Lip-synching artist has excuse that is full of wind

Wang Lee-hom stands accused of lip-synching at a recent televised business show in Dalian, Liaoning province, where he performed three songs. Those in the audience pointed out his lips weren't moving but he could still be heard singing.

This sounds like lip-synching and looked like it, but the singer's company was insistent its star performer would never do such a thing, as he is so talented. The event's organizer, however, was quoted by SZHK.com as saying a CD of Wang's music was part of the mix because "the wind was so strong and the microphone wasn't working that well".

While this may sound like a storm in a teacup as many people just assume stars routinely lip-synch at performances, the issue has a serious dimension because the Ministry of Culture announced in 2008 it would revoke the licenses of performers who were caught lip-synching twice in a two-year period.

In response, audiences appear to be making up their own minds about the ability, or not, of contemporary artists by flocking to concerts of veteran artists, who really can sing, which has been characterized as a yen for nostalgia.

We are not sure whether or not Cecilia Cheung can be regarded as a veteran, at 31, but she is also about to revive her mothballed singing career. She released her debut album in 1999, but swapped the microphone for the bright lights of a film career in 2006.

Clearly, she needs to express her emotions after her bitter divorce from actor Nicholas Tse, and according to Xinmsn.com is said to be recording a new album and has already secretly completed the single, Once. A line in the song reads: "Nothing to lose, as I loved you once; I once thought that love was easy," which is said to refer to her ex.

It can be tough removing yourself from the shadow cast by your hugely successful father, especially when that man is the martial arts hero Jackie Chan. Which brings us to Jaycee Chan and his attempt to gain some column inches by coming up with controversial statements.

At a press conference to promote the trailer for Lee's Adventures, starring Jaycee, he appeared to suggest that all women were money grabbers.

"Even if I had seven kidneys to sell, it would not be enough" to satisfy them, he said at the event.

The claim is only partially explained, surely, by Jaycee taking the leading role in the film about Lee Xianji, who sells his kidneys to raise money for time travel, so that he can go back to the past.

Jaycee also said, according to Sohu.com, that he was looking for a woman who is just like his mom Joan Lin.

"If I can find a wife as good as my mom, I wouldn't mind selling my kidneys and hands," he said.

Someone who may have found a wife is Jay Chou, the biggest star in China and now a Hollywood actor. Though he never admits to having girlfriends he has been pictured with the 18-year-old model Hannah Quinlivan, romancing her in Paris. She was quoted by Apple Daily as saying she wants to get married immediately. "Now!"

Chou, 32, has been warned.