from the Electric New PaperNo time to dateThat's one of the downsides to being successful, says Taiwanese girl group Sweety
By Belle Charlene Kwan, September 19, 2006 THEY are just 18 years old, but are already planning their 'retirement'. Esther Liu and Joanne Tseng of Taiwanese pop duo Sweety have thought about what they will do should their four-year-old pop music careers fade.
Esther Liu (left) and Joanne TsengThe two, better known as Yan Yan and Qiao Qiao respectively, spoke readily about their futures at a media conference last week.
The Mandarin-speaking duo were here to promote their new album.
Esther's dream is to jet off to France.
'I love everything about France, from the people to the culture to the fashion trends, and I hope to pursue an education there,' said the bubbly teen who added that she eventually wants to be a businesswoman.
She said: 'I don't feel that I have to be an artiste all my life. When the time comes, I'll probably start my own business.'
Joanne, however, wants to continue in music, even if it means having to go solo.
She said: 'Be it on stage or behind the scenes, I do see myself being in the music industry.'
'Who knows? I might just wake up one morning and decide to go into production work.'
The duo, who formed Sweety in 2003, have been juggling their music careers and school for the past few years.
They released their third album, Sweet Talk Vol 3, in July and have also acted in drama serials and hosted TV shows with Taiwanese celebrities such as Jacky Wu.
Said Esther: 'Even though we're tired after a long day's work, schoolwork still plays an important part in our lives. It's a necessity.'
Joanne, who is doing a course in television and film studies, recently hired a private tutor to help with her schoolwork.
She said: 'Because of our busy schedules, we often miss out on what goes on in school. I think there's no harm in getting some help to make sure I still know what's going on.'
They have also made other sacrifices for their music - such as having hardly any time to date, they said.
Esther said: 'With our schedules, the poor boyfriend would probably only get to see us when we finish work or when we have breakfast. That wouldn't be fair on him.'
And when asked to describe her dream guy, Joanne said: 'I wouldn't like someone who's too vain, too rich or too handsome. You never know when someone would just come along and snatch him away.'
The two also say that because of their careers, they are no strangers to the constant pressure to look good.
But Esther, for one, said she is not the sort to watch her diet.
She said: 'I eat when I'm hungry and I won't resist a craving just to look thin. I think it's a joy to be able to enjoy all the delicious food around.
'I think there's so much more to life than just worrying about gaining that extra pound. It's too tiresome, anyway.'
Agreed Joanne: 'It's not so much about being thin, but it's crucial to look and feel healthy. And that's where a good workout comes in.'
