Wing (singer) explained

Wing
Birth Name:Wing Han Tsang
Birth Date:c.
Birth Place:British Hong Kong
Occupation:Singer
Module:
Child:yes
P:Zēng Yǒnghán
J:Cang4 Wing6 Hon4
Module2:
Embed:yes
Background:temporary
Origin:Hong Kong
New Zealand
Years Active:2005–2015
Genre:Outsider music
Show tunes
Pop music
Soft rock
Instrument:Vocals, electronic keyboard
Showflag:stp
S:曾咏韩
T:曾咏韓
P:Zēng Yǒnghán
W:Tseng Yunghan
J:Cang4 Wing6 Hon4
Y:Dzeng Yunghan
Ci:pronounced as /tsɐ̏ŋ wɪ̀ŋ.hɔ̏ːn/

Wing Han Tsang (; b. 1960), known professionally by the mononym Wing, is a retired Hong-Kong-born New Zealand singer. Her singing style has drawn comparisons to Florence Foster Jenkins[1] and Mrs. Miller.[2] She is an example of outsider music.

Career

Having taken up singing as a hobby after emigrating 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 versions that eventually gained her an international audience.[3]

She has appeared on such shows as SportsCafe and Rove Live. She guest-starred on South Park in an episode named after 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.[4] Wing later performed as part of the 2008 South by Southwest festival.[5]

On 11 May 2008, she performed on the BBC Introducing-stage at Radio 1's Big Weekend,[6] singing versions of ABBA's "Dancing Queen" and "Mamma Mia" and Elton John's "Candle in the Wind".[7] 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.[8]

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 October 25-26, 2009, she appeared at the Birdland Jazz Club in New York City. On November 2, 2009, she performed at Rrazz Room in San Francisco.[9]

In 2015, Wing announced that she had retired from the music business via her official website.

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Notes and References

  1. News: Wing wows New York's Birdland Jazz Club. TVNZ. ONE News/NZPA. 27 October 2009. 17 January 2011.
  2. Web site: 5 People Who Became Famous By Singing Badly. 12 August 2016. 6 January 2018.
  3. News: Joy Behar New Year's Eve Live: with special Guest: Wing. SFStation.com. SF Station. December 2008. 17 January 2011.
  4. Web site: "wing sings" - YouTube. YouTube. 6 January 2018.
  5. http://2008.sxsw.com/music/showcases/band/64245.html Wing, a SXSW 2008 Showcasing Artist
  6. Mills, Scott. "Wing the UK" No. 1, BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  7. Web site: Wing Music – Official Web Site. 17 January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110130123115/http://www.wingmusic.co.nz/wing_news.html. 30 January 2011. dead.
  8. "Scott Mills: Wing in the UK " No. 12, BBC.co.uk: Radio 1. Retrieved 09:16, 10 August 2011 (UTC).
  9. http://www.wingmusic.co.nz/ International performances