M-Girls


M-Girls, nicknamed Malaysia's version of S.H.E, is a four-member Malaysian girl group that was formed in late 2000, releasing mainly Chinese New Year albums every year. Members of this group consists of Crystal Ong Shir Ching, Queenzy Cheng Koon Si, Angeline Khoo Yen Nee, and Cass Chin Yan Zi, who originally left M-Girls in 2005 to study but later came back in late 2012. M-Girls rose in popularity due to the group's unique style, catchy songs, and collaborations with other famous Asian music stars like 四千金 and Timi Zhuo. While M-Girls studio albums have been officially released in many different parts of the world, the group has been a longstanding victim to piracy and unlicensed, illegal distribution. As a result from this, and due to the increased trend of online video streaming, the group's music company, StarMedia, decided to stop producing additional M-Girls albums in 2014. This announcement came out during the release of the Chinese New Year album 真歡喜 in February 2014, a couple of weeks after the release of their EP, My Way.
In 2015, M-Girls released one last CNY album, 新春佳期, through StarMedia. Afterwards, the group later on decided to part ways with the music company and established its own company, MG Entertainment. This new company's first album release was entitled 年來了, which came out in 2016.
As of 2017, the members of M-Girls are taking a break from working together a group and would not be producing any albums together, even for the 2018 CNY season. Instead, everyone is currently pursuing solo projects and endeavors for the time being.

Biography

Prior to M-Girls

All four members originally debuted from the same company, known as Ya-Ko Enterprise. Angeline debuted first out of the 4 M-Girls members in 1993, first starting out in a 7 member girl group known as 七仙女, later on collaborating with Seven Fairies member 婷婷, as well as releasing a few solo albums, and other collaborations as well.
Crystal made her debut in 1994 with her solo album 茶葉青, featuring covers of well known Chinese folk songs. She was the common denominator as everyone had worked with Crystal prior to forming M-Girls in albums such as 雙星報喜, 山歌黃梅調, and 福建經典名曲對對唱.
Queenzy and a boy named 蘇立達 made cameo appearances in Crystal's 茶葉青 album and soon, these two released their own album entitled 金童玉女. Cass made her first well-known appearance alongside Crystal in the 1997 CNY album 雙星再報喜.

2000–2005

In late 2000 their company Wayang Tinggi formed the group M-Girls, and released their first CNY album 開心迎接豐收年 which was a 2001 Chinese New Year album, the year of the Snake. This album set sales records and sold over 50,000 copies, receiving platinum status. Their first Pop album was called Dance With Me which was also released in that same year.
For their 2004 CNY album, M-Girls released a Chinese New Year album with another well known four member Chinese Malaysian girl-group from Malaysia Four Golden Princess. The album titled Flowers Blossom in the Spring also set a new Malaysia Book of Records for the most number of lion dancers in a music video. In their music video 春風催花開, there were 108 lion dancers. The former record holding music video had 88 which was shot around two years before.
In 2005 during their release of their Chinese New Year album Happy Year which was filmed in Australia. Cassandra announced that she would leave the group to further her studies, thus leaving the group name to only M-Girls since 四個女生 means "Four Girls" in English meaning that since there was only three members left they could not use that Chinese name any more.

2005–2010

After Cassandra left, M-Girls released another album in 2005 called Nile River This was their last Pop album release to date until 2013's "My Way" with Cassandra. They continue to only release Chinese New Year albums after Nile River. Celebrate Together was their first Chinese New Year album released after Cassandra left. This album was released for the 2006 year of the dog. In 2008 the company Wayang Tinggi Corporation was reestablished to a new name Starmedia Entertainment Sdn. Bhd. before they release the 2009 CNY album "Peach Blossoms". After the release of their 2010 Chinese New Year album Jin Yu Man Tang which was released on 23 December 2009, Queenzy left the group due to her contract with her music company has ended.

2010–2012

After Queenzy left the group, Crystal and Angeline released a Chinese New Year 2011 album with Nick Chung. Crystal and Angeline had previously recorded a couple of MV's with him. The group was named San Da Huang Pai. They released their album on 29 November 2010. The album was called Dancing Spring. Queenzy did not release an album that year.
In late 2011 Crystal, Angeline and Queenzy released Chinese New Year 2012 albums. The 2nd San Da Huang Pai album filming was in June. The album name was called Whole World Celebration. This year fans can get a hold of a special set of chopsticks and rice scooper with their album if they bought the album on 12 November 2011 at Cheras Leisure Mall from 02pm.
Queenzy and Wei Wei also known as Xiao Wei Wei who was also previously a child star in Malaysia teamed up and started filming their Chinese New Year album on 15 September. Both DVD and VCD issues come with a bonus CD. The album is called festive. This album was released by Soundlife records.
Angeline, Crystal and Queenzy and other Chinese Malaysian artists were in the Shining Dragon Shiny Year TV2 programme in Malaysia to celebrate the 2012 Chinese New Year of the Dragon. The three had not been in a Chinese New Year MV together since their 2010 CNY album. The M-Girls members also appeared in other television shows including Aunti Sui Reunion, Adults Have Arrived The Year of the Dragon Is Interesting.
In 2012, Angeline released a solo EP album titled I AM SOLO renaming her Chinese name as Ah-Ni. She sang with a live band and released her EP on 31 March. Angeline being the youngest to start out, out of the four M-Girls members celebrates her 20th year in the music industry. She was interviewed by Hisoing. She was also interviewed other various times over the couple of months including one which was released on 19 October at 5:00PM on the Hisoing website. Title called Recalling The Years As A Child Star where she mentioned that she had released over 50 albums throughout her 20 years in the music industry.

