19th Golden Melody Awards
Ceremonies of the 19th Golden Melody Awards were held in Taipei, Taiwan in 2008. Nominees were announced on May 22, 2008, and the award winners in 12 traditional music categories and 23 popular music categories were selected by a panel of 33 judges after four rounds of jury meetings. Initially, there were 10,632 submissions from 185 companies in the music industry, making it the largest submission pool in the Awards' history.
Winners for artistic and traditional music categories were announced on June 21, 2008 at Taipei County Hall in a ceremony separate from that for popular music categories. It was the second consecutive year that the ceremony for this category group was held separately, and it did not attract as much media attention as the ceremony for the popular music categories. By contrast, artists from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and Canada attended the awards ceremony for popular music categories, which was held at the Taipei Arena on July 5, 2008. Actress sisters Barbie and Dee Shu, former news anchor Patty Hou, and actress Matilda Tao hosted this event, whose list of award presenters included Canadian recording artist Daniel Powter and Japanese drama stars Akito Kiriyama, Junta Nakama, and Yuya Takaki. Both events were broadcast on the satellite cable Azio Television channel on June 28 and July 5, respectively.
Malaysian singer Gary Chaw and Singaporean singer-songwriter Tanya Chua were named Best Mandarin Male and Female Singers in the popular music category, respectively. Chua won the Best Mandarin Female Singer award for the second time; she last won the award in the 17th Golden Melody Awards. Chua's record seven nominations for her album Goodbye & Hello are the most received by a female artist. Taiwanese musician and singer Jay Chou, who received a record-breaking eight nominations for his album On the Run and film Secret, was not able to attend the event due to his tour in China. Chou's primary lyricist Vincent Fang was present to receive the award of Best Lyricist for the song "Blue and White Porcelain". Pop rock band Sodagreen received its second consecutive award as Best Band for its album Incomparable Beauty.
Nominees and winners
Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.Popular Music categories
Best Song
- Blue and White Porcelain – On the Run – Jay Chou
- * Against the Light – Against the Light – Stefanie Sun
- * Blink of an Eye – Star – A-mei
- * Darwin – Goodbye & Hello – Tanya Chua
- * Incomparable Beauty – Incomparable Beauty – Sodagreen
- * Love Song – Wonderland – Khalil Fong
Best Mandarin Album
- L!VE IS...KAREN MOK – Karen Mok
- * Against the Light – Stefanie Sun
- * Goodbye & Hello – Tanya Chua
- * Incomparable Beauty – Sodagreen
- * On the Run – Jay Chou
- * Star – A-mei
Best Taiwanese Album
- Love Songs – Ricky Hsiao
- * Close to Home – Cheng Chiu-hsuan
- * Love of Life III—Companionship television soundtrack
- * Kou! It's Coming Out!!! – Kou Chou Ching
- * Toilet Paper – New Formosa Band
Best Hakka Album
- 2007 Banana – Ayu Huang
- * An Old Tree, New Branches – Liu Jung-chang
- * Hair Bun Flower – Cheng Chao-fang
- * In Love with Old Mountain Railway – Chiu Hsing-yi and Chiu Li-ling
Best Aboriginal Album
- Ipay Buyci – Ipay Buyci
- * Auba! The Most Beautiful Tribe
- * Chalaw Passiwali – Chalaw Passiwali
- * My Name Is Bai Lang – Bai Lang
- * Nasi – Sauniaw
received a record-breaking eight nominations for songs from his album On the Run and film Secret.
