Yuan Wei-jen
Yuan Wei-jen (Chinese: 袁惟仁; 24 June 1968 – 2 February 2026) was a Taiwanese singer-songwriter and music producer.
Yuan first rose to fame in 1991 as part of the duo Fanren with Mo Fan, winning the Golden Melody Award for Best Vocal Group twice. He later moved behind the scenes and became one of the most influential producers in the Chinese-language music industry.
Yuan played a key role in establishing Na Ying as a major Mandopop singer, producing hits including Conquer, Just a Dream, and Awaken, and helping her enter the Taiwanese market and become the first mainland Chinese singer to win Best Female Singer at the Golden Melody Awards. Yuan also composed the Mandarin version of Stubborn, a song regarded as one of her early career-defining works, for Faye Wong, and served as an early producer for girl group S.H.E, contributing to their debut-era sound. Yuan gained wider public recognition as a judge on talent show One Million Star and became a TV celebrity, often appearing on talent and variety shows.[1]
Yuan collapsed in Shanghai in 2018 after a fall that caused a brain hemorrhage. During emergency treatment, doctors discovered a brain tumor. Although he underwent surgery and returned to Taiwan for recuperation, his condition worsened after a second fall in 2020, and he was declared to be in a vegetative state in 2022. In 2025, industry friends led by Phil Chang established a foundation to help cover his medical expenses. Yuan died on 2 February 2026 at the age of 57.[2][3]
Discography
- With Mo Fan (莫凡), as a member of the pop duet Nobody (凡人)
- Cuckoo's Dusk (杜鵑鳥的黃昏, 1991)
- How Should I Keep You (我要用什麼樣的方式留你, 1992)
- Let's Hear Me Sing a Song (大夥聽我唱支歌, 1993)
- Willing (心甘情願, 1994)
- Appeal (上訴, 1994)
- Unlucky Duo (難兄難弟, 1995)
- As a solo artist
- Yuan Wei Jen (2000)
- You Don't Know Me (你不知道的我, 2005)
- Acoustic Guitar (木吉他, 2014)
Songs written for other artists
- For Faye Wong: "Zhimi Buhui" (執迷不悔, title track of No Regrets), "Guoyan Yunyan" (過眼雲煙, from Lovers & Strangers), "Xuanmu" (旋木, from To Love)
- For Na Ying: "Zhengfu" (征服), "Meng Xing Le" (夢醒了), "Meng Yi Chang" (夢一場)
- For Sammi Cheng: "Beipan" (背叛, from Worth It), "Quexi" (缺席)
Yuan also wrote songs for Wang Zheng, Alan Dawa Dolma, Chao Chuan, Chyi Chin, Eric Moo, Matilda Tao, Jacky Wu, Tanya Chua, Maggie Chiang, Dream Girls, Hebe Tien, Fish Leong, Rene Liu, Han Geng, A-Mei, and Jason Zhang.
Awards and nominations
| Year | # | Awards | Category | Work | Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 4th | Golden Melody Awards | Best Singing Group | How Should I Keep You (我要用什麼樣的方式留你) | Nobody (凡人) | Nominated |
| 1993 | 5th | Let's Hear Me Sing a Song (大夥聽我唱支歌) | Won | |||
| 1994 | 6th | Willing (心甘情願) | Won | |||
| 1999 | 10th | Best Composer | "Zhengfu" (征服) | Na Ying | Nominated | |
| Best Lyricist | Nominated | |||||
| 2000 | 11th | "Wo Bian Le" (我變了) | Matilda Tao | Nominated | ||
| 2001 | 12th | Best Male Vocalist Mandarin | Yuan Wei Jen | Yuan Wei-jen | Nominated |
References
- ^ "Veteran Taiwanese music producer Yuan Weiren dies at 57 after eight years in a coma". www.thestandard.com.hk. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ^ 莊, 婷伃 (2 February 2026). "袁惟仁57歲病逝！瞞老婆陸元琪外遇13年 重摔變植物人小三也落跑". Nownews (in Chinese). Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ 林, 士傑 (2 February 2026). "快訊／慟！袁惟仁長期臥床病逝 享年57歲". United Daily News (in Chinese). Retrieved 2 February 2026.
External Links
- Yuan Wei-jen discography at Discogs