Singer “Shawn” Shang Rong, who excels in singing, songwriting, and production, showcasing his musical talents, has been commissioned to create OSTs for several dramas. This time, he was invited to participate in Taiwan’s first Gezaixi professional drama “Courageous Family,” where he composed and performed the ending song “Playfulness,” marking his debut in singing a Taiwanese song.
In 2023, Shang Rong released his first self-produced album “DOCASA,” receiving high praise for his collaboration with Chen Shanni. He has also collaborated with singers such as Vivian Hsu and Weibird, among others. Additionally, in 2021, he composed the theme song “A Family” for the movie “Cheating Round,” which was the first Taiwanese song by the Golden Melody Queen Penny Tai.
Earlier this year, he collaborated with the Taiwanese Gezaixi King Xu Fukai to create a song. Shang Rong was once again invited to participate in the soundtrack of Taiwan’s first Gezaixi professional drama “Courageous Family,” composing and singing the ending song “Playfulness.”
For this collaboration, Shang Rong, from the perspective of Generation Z, understood the importance of preserving Gezaixi culture. He not only grasped the crucial cultural context but also infused his life experiences into the song, intending to dedicate his first Taiwanese song to his grandfather in heaven.
The TV drama “Courageous Family” is set against the backdrop of a Gezaixi family business, with Chen Yalan, a Golden Bell Award-winning actor, managing a theater troupe in the series. Despite facing setbacks, he shoulders the responsibilities and continues to move forward, hoping to pass down the pride of Gezaixi through his courage and strength.
When conceptualizing the lyrics, Shawn Shang Rong recalled watching his father take over the family shoemaking business, leading him to write, “Wearing your shoes, learning to walk steadfastly like you.” Inspired by this, he recently invited his father to contribute to the song on social media, drawing great acclaim for his father’s vocals, with fans commenting, “Shawn Shang Rong’s singing talent is genetic!”
The arrangement in the song’s chorus conveys deep emotions, aiming for his grandfather to understand that despite not inheriting the family business, he still upholds his grandfather’s spirit in his work. It also intricately weaves the emotional depth between the characters in the drama.
Shang Rong previously went to Japan as the lead singer of the band “noovy,” touring various cities with live performances. Recently, after five years, he performed again in Japan, deeply moved by the reactions of the audience, expressing heartfelt gratitude to his fans for their unwavering support. He took the opportunity during this trip to Japan to have a good vacation and even made a special visit to the location of Sony Music, reminiscing about the days when he would diligently write songs in the basement every day.