Best Composer
- Jay Chou – Blue and White Porcelain, sung by Jay Chou
- * Gary Chaw – Blink of an Eye, sung by A-mei and Jam Hsiao
- * Tanya Chua – Blank Space, sung by Tanya Chua
- * Ricky Hsiao – Love the Song, sung by Ricky Hsiao
- * Lin Chi–yu – Lucky to Have Your Love, sung by Joi Chua
- * Wu Ching-feng – Incomparable Beauty, sung by Sodagreen
Best Lyricist
- Vincent Fang – Blue and White Porcelain, sung by Jay Chou
- * Deserts Chang – After All, sung by Deserts Chang
- * Chyi Chin and Chang Chen-yue – Love Sickness, sung by Chang Chen-yue
- * Hsiao Han – Darwin, sung by Tanya Chua
- * Liao Ying-ju – Against the Light, sung by Stefanie Sun
- * Yeh Kuo-chu – Hair Bun Flower
Best Arrangement
- Hsiao An – Agent J, for Jolin Tsai
- * Chen Chien-chi – j'Adore, for Fish Leong
- * Chung Hsing-min – Blue and White Porcelain, for Jay Chou
- * Huang Chung-yueh – Darwin, for Tanya Chua
- * Martin Tang – Against the Light, for Stefanie Sun
- * Tu Hui-yuan – Wake-up Song, for Gary Chaw
- * Wu Ching-feng, Shih Chun-wei, Hsieh Hsing-i, Liu Chia-kai, He Ching-yang, Kung Yu-chi, Lin Wei-tse – Incomparable Beauty, for Sodagreen
Best Album Producer
- Tanya Chua – Goodbye & Hello, released by Tanya Chua
- * Terry Chan – L!VE IS..., released by Karen Mok
- * Gary Chaw and Tu Hui-yuan – Super Sunshine, released by Gary Chaw
- * Ayu Huang – 2007 Banana, released by Ayu Huang
- * Tsao Teng-chang – Ipay Buyci, released by Ipay Buyci
Best Single Producer
- Adia – Agent J, released by Jolin Tsai
- * Chen Chien-liang – Fool, released by Landy Wen
- * Chung Cheng-hu – Pussy, released by Cheer Chen
- * Ma Yun-fen – Blink of an Eye, released by A-mei
- * Tank – Anti-Terrorism Squad, released by Tank
Best Mandarin Male Singer
- Gary Chaw – Super Sunshine
- * Eason Chan – Admit It
- * Khalil Fong – Wonderland
- * Shin – I Am I
- * Tank – Keep Fighting
- * Yang Pei-An – Pei-an Yang's Album No. 2
Best Taiwanese Male Singer
- Ricky Hsiao – Love Songs
- * Michael Shih – Be Together Tonight
- * Wang Shih-hsien – Man of Iron
Best Mandarin Female Singer
- Tanya Chua – Goodbye & Hello
- * A-mei – Star
- * Joi Chua – Joi Blessed
- * Fish Leong – j'Adore
- * Karen Mok – L!VE IS...
- * Stefanie Sun – Against the Light
Best Taiwanese Female Singer
- Chan Ya-wen – Life Highway
- * Chen Si-an – Appreciation
- * Liu I-chun – Lonesome Moon
- * Showlen Maya – Homesickness
- * Sun Shu-may – Chance to Love You
Best Hakka Singer
- Ayu Huang – 2007 Banana
- * Sinco Chiu and Aileen Chiu – In Love With Old Mountain Railway
- * Lin Tzu-chun – Hakka Girl
- * Liu Jung-chang – An Old Tree, New Branchesso justu
Best Aboriginal Singer
- Ipay Buyci – Ipay Buyci
- * Amoy – Beautiful Voice of Aboriginal Music
- * Bai Lang – My Name Is Bai Lang'
- * Chalaw Passiwali – Chalaw Passiwali
- * Sauniaw – Nasi
Best Band
- Sodagreen – Incomparable Beauty
- * Cherry Boom – Goody Goody
- * Kou Chou Ching – Kou! It's Coming Out!!!
- * Mavis Fan and 100%樂團 – 2007 Breakthrough Album
- * Mrs. This – Who
- * Won Fu – Youth Dance
Best Singing Group
- Da Mouth – Da Mouth
- * Nan Quan Mama – Treasure Map
- * Soler – x2
Best Newcomer
- Debbie Hsiao – Shuo's Map Album
- * Lo Si-rong – Everyday
- * Connie Lu – Moment of Love
- * WOW – The Big Hits
- * Chris Wu – Stay Up
- * Olivia Yan – Silly Child
Best Instrumental Album
- Fantasia of Tuscany – Lee Cin-yun
- * Mr Bebu – Chipin & Kaiya
- * Secret – Jay Chou
- * Sizhukong – Peng Yu-wen
Best Instrumental Album Producer
- Jay Chou – Secret
- * Denise Juan – Sunshine Costa
- * Lee Cin-yun – Fantasia of Tuscany
- * Peng Yu-wen – Sizhukong
Best Instrumental Composer
- Jay Chou and Terdsak Janpan – Secret
- * Chang Shih-he – The Expedition soundtrack
- * Lee Cin-yun – Fantasia of Tuscany
- * Denise Juan – Sunshine Costa
Best Music Video Director
- Chou Ke-tai – j'Adore, sung by Fish Leong
- * Chen Hung-yi – Learned, sung by Ivana Wong
- * Chu Hsueh-yi – Why, sung by Mavis Fan and 100%樂團
- * Chung Wei-chuan – This is Me, sung by Paul Wong
- * Hsu Yun-hsuan – Left Side, sung by Sodagreen
Lifetime Contribution Award
- Chen Chih-yuan
Artistic and Traditional Music categories
Best Traditional Music Album
- Sepiuma's Songs
- * Cheng Rom-shing Music Album
- * Quest for the Garden Saunter and the Interrupted Dream
