China Meiguo

While roaming around the ever-addictive Youtube, I came across an interesting Chinese-American singer - Joanna Wang (王若琳; Wáng Rùolín). Her music is an interesting combination of English and Chinese language jazz, pop, rock, and folk influences, somewhat in the Norah Jones vein. The 23 year old Taiwan-born, Los Angeles-bred songstress has a surprisingly mature voice. Her musical maturity may be partly the result of her family background - her father (Wang Bing) is a successful producer who, in addition to working with his daughter, has produced popular artists including girl group S.H.E and David Tao. 

Wang's first album, Start From Here, was released in early 2008 and is comprised of one CD of English songs and another of Chinese songs. Joanna reportedly wasn't thrilled with her first album, feeling that it doesn't represent her true musical influences. Her next album ("Joanna & 王若琳 - her English and Chinese names), released in January 2009, is another 2-CD collection of English and Chinese songs. Her latest album, The Things We Do For Love, was released in late 2011 and includes covers of the Carole King classic (made famous by James Taylor) You've Got a Friend, B.J. Thomas' Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head and my favorite band (that wasn't really a band) Steely Dan's Dirty Work.

Wang's English language cover songs feature a fairly eclectic mix, including songs by Billy Joel ("New York State of Mind"), The Carpenters ("We've Only Just Begun"), Don Mclean, Paul Simon ("50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"), Bread ("Aubrey"), Paul Anka ("Times of Your Life") and Spandau Ballet ("True").