With a music career spanning two decades, Taiwanese singer Chang Hui-mei, better known as A-mei in English, has been the indisputable queen of Mando-pop since she made her debut in 1996.

Born to an aboriginal family in Beinan, southeast Taiwan, A-mei is best known for her versatile vocal range and emotional depth, and the multiple award-winning singer and musician has earned the hearts of many from Chinese-speaking communities all over the world.

Taiwanese singer A-mei performing during a private party in Los Angeles. Photo: Zuma Press

Since her 1996 debut, A-mei has released a total of 18 studio albums that document her musical evolution, transcending from traditional pop in the beginning to, in more recent years, dance and alternative rock that boasts a distinctive sound tracing back to her cultural roots.

The pop diva might be one of the most respectable musicians in the region, but she is not free from controversies. She was banished from performing in mainland China after singing the Taiwanese anthem at the presidential inauguration ceremony of Chen Shui-bian of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party in 2000. The ban lasted for four years.

To commemorate her 20th anniversary in the music world, A-mei will embark on the “aMEI Utopia 2.0 Carnival World Tour”, making a stop in Macau on May 3. Here are the five A-mei songs you really must know.

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