HE CAN DO no wrong. Despite his rebellious image and an attitude to match, Canto-pop bad boy Nicholas Tse Ting-fung is indisputably a local icon worshipped by thousands. In a survey about local teenagers' idols conducted by City University earlier this year, Tse was voted second-most popular after Canto-pop diva Kelly Chen Wai-lam. Whatever he wears, says or does - whether it's good or bad - he finds resonance among his hordes of teenage fans. But Tse hopes youngsters will 'find themselves', and 'not just be affected by others'. 'I would also embrace the thoughts and attitudes of people that I like or who are influential to me, but I won't be manipulated by them,' the 21-year-old actor-musician told Young Post. 'As a public figure, what I say and do and how I behave, to a certain extent, will be scrutinised or even exaggerated [by the media]. And that would more or less have some impact on young people.' Tse, who got into showbiz at the age of 17, has certainly influenced the local music scene. Band enthusiasts say it is thanks to him that there has been a rise in the number of young people learning the guitar and forming bands. Aside from music, Tse would also like to exercise his 'power' by encouraging youngsters to get involved in charitable and other healthy activities. He recently took part in a series of soccer matches organised by a local radio station, and has been quite active in car racing and helping to raise funds for charities. Emphasising the idea of 'being yourself', Tse cited the belief of kung fu movie legend Bruce Lee, whom he admires, saying 'don't copy or duplicate anything from others'. 'Nicholas Tse is Nicholas Tse; you are who you are. So don't forget about yourselves,' he urged. 'What I do may not suit you and you've got your own strengths, I may not be able to do what you can do.' Indeed, Tse has been trying hard to establish his own unique music style on the local pop scene. His latest album, Me - My Element, and his last album, Jade Butterfly were not just big hits among Canto-pop fans - he was crowned the Best Selling Chinese Recording Artist by the 2002 World Music Awards - but also won the hearts of music critics. One distinct characteristic of Tse's music is that his songs are not just about love. His latest No 1 hit song, You Look At Me Look At You, is about how to look at things from different angles. Although almost all of the chart-topping or award-winning songs in the local music industry were love songs, Tse said there were plenty of things that he liked to talk about in his music. 'Love is important, but there are still many things that are worth writing and singing about. I hope people won't neglect other aspects like family, friendship and things around us.' In life, Tse said he believed that 'no progression means lagging behind'. 'There is no limitation. When you think 100 is full marks, perfection, in fact there's another base line which is up to 150 or 200,' he said. 'Push yourselves, go to the limit - which is no limit.'
