This Profile will start detailing her Biodata, her career as an Actress, and next detail her musical career. Along the way, I will add some anecdotes and tidbits. The movies, dramas, and shows, will get direct links to watch them, when available, and the songs will also be linked to Youtube or other places to watch performances or to listen, and to the pages on Baidu with the Chinese lyrics. I will make a note when the videos are subtitled in English or are not. Special thank you to Qipa No1 Fan who added interesting tidbits about Wú Xuānyí here, and to MsDarkqueen who encouraged my digging!
吴宣仪
BIODATA --Wú Xuānyí was born January 26, 1995 in Hǎikǒu, Hǎinán, China.
166cm (5’5″) tall, 42.5kg (93.5 lbs), or 46 kg (101.5 lbs) according to various declarations.
Also known as: 吴玉婷 / Wú Yùtíng ; Korean stage name 우쉬안이 /Oh Sun Ee or O Seon Ui, alternatively 오선의, U Swi An I ; or Betty Wu. Chinese traditional characters : 吳宣儀,
I'm really cute | She is Aquarius star sign, Chinese zodiac Dog and Wood element -born at the tail end of that year which ended January 30, 1995, (so some biodata mistakenly cast her as Pig... ) "Wood Dogs are dedicated workers who will leave a positive impact wherever they go. They prefer to work in groups rather than alone. They are dependable and courteous. " Sometimes, she uses clear glasses. Fashion or function: could she be nearsighted like her friend Yáng Chāoyuè (who is very nearsighted) ? In these pictures, Xuānyí often looks over the rim of her glasses. |
--She was raised in a well-to-do middle class family on Hainan island, with one brother. Her father is "from Hainan and her mother from Guangdong province". She said in an interview on Korean "AfterSchool" ASC show, that she "lived as a boy until she was 7 years old" : she dislked wearing skirts and played with action figures (Ultraman etc) until she went to school! She studied at Hǎinán Normal University and said she would have liked to become a clothing designer, if she had not chosen to do a career as idol in music. | |
On her Studio Weibo page, this funny petting the head of a ticklish cat, in August 2023, always with perfectly painted nails (she is careful about makeup be it "nude" or not) ---> | She once had a Siamese cat, called Juju. You can see her playing with it and petting it in the Before Farewell documentary movie (see below for links) and in this video of 2018. She likes cats and dogs. |
She always liked to sing, and in 2013, she was selected by Yuehua Entertainment Company during an art test.
She went to South Korea around 2014-2015 to train as an idol, and returned to China in 2018, after a stint in a girl band called WJSN Cosmic Girls. But she took a « hiatus » to compete in Produce 101 and was chosen as a member for the project girl group Rocket Girls 101 (2018-2020), after which she built a solo career in Chinese pop music. She also acted in movies and dramas aired from 2021 (although she had, in fact been part of a movie project that was filmed as early as in 2016).
Twice an idol, first in South Korea, but also in China, and internationally, she has a personal fandom of faithful "Yiyuan" (see the section "Return to China" in her Musical Career chapter, below), who cheer her on in weal or woe, and eagerly await her news in social media, in the general media, or following her vlogs. She said (on the Space Challenge show Q&A) that she likes her fans to call her simply 小宣 [Xiǎo Xuān]. Her cheerfulness, supple dancing, and melodious voice, attract many to her concerts or to the events where she is invited.
She can play the piano and likes to play MMORPG games ; she said her idols were Angelababy and Yang Mi. She also said (in the mentioned Q&A) that she loved the Avengers Infinity War movie, and would like to play Wonder Woman!
SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS :
Studio Weibo : https://weibo.com/xuanyi0808 (~25 million followers)
Weibo微博名: 吴宣仪_Betty
Also links to : Oasis -- Douyin -- Spotify
Instagram (268K followers)
선의??宣仪? (@w.xuanyi0126)
Youtube unofficial channel, since 2019: https://www.youtube.com/@xuanyi_channel (436 videos)
picture from her solo concert of August 2022, in her favorite blue colors.
ACTRESS
MARNA (2017, 90 min) 初恋的滋味 chūliàn de zīwèi / First Love; retitled "The Taste of First Love" in Canada➸ Set to air on 20 July 2018, on Youkucanceled movie
IMDB listed screenwriter Xiaxiao Liang, and director David Kuang. Filmed in Chongqing in 2016, this was to be the acting debut of four Yuehua and WJSN idol actors. But the script was from a novel that eventually was banned. It was probably not in the best interests of inexperienced idol actors to play as youngsters during the Cultural revolution "discovering their sexuality" with nudity. So, the movie was canceled before airing in China. Even the trailer has disappeared from YouTube ; traces are hard to find. There is only a cut part of it on an old FB post (and the rest in two Twitter relics), and this not very helpful article, that showed the pictures at the top of this entry. Nevertheless, this movie ties in with an anecdote (see below, The Hoax) | Li Cong, the Shanghai student cousin (above in white) of Cherry, the friend of countrified ManNa who had already got her mother in trouble by an indiscretiion. He seduced the girl and his mother forbade her to continue the relationship with her son. But another friend, Qin Xiao, shielded her from the worst of trouble by taking responsibility for her mistake. He was separated from her and went away in shame. The diary that she had written was seized while their room was ransacked, but it reappeared, "to inspire a generation to descover their sexuality". |
Before Farewell (2020, 74 mins)[➸ Youtube, without English subtitles]
This is behind the scenes of Rocket Girls last two months, living together in dorm, before they disbanded as per contract after their temporary group stint that lasted two years 2018-2020. The movie shows what they were thinking, doing and what happened behind the We are Blazing & Farewell stage. Cute footage of Wú Xuānyí playing with her cat Juju. See more about Rocket Girls 101 in the Musical Career section. | Gif made by me |
The Romance #1 (2021, 90 mins)[➸ direct link to iQiyi]
This was a personal project of the two musicians, also screenwriters here, who imagined a fantasy love story about an A.I. idol who suddenly appears in reality, but is chased by the producers, while the musician who wrote songs for her also tries to escape from the contract that stifles his creativity. [direct link ➸ iQiyi] Xiǎo Guǐ and Wú Xuānyí imagined the story within the framework of a new reality show (where they got to know each other, first through much quarelling, as their ideas clashed). That workshop-show was also called The Romance, and it had 4 episodes on iQiyi, bringing together other actors and musicians like Timmy Xǔ Wèizhōu 许魏洲 and Bridgette Qiáo Xīn 喬欣 , and the famous pianists husband ans wife Lang Lang and Gina Alice Redinger. [link to the reality show on: iQiyi]. Xiǎoguǐ has an impressive track record as a rapper and musician. He has been a guest at the CCTV Chinese New Year galas. He has sung together with the late Coco Lee in an Our Song show in 2020 (A recording here) and composed songs. After a stint as a member of the Nine Percent (temporary group seeded from Idol producer survival show), the new idol (fandom name 达琳/Dá Lín i.e. Darlings) has been signed as a solo performer in 2022 under Gramarie Entertainment. 小鬼 Instagram: 6_.ghost ; Personal Weibo: 小鬼-王琳凯 (20M followers 2023); Douyin (7M followers 2023); QQ Music (2.6M followers) ; Spotify ; Youtube Lil Ghost channel ; Gramarie Entertainment Weibo: 果然天空- See also, in the Friends (or Foes) section, the anecdote : From Reel to Real? | |
Douluo Continent (2021, 40 eps)[➸ direct links: WeTV or Viki]斗罗大陆 [Dòu luō dàlù] aired Feb.2021, shot in 2019.
Wu Xuanyi also sang the ending song 星河 Xinghe /Starry River" for the drama. This fantasy drama was adapted from the online novel "The Three Young Masters of the Tang Family". Story : Having lost his mother at a very young age, Táng sān grew up relying on his father just as much as his father relied upon him. Meticulous and mature for his age, with extraordinary talent and wit, he was sent to Ruoding Academy. (IMDB) There, he met a smart and playful girl who sometimes had bunny ears. Here is a long and funny BTS recording where actors also sing and dance! and here some more about the SFX and wirework. (but both are not subtitled) | Gif from tumblr, linked |
Sweet Teeth (2021, 22 eps)[➸ iQiyi or Viki] 世界微尘里 [Shìjiè wéi chén lǐ / Dust of the world}
"Dentist Ai Jing Chu, who also teaches at Donghu University, is known to be the most handsome man at school. University librarian Zeng Li, however, is prejudiced against him because of a little misunderstanding. When Zeng Li's mother forces her to get braces, she tries to avoid Ai Jing Chu at all costs, but eventually still ends up becoming his patient. As the two interact more and more with each other, Zeng Li realizes that Ai Jing Chu is actually a very professional and caring person, and starts to develop feelings for him." (IMDB) There is a funny and interesting interview of the two leads for the drama, in which Bì Wénjùn quickly mentions that they were shooting in Xiamen at the same time as his friend Evan Lin / Lín Yànjùn 林彦俊, who was shooting at that same time the 2021 romance Crush (btw even if Bi is younger, the two actors have many similarities!). | Gif from tumblr, linked |
The Princess and the Werewolf (2023, 30 eps)[➸ Youku, Viki, and YouTube Youku English channel]郎君不如意 [Láng jūn bùrúyì/ Husband is unhappy] (shot in Hengdian studios 2021.06.29-2021.09.29; aired from 2023.07.20- 2023.08.09)
This portal fantasy comedic romance, inspired from the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, the Chinese mythological Kuí Mùláng, also created as a new generation of the 2015 time travel comedy Go, Princess, Go! based on the author's novels (which are otherwise independent stories). Gif from /inf.news/ (link) A detailed Characters, Cast and Crew analysis can be read on MDL, together with an Episodes summary and review, and the links to the full OST on Spotify and YouTube, including lyrics MV with pinyin and English translation. (Wú Xuānyí sang one song: "Little WIsh") | Gif made by me ! Anecdote : Shy actressJust after performing the passionate kiss to free Kuí Mùláng, Wú Xuānyí suddenly turned around and... fled the scene ! (momentarily) "leaving Chén Zhéyuǎn tied up with chains in a mess in the wind" !! |
Rising With the Wind (2023, 40 eps)➸ iQiyi ; set to air on 30 October 2023我要逆风去 [Wǒ yào nìfēng qù / I want to go against the wind] ; Director : Zhào Yīlóng 赵一龙 (he was acting in support roles for dramas and movies since 2009, but was also assistant director on 2015 Nirvana in Fire; he will be directing several other upcoming dramas). Screenwriter: Qín Wén 秦雯 (she screenwrote among other dramas 2021 You Are My Hero and My Heroic Husband) - adapting the business romance from an untranslated novel o same name by Wèi Zài (未再). Shooting took place in Shanghai, 2021.12.07 -2022.04.09.
