Chinese Singers Zhang Bichen & Wang Su Long Are Feuding Over A Song

Chinese singer Zhang Bichen, 35, and singer-songwriter Wang Su Long, 35, are no longer singing the same tune. Figuratively and literally. 

The drama started when internet celebrity singer Wang Zai Xiao Qiao (旺仔小乔) held a concert. Xiao Qiao, who is famed for her covers of popular hits, has over 23mil followers on Weibo. She rarely shows her face to the public and always sings with a mask on.

Xiao Qiao's decision to keep her mask on throughout her concert in July wasn't well-received by her fans, with some saying it was impossible to prove she was singing live or if it was even her behind the mask. Many also felt that the concert tickets, priced from 268 yuan to 968 yuan (S$48 to $174), were a rip-off. 

Amidst all the chatter surrounding Xiao Qiao, attention was suddenly drawn to Xiao Qiao’s old cover of ‘Nian Lun’ (年轮), a 2015 track that was written and composed by Su Long, and sung by Bichen.

Replying to one comment, Xiao Qiao asserted that while the song was written by Su Long, Bichen is the “only original singer”.

Su Long later responded to Xiao Qiao’s statement in a Weibo post, explaining that ‘Nian Lun’ is credited as having two original singers.

He also announced he would be withholding the rights to the track, disallowing those who don’t have the rights to the song to perform it.

Bichen’s agency then released their own statement, stating they have done thorough checks to ensure she is listed as the original singer, and that she is the first person to record and distribute it.

They also added that when Bichen was invited to first perform the song in 2015, she was not aware there would be other versions of it, nor did the contract state there would be “more than one original singer” lending their voice to it.

“Zhang Bichen is the only original singer of ‘Nian Lun’,” they emphasised.

Netizens are now left confused as to why the issue of the song’s “original singer” has blown up like that. 

“Su Long and Bichen have sung ‘Nian Lun’ together on a show, and I remember Bichen thanking Su Long for contributing such a good song. How did things turn so sour?” asked one netizen.

Another comment read: “One of them is the original songwriter, while the other is the original singer. I understand how [Su Long] feels. He poured so much effort into making it, only to be denied credit.”

Isn't all a matter of ego now? Also what was Xiao Qiao thinking creating this mess by talking out of her... mask?