Chinese rocker Zhang Chu will give a show May 29 at Nanshan Cultural and Sports Center.

Lauded by many as “the most lonesome singer-poet,” Zhang has remained a prominent figure on Chinese rock scene even though he seldom releases albums.

Audiences got a first taste of Zhang’s distinctive brand of folk rock in 1992 through the now classic single “Sister.” The song recounts a dark story of familial abuse and repression through the eyes of a child. The repeated exclamations of “Sister! I wanna go home. Take a hold of my hand, I’m a bit sleepy. Sister! I wanna go home. Take a hold of my hand, you don’t need to be afraid” during the rousing chorus moved countless listeners to tears. The memorable melody and the emotional vocal delivery made the song an instant hit in China.

In 1993, Zhan’s first album “A Heart Cannot Fawn” was released. This is a collection of Zhang’s early compositions, though more than half of the songs were performed by other singers. With a terribly confused producer and at least equally confused singers who clearly did not understand what rock music was, let alone the meaning of the songs, the album sounds like a curiously schizophrenic patchwork that was put together half-heartedly in a hurry. Nevertheless, the raw originality of the songwriter shines through. In tracks like “BPMF” or “Westward out of Yang Guan,” Zhang quickly establishes his unmistakable style: narrative story line, keen observation, easy-flowing verse and expressive voice.

Around the same time, Zhang was signed to the ambitious Taiwan-based rock record label Muoyan and in 1994 participated in the legendary Chinese Rock Power concert held in Hong Kong. The headliners, besides Zhang, also included Dou Wei and He Yong. Hastily lumped together and marketed under the somewhat archaic-sounding title of “The Three Prominents of Muoyan,” these exciting new talents nevertheless went from unknown to famous overnight, stunning the Hong Kong audience with their energy and creativity, thus heralding “the spring of new music.”

Following the critical acclaim and commercial splash in Hong Kong, Zhang’s second album “Loners Are Disgraceful” produced several unconventional hit songs in China, notably, the violin-driven title song and the mostly spoken “Love.”

Time: 8 p.m., May 29

Tickets: 180-680 yuan

Venue: Nanshan Cultural and Sports Center, 2106 Nanshan Boulevard, Nanshan District (南山区南山大道2106号南山文体中心)

Metro: Luobao Line, Taoyuan Station (桃园站), Exit B

(SD News)