Chinese singers, particularly men, have long had a fascination with somewhat syrupy love songs. Many are intolerably trite and clichéd, while other artists have managed to walk that fine line between trash and fun, with a bit of soulfulness occasionally mixed in. Zhou Chuanxiong (周传雄), also known as Xiao Gang (小刚), frequently finds that middle ground in the equation where you cannot help but enjoy yourself despite the inclination you might have to be dismissive.

The Taiwan-born Zhou has been writing, singing, and producing albums since 1989. No wonder then that many of his songs have a bit of a rock ballad edge reminiscent of some of Guns N Roses’ softer tunes. While there are sometimes hints of other less enduring hair bands—The Scorpions come to mind—he nonetheless tends to succeed in going right to the edge of corniness, while rarely crossing over into the horrible world that lies beyond.

Over the years Zhou has written for other artists as well, often turning them into stars in their own right. He made Nicholas Teo into an Asian superstar in 2005 when the Malaysian sang Zhou’s Huang Hun (黄昏) on his breakthrough album (clip at the bottom of the article). Several other singers have also cashed in on his skills, often pushing him out of the limelight.

In the last decade, however, Zhou has increasingly recorded his own versions of songs written for others, with varied success. His 2003 album Wo Zai Shenbian (我在身边) sold extremely well, with a number of smash hits including the title track (video clip at the bottom of the article). Follow-ups have received a mixed reception, but he remains an important player in the Chinese music scene, even if he is no longer the trendiest.

Like any self-respecting musician, Zhou has become a “godfather” of his genre. Unlike like James Brown (Soul), Iggy Pop (Punk), or Neil Young (Grunge), he has a much softer moniker: Godfather of Love Songs. If that does not seem like your cup of tea—and I am no Michael Bolton fan myself—you should still give him a chance. True, the strings section in some of his songs could be dropped without anyone shedding a tear, but don’t be surprised if you end up walking around humming his infectious tunes.