SINGAPORE: Sun Ho felt uncomfortable singing
Asian-reggae songs as she felt she was not a "natural fit", City Harvest
Church founder Kong Hee said in court on Tuesday (Aug 12).
Songwriter and producer Wyclef Jean had been roped in to produce Ho’s debut English album in 2006, and wanted it to feature Asian-reggae music. But Kong, who is facing criminal breach of trust charges, said his wife, Ho, felt reggae music was not her style, despite the number of hits that her single China Wine – featuring Wyclef – was getting on YouTube.
Kong and five of his deputies are accused of using church monies to fund Ho's secular pop music career.
Taking the stand in his defence for the second day, Kong said they were excited about working with Wyclef because of his reputation as a "hitmaker" and his ability to help artistes from outside the US break into the American music industry. One example was Columbian singer Shakira, who had collaborated with Wyclef on a hit Latino-reggae song Hips Don't Lie.
Wyclef had wanted to re-record Ho's album in an Asian-reggae style, as he felt the songs she had already recorded were "too white" for her and did not sound authentic.
"We were concerned if this was the way to go ... it worked for Shakira, but as Asians, we come from a more conservative background," said Kong, adding that they were still open to the idea if it would help Ho break into the secular US market.
Ms Ho later parted ways with Wyclef in 2008.
Her English album – which was delayed and eventually never released – was brought up as part of why the church decided to venture into the US for its Crossover Project. The project, fronted by Ho, is the church's way of evangelizing through secular pop music.
Kong told the court that it was important that Sun succeeded in the US as it would open doors for the church to preach the Christian message – not just in Asia, but around the globe.
"If Sun made it in the US, it would open a big door for our missions," he added.
Songwriter and producer Wyclef Jean had been roped in to produce Ho’s debut English album in 2006, and wanted it to feature Asian-reggae music. But Kong, who is facing criminal breach of trust charges, said his wife, Ho, felt reggae music was not her style, despite the number of hits that her single China Wine – featuring Wyclef – was getting on YouTube.
Kong and five of his deputies are accused of using church monies to fund Ho's secular pop music career.
Taking the stand in his defence for the second day, Kong said they were excited about working with Wyclef because of his reputation as a "hitmaker" and his ability to help artistes from outside the US break into the American music industry. One example was Columbian singer Shakira, who had collaborated with Wyclef on a hit Latino-reggae song Hips Don't Lie.
Wyclef had wanted to re-record Ho's album in an Asian-reggae style, as he felt the songs she had already recorded were "too white" for her and did not sound authentic.
"We were concerned if this was the way to go ... it worked for Shakira, but as Asians, we come from a more conservative background," said Kong, adding that they were still open to the idea if it would help Ho break into the secular US market.
Ms Ho later parted ways with Wyclef in 2008.
Her English album – which was delayed and eventually never released – was brought up as part of why the church decided to venture into the US for its Crossover Project. The project, fronted by Ho, is the church's way of evangelizing through secular pop music.
Kong told the court that it was important that Sun succeeded in the US as it would open doors for the church to preach the Christian message – not just in Asia, but around the globe.
"If Sun made it in the US, it would open a big door for our missions," he added.
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