"Xu Si, an investment professional who moves back to mainland China from a Hong Kong investment bank, meets Jiang Hu, the only daughter of the chairman of a national clothing conglomerate. Due to their differing business philosophies, the two are at odds with each other. When Jiang Hu's father's company suddenly goes bankrupt, she finds herself plummeting from the heights of success. Meanwhile, Xu Si, who has always been ambitious, sets his sights on the rubber-soled shoe brand "Tengyue," which was once created by Jiang Hu's father. Determined to save "Tengyue" at all costs, Jiang Hu, despite her downfall, engages in a fierce battle with Xu Si. Ultimately, their interactions and struggles will determine the fate of "Tengyue" and whether it can be revived". (IMDB) - Official trailer In February, MangoTV aired a game with the actors to build anticipation for the drama. In November, the drama received 7.3 opening rating on Douban. | Gif made by me from trailer Posters : |
Fox Spirit Matchmaker 2 : Zhu Ye (2024, 36 eps)➸ Set to air probably on iQiyi q4 of 2024《狐妖小红娘竹业篇》Hú yāo xiǎo hóngniáng zhú yè piān; adaptation of a still ongoing manhua of 550+ chapters (also in English translation) created by Tuo XiaoXin and a Tencent donghua animation series [1-25 eps compilation of 4h40, no Eng subs] from a Tencent mànhua comic. This one is part of a three standalone drama series ; the others are : It was a two year shooting project starting from 2022 decided June 13, 2021, initially mentioning Yang Mi and Gong Jun in the cast, but only releasing first poster 2023.05.10, and lineup was not released before 2023.09.21. Shooting May-September 2023.Director : Wang Xin 王昕 (also director of the animation according to Baidu), Jason Du / Dù Lín 杜林 (Baidu mentioned he directed among other dramas 2022 historical drama The Imperial Age), Yi Zheng, Du Lin (according to Dramawiki), Zhu Shao Jie (according to MDL) so... I trust Baidu best. Screenwriter: Han Pei Zhen (MDL) or Miao Wen Jing, Ding Ya (Dramawiki and Baidu). The star-studded cast includes :
Story : "It follows the adventures of Zhú Yè, a young girl who is the daughter of a powerful fox spirit. She must use her unique powers and skills to battle evil forces and protect her family. Along the way, she meets new friends and allies who help her in her quest. " (MDL) | Gif made by me from posters and stills, adding text Characters in the donghua version (Gif made by me, adding names, from the characters analysis, source: Baidu) and yes, 王权醉 literally means "King Right is drunk", whatever that joke is... |
Wú Xuānyí has also sung several OST songs : .
- Little Wish (小小心愿) from the drama The Princess and The Werewolf (+alternative MV) + lyrics MV with Hanzi/Pinyin/English (Baidu)
- My Own Light (自己的光) -from TV series Be Your Own Light (2023) . Ch.lyrics
- I once chased the wind with you (我曾陪你追过风) from Rising with the Wind.
- Song of Faith (信仰之歌) from Rising with the Wind (2023] Ch.Lyrics
- Meet By Chance/ Unexpected encounter (不期而遇) -from Ode to Joy 3 (2022) Ch.lyrics
- Starry River (星河) -from Douluo Continent (2021) Ch.lyrics
- Spicy Time (麻辣时光) -from Run For Young (2020) Ch. lyrics
- Little Bird (小小鸟) -from The Angry Birds 2 OST Chinese version (2019)
This section last updated 2023.11.23
MUSICAL CAREER
Wú Xuānyí left China to train in 2014-2015 as an idol with the Korean subsidiary of Chinese company Yuehua and the well established Korean entertainment company Starship Entertainment.
Starship Entertainment managed Korean groups Boyfriend, Monsta X, and Sistar, among others. They were planning to start a joint venture with the Chinese company, to be named WuJuSoNyeo (which also means Cosmic Girls in Korean) or WJSN (Wonder, Joy, Sweet, Natural, describing also the four sub-units). The sub-units were a clever design to boost notoriety and satisfy fans. |
The planned big group was said to be comparable with EXO. But, although Starship and Yueha’s Korean subsidiary believed their joint setup could prevent it, some worried from the start that the Chinese members would leave too (like EXO lost Kris Wu, Luhan, Z.Tao and Lay Zhang, who except for the latter, fought their company to get their contracts canceled).
They already had two Chinese girls under contract : Chéng Xiāo 程潇 (who had spent several years from 2013 in South Korea as a transfer student from Shenzhen Art school to the Seoul School of Performing Arts from which she graduated in 2016). Singer Mèng Měiqí 孟美岐 was also signed, and the company was going to add Wú Xuānyí in the Chinese contingent of the group, which had 9 Koreans: Seola, Bona, Exy, Soobin, Luda, Dawon, Eunseo, Yeoreum, Dayoung (a 10th, Yeonjung was added in July 2016).
Wú Xuānyí was incorporated as member of the "Joy unit" together with Eunseo and Yeorum. She got a Korean name (우쉬안이 O Seon Ui), just as her new Chinese friends in the group did. Chéng Xiāo (정성소, Jung Seong So) had already established herself as a top dancer and gymnast, becoming the head of the "Wonder unit" of three together with Bona and Dayoung. Mèng Měiqí (맹미기, Maeng Migi) was cast as leader of the "Natural unit" together with Luda and Dawon. Seola or Exy with Soobin, were the Korean head of the lineup.
I will not detail every song of the Cosmic Girls, for fear of missing some that might be deemed important. Instead, I offer an overview of their career, with links to the albums where most of the songs are recorded. For more information about the Cosmic Girls, until 2018 and beyond, the following 30 mins video looks like the most factual and comprehensive : WJSN: Cosmic Girls' Story (career, success, chinese members, mistreatment, queendom, contracts). Some infos and pictures below are from there, others are from Wikipedia or fandom social media. Most songs and albums are linked to Youtube or Soundcloud. ---For the Chinese part, after Wú Xuānyí left South Korea, many informations and illustrations are from Baidu, Sohu articles and other online publications, social media, and other sources. Most Gif are made by me.
우주소녀
WJSN/ COSMIC GIRLS
The launch of the new group was prepared by the release of a Christmas 2015 cover song: All I want for Christmas is you (but Wú Xuānyí did not appear in the MV yet). She did sing together with Cosmic Girls and UNIQ for the New Year's theme single "Happy New Year". But her official debut in South Korea dates from the official launch of the Cosmic Girls in 2016.
The official launch of the group was in February 2016, with the release of their debut mini album Would You Like ? featuring the tracks Mo Mo Mo (MV subtitled in English) and Catch Me (MV with the spectacular flip by Chéng Xiāo ; here is another version on fancam from 2016.05.26) . The album also featured four other songs : click on picture above or here for the playlist.
2nd mini album : « The Secret », in August 2016 featured images that became associated with their visual identity, and seven songs including the title song Secret (MV) -click on picture above or here for the playlist.
3rd minialbum : « From WJSN » on January 4, 2017 with title track I Wish (MV subtitled in English), was a huge success, with tens of thousands hard copies sold, (and more than 15 million views as of March 2023). Six songs : click on picture above or here for the playlist.
Following the release, the group also announced their official fandom name : Ujung (meaning Friendship, while also being an abbreviation of « space station ») before holding their first stage concert in May 2017. The Ujung were responsible for the Hoax (see anecdote, below). The Ujung fans, like many fans of Kpop idols, used light sticks at concerts. Those of the Ujung were in a special design with three colors (grey with glitter, pale pink and blue-black) and a text "WJSN X Ujung" engraved at the basis below the bulb. They also had fanchants, but these were only released for promoting singles or title tracks (see a guide to the WJSN fanchants.) |
Anecdote : The Hoax
While Wú Xuānyí was launching her career as Kpop singer and dancer, she had already considered branching out in movies, but her acting debut in Marna was thwarted by the cancellation of the movie. Interestingly, this movie got tied to a hoax on Internet, on April 26, 2017, according to which lead actresses Wú Xuānyí and Mèng Měiqí were lesbian billionaires who had married !
In fact, the Twitter spoof was showing a cropped picture of the heads of the two singer-actresses who had just starred in the then upcoming movie Marna, and were attending the BJIFF (Beijing International Film Festival) together with the two ML actors (Zhōu Yìxuān and Zhū Zhèngtíng) of the movie, which had been retitled ‘The taste of first love’. The girls were not in wedding dresses, like the Tweet insinuated, but in evening long gown finery for the high profile event. When asked for a source about the "marriage", Twitter was tongue-in-cheek referred to the Cosmic Girls' MV of the song « I wish » ! In fact, their Ujung (Friendship in Korean) fans were responsible for the spoof that brought the group a lot of attention at the time : the MV was watched more than 2.5 million times at the time ! (and garnered more than 15 million views by March 2023, making it their biggest success)
Oh, let's get this straight : Wú Xuānyí has made it clear that she is just that: straight, not lesbian. Even though she has not admitted to have found her soulmate boyfriend yet...
COSMIC GIRLS ALBUMS AND SONGS 2017-2018
Dreams Come True (Comeback Stage) (M! Countdown) 01.03.2018 (Live) |
First full length studio album « Happy Moment » in June 2017 with ten songs (click on image above or here for playlist ) including the Happy MV (subtitles in English) which got 10 million views as of 2023.
"Kiss me", single, released July 14, 2017.
4th mini album « Dream your Dream », in January 2018, with the song Dreams Come True (MV with English subtitles), was also a success. The MV got over 4 million views as of 2023. The album features five other songs (click on picture above for full album).
On February 11, 2018, Wú Xuānyí participated in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics K-POP celebration concert with Cosmic Girls. Together, they sang and danced "I Wish" and "Secret". (Below : my GIF from screenshots of full performance, linked; Cosmic Girls start at 27:35 in the recording).
RETURNING TO CHINA
While a project did not come through after the summer of 2017, some members had got involved in other work, such as a drama. Chéng Xiāo also acted as a judge for Idol Producer in China (a "survival" competition TV show to create a new group of young idol performers, that went on through January 19 to April 6). But, having become the face of the Cosmic Girls group with her gymnastic stunts, she flew back and forth between China and South Korea, including for the all 13 member stage performance in March 2018.
Although less working transborder, Wú Xuānyí still did appear in Chinese news and on music trends, like this mention of her in "Confession songs" 《告白情歌》[gàobái qínggē] from 2017, mixing 35 most popular love songs sung by various artists, where a snippet of her can be heard from 2:05 to 2:15. The MV was a promotion for the movie Once Again / "Second First Love"《二次初恋》[èr cì chūliàn] that was in sina news of 2017.08.08. Although Wú Xuānyí did not play in it or sing more for the OST, wasn't that almost a wink to public that perhaps she would sing more in China and not divorce herself from her country?
Mèng Měiqí and Wú Xuānyí announced they were going on "hiatus", to participate themselves in the Chinese version of survival show Produce 101 during the first half of 2018. A month before Xuanyi came back to China for Produce 101, her teammate Chéng Xiāo invited her as a guest in a travel variety show on Tencent Video, Best Friends' Perfect Vacation (see below, Variety Shows section, Skydiving).
