Zhong Chenle Explained

Zhong Chenle
Birth Date:2001 11, df=yes
Birth Place:Shanghai, China
Years Active:2009–present
Module:
Embed:yes
Background:solo_singer
Module2:
Child:yes
T:Chinese: {{linktext|鍾|辰|樂
S:Chinese: {{linktext|钟|辰|乐
P:Zhōng Chénlè
Poj:Chiong sîn-ga̍k
First:t
Hangul:Korean: 종진락
Hanja:Korean: {{linktext|鍾|辰|樂
Rr:Jong Jin-rak
Mr:Chong Chinrak

Zhong Chenle (; born 22 November 2001),[1] known mononymously as Chenle (Hangul: 천러), is a Chinese singer and actor based in South Korea. Zhong began his career as a child singer, having performed in various concerts and television shows in China and abroad. At age nine, he became the youngest singer to be invited to perform solo at the Golden Hall of Vienna.[2] Through his solo career, Zhong has released three albums and hosted one concert in China. At the age of fourteen, Zhong signed with South Korean entertainment company SM and subsequently moved to South Korea in 2016 to debut as a member of the South Korean boy band NCT through its sub-unit NCT Dream, which went on to become one of the best-selling boy bands in South Korea.

Early life

Zhong was born in Shanghai, China on 22 November 2001. He studied at the Beijing Contemporary Music School, graduating alongside NCT bandmate Renjun in the class of 2020.[3] In 2006, Chenle entered the Shanghai Ying Siu Sing School and attended dance classes. In 2008, he was admitted to the Shanghai Little Flute Art Troupe and studied vocal music with Huang Jing.

Career

2009–2015: Pre-debut and solo activities

In 2009, Zhong participated in the Hajj children's channel held by Yueyue Elf Vs Season Trial, where he was runner-up and won the Elf Genie Award. In 2010, he participated in the National Chinese Young Talent Selection and won a gold medal.

In January 2011, at age nine, Zhong was invited to perform the song "Memory" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats at the Golden Hall of Vienna; at the time, he was the youngest singer to have ever performed solo there. On 16 June, Zhong led the audience in singing the Chinese national anthem at the second Nie Er Music Week opening ceremony in the Shanghai Grand Theater. In July, Zhong released his twelve-track second solo album, My Wings. At the end of the month and in August, Zhong participated in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Shanghai International Children's Art Festival on the Shanghai Grand Stage at the Shanghai International Convention Center.

Zhong began his professional career as a singer after participating in singing competitions such as China's Got Talent.[4] He has released three albums.[5] He used to perform cover songs, many of which were of former child star Declan Galbraith, and upload them to YouTube. Zhong joined the World Organization of Child Ambassadors of Peace, headquartered in Washington, D.C., and founded and presided over by pianist, songwriter, and producer Ezekiel Elkin, representing China as a young cultural diplomat. Zhong served as Chinese Ambassador at an international multicultural show created by Elkin in Buenos Aires in August 2014; he performed "The Dragon's Romance", a song Elkin wrote specifically for him.

In December 2012, Zhong participated in the First Plenary Session of the Huangpu District of Shanghai and elected the district chief with the highest votes. His first known minor acting roles were in 2013, when he featured in Chinese drama The Queen of SOP 2 at age 11. In 2014, Zhong held a solo concert at the Shanghai Concert Hall.[6]

2016–present: Debut with NCT and NCT Dream

See main article: NCT (group) and NCT Dream. In August 2016, at age 14, Zhong began his career as an idol in South Korea by debuting as a member of NCT Dream, a sub-unit of NCT.[7]

Zhong became the main DJ of the radio show Yuedong Seoul on 12 October 2020, which aired from 9 pm to 10 pm KST and was live-streamed on the official TBS eFM 101.3 MHz YouTube channel.[8] Zhong departed Yuedong Seoul on 12 September 2021.[9]

In February 2021, Zhong featured on the song "Too Good" from IMLAY's fourth EP Utopia.[10]

Discography

See main article: NCT discography.

Albums

Singles

TitleYearNotes
"Yellow Maple Leave"2011 Shanghai Art Humanities Channel "Time Song" premiere
"Strong Children"2012
"Do Not Be Afraid"Monster Wanted Order theme song
"Amazing Grace"Shenzhen TV's Beware 00 Opening remarks
"An Angel"Shenzhen TV's The Mysterious Baby Mid-Autumn Festival Concert with Rice premiere
"Childhood Companion"Jade Qiaolin Story OST
"Travel The Wind"Jade Qiaolin Story theme song
"Can You Feel The Love Tonight "The Lion King theme song
"The Dragon's Romance" 2014Wunderkindz by "Zeke & The Kiddos" summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina
"A New Beginning" 2020Graduation song with Renjun NCT
"Too Good"2021 From IMLAY's EP Utopia
"Snow Dream"with Yeri of Red Velvet, Haechan and Jisung of NCT, and Ningning of Aespa
"Where You Are"2022with Super Junior Ryewook, SHINee Onew, NCT Doyoung, and Xiaojun
"蓝洋海龟 (Marine Turtle)"2023single by NCT U, sung with Kun, Xiaojun, and Renjun
"活下去爱下去" 2024The Double OST

Songwriting credits

All credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association, unless cited otherwise.[11]

YearSongArtist(s)AlbumCredits
2023"Like We Just Met"NCT DreamISTJCo-writer
"蓝洋海龟 (Marine Turtle)"Kun, Xiaojun, Renjun, ChenleSM Station: NCT LabCo-producer
"Marine Turtle" (Korean ver.)

