of the year 2000, my projects are 3-fold. First of all, I must produce and perform some songs for the sound track of CSF, including a song I am producing for Norika Fujiwara in English, co-written by me and Coolio, and also two new original songs that I will perform solo. Believe me, I am happy to be returning to the recording studios!

Secondly, my new single for Bulova watches "Time To Fall In Love" will be released in just one more week! I will be spending much of the next week performing and promoting this song.

Thirdly, I will be beginning the production of my new album for 2001. As you already know, I will be doing both English and Mandarin versions of the album, so I definitely have my work cut out for me.

Tomorrow morning I'm at long last returning to Taiwan. It's been two and a half months since the Mid-Autumn Festival. Two and a half months since I last was there. I can't wait to return to Taiwan and see all of my friends in Taiwan!

Truly,
Homeboy