Li Yuchun graces the cover of L'Officiel

Singer Chris Lee cheers for World Cup

Zhang, 45, has worked with many notable Chinese singers such as Faye Wong and Xu Wei. He calls Li's latest album his most satisfactory in the past few years.

"I still remember the first time I met her in the studio. She was silent. Now, she has matured as a singer and songwriter," Zhang says.

For Li, being in the spotlight has not been easy. She has had to endure a tight schedule, few friends and less privacy.

"The record company positioned me as a dance-music performer at the beginning. But I was not sure. I didn't find my own style until I started writing songs by myself around five years ago," she recalls.

The new album was supposed to be released last year but she slowed things down. She wrote the lyrics for the song I Met You in 1987, paying tribute to her first idol, Chinese-American singer Kris Phillips.

Like millions who became Phillips fans after he performed the song Winter Fire at the 1987 CCTV New Year's Gala, Li - who was 3 years old then - was hooked by the rhythm and dancing.

Another song, Goddess Story, reflects Li's rebellious nature.

"Some young people try to imitate the stars' fashion style and follow the trend," she says. "I think it kills their own personalities."

Zhang says Li is neither a girl-next-door type nor an angry rocker. Instead, she is the rebel with a good attitude.

When she launched her Why Me concerts in 2006 at the age of 22, she wanted to ask herself the question: "Why was it me who won the singing contest? Why it is me who gets all this - especially the fans?"

"I think the answer is, I am being myself," Li says.