Anecdote : The YoYo Girl(You can watch Produce101 on WeTV with English subtitles; link is for the first performance of Xuānyí and Měiqí, starting at 35:45 in the episode 2). (Among the songs that were performed, there was a nice "Shiny" song, danced with Xióng Zǐqí 舞帅气). | From April 21, Wú Xuānyí participated, together with Meiqi of WJSN, in the Tencent Video girl group youth growth program Produce 101 (创造101). The 101 girls were slowly reduced to 11 winners, set to start a project group on June 23 when winners were announced. Wú Xuānyí and her team sang and danced, performing many songs, including a snippet of the "Promise" song of Z.Tao (who was presiding as producer and initiator of the show). A memorable moment was when Wú Xuānyí 's ear mic fell and went flying. She did not miss a beat and caught it like a yoyo, before it could fly into the audience ! The two WJSN girls won with over 366 million total votes. Wú Xuānyí won second place with 181.5 million votes and successfully joined Rocket Girls 101, while Meiqi won first place with 185 million votes, although it was their peer Yamy who was chosen to act as captain of the new group. The survival show concluded with Mèng Měiqí ranking 1st and Wú Xuānyí ranking 2nd, making them both members of the temporary girl group Rocket Girls 10, and from then on, they did not return to WJSN, while Chéng Xiāo too started building her career in China and leaving South Korea. |
A NEW FANDOM for Wú Xuānyí - she is AN IDOL
In Korea, where the fandom phenomenon is particularly developed, each of the members of WJSN had their Ujung fans, but they functioned as a fandom for the group, more than for the individual artists. With the return to China, and the perspective of launching into a solo career after the end of the temporary group, Wú Xuānyí decided to call together her personal fans and give them a new fandom name.
Fandom Name : “Yí yuán” (仪圆)formed onthe 仪 yí in her name and the character for "round" [yuán] . But also derived from 一元硬币 (1 yuán coin) --Wú Xuānyí, during PD101 China's finale, quipped: "although 1Rmb is a tiny amount, when combined together many times, it becomes a huge sum. "Above: picture of the two sides of the 1RMB ( 一元 / Yi yuan) coin in use in the PRC; the obverse ("heads) side features the chrysanthemum flower while the reverse ("tails") features the value; the edge is plain with incuse RMB initials repeated three times (Rmb means "Renminbi"= People's currency). | Fandom color: BLUE (7BAFD4)On January 26, 2021, Wú Xuānyí celebrated her birthday with her favorite blue colors. But for her fans, the most important day in the year is May 31, since 531 [wǔsānyī] in Chinese sounds like her name ! also known as "North Carolina Blue", it is a shade of cyan-blue, almost turquoise. It ties in with her song of same name (see Solo career, below, song [14]) which hints to the picture of fans like the blue ocean, so 北卡蓝 has become the 仪圆 fan anthem ! | ||
Above: a copy of her signature for fans. No fandom is complete without lightsticks to use in concerts. Above: the latest blue/purple official YiYuan lightstick head (from a fan page, picture turned into a Gif by me). Fan motto/chant for her is :心照不宣,仪眼万年[xīn zhào bú xuān, yí yǎn wàn nián ] "it's tacitly understood, Yi will stay in our eye ten thousand years;" There's even a response motto, that was coined by the idol herself : 仪直努力,圆来有你 [yí zhí nǔlì, yuán lái yǒu nǐ] which is a play on words to sound like 一直 (always) /原来 (turn out) "Always striving, I find you're there for me" (you can hear her read the first "greeting" aloud from a fan mail to her, in one interview) | Picture above: fans in 2018 (from an article about the fandom economy)What do fans do ?They purchase albums, go to concerts, maintain fan pages where they follow their idol and record events, announce schedules... Crowdfunding is common in fan communities. Raised money is often used to support idols, buying birthday gifts, albums, flower baskets and providing meals for their staff. As for collectibles, fan would keep tickets, physical albums like the one described, lightsticks, Tshirts or other with the name or color of group, idol, concerts, posters, pictures and autographed items. |
As one fan explained : Individually the fans are "yīyuán" (一元) but "when they come together, imagine the power they possess!"
ROCKET GIRLS 101(火箭少女101/Huǒjiàn shàonǚ 101) |
The new temporary "project group" was composed of
- Mèng Měiqí 孟美岐 born 1998.10.15 in Luoyang, Henan
- Wú Xuānyí 吴宣仪 born 1995.01.26 in Haikou, Hainan
- Yáng Chāoyuè 杨超越 born 1998.07.31 in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province.
- Duān Aòjuān 段奥娟 born 2000.28.12 in Chengdu, Sichuan
- Yamy (Guō Yǐng) 郭颖 born 1991.10.07 in Yingde, Guangdong
- Lài Měiyún 赖美云 born 1998.07.07 in Shenzhen, Guangdong,
- Winnie Zhang Zining 张紫宁 born 1996.03.09 in Chengdu, Sichuan
- Sunnee (Yang Yunqing) 杨芸晴 (Thai-Taiwanese) born 1996.09.28
- Mimi Li Ziting 李紫婷 (Thai-Chinese singer) born 2000.01.20 in Bangkok.
- Fu Jing / Jinna Fu 傅菁 born 1995.06.29 in Shaoyang, Hunan
- Rainbow Xu Mengjie 徐梦洁 born 194.06.19 in Changning, Shanghai
They made their debut on 23 June 2018, with the single song 火箭少女 [Huǒjiàn shàonǚ] "Rocket Girls" (+Lyrics MV /HPE]. (The singers were originally from different companies, so the Rocket Girls also collaborated occasionally with artists from these groups, such as Lexie Liú Bóxīn 刘柏辛, Shān Yīchún 单依纯, Sòng Yǔqí 宋雨琦, "Babymonster" Ān Qí 安崎, Lù Kērán 陆柯燃, Vava /Wawa 娃娃, Chén Zhuóxuán 陈卓璇, and Zhōu Jiéqióng 周洁琼).
Note : from here onwards, unless mentioned, the recordings linked below to titles in Hanzi (Chinese characters) have no or only Hanzi subtitles, and no English translation option. Mention of (+MV/HPE) means I added the link to a version of a lyrics music video MV that has Hanzi Chinese characters, Pinyin, and English that was made by someone else, so it would be possible to understand and sing or learn the song. If one capital letter is missing, that means there is no Hanzi or no Pinyin or no English translation in the added MV. —-
It is also possible to listen to and find other Rocket Girls songs, with Lyrics MV/HPE, such as in the linked : 24 videos playlist. —-
The numbers in brackets refer to Wú Xuānyí's hitherto ~27 own songs : although she is not a songwriter, except writing lyrics on occasion (especially since 2020), but the songs listed are the ones she created as a solo singer, choregrapher, and dancer interpreter, mostly). Other songs mentioned can be covers (if possible I will list in parenthesis the original song with credits), or collaboration with a group, or reprise. If you explore the Baidu links, you will find not only the Chinese lyrics for the songs, but also interesting additional MVs for these songs, that unfortunately can't be linked directly here (hence my choice to link YouTube or Soundcloud).
Wú Xuānyí has performed many shows and concerts, but I only record some that I noticed for special importance, and which got recordings uploaded. So, the gaps in timeline below do not mean that she was away relaxing, but more likely, doing concerts, participating in ongoing variety shows, rehearsing and performing for various events, including Birthday parties. She also received many awards, but this section is about her work, not primarily the distinctions she got.
SONGS AND PERFORMANCES
Wú Xuānyí sang several songs with the Rocket Girls and took part in :
- EVENTS such as :
- "Happy China Graduation Music Concert 2018", 2018.06.23, MV/H which aired on Hunan Television the day after their debut and marked the first official appearance of the Rocket Girls on television.
- Hunan Satellite TV New Year's Eve Concert : 4' clip of:
- 烎·2019潮音发布夜/Trending Songs night 2019.01.15
- Spring Festival Gala of Beijing Radio and Television 2020.01.25
- "Happy China Graduation Music Concert 2018", 2018.06.23, MV/H which aired on Hunan Television the day after their debut and marked the first official appearance of the Rocket Girls on television.
- CONCERTS : "Flight Concert" of 2019.01.12 , "Flight Concert Beijing Station" of 2019.02.23, and 2019.03.30 "Flight Concert Flower" in Guangzhou [complete 2hr20' recording, song list in comments of the video]
- COMPETITION: 2019.02.01 Tencent Video Electronic Music "Instant Electronic Music" Annual Finals and First Year Ceremony;
- AWARDS CEREMONIES : 2018.08.19 Most Popular Potential Female Singer Award on the Asian New Song Chart ; 2018 Online Variety Comprehensive Influence Female Artist Award (on 2019.01.18) ; China Entertainment Golden Data 2018 Online Variety Comprehensive Influence Female Artist Award (Jan.2019).
The Rocket Girls also created songs for movies or other promotions :
- 《卡路里》[Kǎlùlǐ] Calories MV - 2018.07.27 (+MV/HPE) Song for the movie Hello Mr.Billionaire (西虹市首, The Richest Man in Xihong City) ; the song won the Top Ten Golden Melody Award at the 26th Oriental Billboard Music Festival on 2019.03.25. (Baidu)
- 《福气拱拱来》[Fúqi gǒng gǒng lái] Blessings Come - 2019.01.15 Ending song, with Méng Meiqi, Duān Aòjuān Aojuan, and Lai Meiyun for the movie Boonie Bears - Blast into The Past animation movie. (Baidu)
- 《银河系Disco》[Yínhéxì Disco] Galaxy Disco - 2019.01.28 Official MV/H (+MV/HPE). Theme song for the movie "Crazy Alien" (a loose adaptation from the graphic novel "Village Teacher" (乡村教师) expanded from the wistful science-fiction story by Liú Cíxīn (刘慈欣), best known for his Three Body Problem novel. The drama is also the third in the screenwriter and director Níng Hào (宁浩)'s cult black comedies, that started with 2006 title Crazy Racer/Silver Medalist, and continued with 2009 Crazy Stone, all three starring Xú Zhēng (徐峥) and Huáng Bó (黄渤). (Baidu)
Some were Wú Xuānyíi's creations (as a singer, dancer, and choregrapher) :
[1] 《小小鸟》[Xiǎo xiǎo niǎo] Little Bird- August 2019 promotional song for the animated movie 愤怒的小鸟2 [fènnù de xiǎo niǎo 2], Angry Birds 2. (Baidu)
[2] 《柔骨魅兔》[Róu gǔ mèi tù] The Soft Bone Charming Rabbit - 2019.09.30 theme song for a mobile game : "Douluo Ten Years- The Legend of the Dragon King" (斗罗十年-龙王传说) The style of the song was innovative and popular ; "for Wú Xuānyí, it was very interesting to try singing electronic Chinese-style songs for the first time". Lyrics : 曹德智 Cáo Dézhì (C8) and 徐良 Xú Liáng ; Music : Xú Liáng. Xú Liáng mentioned that he wrote the song from the perspective of Xiǎo Wǔ in Douluo Continent. (Baidu)
《立风》 [Lì Fēng] Standing in the Wind 2019.06.23, first "regular album" (13 songs, for the first anniversary of the group +list below) | Meet Goodbye 2020.05.25 Last album of the Rocket Girls (4 songs) | 《要嗨森》 [yào hāi sēn] Want to have fun/Go To Joy, 2020.01.17, Rocket Girls 101's Year of the Rat single. + MV/HPE |
ROCKET GIRLS ALBUMS
- First album : 《撞》"Collide" (2018.08.18) including four songs :
- First "regular album" : 《立风》 [Lì Fēng] "Standing in the Wind" (2019.06.23), for the first anniversary of the group. It contained 13 works, including 2 group songs (such as 《风》Fēng/Wind : official MV performance with autotranslate options ; (+MV/HPE) and 11 individual songs. Complete audio recording ; tracklist:
- #1. 风 [Fēng] The Wind (group) ;
- #2. 只有你知道 [Zhǐyǒu nǐ zhīdào] Only You Know (Méng Měiqí) ;
- #3 满糖宣言 [Mǎn táng xuānyán] Sweet Declaration (Wú Xuānyí) ; (Baidu)
- #4. O.O (Yáng Chāoyuè) ;
- #5. 是吧18 [Shì ba shíbā] Isn't That Right 18 (Duān Aòjuān) ;
- #6. Flying Girl [] (Yamy) ;
- #7. 下雨了 [Xià yǔle] (It's Raining ; Lài Měiyún) ;
- #8. 自己 [Zìjǐ] Myself (Zi Ning) ;
- #9. 那个我 [Nàgè wǒ] (That Me ; Sunnee) ;
- #10. 行动家 [Xíngdòng jiā ] (Activist ; Li Ziting) ;
- #11. 阿丽塔 (Alita ; Fu Jing) ;
- #12. 造一架飛機 [Zào yī jià fēijī] (Build A Plane ; Xu Mengjie) ;
- #13. 飒小姐 [Sà xiǎojiě] (Extraordinary Girl ; group)
- Farewell theme album : '遇见再见" [Yùjiàn zàijiàn] Meet Goodbye 2020.05.25 :
- #1 -11次心跳 [Shíyī cì xīntiào] 11 Times Heartbeat (+ MV/HPE)
- #2 - 嘘!我跟你讲 [Xū! Wǒ gēn nǐ jiǎng] Shh! I Tell You (+MV/HPE);
- #3 硬糖 [Yìng táng] Our Shining Time; (lteral transl: Hard candy)
- #4- 5452830 [=无时无刻不想你 [Wúshíwúkè bùxiǎng nǐ ] Miss you all the time (+MV/HPE);
- the song 光 [Guāng] Light" was added in the concert recording.
