Wing (singer)
Encyclopedia
Wing Han Tsang popularly known simply as Wing, is a New Zealand
singer of Hong Kong
origin. She is known for her unique, offbeat singing style.
as a hobby after immigrating to New Zealand, Wing gained an audience by entertaining patients at nursing homes and hospitals in and around Auckland
. This prompted suggestions that she release a CD; the result was a debut titled Phantom of the Opera, featuring the title song
from the Andrew Lloyd Webber
musical, and a selection of other popular tunes to the accompaniment of a programmed electronic keyboard
.
Despite her unconventional style the recording proved a success, leading to a number of subsequent releases of cover version
s that eventually gained her an international audience.
She has appeared on such shows as SportsCafe
and Rove Live. She guest starred on South Park
in an episode named for her
that was first broadcast in March 2005. On the DVD commentary for this episode, series creators Trey Parker
and Matt Stone
explain that she had to approve her cartoon likeness before allowing her music to be used. Parker also says he received a letter of thanks from her for the sales boost she enjoyed as a result of the episode.
In addition to recordings, Wing has made various appearances in New Zealand, like Massey University
Orientation in Wellington.
On 21 August 2007, Wing made her U.S. debut in San Francisco. Wing performed at the 2008 South by Southwest
festival.
On May 11 2008, she performed on the BBC introducing stage at Radio 1's Big Weekend, singing version of ABBA
's "Dancing Queen
" and "Mamma Mia
" and Elton John
's "Candle in the Wind
". DJ Scott Mills
, who had played Wing during his Radio 1 drivetime shows, had to personally pay to fly her over so she could sing at the festival, in Maidstone.
Wing appeared on New Zealand music TV station, C4, in June 2008 for their series Rocked The Nation, where she sang "Pokarekare Ana
".
Wing toured the United States in the fall of 2009. On 25–26 October 2009, she appeared at the Birdland Jazz Club in New York City
. On 2 November 2009, she performed at RAZZ in San Francisco.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
singer of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
origin. She is known for her unique, offbeat singing style.
Career
Having taken up singingSinging
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
as a hobby after immigrating to New Zealand, Wing gained an audience by entertaining patients at nursing homes and hospitals in and around Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. This prompted suggestions that she release a CD; the result was a debut titled Phantom of the Opera, featuring the title song
The Phantom of the Opera (song)
"The Phantom of the Opera" is a song from the stage musical of the same name, composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, sung by Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford, lyrics written by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, and additional lyrics by Mike Batt...
from the Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
musical, and a selection of other popular tunes to the accompaniment of a programmed electronic keyboard
Electronic keyboard
An electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
.
Despite her unconventional style the recording proved a success, leading to a number of subsequent releases of cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s that eventually gained her an international audience.
She has appeared on such shows as SportsCafe
SportsCafe
SportsCafe is a New Zealand Sports TV show. The shows original run was hosted by Lana Coc-Kroft, Marc Ellis, Leigh Hart, Graeme Hill, Ric Salizzo and reporter Eva Evguenieva...
and Rove Live. She guest starred on South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
in an episode named for her
Wing (South Park)
"Wing" is the third episode of the ninth season animated series South Park. It was written by series co-creator Trey Parker and first aired on Comedy Central in the United States on March 23, 2005 and was named after New Zealand singer Wing, who also stars in the episode...
that was first broadcast in March 2005. On the DVD commentary for this episode, series creators Trey Parker
Trey Parker
Trey Parker is an American animator, screenwriter, director, producer, voice artist, musician and actor, best known for being the co-creator of the television series South Park along with his creative partner and best friend Matt Stone.Parker started his film career in 1992, making a holiday short...
and Matt Stone
Matt Stone
Matthew Richard "Matt" Stone is an American screenwriter, producer, voice artist, musician and actor, best known for being the co-creator of South Park along with creative partner and best friend, Trey Parker....
explain that she had to approve her cartoon likeness before allowing her music to be used. Parker also says he received a letter of thanks from her for the sales boost she enjoyed as a result of the episode.
In addition to recordings, Wing has made various appearances in New Zealand, like Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
Orientation in Wellington.
On 21 August 2007, Wing made her U.S. debut in San Francisco. Wing performed at the 2008 South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
festival.
On May 11 2008, she performed on the BBC introducing stage at Radio 1's Big Weekend, singing version of ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
's "Dancing Queen
Dancing Queen
"Dancing Queen" is a pop song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released in August 1976, but was first performed two months earlier, on 18 June 1976, during a Royal Variety Show in Stockholm the evening before the Swedish royal wedding. It was the follow-up single to the hit "Fernando"...
" and "Mamma Mia
Mamma Mia (song)
"Mamma Mia" is a song from ABBA's 3rd album, ABBA, written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus & Stig Anderson, with the lead vocals shared by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The song "Mamma Mia" is a common song used in bands or orchestras...
" and Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's "Candle in the Wind
Candle in the Wind
"Candle in the Wind" is a song with music by Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973, in honour of Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier....
". DJ Scott Mills
Scott Mills
Scott Robert Mills is a British radio DJ, television presenter and occasional actor, best known for presenting The Scott Mills Show on BBC Radio 1...
, who had played Wing during his Radio 1 drivetime shows, had to personally pay to fly her over so she could sing at the festival, in Maidstone.
Wing appeared on New Zealand music TV station, C4, in June 2008 for their series Rocked The Nation, where she sang "Pokarekare Ana
Pokarekare Ana
Pokarekare Ana is a traditional New Zealand love song, probably communally composed about the time World War I began in 1914.-Authorship disputes:...
".
Wing toured the United States in the fall of 2009. On 25–26 October 2009, she appeared at the Birdland Jazz Club in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. On 2 November 2009, she performed at RAZZ in San Francisco.
Discography
As of 2011, Wing has released nineteen CDs:- Phantom of the Opera
- I Could Have Danced All Night
- The Sound of MusicThe Sound of MusicThe Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
and the Prayer - Wing Sings The CarpentersThe CarpentersCarpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
- Wing Sings All Your Favourites
- Everyone Sings CarolsChristmas carolA Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.-History:...
with Wing - Wing Sings the Songs You Love
- Beatles Classics by Wing
- Dancing QueenDancing Queen"Dancing Queen" is a pop song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released in August 1976, but was first performed two months earlier, on 18 June 1976, during a Royal Variety Show in Stockholm the evening before the Swedish royal wedding. It was the follow-up single to the hit "Fernando"...
by Wing - Wing Sings AC/DCAC/DCAC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
- Wing Sings ElvisElvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
- Breathe
- Wing Sings More AC/DC
- One Voice
- Too Much Heaven
- Beat It
- Stop The Nonsense (featuring Rappy McRapperson)
- Wing Sings For All The Single Ladies And Raps For All The Safe Parties
- Santa Claus On A Helicopter
- Safe Computer