- * The Ultimate of Peking Opera: Wei Haimin Performance Mei Lanfang School
- * ''Tu Ju-sung Bamboo Flute Solo Album
Best Classical Music Album
- Capriccio Pine Breeze: Hsieh Wan-chen's Oboe Album
- * Chun-Chieh Yen Debut Album
- * In Love with You
- * Ouyang Ling-yi's J.S. Bach: Six Suites for Violoncello Solo
Best Children's Music Album
- Traditional Children's Music of Tsou Tribe
- * Learning Hakka
- * Shine Like a Star
Best Religious Music Album
- Apocalypse : The Future That Amazes
- * Dharma Flower Yangjin Lamu
- * Realizing the Self in Resonance
- * Song of Praises III: Liu Chih-ming's Sacred Music
- * The Lord Is My Shepherd
Best Crossover Music Album
- Wolf Totem
- * Capriccio Pine Breeze: Hsieh Wan-chen's Oboe Album
- * Soundtrack for Ciao Ci-chao
Best Songwriter
- He Xuntien – Images in Sound – Mili Pattern
- * Hsu Ya-min – Apocalypse : The Future That Amazes – Apocalypse : The Future That Amazes
- * Huang Yan-chung – Harvest Festival of Music – Harvest Festival
Best Lyricist
- Cheng Chou-yu – Travel in Dream – A Plate of Poetry
- * Chen Wei-pin – Rainbow of Black and White – Tung Blossom Waltz
Best Composer
- Yiu-Kwong Chung – Aboriginal Rhythm – Kao Yi-sheng's Song
- * Chen Yi-hui – Ciao Ci-chao soundtrack – Spring Time
Best Producer
- Wang Chih-ping – Quest for the Garden Saunter and the Interrupted Dream
- * Huang Jia-lung – Ouyang Ling-yi's J.S. Bach: Six Suites for Violoncello Solo
- * Liu Liang-yen – Ciao Ci-chao soundtrack
- * Wang Min-hung – In Love With You
Best Traditional Music Interpretation
- Wei Haimin – The Ultimate of Peking Opera: Wei Haimin Performance Mei Lanfang School
- * Cheng Rom-shing – Cheng Rom-shing music album
- * Kung Aiping – Quest for the Garden Saunter and the Interrupted Dream
- * Sepiuma Group – Sepiuma's Songs
- * Tu Ju-sung – Tu Ju-sung Bamboo Flute Solo Album
Best Vocalist
- Taipei Male Choir – In Love With You
- * Formosa Singers – Formosa Singers and Gary Graden
- * Jeannie Voce – Summertime
- * Taipei Artist Choir – Because of Love
- * Wang Xinxin – Realizing the Self in Resonance
Best Music Performer
- Yen Chun-chieh – Chun-Chieh Yen Debut Album
- * Magic Clarinet Quartet – The Dancing Clarinet
- * Ouyang Ling-yi – Ouyang Ling-yi's J.S. Bach: Six Suites for Violoncello Solo
Jury Special Mention
- Lin Yu-chih
Lifetime Contribution Award
- Chu Ting-shun
Presenters and performers
Presenters
Presenters for the popular music categories at the ceremony:- Taiwan singer Rainie Yang, along with Japanese drama stars Akito Kiriyama, Junta Nakama, and Yuya Takaki, presented the awards for Best Composer and Best Singing Group.
- Singers Jia-jia and Samingad, both members of the ethnic Puyuma people, presented the awards for Best Aboriginal Singer and Best Aboriginal Album.
- Entertainer Kang Kang and singer Frankie Kao presented the awards for Best Arrangement and Best Song.
- Television host Hsiao Chung, along with Hakka singers and past winners Liu Shao-hsi and Hsieh Yü-wei, presented the awards for Best Hakka Singer and Best Hakka Album.
- One Million Star top 10 finalist Aska Yang and musician Kay Huang presented the awards for Best Music Video Director and Best Newcomer.
- P'eng Ch'ia-ch'ia, entertainer Pai Bing-bing, and Hsü Hsiao-shun presented the awards for Best Taiwanese Male Singer and Best Taiwanese Female Singer.
- "Queen of Taiwanese music" Jody Chiang and lyricist Vincent Fang presented the award for Best Taiwanese Album.
- Musicians Ni Fang-lai and Ma Yü-fen presented awards for the instrumental music categories of Best Album Producer, Best Composer, and Best Album.
- Record producer Huang Kuo-lun and Taiwan's "Queen of Pub" Tiger Huang presented the awards for Best Single Producer and Best Album Producer.
- Taiwan musicians Lo Ta-yu and Chang Chen-yue presented the awards for Best Lyricist and Best Band.
- Aboriginal Taiwanese pop singer A-mei and Cantopop singer Eason Chan presented the award for Best Mandarin Male Singer.
- Taiwan pop singer Jolin Tsai and Canadian recording artist Daniel Powter presented the award for Best Mandarin Female Singer.
- Hong Kong singer and actor Wakin Chau and Taiwan record producer Jonathan Lee presented the award for Best Mandarin Album.
- Vanessa Shih, a minister at the Government Information Office, presented the Lifetime Contribution Award.
Performers