Other individual songs of Wú Xuānyí while with the Rocket Girls 101:
[3] 《横冲直撞下一站 》 [héngchōngzhízhuàng xià yí zhàn] Rampage Next Stop 2019.01.13, MVH (+MV/HPE "Barging off to the next destination") theme song for the youth adventure reality show "Rampage 20 Season 1", on Tencent Video ; it continued in March 2020 for a Season2 (横冲直撞20岁第二季) as the the girl group's personal growth program. (Baidu)
You can watch all the episodes on WeTV without English subtitles, or on YouTube with English subtitles. There are 8 episodes 1hr+ for Season 1, 10 divided in two ~30mins each, for Season 2 with two centered on Wú Xuānyí) YouTube (with English subtitles ; or directly check out on YouTube the "Wú Xuānyí's growth story : Protect your smile" set in Haikou, Hainan).
[4] 《满糖宣言》[Mǎn táng xuānyán] Sweet Declaration 2019.07.12, official MV. Lyrics :Yán Yìdān 严艺丹, arranged by Takey and Razer. Song included in the 立风 [Lì Fēng] album (cf above). + MV/HPE (Baidu)
On June 23, 2020, Rocket Girls 101 held the "Meet Goodbye" Rocket Girls 101 Farewell Ceremony, and their limited group Rocket Girls 101 was officially disbanded.
The Farewell ceremony speeches (playlist) were a very emotional occasion, mixing moments of mirth with parting sadness, Mèng Měiqí and Wú Xuānyí almost losing their voices when they felt overcome by emotion. Yáng Chāoyuè made a long speech mixing laughter with streaming tears. Li Ziting was absent because she was ill, and could only be heard in a recorded message in the beginning of the recording. The audience was crying openly with the idols. They also sang the songs listed above under "Farewell album" in the concert part, where the fans of the group (called Fried Noodles : 炒粉, Chǎo fěn) were holding "fried pink" lightsticks.
Actually, it was not a total farewell, because the girls reunited later to participate in the competitive show We Are Blazing eps.3-8 (recording )and the accompanying reality show Keep Blazing until the end of the show in July.) See the Variety Shows section below.
SOLO CAREER
Album "25" with three songs by Wú Xuānyí : "25", "Pink Blue Summer" and "Betty Baby" (#25 #PinkBlueSunset #BettyBaby) | Run For Young (2020) with mandarin and Chongqing dialect - OST Spicy Time |
[5] 《偏执》 [piānzhí] Paranoid 2020.03.14, (MV/H)- collaboration with 王晰 Wáng Xī.
《25》first mini album 2020.09.25, includng three songs :
- [6] 《25》 --Official MV/E (+MV/HPE) . (Baidu) :
- [7] Pink Blue Sunset (MV/H) written and sung by Wú Xuānyí (Performance version), (Baidu) (+ this recording MV/E from Stage Boom with more complete English subtitling, but problem with sound)
- [8] Betty Baby (MVHPE), song composed by coffee blue, written and sung by Wú Xuānyí (Baidu).
[9] 《麻辣时光》[Málà shíguāng] Spicy Time 2020.10.02, OST song for the youth drama Run for Young (2020) (风犬少年的天空 fēng quǎn shàonián de tiānkōng /The Sky of the Mad Dog Boy). Lyrics : Liú ēnxùn 刘恩汛, Music : Lín Délóng 林德龙, arranged by Hé Shān 何山. Later included in the OST album of the drama, released 2020.10.22. MV/H with excerpts from the drama; Performance MV/HE , recorded from Wú Xuānyí. 's 27 birthday concert. (Baidu)
In 2021, she took part in several events where she won more awards, sang own songs or took part in collaborative ones :
- Dragon TV's "New Year's Eve Concert 2021.02.10 : she sang
- a cover of the old JJ Lín /Lin Jùnjié 林俊傑 classic song (+MV/HPE cover by Xiao Zhan) : 被风吹过的夏天 [bèi fēng chuīguò de xiàtiān] Wind-Blowed Summer,
- and a cover of 有点甜 [yǒudiǎn tián] A Little Sweet, from the 2016 drama Love o2o (original from Silence Wang/Wāng Sūlóng 汪蘇瀧).
2021 Beijing Radio and Television Spring Festival Gala 2021.02.12 : she sang in a group 相约北京 [Xiāngyuē Běijīng] Meet in Beijing but I found no footage of her performance.
2020 Sina Weibo Night : she won Weibo Enterprising Artist of the Year, 2021. 02 28
Selection for 2021 Movie Channel "Stars and Seas" Young Actor Selection Program, 2021.12.27
2022 Winter Olympics BRTV Global New Year's Eve Ice and Snow Festival 2021.12.31: she sang the song 爱你在心口难开 [ài nǐ zài xīnkǒu nán kāi] I love you so hard to express ; it's an old song from Jiang Ling from 1961.
Wú Xuānyí 's own songs :
[10] We Were In Love (MV/E+Indo) : English song, single released 2021.01.20 (Baidu). (+ July 2021 stage version MV/HE)
[11] 《星河》[Xīng Hé] Galaxy/or Starry River, (+MV/HPE) 2021.02.11, OST ending theme of the TV serie Douluo Continent, Lyrics by Lǐ Yúzhé 李瑜哲 ; music by Dà shèng 大圣. (Baidu)
[12] 《Let's Party》Official MV 2021.04.14, (+MV/H) Invitation song for the 2nd anniversary party of "Peace Elite" (和平精英, Hépíng jīngyīng), included in album of same name. Lyrics by Wáng Zhèn 王振, Music by Willie Weeks. Officially launched in the game Just Dance《舞力全开》[Wǔ lì quán kāi] (+MV dance) 2021.04.29. (Baidu)
"GIFT" second mini album 2021.12.30 This "first physical album" came in a box (video here) with a CD, a lyrics book & photobook (example: Glimmer), a 3D change small card, and a butterfly brooch. Included songs :
- [13] 《微光》
[wéi guāng /Glimmer] prelude song (MV/H, MV/H concert performance, fancam MV of Solo concert); Lyrics by Chloe Zhao 赵壹, Music and arrangement by Koji Shinnai. (Baidu).
- [14] 《北卡蓝》[Běi kǎ lán /North Carolina Blue], MV/H, written and sung by Wú Xuānyí ; Music by Dena Zhāng Cuìfāng 张粹方 and M. Kao/ Gāo Wéilún 高维纶. (Baidu)+ vlog about how this song was produced, in Chinese.
- [15] 《RSVP》MV, (+MV/HE performance) Lyrics by Mù Qīzi, Mǐ Xiǎomǒu, and Wú Xuānyí, Music and arrangement by Frederik Jyll, HIDDEN SOUND (HSND), HANGANG (HSND), and WWW. (Baidu) --- Pictures above link to Soundcloud audio of the songs.
But 2021 was a difficult year for Wú Xuānyí who got caught in a vicious online scolding for her looks and independent mind, disregarding of public opinion, and in particular for "not dressing up and using make up properly" which was deemed disrespectful of public !
就老给他发信息打电话 [Jiù lǎo gěi tā fā xìnxī dǎ diànhuà ] Just keep texting and calling him |
In a perhaps hasty Weibo response, she replied: "Okay, I know, I will put on makeup in the future, or make a primer. I just don't want to put on makeup, I will be more diligent and hurry up." Clumsily adding "It's not easy for you to make money by publishing articles. Isn't it just giving you a chance"! She also posted 8 pictures of her dolled up around a common Chinese Panda-meme saying "Are you human?" But Wú Xuānyí 's posts only added fuel to the fire, on May 27, when she wrote on her Weibo (reposted on Daily Cpop News Twitter) a message that read "Girls in [the entertainment circle] are not treated well. Still, there is a need to protect yourselves. Be happy ". That sent haters in a frenzy, flooding the net with taunts that if she could not take the pressure, she could leave entertainment, and pointing out her high salary in view of her claim that she was not treated well. In fact, she had been misunderstood, because the message was referring to a friend from Produce101 who had been cheated on by a boyfriend, and Xuānyí had wanted to support that young woman, but instead, her words were twisted out of context, and commented on as if she was a crybaby complaining about being mistreated herself. The scumbags went scot-free in the turmoil, and hate focused on the idol... |
Anecdote : Hairy Soul SacrificeOn August 20, 2021, Wú Xuānyí was taking part in a competition called Stage Boom, for which she warned she would do something special. On stage, she made a full dance and song performance of the song 《我要我们在一起》 "I Want Us Together" [Wǒ yào wǒmen zài yīqǐ] with beautiful setup and blue butterflies. Finally, she stunned audience when she cut her hair, contemporary art performance style, and explained later that her gesture was meant to get rid of the past, and "return to her former self", symbolized by the short haired partner who stood in front of her. -- The song is an award winning Taiwanese 1999 pop song originally by Mavis Fàn Xiǎoxuān 范晓萱 (MV +HPE). | Full video of the performance. |
Later, Wú Xuānyí went on doing cook shows with nude makeup ... |
2022-2023
Wú Xuānyí celebrated her 26th birthday of January 26, 2022, with a 2hrs party concert (full HD recording), for which the rehearsals have been recorded (fancam Part 1 ; Part 2) The concert featured the release of an "official anime figure", and reading of fan letters, time for interaction, and several songs (timestamps in comments of the video) but there are no English subtitles :
- 《微光》Glimmer;
- 《We Were In Love》 ;
- 《再一起》Together Again ; cover of a Yú Jiāyùn 余佳运 song (MV/H) that the singer songwriter published in an EP in 2016, from which the first of the "Happiness Trilogy" (我想, 和你, 在一起 ) topped Netase Cloud music when it was released. (Baidu, but the site doesn't give more info nor lyrics for the song)
- 《星空剪影》 Starry Silhouette ; (this is a 2020 song by Lán Xīnyǔ 蓝心羽 MV/HPE) that also was covered by Zhāng Bìchén ; lyrics by Xú Jiāwèi 徐嘉蔚, Music by Miáo Xiǎoqīng 苗小青)
- 《RSVP》 ; (+MV/H of this part)
- 《麻辣时光》 Spicy Time ;
- 《北卡蓝》North Carolina Blue
Partcipations in events :
- Beijing Radio and Television Spring Festival Gala - 2022.02.01 ; participated in the sketch "Big "Sugar" Heartthrob" - like in many Chinese New Year TV shows, she appeared alongside the trending celebrities of the moment.