Filmography

Film

Year TitleNotes
2013Soul Rhythm Pre-debut
2014A Candy for Mother

Television

YearTitleNotes
2013The Queen of SOP 2 Pre-debut
Bund Police

Variety show

Year Title Title in Mandarin Notes
2010 China's Got Talent 中国达人秀 Pre-debut
Sunday My Biggest周日我最大 Performing the song "Tomorrow"
2011 Happy Blue Sky快乐蓝天下 Performing the song "Memory"
We Have a Set我们有一套 Performing the songs "Memory" and "You Raise Me Up"
Day Day Up 天天向上 Performing the song "Memory"
2012 Red Star红星闪闪
Talented Children's Voice天才童声
Innocence Hit the Earth童心撞地球
Table Plan同桌计划 Performing the song "Memory"
Sound One Team天声一队 Performing "Memory", "Tell Me Why" and other songs.
The Mysterious Baby Mid-Autumn Festival Concert with Rice饭没了秀之魔力宝宝中秋演唱会 Performing the song "Tell Me Why"
Beware 00小心00后 Performing the song "Amazing Grace"
2013 Flash World闪天下 Performing the songs "My Songs", "Tell Me Why" and "Can You Feel The Love Tonight"
I Love My Motherland我爱我的祖国 Performing the song "You Raise Me Up"
Super Voice超级童声 Judge
China New Voice Generation中国新声代 Performing the songs "Amazing Grace" and "Snail"
2014 Wunderkindz by "Zeke & The Kiddos"神童们 Performing the song "The Dragon's Romance" (El romance del dragón - 龙月情缘)

Radio show

Awards and nominations

See also: List of awards and nominations received by NCT.

Year AwardResult
2009 Yueyue Elf Vs Season Trial "Elf Genie Award"
2010 National Outstanding Students Competition
2010 National Award For Young Talents in China

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Artist Profile . NCTDREAM Official WebSite . SM Entertainment . 15 April 2019 . 11 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180411054838/http://nctdream.smtown.com/ . dead .
  2. Web site: Introducing Chenle Zhong . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180421032955/https://www.theskykid.com/introducing-chenle-zhong/ . 21 April 2018 . 2018-04-20 . Netease. 17 April 2013 .
  3. Web site: April 30, 2020 . 北京市现代音乐学校新浪微博 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200703071616/https://www.weibo.com/5059320961/IFHfE9rjB?type=comment . 3 July 2020 . 6 May 2020 . Weibo . zh.
  4. Web site: "达人"选手国庆忙 张志林签下音乐达人钟辰乐 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180329184221/http://ent.qq.com/a/20100930/000128.htm . 29 March 2018 . 2018-04-13 . Tencent.
  5. Web site: 8岁"达人"钟辰乐被签 要发专辑《天籁童声》 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180329184301/http://ent.163.com/10/0930/07/6HQI56PH00032DGD.html . 29 March 2018 . 2018-04-13 . Netease.
  6. Web site: 钟辰乐上海音乐厅演唱会圆满落幕. 18 February 2014. Sina. 2018-04-13. 12 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191212160857/http://ent.sina.com.cn/y/2014-02-18/17104098686.shtml. live.
  7. Web site: SM新男团NCT DREAM将于25日出道 14岁中国籍成员公开. People's Daily. 2018-04-13. 29 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329184314/http://korea.people.com.cn/n3/2016/0819/c205178-9102771-2.html. live.
  8. Web site: tbs eFM 101.3MHz LIVE stream . YouTube . 23 December 2020 . 25 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201225071329/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cseb1WG15ZA . dead.
  9. Web site: Twitter . DJ #CHENLE's last radio broadcast on tbs-R eFM Akdong Seoul will be on September 12th . 4 September 2021 . 2 October 2021 . 2 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211002004037/https://twitter.com/sm_nct_backup/status/1433927787140710400 . live .
  10. Web site: IMLAY 'Too Good (Feat. CHENLE 천러 of NCT)' MV . YouTube . 13 March 2021 . 12 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210312132925/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuv8V2UkqJA . live .
  11. Web site: Songs Registered Under ZHONG CHENLE (10039532). KOMCA. April 18, 2024.
  12. Web site: TBS efm Yuedong Seoul. TBS. 2 December 2020. 23 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201223012125/http://tbs.seoul.kr/cont/eFM/Akdongseoul/mcinfo/mcinfo.do?programId=PG2061113E. live.