Mingpao exclusive: Patrick Tang's vortex of fate

[Mingpao exclusive] All this time, Patrick Tang's luck has always been run-of-the-mill, or barely there yet. When his acting jobs would just start changing for the better, unlucky events would happen to him; whenever his love relationships started to look up, they would break up. If it was the old Patrick, he would have been devastated. However, the new Patrick has learned to face his problems from the easiest angle, and to be a person that never gives up.

Never gave up singing

"A couple years ago, I was already acting, but also proved gifted in singing and had a couple hit songs. Just when everyone thought I could only keep getting better and sing more likeable songs, fate caused me to sink down to the murky depths.

As a result, when I returned, I returned as an actor and singing became a secondary vocation. These past couple years, some say my work has come full circle.

Acting is my job, and it includes singing, acting in dramas, movies, and singing and dancing on stage. When I first entered showbiz, I started as a children's program host and participated in dramas. Afterwards I had a couple hits when I released my album, so everyone thought I was a singer. Lately audiences have been seeing me on TV, so everyone thinks I'm an actor and host. Actually, while I have been acting in dramas and hosting TV programs at the same time, I have never given up on singing."

Lives off acting gigs and hosting

"Has my career come full circle? Ha, I guess you could say that! I need to survive, and I need a continuous stream of jobs, so I can't just depend on singing alone! In this day and age, it's hard for someone to survive based solely on singing, so to live, I need to have other lines of work as well. Singing, acting, hosting... I would choose singing out of the three, and then acting. I'm not a naturally talented singer, and many singing techniques I've come by through hard work and practice, so I won't give up easily. As for hosting, there's a lot of pressure, especially live broadcasts, because if you think just a beat too slow you're allowing slip-ups to happen.

I also hope to spend more time on my singing career, but it's still uncertain whether I can achieve my goal or not. Like this new album I'm promoting this time round, I should be busy with promotions, but I'm occupied with acting for my new drama. There are a lot of things I can't control, I can only hope for a couple hit songs off this new CD to enhance my singer image!"

Adapting to change

His new album "Link 2 Pat's Trick" was supposed to have been released last summer, but it was pushed back further and further, and will finally be released amidst the cold war between the big four record companies.

Like the first time, Patrick is busy with filming for his new drama, so he doesn't have much time to promote his new CD. However, his situation is more dire this time as there are royalty disputes thrown in the mix, so he doesn't even have the chance to promote his album in his hometown.

Originally scheduled for release last summer, his album was delayed. Although the release during this time won't be able to get promoted on TVB, he can't even get on Jade Solid Gold; however, he's not too downed by the fact. "Everything is determined by fate, if my album is to be a success, then it will be, no matter when it's released. Right now I'm taking one day at a time, and since I can't use TVB for promotions then I'll just have to find another way! I know that as one of UMG's singers, and one of TVB's artists, I'm in an awkward position, so I hope that the situation will be resolved soon. But it's not under my control, so I can only concentrate on the work at hand."

Lacking a platform for promotion

"I need to live in the moment, I don't want to worry about too much, and I'm comforted by the fact that results are seen after something happens. In the past I would worry too much and think of the negatives, now, I won't think about it and will let things be! You asked if I was worried about the impact on my album? I do worry, but what help will worrying bring? None at all, so I won't think about it. Who knows, maybe this album will have good results, maybe it won't have any, so what? My life doesn't consist of just the showbiz. The cover of the album, all the MVs for the songs are prepared by my friend's design company, so I have a say in the process and production as well. I will keep designing. I don't have any shares in my friend's company, but if I have time in the future, I will help my friend improve on his company's business, and try to help other singers create their album designs as well."

Won't forget Stephen Chan's grace

In 2006, Patrick Tang didn't run into any people that could help him along, and couldn't get his compensation for his Mainland dramas, leading him to fall into a bad financial situation. In this time of dire need, Stephen Chan lent a helping hand and pulled him back to his nest, allowing him to get back on track with his life and his work. However, Stephen was entangled in a corruption scandal earlier and was indefinitely fired by TVB.

"Stephan is my benefactor, my master, and I never drew a clean line with him. Yes, he did give me a lot of opportunities. in 2006, he tugged me under TVB's management when I was having financial difficulties, and helped me get back on track with my life. I will never forget this gift and helping hand he lent me, and will never forget the opportunities that he provided me with. People say I'm part of the "Lost Cloud Gang" (TN: play on Stephen's chinese name), I don't care, this name only describes some of the people that Stephen helped promote. People who label me so can't be denied, it's true. At the same time though, I hope everyone won't forget that I have worked hard as well. Because I had bad run-ins with fate, I failed once, but people can't say that people with bad fate are losers, garbage or disabled."

Stephen didn't help out too much in 2009

"I haven't worried that Stephen's issues will affect my work. Honestly, when he brought me to TVB in 2007, I did indeed have a lot of work opportunities, but in the past year I haven't had any work with TVB. Last year, I accepted two dramas outside of TVB, one of them being a Wong Chun Chun movie...it wasn't until much later that I took over the hosting role from Amigo Chui for Jade Solid Gold and Book of Words. I can say that Stephen didn't help me too much in 2009, and that I worked hard to find my own work, just like how it is now."

Doesn't have expectations for relationships

4 is an unlucky number for Patrick, because every relationship he's had hasn't been able to outlast the four year mark. At the beginning of this year, Selena Li declared that they had broken up after four years in a highly public announcement, and the pair returned to being friends.

"Every relationship I've had, I've invested in, and everytime I think back to it it's painful. The earlier memories make me wistful, but the most recent ones are the scariest, because I remember every little detail, and it will always be a memory, and won't happen again. My love life right now can be described as "One person's luck"! After two relationships (Marsha Yuan, Selena), I don't have that much faith in love, and if I meet someone that I have feelings for today, or even if there is a person like that right next to me, I won't hold too much hope for the relationship. If my significant other has to leave one day, I will let her and won't hold her back, I won't think that much anymore. It sounds bad, but if I can't ensure my own happiness everyday, how can I make the people around me happy?"

Kicks away negative thoughts

Even though he has encountered roadblocks in both his work and his relationships, leading to constant ups and downs, Patrick has already learned not to dwell on the negative aspects in his head.

"This is life, I find it quite amusing. If it was before, I would be super unhappy, but now I won't think about it. I can't control what rumours other people churn out. So what if people are waiting to see if I'll be 'flown' out of my hosting programs, what kind of new jobs I'll have after my dramas are finished, or how I'll fail in the end? Even if my livelihood really meets a dead end, so what? What will the entertainment circle amount to without me? They'll be just fine, and I will continue living.

Actually I'm not that unlucky, it's just that I'm not as lucky as the super lucky ones! There are so many more people that are way unluckier than me, my life is actually quite good, I have a car to drive, I have food to eat, and I can buy the things I want and do things I like to do, I'm actually kind of fortunate."

In conclusion

"I never die! I never cry! You see!" When the interview was nearing the conclusion, Patrick sang these couple sentences with a super raspy voice, with the intention of inspiring others. There was once a Patrick Tang who could only dwell on the negatives in his everyday life, but after the highs and lows of his life and his work, he has grown up and matured.

I'm sure that today's Patrick already knows what kind of work he wants to do in his heart. Good luck and work hard at achieving your goal!

Source: mingpao
Translation: casablanca-- @ AsianFanatics