From his spot-on impersonation of Premier Wen Jiabao to masterful performance of songs in foreign tongues, Jiang "Big Bear" Pengyi has an ear for entertainment. And if you have any artistic criticisms for the 2.07 meter tall, 120 kg former Chinese national judo team member, don't fear getting pounded, this guy is more of a big teddy bear.
"Many students see me as their 'big brother'. They'll even ask me for advice with their love lives," said Jiang.
With his performing talent, kind heart and imposing stature, it's no wonder the broadcasting junior from Central Academy of Drama (CAD) was a favorite at the 11th Music Beyond Borders competition held by the School of Foreign Studies at Communication University of China (CUC) Friday evening, earning him first place and making him an instant celebrity on campuses all over Beijing.
"Coming in first was totally unexpected, because I didn't really prepare too much. But I really enjoyed myself and made quite a few friends along the way," Jiang said.Jiang's mellow, cello-esque voice won over both audience and judges, singing "O Sole Mio" in Italian and the Japanese tune "Kokoro.""I can imitate anything I hear," said Jiang. "But my voice sounds like I'm a lot older. One time I took this exam that said my 'psychological age' is actually 48. That sounds about right," joked the 21-year-old.
His voice not only matches his "psychological age," but also fits his stature, the inspiration for Jiang's affectionate moniker, "Big Bear."
"At first I didn't like it. But it kind of grew on me as more people started calling me that. 'Big Bear' sounds charmingly naive, meek and clumsy, which is kind of how I am," Jiang said. "Now, most people don't even know my real name."Ju-do or Ju-don't
Because Jiang was also a giant 10 year old, he was prime-recruiting material for the national judo program, with which he trained for seven years. As Jiang got older, he became increasingly concerned about the sustainability of a professional sports career.
But it wasn't until the sudden death of friend and fellow athlete Cai Li in 2003 that Jiang decided to leave and plan for a life beyond sports.
Cai, known as "Asia's strong man," won over 40 national and 20 Asian weightlifting championship titles during the 1990s, but after retiring, he found himself without a job.
"Except weightlifting, he didn't know much of anything else and could never find work. He had contracted diseases and suffered injuries from his training with the national team, but had no money to receive treatment, " Jiang said.The former champ who had repeatedly earned honored his country in sport had to work as a gatekeeper at Liaoning Sports and Technology College. He later died of respiratory failure at 33."Cai's death shocked me. Even a national team athlete might be useless at 30 if he only knows sports."
How you like me now? After retiring in 2005, he went to Liaoyang Petrochemical Fiber Company High School in Liaoning Province, where he met his first love that unexpectedly influenced his career path to broadcasting."Every day I would ride my bike after school 90 minutes out of my way to her school just so I could walk her home for five minutes," Jiang said.
But no matter how he tried, the fact he was a muscle-bound athletics major was too much of a turn off for her.
"In her eyes, sports majors have well-developed limbs, but have the head of a moron incapable of feeling anything deeply," Jiang said."At that time, she dreamt of getting into CAD and studying broadcasting. And I thought, what she wants to achieve, I could do also. Her dream then became my target after breaking up," Jiang said.
Accents and admirers
Broadcasting in China requires perfect Mandarin, and for a northeasterner with a thick accent like Jiang, correcting his tongue took some athletic discipline.
"When I found I spoke a word with an accent, I would slap myself in the face. During the first month, there were too many slaps to remember. But after three months, the slaps got fewer and fewer," he said.
In 2007, Jiang was admitted to CAD, while his ex-girlfriend was rejected in classic irony. Upon hearing the news of Jiang's success, she looked him up wanting to get back together, but Jiang was too empowered to look back now.
"She thought I worked this hard for her. She's wrong. I did it for myself," Jiang said.
And with dozens of female admirers at CAD, Jiang prefers to keep his options open. But he's not letting that go to his head.
"I just want to be friends. I'm just an ugly and clumsy 'Big Bear' and I don't match most of these girls well," Jiang joked.
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姜彭譯的書法作品
