Gary Barlow has spent lockdown writing songs for one of Taiwan’s biggest pop stars.
The Take That singer, 50, teamed up with lyricist Sir Tim Rice to pen three songs for Jeff Chang, 54.
Jeff has been a huge star since the 90s and has sold 25 million records. He had been due to perform at the Royal Albert Hall last April but the gig was cancelled when Covid struck.
He said: “The whole world knows the economic power of China.
“But I think there are more parts that we can share with the world – Chinese culture, and also Chinese pop music.
“There are so many people interested in Chinese and they want to know more... so I think it’s a great time to open the gate.”
He also described music veteran, Sir Tim, as a “childhood idol”.
Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita writer Sir Tim, 76, said he thought the songs were “really rather good”.
He added to the Keep Calm and Kerry On podcast: “I’ve written a couple of songs with Gary Barlow for a Tawainese megastar called Jeff Chang. Jeff is a very nice guy.
“He has sung them in English and they may do very well out where he is, but I think at least one of the songs could be something here.”
Jeff Chang released the first of the Barlow/Rice collaborations, A Matter of Love, in January.
Jeff, who is known in his home country as the Prince of Ballads, is so wealthy that he recently built his own airport in Taiwan, so he could fly his own plane there.
After huge success since his debut in 1989, he came second on Chinese reality TV show I Am A Singer in 2016.
He sings in three languages: Mandarin, English, and Cantonese.
He first performed in London in 2012.
Gary and Sir Tim have teamed up to write before.
They wrote Elaine Paige’s hit It’s Only Life together, and once planned to write a musical.
Gary has also written songs for other artists, including Westlife and Donny Osmond.
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