Not the same old song

Chen Ming aims to meet her audiences in a simple and intimate atmosphere for her upcoming Beijing concert. Provided to China Daily

'90s pop queen Chen Ming is finding her return to the scene means adapting to a market that has evolved since her reign's zenith. But she tells Chen Nan she's ready to move into the future.

Chen Ming became a household name for her 1994 album's title song Loneliness Makes Me So Beautiful, which sold more than 1 million copies on the Chinese mainland.

Though the song's pioneering combination of jazz and pop - considered "dark" by many, as Chen recalls - stirred controversy, it swept music charts that year. Her wide vocal range and expressiveness also became her signatures.

The following albums, For You and Happy Hometown, were also chart-toppers. They sold millions.

Chen performed at various events, including the annual CCTV Spring Festival Gala, China's most watched TV show.

But the vocalist has never hosted a solo concert. She'll take the stage in August.

"I had many performance opportunities but didn't take them," the 45-year-old says.

Her motivation for the August gig came from her participation this year on the popular Hunan Satellite TV Station show I Am a Singer.