Lollipop is a Taiwanese Mandopop boyband signed under the label Gold Typhoon. The group consists of six members, all chosen from Channel [V] Taiwan's show 模范棒棒堂 (Bang Bang Tang, or BBT), a show which sought to create new male artists in the entertainment business of Taiwan. In addition to appearing in Bang Bang Tang regularly until September 2008, they debuted as show hosts with Lollipop! Gyashan (LOLLIPOP! 哪里怕) of Channel [V].Lollipop signed with EMI Capitol Taiwan on December 2, 2006 and released their first solo EP in January 2007. With Gold Label Records' acquisition of EMI Music Taiwan, Lollipop is now signed under the label Gold Typhoon.[1] The sextet currently live together in an apartment rented to them by BBT show host Fan Fan in Taipei, having moved several times since their debut.[2] Under company regulations, they are not allowed to have guests or entertain the fans that sometimes gather outside their apartment.[3] On occasion their neighbours have had to seek the police's help in dispersing the fans.2006-2007[edit] BackgroundOwodog, Liljay and A-Wei are members of Taiwanese breakdance group Black Angle Crew. [6] Shortly after Owodog and Liljay joined Bang Bang Tang, the crew performed at 我愛黑澀會(huì), the female version of BBT that debuted a year earlier on Channel V.[7]In 2006, Owodog, Prince, Liljay, and Fabien became among the first group of boys to be selected into Bang Bang Tang through recommendations and auditions held across Taiwan, the processes of which were shown in the show's first three episodes.[8][9][10] They are among the first 20 members of the show, as it officially debuted on August 17, 2006.[11] William and A-Wei made their first appearances on BBT on the October 13, 2006 episode as part of their auditions during the first round of new selections into BBT and were selected to become members of the show.[12][edit] The formation of LollipopOn November 27, 2006, the episode in which the six members of the group were selected and revealed was aired.[13] The order in which the members were announced is as follows: Liljay, Prince, Owodog, Fabien, William, and A-Wei. Notably, William and A-Wei's inclusion in the group was determined only moments before the announcements were filmed. The members signed a contract to Channel V, and Dora Ao became their agent. The group, named Lollipop, then officially signed a contract with EMI Capitol on December 2, 2006. Owodog, being the leader in BBT, was named the group leader as well. On December 9, 2006, Lollipop made their first public performance as a group at the V-Power Music Storm Concert.Lollipop first EP Colorful Lollipop was released on January 26, 2007, with six different covers, each featuring a member of the group. Four months later, on May 25, a second EP titled Summer's First Experience was released along with a photobook compiled with photos taken in Okinawa, as well as a DVD.[14] Lyrics were written by Liljay and Prince for the song "Summer's First Experience."[edit] 2007-2008[edit] Acting and hosting debutDuring the summer of 2007, Lollipop made their acting debut in the drama Brown Sugar Macchiato, a collaboration with Hey Girl. Because of the large number of main characters, fifteen in total, and the many obligations both groups had apart from the drama, the original director quitted after directing five episodes.[15] Nevertheless, the first episode was aired in Taiwan on July 15, 2007. Later, Lollipop admits on Kangxi Lai Le that the drama had been more of an introduction of the two groups instead of a major acting challenge, as the members were told to act like themselves, and that many subplots were explained only briefly due to the large number of main characters.[16] After thirteen episodes, the drama ended on October 7, 2007. Additionally, an official soundtrack was released with songs from Lollipop and Hey Girl.[17]The same year, Lollipop began hosting their own show Lollipop Gyashan (LOLLIPOP哪里怕) on October 27 until April 19, 2008, when the show stopped airing.[18][19][edit] Official debut albumTheir debut album Gyashan (Chinese: 哪里怕; pinyin: Nǎli Pà) was released on December 28, 2007. Gyashan entered Mandarin charts in the number one position, outselling F4's album Waiting for You - Await Your Love (在這里等你) released the same day.