Xu Wei
Mainland Chinese male singer and songwriter, born in Xi'an in 1968. Released the first solo album "在别处" in 1997, and held a first solo concert at the Beijing Workers' Stadium in 2005.
In the catalogue: 1 work · 1 release of it
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About the artist
Xu Wei, originally named 许玮, was born in Xi'an, Shaanxi, on July 21, 1968, and is a Mainland Chinese male singer and songwriter. In April 1986 Xu Wei won first prize for duet at the first Xi'an guitar sing-along contest, and afterward wrote a first song.
In 1987 Xu Wei joined the army and served as a cultural-troupe soldier in the Shaanxi Military District; in 1988, encountering rock in the unit, Xu Wei was deeply shaken and from then on resolved to be a musician. The next year Xu Wei was called to lead a band at the publicity office of the Fourth Military Medical University, and once again gave up a special admission to university.
After demobilization in 1990, Xu Wei began a career as a professional guitarist; according to Baidu Baike, in 1991 Xu Wei wrote more than a hundred songs, including "夸父". In June 1993, with other musicians in Xi'an, Xu Wei formed the band "飞", sang lead, played rhythm guitar and wrote the words and music, and gave a first public show at Xi'an Foreign Languages Institute; in February 1994 the band played Chengdu, and afterward gave interviews to local radio and newspapers.
In October 1994 Xu Wei came to Beijing, and in 1995 signed with 红星公司; the contract called for two records in two years. The first solo album "在别处" was not released until 1997, and the second, "那一年", not until 2000. In January 1998, "在别处" won the 1997 best-album prize in a listeners' poll on Beijing Music Radio's "新音乐杂志". An article in Jiemian News says the album sold 500,000 copies with no promotion at all; yet when Xu Wei spoke to China News (chinanews.com) in 2005, Xu Wei said the response after the first album was very poor, that Xu Wei was thoroughly lost, and that by the second album confidence was gone, even to the point of not wanting to make music anymore.
In March 1999 Xu Wei rearranged "执着", written for 田震, and sang it in person. In 2001 Xu Wei ended the contract with 红星生产社, a partner of seven years, and left Beijing for Xi'an. A report in Yicai describes those days: Xu Wei came to doubt the music, often stood dazed on the streets of Xi'an all day, could not sleep at night, and even thought of opening a small shop or a clothing store to get by.
In March 2002 Xu Wei returned to Beijing, signed with 艺风音乐, and afterward released the album "时光·漫步". According to a report by China News (chinanews.com), back in Beijing Xu Wei found that many people had in fact been paying attention all along, desire for music returned, and the work was soon accepted by the market. At the 3rd Music Radio China Top Chart Awards in 2003 Xu Wei received 11 nominations and took five prizes, including "最佳摇滚乐歌手" and "最佳摇滚乐专辑"; in 2004 the fourth solo album "每一刻都是崭新的" was released, and in 2005 Xu Wei won Best Male Singer at the 12th 全球华语音乐榜中榜.
On August 13, 2005, Xu Wei held a first solo concert, "留声十年绝版青春", at the Beijing Workers' Stadium. On February 16, 2006 the first covers album "在路上" was released, all songs Xu Wei had written for other singers, including 老狼's "晴朗", 叶蓓's "彩虹", Faye Wong's "你" and 田震's "执着", plus "青鸟" and "两天", which had not been collected before. On October 15, 2008 the sixth solo album "爱如少年" came out; in 2009 the "今天" tour went through eight cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
On January 1, 2011, Gold Typhoon released Xu Wei's remix concept compilation "一时". On December 10, 2012 the seventh solo album "此时此刻" was released; the tour of the same name opened at the Beijing Workers' Stadium on May 17, 2013, and over one year went through ten cities. In July 2014, invited by VisitBritain and Travel Channel, Xu Wei went to Britain for a 35-day shoot of the music documentary "行者—在那摇滚的故乡"; on September 15 "此时此刻演唱会LIVE纪录辑" was released. In March 2015 Xu Wei composed for the large documentary "第三极" and sang the title song; in July the single "灿烂" was released.
In 2016 the single "生活不止眼前的苟且" was released. On the evening of November 4, 2017, with Lang Lang and others, Xu Wei gave a charity showcase at the Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center for primary-school pupils from Xiong'an New Area, part of the "艺术行动" program to spread arts education to children in the countryside. On May 18, 2019, the national tour "无尽光芒" set out from Shenzhen. On December 31, 2023 Xu Wei took part in "踏上新征程——2024 BRTV跨年之夜", singing "蓝莲花", "时光", "无尽光芒" and other works.
Overview
- Born
- July 21, 1968age 58
- Born in
- Xi'an · Mainland China
- Career start
- First album · 1997
- Active
- 1997 – present29 years
- Gender
- Male
- Aliases
- 许巍, 許巍
- Instruments
- Vocals, Guitar