- Dragon Boat Festival Wonderful Tour - 2022.06.02 for Henan Radio and Television Station ; for which she sang a new song of hers, recorded live, to be included in a new album titled for the song:
[16] 《艾草青青》 [ài cǎo qīngqīng] "Green Mugwort / Green wormwood/ Moxa grass". (Baidu)
- Hainan Province Spring Festival Gala 2023.01.22, singing:
- 《柔骨魅兔》 [róu gǔ mèi tù] Soft Bone Charming Rabbit (see [2])
- 《笑纳》 [Xiào Nà] Smile MV/H ; in fact, xiào nà is a formula used by the giver to ask someone to accept a gift. It is a 2020.08.26 song written by Zhōu Rén 周仁, composed by Gǔ Yuè 古月, arranged by Hán Kē 韩珂, and sung by Huā Tóng 花僮 (Flower Girl). Included in the album of the same name (Baidu)
- Strive for a New Journey - 2023 China Online Audiovisual Annual Ceremony" [2023.01.24]
. Wú Xuānyí sang : "Fly Up" and "Happy New Year" (新年快乐) with UNIQ.
- Immersive Music /3D Fantasy Music Festival 2023.03.06 to 2023.03.31 attended
- CCTV Music Channel's Global Chinese Music Chart 2023.05.20, singing two new unreleased songs:
- 《 向宇宙许愿》 Wish to the Universe (+MV/HE performance) (Baidu) First time pre-release, see below [19] for details.
- [17] 《不期而遇》[Bù qī ér yù ] Unexpected Encounter (MV/HE performance), OST song from then upcoming drama Ode To Joy 3 (欢乐颂3, Huānlè sòng 3). Lyrics by Rèn Yǎjìng , Zhào Sùbīng ; Music by Rèn Yǎjìng. (Baidu) Pre-release of the 2022.08.23 OST song.
- 《 向宇宙许愿》 Wish to the Universe (+MV/HE performance) (Baidu) First time pre-release, see below [19] for details.
On March 3, 2023, Starship Entertainment announced that Wú Xuānyí had departed from WJSN Cosmic Girls after her contract expired.
From then on, Wú Xuānyí was really a solo artist with no contract tying her to a group. Although it was already a de facto situation for five years, this also meant that she would now have to rely more on her own strength (despite still being a Yuehua idol, in good place among her peeers in their log of stars, as this short video sums up), or renew her image. |
我就笑笑 [wǒ jiù xiào xiào ] I Just Smile !
[18] 《彩虹的微笑》[Cǎihóng de wéixiào] Rainbow Smile, 2022.07.30, performance MV. The song is included in the album for the show It Sounds Incredible Season 2 (听说很好吃 第二季, Tīngshuō hěn hàochī dìèr jì, I Heard It Tastes Good S2) on which Wú Xuānyí was a guest in episodes 3 and 9~12, from August to last ep. on October 29. Rainbow Smile is an officially authorized cover adaptation work with new lyrics by Zuǒ Kèhuì 左克蕙 and arranged for Wú Xuānyí by Yu Li 余力, from the music of the classic early rock-and-roll song "It's so easy" composed by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty. (Baidu) -- This Wú Xuānyí version was covered by Cyndi Wáng Xīnlíng 王心凌 in the CCTV Online Spring Gala on 2023.
[Note: The songs of Buddy Holly (born Charles Hardin Holley) and Norman Petty, his producer and sometime co-writer have influenced and been covered and adapted by countless singers and bands, even Bob Dylan, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, and "It's So Easy" was also a hit song for Linda Ronstadt. In an 18 month career cut short by a deadly plane crash in 1959, Buddy Holly changed the face of pop music. It is nice to see him still remembered in music by the GenZ generation, all the way into China! ]
Wú Xuānyí released two albums and participated in a relatively high profile project with a collaborative album, 赤梦华夏 [Chì mèng huáxià] ,where her name appeared beside some well-known other stars such as Zhāng Bìchén, Lil Ghost...
Jiangnan Moon - 江南月 | Don't Love anymore 不,爱了 | 赤梦华夏 (see below) |
New songs by Wú Xuānyí :
[19] 《向宇宙许愿》 [xiàng yǔzhòu xǔyuàn] Make a Wish to the Universe 2023.03.09 MV/HE. Album and song. Song lyrics by Laughing/akichiu/吴宣仪 Betty Wu ; Music by Vera Chai/唐绍崴$uperCandy. It was later included in Wu Xuanyi's EP No, Loved, released on 2023.05.20 (Baidu)
[20] 《江南月》[Jiāngnán yuè] Jiangnan Moon 2023.04.18 Album ; Lyrics: 良朋 Liáng Péng, Music by 唐轶 Táng Yì. It is included in the album of the same name "Jiangnan Moon". This song is the first song of the China-Japan-Korea Youth Music Co-Creation Project. (Baidu)
《不, 爱了》third mini album, 2023.05.20, including:
- [21] 《不 爱了》[Bù àile] Don't Love Anymore, 2023.05.20 Official MV (The Lyrics in the MV were handwritten by Xuānyí) . (Baidu) (+ documentary about the making of 不爱了, in Chinese, no HPE)
- [22] "Late in the night" 2023.05.20. Lyrics by eLynn陳箴 (Chén Zhēn), Music and arrangement by Dena Zhāng Cuìfāng 张粹方 and KIRE. It is included in the album 不, 爱了. (Baidu)
- 《向宇宙许愿》 [xiàng yǔzhòu xǔyuàn] Make a Wish to the Universe . See above MV/HE [19] + nice stage version on Baidu.
[23] 《生活,你好》[Shēnghuó, nǐ hǎo] Hello Life, 2023.06.24 was included in the collaborative music album of ten songs "Red Dream China" 赤梦华夏 released online from June 20, jointly produced by China Press and Publication Media Group (中国新闻出版传媒集团、 Zhōngguó xīnwén chūbǎn chuánméi jítuán), Tencent Music Entertainment Group (腾讯音乐娱乐集团 Téngxùn yīnyuè yúlè jítuán), and Future Sky Music (未来天空音乐 Wèilái tiānkōng yīnyuè). (+ MV/HPE by Peachey Blossom). (Baidu)
- Full contents of that album (available on Spotify) :
- #1 微光 [Wéi guāng] Shimmer (Jam Hsiao/ Xiāo Jìngténg 萧敬腾) ;
- #2 纯红色的声音 [Chún hóngsè de shēngyīn] Pure Red Sound (Lil Ghost /王琳凯 Wáng Línkǎi) ;
- #3 旅程 [Lǚchéng] Journey (Fox Hu/ Hú Xià 胡夏) ;
- #4 淬炼 [Cuì liàn] Tempering (黄宵云 Huáng Xiāoyún) ;
- #5 生活,你好 [Shēnghuó, nǐ hǎo] Hello Life, (Wú Xuānyí) ; (Baidu)
- #6 闪光的童话 [Shǎnguāng de tónghuà] Shining Fairy Tale (刘雨昕 Liú Yǔxīn) ;
- #7 明日序言 [Míngrì xùyán] Tomorrow's Preface (希林娜依 Xīlínnàyī) ;
- #8 路上 [Lùshàng] On The Road (Yisa Yu/ Yù Kěwéi 郁可唯) ;
- #9 你眼中有光 [Nǐ yǎnzhōng yǒu guāng] There is light in your eyes (Zhāng Bìchén 张碧晨)
- #10 愿为你 [Yuàn wéi nǐ] Willing For You (理塘丁真 Lǐtáng Dīng Zhēn)
She also released recordings for 4 OST songs this year (check also bottom of ACTRESS chapter)
[24] 《我曾陪你追过风 》[Wǒ céng péi nǐ zhuīguò fēng] I once chased the wind with you 2023.05.05 -- OST song for the upcoming drama Rising with the Wind. (Baidu)
[25] 《自己的光》 [zuò zìjǐ de guāng] My Own Light 2023.07.25 MV/HP, optional subtitles in English, OST song from TV series Be Your Own Light (2023) arranged by Li Xuqing and Yuan Wenrui, co-produced by Yuan Wenrui, and sung by Wú Xuānyí. (Baidu)
[26] 《小小心愿》 [xiǎo xiǎo xīnyuàn] Little Wish 2023.07.19 Official MV with excerpts and dialogues from the drama, and English subtitles (+alternative MV), + MV/HPE by Peachey Blossom. OST interlude for the drama The Princess and The Werewolf. Lyrics by Wang Yueyang, Music by Wang Ke, arranged by Cen Siyuan. (Baidu)
[27] 《 后来风吹起 》 [Hòulái fēng chuī qǐ] Later The Wind Blows 2023.07.21, MV/HP - Song included in the album of the same name (but despite the title might seem appropriate, it is not an OST song of upcoming drama Rising with the Wind). It is a wistful song about lost love : "You don't know that I have liked you all the time, then the wind blows and you and I are finally separated from each other, time is silent like an ending movie" (+other MV/H here with lyrics in description too). (Baidu)
Together with the song 不爱了 , the latter song conveys the idea that she will not let herself be driven to despair by the memories, not forsake them either, but rise courageously above the obstacles and shine on. For a feeling of how the last song was performed and received at the Yuehua concert, check this Weibo post, and the accompanying pictures on this other Weibo post.
July-August were busy months with the ongoing filming of her next drama, preparation and performing for the July 22 concert which was announcing a big lineup of 21 singers and 4 groups at the Galaxy Arena in Macau, and promoting the drama The Princess and the Werewolf, but although the drama did do well, tongues wagged again:
Anecdote : Toothaches[ma ma... Zhìchǐ bá yán la shēngqì] Is it... wisdom tooth extraction inflammation? | Wú Xuānyí may have rubbed some people wrong ; one of the things she got criticized for, as early as in the Douluo Continent drama, was her teeth. Coming back again, the criticism resurfaced about the apparently swollen cheek of Wú Xuānyí on this still from The Princess and the Werewolf. dating back to 2021. This caused some Netizens to speculate that it was due to inflammation after a wisdom tooth extraction. Instead of being compassionate, it triggered them like a murder of crows (and not a group of auspicious magpies) to swoop down on her case, and gossip about her too regular teeth, describing them as "buck teeth" protruding over her lower lip, or porcelain teeth. It is true that many celebs don't take time to wear braces for orthodontic treatment, and that they often prefer to get porcelain teeth, that in fact may damage their health and real teeth. But Wú Xuānyí 's teeth didn't look that bad that she should be ordered by her critics to shut her mouth ! She did get approval from her company to fix her teeth better, and this indeed covered the period of the dramas Sweet Teeth and The Princess and the Werewolf. But she did not exhibit how much pain that must have cost her. |
Her last personal songs sound a bit wistful : is she still rattled by those jealous souls who want to criticize her for anything, being too busy, not busy enough, going to Thailand for work, talking while driving in Beijing while relaxing back home, or whatever?
