Chyi Yu

Chyi Yu or Qi Yu (; born 17 October 1957) is a Taiwanese singer best known for her 1979 hit "The Olive Tree" (). She won the 9th Golden Melody Award for Best Female Vocalist Mandarin. She is the elder sister of singer-songwriter Chyi Chin. She is a religious Buddhist and a vegetarian.

Chyi Yu is a protege of the late Taiwanese composer and songwriter Li Tai-hsiang. Li wrote the evergreen masterpiece "The Olive Tree", which was released in 1979. Chyi later married Li's younger brother.

Chyi Yu also collaborated with Li Tai-hsiang on a number of her other songs, including "Daylight Avenue" () "Walking In The Rain" () and "Your Smiling Face" (). She is also known for tracks such as "Boat Song" () and covers of folk songs such as "Geordie", "Tears - Donde Voy", and "Whoever Finds This, I Love You". Her last Mandopop album Camel-Flying Bird-Fish () was released in 1997 and she has recently been releasing Buddhist music compilations.

Chyi has worked with international artists such as Dave Matthews (Plaisir D'amour, 1993) and Suzanne Ciani (Turning, 1999); their cooperation album including the title track "Turning" was nominated for Best New Age Album at the 42nd Grammy Awards.

Discography

The Olive Tree (, 1979)

"The Olive Tree" (), which was based on an English-language poem by Sanmao, was originally written about a small donkey which Sanmao had encountered on a plain in Spain. Li Tai-hsiang had the poem translated to Mandarin by folk singer T.C. Yang, with Sanmao's permission, and wrote the song for Chyi Yu. Yang omitted the donkey, which he felt would not easily connect with Taiwanese music fans. Chyi Yu has stated in an interview that "Every time I sing this song [The Olive Tree], I'm nervous."

Zhufu (祝福, 1982)

Ni Shi Wo Suoyou De Huiyi (你是我所有的回憶, 1973)

Only You (有一個人, 1984)

Huisheng (回聲, 1985)

Collaboration with writer, Sanmao (author) and singer Michelle Pan

Stories (1987)

English debut, Producer: Reggie Verghes, ex-producer of Tracy Huang's English album

Whoever Finds This I Love You (誰撿到這張紙條 我愛你, 1988)

MTV shot in Singapore, Malaysia & Thailand

Paradise Bird (1988)

You Meiyou Zhe Zhong Shuofa (有沒有這種說法, 1988)

Where Have All The Flowers Gone (1990)

Love of My Life (藏愛的女人, 1993)

5th English album

Chyi's Voice Biography (齊豫中文個人聲音自傳——敢愛, 1994)

Chyi's Tears (1996)

Camel. Flying Bird. Fish (駱駝‧飛鳥‧魚, 1997)

Whispering Steppes - Desirous Water (天浴 - 慾水, 1988 Movie soundtrack album)

C'est La Vie (1999)

7th English album

The unheard of Chyi (2003 Live concert album)

CD 1

CD 2

BONUS CD

2003 印象·劉三姐 歌 - 籐纏樹 多謝了 (Concept album produced & only released in Mainland China)

Beauty Unveiled (唱經給你聽[壹] -- 順心: 因此更美麗, 2004 Buddhism album - Part 1)

Courage Uncovered (唱經給你聽[贰] -- 安心: 發現了勇氣, 2004 Buddhism album - Part 2)

Blissfully Happy (唱經給你聽[叁] -- 快樂行: 所以變快樂, 2004 Buddhism album - Part 3)

(The songs marked with * are the short versions included in the same series of album I & II)

Heart (唱經給你聽之四·佛心, 2006 Buddhism album - Part 4)

The Voice (2010)

8th English album - Christianity, Pop & Oldies

Over the Cloud (雲端, 2011)

The 37 Teachings of Buddha (佛子行————三十七誦, 2011)

Morning Bell Gatha, Evening Bell Gatha, Cundhi Bodhisattva Mantra (叩钟偈/准提神咒, 2014)

The Verses of the Eight Noble Auspicious Ones (八圣吉祥祈請文, 2015)

Praise For Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva The Bodhisattva of the Great Vow (地藏贊, 2017)

See also

• Manchu people in Taiwan

References