2012–2017

On 14 September 2012, Starmedia Distribution announced on Facebook that M-Girls would reform and release a new album. The four members had not made an album together since their 2005 Chinese New year album Happy Year.
Shooting for their new Chinese New Year album started on 2 October and ended on 14 October. Their CNY album title 團聚 was released on 3 December 2012 along with their album preview which was uploaded onto their official company YouTube channel StarmediaChannel. 團聚 translated to English means reunion. The title signifies the reunion of the four girls.
On the Monday 10 December 2012, Starmedia released a limited edition version of the M-Girls CNY 2013 album for pre-order. This includes a signed copy of their DVD+CD, signed poster and a limited edition booklet. The only way to get a hold of this was to order it online. Their album was later released on the Saturday 29 December 2012.
Along with the M-Girls Chinese New Year album Reunion, Angeline guest stars in Nick Chung's CNY album titled Through The New Year.
M-Girls' official company StarMedia released a video on YouTube on 7 July, confirming that the four members were in the process of making a new album. On 24 September, they began shooting their 2014 Chinese New Year Album. Their EP album and so far only Revival Pop album titled "My Way" was announced on 11 October 2013 for pre-order This album includes many freebies including a signed copy of the album, bookmarks, and other various discounts and vouchers. The pre-release album was sold out just over a week after it was available for pre-order.
Around a month later on 27 November, the preview for their new 2014 Chinese New Year album True Joy 眞歡喜 was leaked onto their company website Starmediachannel and a day later, the pre-release was announced for their new Chinese New Year album. Fans have a pick of either buying package one which includes M-girls bookmarks, horse T-shirt, M-Girls 2014 Calendar, horse red packets, horse book mark and a signed M-Girls poster along with the DVD and CD. Package two includes the DVD+CD, signed poster, calendar, horse bookmark, and horse red packet. This would be M-Girls' final Chinese New Year album as their albums are heavily shared online, which has affected their album sales, causing their company StarMedia to stop producing Chinese New Year albums by M-Girls. Angeline said during a press conference on 20 December 2013 "I hope the fans buy genuine, the company makes money, then perhaps there is an opportunity to re- ah!"
A limited edition CD+DVD version of their My Way album was released on 4 February on the official Starmedia website. This package consists of The CD + DVD, Box, Bookmark and a Multiuseage card.
Their final performance as a group 23 February after holding their final concert for Hai-O at the HGC Convention Centre in Malaysia. Angeline has gone to China to further her studies, leaving the three members to promote their latest album without her.
After mass online speculation, it was revealed that they will indeed release another Chinese New Year album for CNY 2015, this one called 新春佳期 which translates to new spring holiday. Their company StarMedia have released four different sets containing different items. Their diary DVD featuring footage from the making of their new CNY album titled 新春佳期泰好玩 which is a play on the word 泰 which can mean Thailand which most of the album was shot at, or adding to how fun the holiday was. This DVD was officially launched on 3 January 2015 at Sungai Wang Plaza 金河廣場底层大厅 at 5pm during the time of their first concert.
This year for the first time M-Girls cover an English song called Happy CNY, and also a Hokkien song called 發大財 which translates to fortune.
M-Girls were awarded best Chinese New Year album 最佳賀歲专輯 in the Malaysian Music Awards on 23 May 2015 for their 2013 Chinese New Year album Reunion 團聚.
Filming for their 2016 Chinese New Year album began on 8 September 2015. Recording started the previous month. Angeline and Crystal also made an appearance in Nick and Stella Chung's CNY album titled 新年團圓 translating to "New Year Reunion".
The advertisement of the release of their latest Chinese New Year album titled "年來了" which translates to Year is Coming was released on 21 November 2015. This is the first time they have released an album since they left their former company Starmedia.
Pre-orders for their 2017 Chinese New Year album was announced through social media on 18 November 2016. The album titled 过年要红红 Reddish Chinese New Year. This marked the first time Crystal did not release a Chinese New Year album since her debut in 1994 in order to work on her very own solo album and solo career.

2017–present

It was revealed through various media reports that M-Girls would be taking a break and not be producing CNY albums together from CNY 2018. Instead they would be pursuing solo endeavours for the time being.
Crystal's solo album titled Renée includes a song called 四方形 which was released on MYFM on 1 May.
Queenzy released an album with Tom 张瀚元 titled 爱 Don't Be Shy. Their music video was released on 25 August.
It was revealed on Angeline's Facebook page that she would be releasing a solo Chinese New Year album for CNY 2018. It will be the first year M-Girls have no released an album as a group since their 2013 Reunion album. Filming began on 26 August. She also release the CNY 2019 album Congratulations Lucky Money Coming 恭喜发财利是来 with M-girls member Crystal 王雪晶.
Queenzy will also be releasing a solo CNY album titled You Are The Best 今年你最好. Pre-orders began on 3 November. Special pre-order deals have an option of post stamps and also a Touch 'n Go card used in Malaysia.
. After the success of 2018 CNY album she continue release the 2019 CNY EP album Spring Wishes 春天的愿望.

Members

M-Girls as a group have released over twenty albums to date.
Listed are the albums that were released or are still currently in production. Because all their albums are recorded in Chinese, many albums do not have an English album title, listed are rough translations of the Chinese meaning.
Pop Albums
Chinese New Year Albums
Prior to the formation of M-Girls, the members started producing albums at the age of around 6–10 years old. Listed are the albums that they released before the group formation, and also other albums not as the group M-Girls. All Chinese New Year albums are produced months before the release date, but are released for the next year.
Queenzy 莊群施
Angeline 邱燕妮 - During this time she was known as Xiao Ni Ni.
Cassandra 陳金燕
Crystal 王雪晶