To Be Or Not To Be...

“Doesn't JJ look like a Clown?”

My family and friends back in Singapore sent me an article recently. The article questioned my new image and suggested I had a style that was “a colorful riot of clashing plaid patterns” and that I looked “more like a clown than an artist”.

If the article had been anywhere else, I would not have been that hurt or disappointed. But it came from my homeland…

“To be or not to be, that is the question…” (Hamlet - William Shakespeare)

I remember the bold steps I’ve taken in the past, steps I took to express my art and music.

One of the important lessons I’ve learned over the years – whenever an artist tries for a change, he should be ready to face a bombardment of criticism from everywhere. However, if he decides to not change, he might be criticized for being uncreative and fake.

No one is ever satisfied.

Fashion, like music, is an intricate form of art. No one is ever right or wrong. I guess depending on where you were born and raised, your sense for art and appreciation differs accordingly.

As a Singaporean myself, I have noticed over the years that somehow, we are “trained” to act by the book. When something unconventional comes along, we are so careful that we usually take too much time to assess the situation.

I believe if my stylists had approached me with this daring checkered concept 5 years ago during my 1st album, I would not have been able to accept it at that time.

However, I am an artist who always challenges conventional methods of creating art. If I had followed what the “experts” have taught us about music, there wouldn’t have been the “clashing” of Chinese elements with R&B beats in River South, nor the bossa nova / hip-hop rhythm of The Choice Is Yours. If I had gone by the book and “toned down” on my art, I probably would not have gotten thus far in my music career.

I also definitely did not feel like a “clown” wearing the clothing I wore.

Instead, I was quite impressed at how my stylists were able to blend the clashing plaid patterns together, creating something very refreshing and warm. I feel it suits the vibrancy and hue this album requires.

Anyway, there’s always something to say when somebody tries to be different, when conformity and ritual beliefs are being challenged and stretched. But it doesn't matter, there will also always be a group of people who are open minded and sensitive enough to embrace and appreciate change and differences in people.

I hope you are one of them. | "JJ穿這樣象不象小醜?" 我在新加坡的家人和朋友最近給我發來了一篇文章，文章質疑了我的最新造型，說是"彩格紋的顏色沖撞"，看起來"不像藝人，而像小醜"。

如果這報道來自其他地方，我可能不會那麽受傷和失望，但它來自我的家鄉...

"To be or not to be，這是個問題..." (哈姆萊特 - 威廉姆 莎士比亞)

我仍舊記得曾經走過的勇敢表達自己藝術和音樂的每一步。

多年來我學到的重要經驗就是 - 藝術家如果嘗試改變，就要面對來自方方面面、各種評論的轟炸；如果他決定固守老路，又可能會被批評毫無新意和缺乏創作力。

我們永遠不會滿足。

時尚，如同音樂，是藝術的一種復雜表現。沒有人永遠對或錯。我想基於你的出生和長大經歷、你對藝術的理解感知及對不同事物的欣賞而千差萬別。

我作為一個新加坡人，這些年來註意到，我們被雜誌和書本"培訓"著行為舉止。當一些非傳統的東西出現，我們總是那麽小心翼翼，以至於要花費太多時間進入狀況。

如果是5年前我發首張專輯時，造型師為我做這種勇敢而多變的概念造型，我相信我可能無法接受這造型，甚或這位造型師。

但我仍舊是一直在挑戰傳統創作慣例的藝術家。如果我延續"老師們"教導的音樂道路，就不會出現中國元素與RnB"沖撞"出的《江南》，也不會有巴薩諾瓦和hip hop結合的《由你選擇》。如果我墨守陳規，令創作更加"溫和"，可能就無法在音樂道路上取得現在的成績。

我絕對不認為自己穿著的這套服裝感覺像"小醜"。

正相反，我對造型師能夠將互相沖撞的格紋服裝如此搭配，創造出非常新鮮和溫暖的感覺而印象深刻。我覺得與這張專輯所需的活力和色彩很搭。

每當有人嘗試不同事物，當約定俗成和慣例標準遭遇挑戰時，總會有人有不同意見。但無論如何，還是會有一群思想開放和感覺足夠敏銳的人接受和欣賞。

希望你是他們中的一員 | "JJ穿这样象不象小丑?" 我在新加坡的家人和朋友最近给我发来了一篇文章，文章质疑了我的最新造型，说是"彩格纹的颜色冲撞"，看起来"不像艺人，而像小丑"。

如果这报道来自其他地方，我可能不会那么受伤和失望，但它来自我的家乡...

"To be or not to be，这是个问题..." (哈姆莱特 - 威廉姆 莎士比亚)

我仍旧记得曾经走过的勇敢表达自己艺术和音乐的每一步。

多年来我学到的重要经验就是 - 艺术家如果尝试改变，就要面对来自方方面面、各种评论的轰炸；如果他决定固守老路，又可能会被批评毫无新意和缺乏创作力。

我们永远不会满足。

时尚，如同音乐，是艺术的一种复杂表现。没有人永远对或错。我想基于你的出生和长大经历、你对艺术的理解感知及对不同事物的欣赏而千差万别。

我作为一个新加坡人，这些年来注意到，我们被杂志和书本"培训"着行为举止。当一些非传统的东西出现，我们总是那么小心翼翼，以至于要花费太多时间进入状况。

如果是5年前我发首张专辑时，造型师为我做这种勇敢而多变的概念造型，我相信我可能无法接受这造型，甚或这位造型师。

但我仍旧是一直在挑战传统创作惯例的艺术家。如果我延续"老师们"教导的音乐道路，就不会出现中国元素与RnB"冲撞"出的《江南》，也不会有巴萨诺瓦和hip hop结合的《由你选择》。如果我墨守陈规，令创作更加"温和"，可能就无法在音乐道路上取得现在的成绩。

我绝对不认为自己穿着的这套服装感觉像"小丑"。

正相反，我对造型师能够将互相冲撞的格纹服装如此搭配，创造出非常新鲜和温暖的感觉而印象深刻。我觉得与这张专辑所需的活力和色彩很搭。

每当有人尝试不同事物，当约定俗成和惯例标准遭遇挑战时，总会有人有不同意见。但无论如何，还是会有一群思想开放和感觉足够敏锐的人接受和欣赏。

希望你是他们中的一员