Life as a woman celeb in China can indeed be very tough !
But her songs remain popular and trendy, and her concerts draw, as usual, large crowds. Below is the poster for the 2023 Yuehua Family Concert mentioned above, and some videos to show the venue of the Galaxy Arena in Macau, with the various groups of fans streaming in, the lineup of the 21+ singers and 4 groups participating in the event, among whom some old colleagues: Chéng Xiāo, Mèng Měiqí, Wáng Yībó, Zhū Zhèngtíng, Bì Wénjùn ... and of course, her own performance with two songs : - Live performance at Yuehua Family Concert 2023 of 不爱了 (see above [21])-- The complete stage performance recording (MV/H) was including a dark, metal, prologue (cut from other posted version) and despite the mishaps with the mic cutting off and earpiece problems. Wu Xuanyi still pulled off the performance to audience satisfaction, and interacted with her public before she next sang 后来风吹起 (see above [27]).
and here is a part of the list of her songs on Spotify :
The MV Mugwort Green (a sort of Artemisia, pictured left in the 7 songs) listed as trending, is very dreamy and pleasant to the ears! It has English subtitles too.
[28] 《种子》 [Zhǒngzǐ] Seed, 2023.10.25. MV/Htr ; MV/H "included in the album "Flying Youth". The song uses seeds as a metaphor for youth’s ideals and ambitions, aiming to encourage young people to cultivate their love for agriculture, take root in the countryside, serve the country with science, and shed their youthful sweat in building a powerful agricultural country." (Baidu)
[29]《 信仰之歌》 [Xìnyǎng zhī gē] Song of Faith, 2023.11.08 MV/HP by Peachey Blossom. OST interlude for the drama Rising with the Wind (airing Oct.30-Nov.20, 2023] (Baidu)
Last revision of this section 2023.11.11
FOOD
27th birthday cake with tasty strawberries | Gif from Tenor collection |
Wú Xūanyí is said to like to eat. She is said to "prefer hotpot over fried chicken in winter ; ice cream over watermelon in summer ; she can cook : her specialty is pork with green pepper". She said she can eat very spicy food, up till hotness level 5 (that's max for hot peppers). Going back home to Hainan for Chinese New Year 2021, she expressed that she was looking forward to eat Wenchang chicken (文昌鸡 : here is a presentation of this signature dish of Hainan cuisine).
Her former collegues in WJSN said in a show, that she preferred snacks to meals, but remembered that she was very generous: once, she had paid for an expensive dinner for them all, earning her the nickname "Sugar mama". But the Cosmic Girls complained about being almost starved in their dorm, and of being denied take away dinners! After it became known, the company allowed better food for the performers who needed energy for their shows!
About going hungry : during her stint in a certain show (see below the Space Challenge), she experienced the delights of eating ... worms. Not silkworms on skewers like the ones that are offered for the culinary adventurous who also try skewered scorpions. The worms on hand were apparently nutritious, but it is doubtful that she would add them again to her menu, except pushed to direst extremities.
In a more recent interview, she remembered nostalgically the triangular rice balls (Jumukbap 주먹밥 – literally means “fist-rice”) that she used to eat in South Korea. She also liked to eat dried sea weed and ramen noodles. She even boasted once that she could drink 8 milk tea a day and eat 7 packs of instant noodles.
"I still like to eat triangular rice ball because I like the memories of that time a lot" (Gif made by me from the full interview, but sorry : link got lost, tell me if you find it on YouTube so I can re-link it here). |
Seaweed come in different forms, dried as paper thin cards, sheets of "gim" roasted seaweed, used as a side snack or prepared in salads or dishes : "Beside being the main ingredient in Korea’s birthday food and for bad luck on exam days, miyeok is also used in salads. There are the so-called haecho-saeleodeu (해초샐러드, literally “seaweed salad”) as well as miyeok-muchim (미역무침) which consist of seaweed mixed with seasonings and vegetables. Both are normally served cold as vegan side dishes. ?" |
The above are the seaweed she used to purchase and snack on in Korea (gif by me from an old video). Is food-lover Wú Xūanyí like in this gif (part of a collection of "mukbang" Korean ones that trigger appetite, although the eater is someone else) ?
But in view of her 42-46 kg for her 166 cm frame, eating heartily is not for her everyday.
Anecdote : Milk Tea compensationChén Zhéyuan, in an interview, somewhat ironically reminded Wú Xūanyí that she had promised to buy milk tea for him every day in a week, as compensation for having scratched his face with her tiara, while they were shooting The Princess and The Werewolf. But she only brought milk tea once ! He still magnanimously lauded her hard work and dedication to acting in that drama. Another amusing anecdote is how fans brought her both milk tea and her difficult to find in China seaweeds, but arrived once with a round packet of the kind that needs to be cooked in a soup and she quipped that now, to get all the wished for, the seaweed could perhaps just as well be cooked in the milk tea ! Not sure how this would taste ? | (Cropped picture from her recent social media reposted, with text added by me.) |
FRIENDS (and FOES?)
When she was in South Korea, Wú Xūanyí had called Bona of WJSN her best friend, and she was friends too with Chéng Xiāo 程潇 and Mèng Měiqí 孟美岐, who also both returned to China, leaving WJSN and letting their contract with the Korean company expire on March 3, 2023... Mèng Měiqí had left on a hiatus together with Wú Xūanyí to compete in the 2018 Chinese edition of the survival show Produce 101 where she finished first, so both became members of the temporary Chinese girl group Rocket Girls 101 in 2018. The three had rarely appeared together after the disbandment of "Cosmic Girls", but did do a show together sometime around November6, 2020, when they all three removed “Cosmic Girls member” from their Weibo descriptions. Instead, their biographies was changed to “Yuehua Entertainment Artist; Singer; Actress“.
Mèng Měiqí, Chéng Xiāo , and Wú Xūanyí
Wú Xūanyí is still good friends with Chéng Xiāo with whom she went on holiday and even skydiving in a programme (2018 Perfect Travel of Girlfriends, aired on Tencent video ; snippet of the programme here) . On September 27, 2021, she sent her congratulations to Chéng Xiāo for the opening of her Escape room business (called AfterLife) in Shanghai where Chéng Xiāo had moved to from Beijing, where she lived before.
But in 2021, on the set of Viva La Romance Season 5 show [also see the Bare Faced disputes anecdote, above], when she answered Zhāng Hàn 's question about her best friends, she did not mention Mèng Měiqí . Instead, she mentioned Yáng Chāoyuè 杨超越 and Lǐ Zǐxuán 李子璇 with whom she had travelled to Japan the year before. -- A survey found that there was not much gap between the three : their characters and rise in entertainment is comparable. Some speculated that now, her relations with Mèng Měiqí had become more like that of former colleagues, good acquaintances, just as it was with the girls in WJSN and Bona, whom she had once claimed to be her best friend in the group.
But in a Weibo text reposted to FB on July 12, 2022, for the "first live episode of “Perfect Summer” travel show, Wú Xūanyí introduced herself to everyone by saying “Hello! I’m Shěn Yuè’s friend, I’m Wú Xūanyí” ; she also said that one of her favorite characters is Chén Xiǎoxī 陈小希 (FL character of 2017 A Love So Beautiful played by Shěn Yuè 沈月). [Found that episode here : a nice introduction to the Hainan island tourism attractions, but no Eng.subs.] And on the same FB, further down there was also a picture of her together, chummy, with Rainbow Xú Mèngjié 徐梦洁, Chén Zhéyuan's co-star in the drama Our Secret. We know that Chéng Xiāo played with Chén Zhéyuan in the 2020 drama Detective Chinatown and its movie spinoff. It is interesting that all four actresses, co-stars of Chén Zhéyuan (Shěn Yuè played with CZY in 2022 Mr Bad) appear to know each other and be on friendly terms. Wú Xūanyí played with him in 2023 The Princess and the Werewolf, although she did not know the actor before meeting him in the casting of the drama in 2021, as he said in interview.
Still, as much as it is nice to read about her female friends, one may wonder if she has good male friends as well, or even a boyfriend. She did reveal on the last episode of the "Viva La romance" show, that she had been in a relationship for three years from 2013 to 2016 while she was a trainee, between the age of 18 and 21, but that she had been the one to end it, to pursue her career. Now that she achieved her goal to,become an idol, has she found someone else? Could it still be Lil Ghost ?
Anecdote : From Reel to Real ? | Wú Xūanyí and Xiǎoguǐ 小鬼 had taken part together in reality shows such as 2020 Go Newbies where young people were learning to drive with military instructors. (Video) In 2021, Wú Xūanyí was rumoured to be in a hidden relationship with rapper and musician Lil Ghost/LG / Xiǎoguǐ 小鬼 / Wángl Línkǎi 王琳凯 . Pictures emerged showing them wearing same heart design jewels, her in earrings, him on a necklace, and in particular both with a a neck chain of an uncommon design which appeared custom made for them. |
Wú Xūanyí's online gaming records showed that she had been gaming for months with Lil Ghost, and she posted pictures online using ? purple hearts and ? demon design and ? skulls (laughs) that Lil Ghost favors, while he posted ? blue hearts that are her signature ones. She also sported flame nails like him. |
She wrote the script of the 2021 movie Romance together with him and played with him in the movie, after participating in the namesake reality show / writing workshop with him. Even though that workshop did not start smoothly and they intitially had to adapt to each other's views. (click on picture for songs and show) | |
Moreover, in 2021 she took part in an MV, together with him (yellow shoes) and "Boogie" Wáng Zǐyì 王子异 of 2018 Idol Producer show, for a cover of a song titled Only Have Feelings For You. (This song was originally a song from the early 2000s, sung by Hebe, ex member of the Taiwanese trio S.H.E Here is a lyrics MV with English translation in description.) Original is from Hebe Tien and Fahrenheit group's theme song from 2006 TW drama Tokyo Juliet, starring Wu Chun and Ariel Lin. |
Later, in his 2021 MV 《拜托了世界》[bàituōle shìjiè] Please the World, Lil Ghost appeared in front of the Sunac Legend Hotel, Riyuewan Tourist Resort, Wanning chapel in Hainan [also seen in the 2023 drama Xia Hua/The Forbidden Flower], although he has only Wú Xūanyí as link to the island, since he was born in Shandong, bred in Xiamen, and studied in Beijing. |
Pictures of Wú Xūanyí on archives show that she also was on Hainan island at the time. She was also said to have been travelling close to his Xiamen hometown that year...
