Since 1999, balladeer Chris Yu, Mandopop's "Prince of Love Songs", has insinuated himself into listeners' hearts with his plaintive tenor voice and poet's soul. Indeed, an innovative 2006 release set ancient Chinese love poetry and other source material in arrangements featuring the guzheng, China's version of the zither. Barring the occasional light-hearted reggae number, Yu's voice sails forcefully through gales of strings punctuated with searing guitar solos and occasional harmonica.