Singing for the world proves worth the effort

She has worked with many Western musicians.

She sang backup vocals at her mother's most recent concert last month in Shanghai's Mercedes-Benz Arena.

Wong released the English-language hit, Eyes on Me, as the theme song for the popular Final Fantasy VIII video game in 1999.

During the recent Shanghai show, she performed This Mortal Coil's song With Tomorrow.

Indeed, Chinese musicians hoping to tour overseas are increasingly realizing the importance of English.

Music-scene veteran Zhang Jie recently launched his Sound of My Heart world tour in Beijing, marking his first performance in the West.

After traveling through China, the tour will continue to such cities as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sydney, London and Milan.

The native of Sichuan province's capital, Chengdu, recalls learning English by listening to Michael Jackson's albums at age 12.

"I learned English by reciting English lyrics," the 34-year-old says.

"I also watched US TV shows, such as Friends and The Big Bang Theory. I followed and repeated the lines in the shows."

In 2013, he spent a year in the US studying music, as well as English.

"The tour will introduce Chinese pop music to the Western audiences. It will also offer me a chance to meet my overseas Chinese fans," says Zhang Jie, who has released 11 studio albums.