If not in relationship, then they were very good friends. Or was it just a CP act to promote their movie? It looks like the young musician is not that close to Wú Xūanyí any longer. In recent videos, there seems to be an other girl appearing. (In May 2023, he was singing with rising rap star Liu Boxin / Liú Bǎixīn 刘柏辛 a song called 《爱如火》[ài rú huǒ] Love Like Fire (linked), for the Treasured Voice 4 show, ep. 2 ) To be continued...
VARIETY SHOWS
Wú Xuānyí has taken part in many variety and reality shows over the years (well over 65 since 2013).
Usually, her cheerful appearance is an asset to the shows, which can be themed for letting the public ask questions or listen to the anchors quizzing the celebrities.
My GIF from screenshots of the programme | When she was in South Korea, Wú Xuānyí took part several times in the popular ASC (After School Club, eps. 203, 230, 246, 308, links to part or complete shows) on Korean television, where she showcased with her WSJN group members their special roles in the group. It was in such a programme that she revealed a funny "secret" : "I lived as a boy till I was 7 years old", written in English on a plastic slate! |
My GIF from the short video Rocket Girls in the Sahara (China Daily 2019.01.23) | She has also taken part in travel shows such as 2018 Perfect Travel of Girlfriends, where she went on a cruise with Chéng Xiāo to Tahiti and Moorea (video cut of ep1), and once went skydiving with her (short 4 mins video cut). Among the more adventurous travel themed shows, she partcipated in YOLO's 20 on WeTV (also known as Rampaging 20's : Youtube link with English subs) for which she sang the theme song ( +MV/HPE, see Musical careet Rocket Girls [3] song) and joined in dicovery of the Sahara desert and more in 2019 and 2020. You can directly check out on YouTube the "Wú Xuānyí's growth story : Protect your smile" episode set in Haikou, Hainan). |
My GIF from We Are Blazing, Dalabengba.My GIF from the RSVP performance in Ep.1 of Rsing Land Nov.18, 2022, dancing with her group and with Guo Dianjia of Boyhood. Link to episode, watch the full performance from 55 mins in, with English subtitles. | She has also, of course taken part in musical competitions, as a competitor such as 2018 Produce 101, in We Are Blazing (where they had stunning peformances, including an impressive animation dragon for their choral performance of "Dalabengba", and 2021 Stage Boom, mentioned in her Musical Career. Or as a guest She was among the 14 "guests" in episodes 1-2 of Rising Land (朝阳打歌中心 / Chaoyang Dage Center) 2022.11.18 -2023.01.20. The 10 episodes musical stage showed stars (such as Winnie Zhang ZiNing 张紫宁 former member of Rocket Girls 101), rising star youth idols, and idol groups (Boyhood...), taking turns in performances produced and broadcast by Youku, with friendly and no stress encouragement from their peers. Wú Xuānyí performed RSVP (short incomplete clip linked). She stated after the performance that she "needed a stage" and would be wherever there was one. |
Like many idols and celebs, she has taken part in sports shows, such as 2018 11.11 (*) Supernova games, from which there is a fancam recording here (35 mins), showing that she was not a master archer like Chén Zhéyuǎn [see his Profile] but happy enough to compete with encouragement from fans. (Chén Zhéyuǎn and Wú Xuānyí were in the "South Region" team: she for Hainan, he in the Guangdong team, and they were caught in one frame when waiting for results in the bleachers and in the final group pic. But they had not noticed each other then; they claimed they only got acquainted on the casting of The Princess and The Werewolf, in 2021). (*) Btw, this was a special day : in China, 11.11 is nicknamed "Singles Day". (My GIF from screenshots of the recording). |
First episode of the programme can be watched on YouTube (but only Hanzi subtitled). This Tweet of March 2022 provides explanations for selected shorts from the show, and this other one gives a translation of some things she said. There is also a small 1min Q&A interview of Wú Xuānyí in astronaut uniform. | From November 2018 to February 2019, she was an astronaut ! Wú Xuānyí participated in the 12 eps Space Challenge show, together with fellow idol Zhū Zhèngtíng (with whom she had played in the banned movie Marna). The show was a "national experiment" reality show, designed to boost the interest in space exploration. Six C-ent celebs were to experience the life of astronauts. They were sent for 30 days to a training base emulating the Martian environment. They faced the 8G supergravity challenge, 72 hours of sleep deprivation, and 15 minutes of vertigo. But I can't vouch for that this paper on astrometry supervised by a Tsinghua don is by the same Wú Xuānyí despite it was published in the same timeline (October 2018). The Han family names are not so varied in China, and despite the freedom to create given names, and even change them when someone reaches adulthood, there are many namesakes. |
She has also been in a lot of less competitive, just entertaining variety shows with or without a focus on more cultural themes, such as :
The Most Beautiful Chinese Drama Season 2 (最美中国戏2 ) mixing Chinese opera, Chinese culture and variety show - 2022.09.03 She was main host for the 8 episodes.
It Sounds Incredible (加康加年味 Jia Kang Ji) 2023.01.05 themed for festival delicacies for the Winter Solstice, Laba festival, Xiaohan, Xiaonian... Wú Xuānyí was guest in New Year Episode 2 "The Treasured voice"
But while many of these shows are designed to showcase the entertainers' abilities and character, some have also presented risks.
Anecdote : Risks to life and limbs
Actors and actresses are supposed to know how to take care of themselves and be protected by adequate safety measures. Nevertheless, it has not always been so. On November 27, 2019, Wú Xuānyí " changed her Weibo profile to all black, worrying fans. " It was reported that "she left Ningbo, where the filming was taking place" of Chase Me, a competitive sports challenge show on China's Zhejiang Television. She "returned to Beijing with staff" for professional help, in the wake of 35 years old Taiwanese-Canadian actor Godfrey Gao's sudden passing after falling while running while she was on set ; the actor was pronounced dead, apparently from a heart attack, when he was rushed to hospital, which of course had a deep impact on all those who witnessed the scene.
Above picture from online news. | Godfrey Gao running for Chase MeAbove pictures from The Straits Times |
"Chase Me received criticism for being extremely dangerous and unprepared to handle safety concerns. A past video of Wú Xuānyí, from a Chase Me episode, resurfaced, in light of the controversy. In this video, Wú Xuānyí had fallen into the ball pool which was almost two meter deep and also filled with water, and she could not get up, imploring: “Help me, I don’t have any strength left”, but the staff did not immediately give her assistance, even after hearing her urgent plea for help !
The New York Times noted that "Reality television shows have become very popular in China in recent years, especially online. A news article last year by Xinhua, the state news agency, said that the number of reality shows on streaming platforms had doubled [in 2018] from 2017, reaching 385."
"Even by the standards of such shows, “Chase Me,” which is in its first season, had pushed boundaries. The show invited actors as well as ordinary people to compete in variety of sports challenges, often to the point of exhaustion. Adrenaline-pumping moments are a staple, often filmed at night in a downtown stretch of Ningbo. In one recent episode, a professional boxer fell into a ball pit and struggled to emerge as his teammates watched on. -- Early on Wednesday [Nov.27, 2019], Mr. Gao was filming a guest appearance on the ninth episode of “Chase Me” when he collapsed, according to the statement by the show’s producers".
Here is a sample : 2019.11.15 full Episode 2 of Chase Me (1h25)
Zhejiang TV and producers issued an apology, and the authorities also got involved. Chase Me was stopped, but reality shows can still be challenging for those who take part, even without risking life and limbs. The incident certainly colored the mood of Wú Xuānyí for a while.
Over the years, shows have tried to find new ways to attract audiences, that do not necessarily rely on such thrills. Wú Xuānyí also learned different things, as take-away from some shows : she had mentioned in a phone call to Chéng Xiāo, on the set of Produce 101, how she felt she was growing and feeling more confident about the stage, through the competition ; she also learned how scriptwriting is done, on the set of the 2021 Romance workshop-reality show series on iQiyi (see the anecdote From Reel to Real?, above).
She learned how to drive in the 2020 Go Newbies show of which she was a regular member for the 12 episodes together, notably, with singers Xiǎoguǐ and Charlie Zhōu Shēn, the singer. Shēnshēn subsequently posted a vlog of his driving tour with his close friends, all the way to the northern border with Russia ; and recently, Wú Xuānyí posted on her Weibo a video of her driving in Beijing on 2023.08.22 (picture above), while chatting with her reporter passenger (but reactions were mixed, some scolding her for not working more and some looking with irony at her short "vlog" of driving in the capital city).
Let's have a look at another memorable show Wú Xuānyí took part in :
- 乖巧...可爱 -等待拔安排 · [guāiqiǎo... kě'ài -děngdài bá anpái]
- Well-behaved...cute - waiting to be seated according to arrangement
- (Joining the pajama party in Viva La Romance 5 together with the Wives.)
Anecdote : From Foes to Friends? | Wú Xuāny participated in reality show Viva La Romance 5 (Hunan TV, 2021) - as a regular member in charge of organizing the couples' outings and mingle with them including in hot baths, s they would feel at ease to talk about their marriage. This was when she appeared with minimal makeup, causing the "Bare faced dispute" mentioned in the anecdote above (in Musical career). |
She was acting as "travel assistant" for the ladies while actor Zhāng Hàn 张翰 (also known as Hans Zhang) was cast as "travel assistant" for the husbands, who were not part of the trip, so he was the only male representative in the flock of females. He was supposed to handle heavy lifting and add spice to the trip, which he had his own quirky ideas about, such as organizing a pajama party, where all the wives would appear without or with minimal makeup !
Initially, Zhāng Hàn and Wú Xuānyí did not get along. He criticized her, said that her EQ (emotional intelligence) was low, teased her by counting money in front of all and claiming that she had input wrong, and she retorted with disrespectful emojis, keeping her distance from him in the minibus that was driving them. "A director asked her what her impression of Zhāng Hàn was, and three words popped out of her mouth—emoticons!" (see picture below) She was even complained for not showing due regard to her elder ! (He is 11 years older than her : born in 1984 whereas she was born in 1995).
Nevertheless, the older actor also gave conflicting signals praising Wú Xuānyí's dedication and good organization to please the guests with beauty and health treatments (where she did not hesitate to both prepare and check in person the results).
怼就是了 [duì jiùshìle] (He) just complains 我就觉得这姑娘情商不高 [wǒ jiù juédé zhè gūniáng qíngshāng bù gāo] I just think this girl has low emotional intelligence |
The two actors found they had similar ideas on some things (such as not calling boyfriends or girlfriends husband or wife before marriage), and Zhāng Hàn touched her heart when he thought of a special gift certificate for her, which read "Best New Actress Award". Later, they drew closer, went motorcycling together, and the audience was delighted when he praised her, comparing her to a red-crowned crane : long legs, long neck, beautiful appearance and white skin ! [Considered the sacred crane of the Orient, red-crowned cranes are a symbol of fidelity in marriage, good luck, long life and love. ] The audience (and the press) who had come for the talks about marriage by the actual celeb wives got interested in the possible budding romance between the two actors.
Zhāng Hàn seemed to approve of Wú Xuānyí is a rather romantic way, in the show, despite the "shadows of Zhèng Shuǎng and Gǔlì Nàzhā" !
