Top Rock Band from Taiwan: Mayday

　　Latest Album: Time Machine

　　Brand new music style: “Light” Metal (Easy Rock)

　　Best live recording quality in Chinese society

　　Mayday is the most famous male rock band in Taiwan. With international recording techniques, their latest album “Time Machine” soon became a real hit in Asia. Their concert “City of Sky” held in July, 2003 shook Taipei to the ground. More than 40,000 fans watched as their favorite band smashed the record held since Michael Jackson’s concert in 1993.

　　On March 22, 2004, Mayday visited Ladder and shared their experiences with the youth. Look below to see what the boys had to say.

　　Time Machine

　　Q: Your latest album is “Time Machine”. Would you please explain the ideas you’d like to reveal in this album?

　　A: Well … as the name suggests, this album intends to lead the audience to travel through time and space. They can experience Shanghai in the 1930s via “Gamble Master” in Flamenco style -- Spanish Guitar Music. And in “Qinggong”, they can visit Changan City in the Tang Dynasty. Then we find that there is a Time Machine in everyone’s mind. Through memory and imagination, people can go anywhere anytime. And finally we come to the conclusion: people should seize the day and take good care of their family and friends.

　　Internet Experience

　　Q: Besides the album, you also unveiled your first movie “May Affair” based on yourselves. It’s a movie about cyberaffairs. How do you feel about cyberaffairs? Do you often reply to messages from your fans?

　　A: Yes, the world is huge and we need the Internet to communicate with our fans. Once a kindergarten teacher sent a message saying she was influenced by our songs and became more active in education. Quite a nice experience! And we like this kind of feedback as well.

　　Friendship and Colleaguehood

　　Q: You five really work hard, and maybe there would be certain moment that interests conflict. How do you balance business and pleasure?

　　A: Well we fight … (laughters). Just kidding. We’ve known one another for ten years so there shouldn’t be any problem communicating with colleagues. And if we do have different ideas on music, we will sit down and discuss them with one another.

　　Beatles Fans

　　Q: It’s said you like Beatles a lot. Yan-zi has put “Hey Jude” in her album. So far do you have any plans for covering their songs?

　　A: We did sing many Beatles songs in the pub at the beginning. But since we are a creative band, it is important for us to compose our own songs or we don’t deserve the word “creative.” However, on special days like the “Honor Beatles” concert, we would love to do that for them.

　　English Learning Experience

　　Q: That’s nice! And since we are an English learning magazine, would you share some experiences on English learning with our young readers?

　　A: Well, there are ways to do that. For example, we love English songs, especially Beatles songs. And it helps a lot! In middle school, we just started from simple words. And then as time went by we gradually learned more. I think the most important way to improve our English is to practice. Do not be afraid of speaking English. Our foreign friends can understand what we are talking about, even though there are slight problems with grammar. Just speak up! And if you can make friends with English just like we did with music, you will gradually become familiar with it.

　　Vacation Plan

　　Q: Labor Holidays are coming. Do you have any plans for this vacation? What do you usually do during the vacation?

　　A: Normally we sleep, to get some rest. But we’d like to visit the Great Wall and the Forbidden City if we have time. And Wu-bai also recommended us to have a look at Tian’anmen Square. He said we would have “Culture Shock.”

　　Encouragement for Young People

　　Q: It’s about the ending of this interview. Would you say something to encourage our young readers and audience?

　　A: Let’s say, “Learning is just like a boat sailing against the current; it’s sooner to get a Ladder.”

　　to the ground adv. 彻底地

　　smash v. 打破

　　reveal v. 展现

　　deserve v. 值得