Kuo Ying-Nan

Kuo Ying-Nan (Difang Tuwana; Chinese: 郭英男; March 20, 1921 – March 29, 2002) is a Taiwan-born member of the Pangcah people (Amis) from Falangaw (Ma-Lan Tribe), Taitung, and he was the leading singers and inheritor of traditional Amis culture and ballads.
==Life and career==
Guo Ying-Nan was born in 1921 in the Taitung Falangaw Tribe, serving as a member of the "Revival" groups (latihmok) in the Amis age hierarchy.Sun, Chun-Yen. (2001). The Research of the Polyphonic Songs of Malan Amis Tribe (Master’s thesis). Soochow University, Taiwan. He was a highly respected elder known for his gifted sonorous vocal and lead singing techniques, often listed as an important informant by some ethnomusicologists. In 1988, the Maison des cultures du monde in Paris hosted the "Asia-Pacific Indigenous Dance and Music Festival", in which the Paiwan tribe from Sandimen of Pingtung County and the Bunun tribe from Wulushan of Yanping Township of Taitung County participated, under the arrangements of Professor Hsu Chang-Hui, Professor Tsai Li-Hua, and Mr. Hsu Ying-Chou. The album was recorded and produced by the Maison des cultures du monde in Paris.
==Life and Incidents==
In 1993, the German band "Enigma" sampled a portion of a song called “Celebration Song” (palafang)明立國. “Celebration Song” (palafang) was originally translated as “Elders Drinking Song” but it is actually more suitable to be called a "Celebration Song" as it is meant to be sung in joyful and festive occasions and has nothing to do with drinking. recorded by Guo Ying-Nan in France, and mixed it into their song "Return to Innocence", which was then selected as the theme song for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. However, Guo Ying-Nan didn’t authorize them to sample/mix his song at that time, and with the event underway, the controversy surrounding indigenous culture and copyright soon emerged. Scholars also pointed out the conflict between the copyright system and oral tradition culture and even the inheritance of culture, as well as the potential impact on cultural development. Afterward, Enigma and Guo Ying-Nan reached a settlement through mediation by the Magic Stone. In addition, Enigma's music manager at Virgin Music German stated that Enigma's founder, Michael Cretu, had no intention of violating anyone's copyright. “As long as people know that this song is from The Amis of Taiwan and is sung by my wife (Igay Duana) and me, then we’re cool with it", replied Guo Ying-Nan.
In 1998, Guo recorded his first personal album "Circle of Life" in Taiwan with the assistance of Belgian music producer Dan Laxman. It included his most well-known song "Song of Joy" (palafang). The album sold well in Taiwan, ranked 15th place in the IFPI, and took Japan by storm. At the end of 1999, Guo released his second album "Across the Yellow Earth", which the next year won him the Best Ethnic Music Album at the 11th Golden Melody Awards, and Guo was also nominated for Best Male Singer.
On March 3rd 2002, Guo Ying-Nan passed away due to pneumonia caused by septicemia, at the age of 81. Three weeks later, his wife, Guo Xiu-Zhu, also passed away.
Category:Taiwanese people
Category:1921 births
Category:2002 deaths