(These two were Zhang Hàn's former girlfriends of 2009-2014 and 2014-2017 who broke up with him, after they were too much scolded by Chinese Netizens. The actor did not appear too heartbroken then, and posted as conclusion "If youth can't be kept, how about a bowl of beef noodles?" in his Weibo. So together with some statements he made about women, he was considered by a number of Chinese women as an uncaring scumbag with male chauvinist ideas - especially after the scandal of the 2022 drama he wrote and acted in: Gentlemen of East 8, that almost got pulled off air! Since 2018, he's been rumored together and even been said secretly married to Taiwanese actress Janine Chang, but his fan club denies the past or imminent marriage rumors. )
Really, it was a bit awkward to think Wú Xuānyí and Zhāng Hàn ever could be more than just friends, since they have a much too big age difference (11 years) for a romance, and -- she already had stated firmly that she had no boyfriend and was not looking for one on set!
FASHION, MODELING, AND BEAUTY TIPS
As a star, the outfits of the day (OOTD) of Wú Xuānyí are of course noticed. She does have, like all stars, brand endorsements. Louis Vuitton (LV) bags feature both below in ads and in a funny moment of product placement just in the beginning of the Princess and the Werewolf.
Princess Qi Pa in The Princess and the Werewolf, examining the latest LV bags in 2021!
But being a model is not straightforward for actresses. In 2021, she was chosen as brand ambassador for Versace, an Italian brand which had previously named actress Yang Mi its first Chinese face in 2019, but the two parted ways after one of the brand’s T-shirts appeared to imply Hong Kong and Macau were independent territories. (Both Versace and its artistic creative Donatella Versace apologised soon after). The new collaboration started out with mixed reactions, because one of the outfits chosen for Wú Xuānyí did not really fit her body style : as mentioned in this article, it made her look almost like a small town wannabee, unsure of herself with the shy hand greeting. In fact, Wú Xuānyí looked stunning in many dresses, but just not this canary yellow color, and not this fishtail skirt, not this color bag. |
To see her walk the walk, check this short video on WeTV ! | Suiting her much better were these clothes from the Versace 2021 Spring and Summer advertising Myth world, with La Medusa handbags. The green see-through Versace evening dress with feather train that she wore for the Sanya Hainan International Film ,Festival that year, being photographed in front of a Lexus car was also totally her style. (Many other nice pictures here). |
Each time she is spotted at the airport, her outfits will be commented on. Here are some past pictures from 2019 :
She also models for a brand called OO&VV. Here is a short video of her after and during a brand photoshoot for them. And the latest fall fashion uploaded to Tiktok for their brand photoshoot on August 31, 2023. OO&VV, Ouwei Fashion Group, has been the leader in Hunan's apparel since its establishment in 2013 founded by Lǐ Yùlóng 李玉龙; it first entered the market through shopping malls in core business districts such as Wanda, Intime, Mixc, and Wuyue Plaza in major cities across the country. and opened 200 stores in 2021 when it launched a fashion high-end brand named MITALEE(米塔莉). they were starting to move their core operations and R&D to Hangzhou and Guangzhou, identified as key centers for fashion development. Wú Xuānyí likes their multi-trend fashion and has done several photoshoots to advertise their brand. (Chinese info)
OO&VV Autumn and Winter 2023 (my gif from the short video on FB and TikTok)
Wú Xuānyí likes to paint her fingernails with nail art, not just colors. She also has different styles of makeup. Here are a selection of pictures showing the extreme in nail art (Ephemetal cyberpunk style) and 3D nail decorations she wore already when she was with Cosmic Girls and competing for PD101. She has also wore more classic colors, advertising for YSL brand. She did get fun in the past few days in September 2023, as her Weibo showed, with some nails that she herself said reminded of Kui Mulang's. That's your challenge: find the picture among the ten nail pictures. Hint, she is signing V with her right hand.
She is aware that her style can be seen as bling bling, and joked about the fixtures in the car she drove in Beijing, glittering and flashy. But she can also be spotted in outfits that are less flamboyant, even plain. For those who understand Chinese, this Lifestyle interview, from 2021, with many pictures, is very interesting (no subtitles).
She developed her sense of style and fashion early, confessing to being a "shopaholic". She also was spotted going to the Valentino show, at the Paris Fashion Week on 2019.09.29. Her style has been analyzed as early as during Cosmic Girls days in South Korea, where everything from T shirts, jeans, dresses, gowns, shoes, and glasses, were described at length, although not mentioning brand endorsements. The title of this link is self explanatory : https://unnielooks.com/en-fr/blogs/news/fashion-guide-how-to-dress-like-xuan-yi-from-wjsn-cosmic-girls
She likes to show off her long legs and nice collarbone and bare shoulders. Since she dances a lot, she is always very fit, with no fat handles.
Knee length boots to walk and smartphone to check on the world affairs without getting a neck hump ! |
(*) You can have a better look at her in bikini on her vlog in Thailand of May 2023 where she, of course, met with her friend from Rocket Girls, Sunnee (stage name of Yang Yunqing 杨芸晴, also named Kaewarin Boonsrathaa เกวลิน บุญศรัทธา, who is from Thailand).
But she is conscious of the toll on health and mental well-being that constant stress (and exposure to public comments) take, so she has also been thinking about healing methods. She was one of the first to join Z.Tao's challenge : Go to bed at 11pm! that was the theme of an unusual variety show launched by the young star and businessman, owner of Longtao entertainment company (L.TAO Entertainment (龙韬娱乐) ). In a Yule interview for Sohu in 2021, Wú Xuānyí had emphasized her need to rest enough, so her condition can stay good.
She posted this message, to accompany her "healing song" : Hello Life. (MV/HPE) :
生命的漫长旅途,沿途路过风景,也总有崎岖,但总有奇迹在唤醒每一个继续,只要心中有光,美好总会相遇,和@吴宣仪_Betty 一起向生活说你好? QQ音乐:生活,你好 | [Shēngmìng de màncháng lǚtú, yántú lùguò fēngjǐng, yě zǒng yǒu qíqū, dàn zǒng yǒu qíjī zài huànxǐng měi yīgè jìxù, zhǐyào xīnzhōng yǒu guāng, měihǎo zǒng huì xiāngyù, hé@wúxuānyí_Betty yīqǐ xiàng shēnghuó shuō nǐ hǎo ? “shēnghuó, nǐ hǎo” shàngxiàn la#wúxuānyí zhìyù xì xīngē#
| The long journey of life, passing scenery along the way, is always bumpy, but there is always a miracle that awakens every step. As long as there is light in the heart, beauty will always meet. Say hello to life with @武 Xuanyi_Betty? "Hello Life" is online #武 Xuanyi Healing New Song#
|
Go to bed at 11pm
or when you need to sleep : we all need our beauty and healing rest !
Let me know in comments what you liked, or what needs to be added or corrected!
For now, goodbye!
Yay!!! You finished it ?... I must applaud your dedication towards your voluntarily undertaken projects.... It is done so well and you have managed to include many details about her personal and professional life... I will enjoy reading them once and keep revisiting in future...
PS: deleting my previous comment from this thread as it was standing out like 'an eyesore'... Will paste that comment along with this one... I will also change the links on Wu Xuanyi's profile page to start with the new entry.
*PREVIOUS COMMENT*
Very thorough compilation.... You have a flair for presentation that makes reading a delight... You have included everything I know about her + added more. Excellent job!!!! ?
If possible add the Link to this and CCC on Wu Xuanyi's profile page. Even I could add them but it would be better coming from you.
Thanks for your encouragement. I am happy that you liked the ongoing draft (there's some things you did not see yet, that I just added; and I hope my proofreading did not let too many mistypes and other bloopers stay in - if there are, don't hesitate to say so in comments!). Now, I think this is complete, for what I wanted to record. I actually learned quite a lot about Wu Xuanyi, on the way, and enjoyed many of her songs, some of which I have added to my songbook. As for dramas, I am happy to see that she is persevering, and like you, enjoyed her Princess Qi Pa!
I will announce the good news on the Wu Xuanyi page, and in the dramas, movies, and shows comment sections listed for her on MDL. :-)
Doggiebear111:Thank you for writing this! I know Wu Xuanyi for her music, starting with Rocket Girls 101 and continuing through her solo work. I love "No More Love," "Let's Party," "Meet by Chance," and more. She's definitely my bias!
I am a bit shamefaced : I did not update with news for a long time... Wu Xuanyi has been singing new songs and played in new dramas since (those were, it's true, forecast in the profile, but I should have kept more up to date still). It's true that, as I said then, I was on "fandom exploration", and Wu Xuanyi happened to catch my interest at the same time or almost as Chen Zheyuan, who I strongly believed would rise as an emerging star then - he was not an unknown already. I had noticed Wu Xuanyi in Sweet Teeth first, and caught up with her other dramas later, since they were not too numerous. Some of her songs, those you mention, I also liked a lot! Although I was not so much into girls groups in the past, still favoring songs by JJ Lin, Jay Chou, Guangliang, up to G.E.M. and Tia Ray. And Z.Tao, whose songs are special, to me, since T.A.O. (I was not an EXO fan). I am happy for him that he at last, did go public with his relationship, showing the sea of roses he prepared for his proposal back in April....
So Z.Tao is another fuller profile that I "hid" on MDL Discussions pages. The other ones I tackled were, as per my little book of fave actors and actress with musical talents : Tan Jianci, Liu Yuning, and one who like Chen Zheyuan is somewhat tone deaf but modest about his talents: Chen Xingxu. I think one of the two reasons I did the long profile of Chen Zheyuan was because he tackled "Growl", a dance number that Huang Zitao had been a key member for, in EXO days, and perhaps the only one I really had noticed!
I try to stay "warmly neutral" in my writing about dramas or actors/actresses : I have a feeling that the celebs' lives are not as easy as one could think, so would never blame them for showing they are "only human". Many of their fans feel that Wu Xuanyi, or Xu Kai, Chen Feiyu, even Xu Kaicheng, had a rough deal from unreasonable fans or paparazzi. So, I was in two minds in writing how Wu Xuanyi suffered, and thankful that one of her true fans explained the situation about her speaking up for a fellow entertainer and being misunderstood... I got the other side of the stories too on the other celebs I was following, but launching into a full profile is a bit daunting. Luckily, I don't feel the need to do so for my favorite Zhao Lusi and Wu Lei, who have dedicated fans that already maintain interesting fan pages on or outside MDL.
If you are curious about the other profiles, and the "companion pieces" I wrote for a few dramas, you can find the list by clicking the first "announcer" button on my Profile page. The other buttons are musical too, in different styles and genres, linked to the drama and movie genres I like, without being OST songs.
I like the idea of "warmly neutral." I don't follow idols that deeply; it's mostly their music that I'm drawn to. As far as C-dramas go, I tend to like only modern day action/mystery/thrillers, so it's more genre than actors.
If you're keeping a list of profiles that people would like to see, though, other Mandopop singers I like are An Xinya, Jolin Tsai, and G.E.M.
Doggiebear111:I like the idea of "warmly neutral." I don't follow idols that deeply; it's mostly their music that I'm drawn to. As far as C-dramas go, I tend to like only modern day action/mystery/thrillers, so it's more genre than actors.
If you're keeping a list of profiles that people would like to see, though, other Mandopop singers I like are An Xinya, Jolin Tsai, and G.E.M.
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