[20] Liljay contributed lyrics to three of the ten songs, cowriting one with Fabien. A solo by Fabien, who composed both the music and lyrics, was recorded as well.On January 26, 2008, a year after the release of their first EP, they held their debut concert at the Taipei Arena. The concert DVD was released on June 6, 2008, breaking chart records with sales rates of more than 35%[21]. Their DVD has topped the charts for a period of one month since.[22][23][edit] 2008-2009[edit] Graduation from Bang Bang TangLollipop had been appearing regularly on Bang Bang Tang since August 14, 2006. With Channel [V]'s decision to select a new batch of boys and create a second season, Lollipop and most of the other members "graduated" from Bang Bang Tang after their last performances as members of the show.[24][25][26] Their last official episode aired on August 29, 2008, marking the end of the first season.[27] In total, they had participated in more than 500 episodes of the show. Since the start of Bang Bang Tang II, Lollipop had, on several occasions, returned to the show as guests.[edit] Drama and hosting opportunitiesIn May, earlier the same year, A-Wei, Prince, and Fabien, part of the main cast, began shooting Lollipop's the second drama with members of Hey Girl and Bang Bang Tang. The drama, called The Legend of Brown Sugar Chivalries, is a wuxia drama set in modern times, which requires the actors and actresses to learn and perform kungfu, sometimes using weapons. Additionally, wire fu and special effects were used upon the cast for qinggong and some fighting scenes.[28] The first episode was released on July 26, 2008 on Star TV Chinese Channel and continues to be aired after the end of the first season of Bang Bang Tang. Later, Owodog guest starred in the drama, while Liljay and William had minor roles. The thirteenth and the last episode was aired on October 18, 2008, while behind-the-scene footage was aired on October 25, 2008.On October 3, 2008, the original soundtrack was released by Gold Typhoon, the songs of which includes lyric compositions by Liljay and Prince. A collaboration with three members of Hey Girl was recorded, while Prince and Fabien both had a solo each. Two editions were released for the soundtrack, one being a 10,000 limited edition.After leaving Bang Bang Tang, William hosted a bikini show called Wu Di Qing Chun Ke (無敵青春克) with Taiwanese singer Kenji Wu. The show finale was aired on November 5, 2008. On the other hand, Owodog, A-Wei, and Liljay began hosting Na Li Wu Da Kang (哪里5打坑) with Hey Girl's Apple and Channel V's VJ Rong Jia. The show has since been stopped indefinitely.[edit] Film and other performing opportunitiesHaving performed in Singapore a week before, the group returned to Taiwan to participate in the 2008 V-Power Love Music Concert on November 29, 2008.[29] The concert united Liljay, Owodog, and A-wei with other Black Angle Crew members for a dance performance, while Prince and Fabien performed their solos from the last soundtrack. Together, the six members performed five songs, including a remixed version of "You Make Me a Fool," Fabien's composition for their debut album. Lollipop's participation in the concert also marks, symbolically, the two year anniversary of their formation.A week later, on December 6, 2008, Lollipop performed four songs with themes of wushu at the 45th Golden Horse Awards ceremony.[30]After talks with Paco Wong in 2008, the chairman of Gold Records, Owodog is starring in a kungfu film called Hot-blooded Union (熱血同盟)with Theresa Fu and a member of The Flowers.[31][32][33] The film has started filming near the end of 2008 in Beijing.[34] Later news also reveal that A-Wei, who impressed the director with his wushu skills, has been invited to guest star in the film. [35]Prince and other members from the first season of Bang Bang Tang took part in the film L-O-V-E (愛到底 L-O-V-E), which is composed of four short films directed by four different directors.[36][37] The release date is set on March 6, 2009.[38]As one of Channel [V]'s Chinese New Year programs, a short film called 狼牙棒 aired on January 26, 2009. The short film is produced by Owodog, William, and A-Wei, who starred in the film themselves.[edit] Return to revamped Bang Bang TangIn February, 2009, Channel [V] began filming its revamped version and new season of Bang Bang Tang, which marked the return of several members from the first season, inlcuding Lollipop.[39] Bang Bang Tang III began airing on March 2, 2009, with Show Luo being the first guest star.[40]Lollipop plans to release their second album in the summer of 2009. With the relsease of the album, talks have begun for a concert tour in Asia, the first stop being Hong Kong Coliseum.[41]