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Alice Yan

A comeback online concert given by veteran Chinese singer Dao Lang, who had been out of the spotlight for a decade, was watched by 53 million internet users.
Fans gave 640 million thumbs-up during the show and many were moved to tears.
The concert titled The Place Where the Folk Song is Heard lasted for three and a half hours on August 30 and went viral on the mainland, Xinmin Evening News reported.
Dao sang 39 songs, most of which were hits from two decades ago, as well as some new material he released last year.
The singer-songwriter is widely regarded as a musical genius.
Born Luo Lin in southwestern Sichuan province 53 years ago, he dropped out of secondary school as a teenager. Undeterred, he taught himself music and began performing in local bars.
He made his debut in the music industry in 2001, and his song The First Snowfall of 2002 made him a household name.

His album of the same name sold 2.7 million in mainland China in 2004, hot on the heels of Mandopop icon Jay Chou’s album released in the same year, which sold 3.5 million in Asia.
Dao’s other famous songs are Punishment for Impulsion, Lover, and A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.
While fans like his songs for their sincerity and down-to-earth lyrics some critics have called them “too rustic” and say they “lack aesthetics”.
In 2013, Dao quit the music business, saying he wanted to focus on his family.
He re-emerged in July last year, with a new album Folk Song Liaozai that comprises 11 tracks all composed and written by himself.

One of those songs, Luocha Haishi, was a sensation as soon as it was released with many netizens speculating its lyrics were a biting satire about the corrupt nature of show business in China.
The artist refused to comment on any interpretations of the song.
The success of his recent concert, although held on the internet, means that he remains hugely popular in China, especially among middle-aged listeners.
“I watched it from the beginning to the end. It’s full of memories. I am quite touched and shocked by his music talents. Thank you Dao Lang,” one online observer wrote on Baidu.
“The man is back. All my friends were talking about his concert that night,” another commented.
He will hold offline concerts at the end of this month in Chengdu, in southwestern China’s Sichuan province and at the beginning of October in Guangzhou in southern China.


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Who is Dao Lang? Comeback concert viewed by 53 million people online, moves many to tears

A highly anticipated online concert marked the comeback of veteran Chinese singer Dao Lang, who had been away from the spotlight for a decade. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/YouTube


Dao Lang, whose real name is Luo Lin, is from southwestern China and is widely celebrated as a musical genius. Photo: 163.com

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Fans give 640 million thumbs-up during online show as singer-songwriter returns after quitting 10 years ago


Tens of millions of mainland music fans were thrilled when a veteran singer-songwriter who quit the limelight 10 years ago, returned to play a triumphant gig.


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Fans give 640 million thumbs-up during online show as singer-songwriter returns after quitting 10 years ago