1 |
Looking
To Fate |
2 |
Original
Sinner |
3 |
By
Your Side |
4 |
There’s
A Place |
5 |
It
Really Cannot Be Solved With Love? |
6 |
Long
Time No See |
| 7 |
I
Don’t Wanna Be |
8 |
An
Unfinished Lesson |
9 |
Worry
Song |
10 |
Wishing
Us Longevity |
ALBUM REVIEW:
If
anyone asks for a name in the Hong Kong showbiz who can act
as well as he can sing, only one artiste comes to mind.
Jacky
Cheung.
After
impressing us with his powerfully emotional vocals on the
soundtrack of Peter Chan’s Perhaps Love (2005), the
Heavenly King is back with his latest Mandarin album, and
here is our assurance that the wait is well worth it.
Take
note though, the Cheung’s signature big and heavy numbers
will be sorely missed in this 36-minute album. What have replaced
those potential karaoke tunes are some light tracks that do
not feature Cheung’s familiar groundbreaking vocals.
Singing
the titular theme song for Kevin Chu’s film Wishing
Us Longevity (2006) which commemorates the unfortunate Tang
Shan earthquake 30 years ago, Cheung moves listeners with
hope amidst the tragedy. Incidentally, the poem verse was
originally sung by the late Teresa Teng and performed by Faye
Wong in a 1995 cover. In this new rendition featuring a new
melody, Cheung takes on a different approach, concluding the
album in a somber tone accompanied by heartbreaking piano
solos.
Before
this track are nine other tracks like the funky and energetic
“Looking To Fate” and “Worry Song”
where you can hear Cheung rap (!) and presenting a younger
and hipper side which older listeners may not be too familiar
(or too comfortable!) with.
There
are also quieter moments like “By Your Side”,
“There’s A Place” and “Long Time No
See” which will prove to be evergreen hits.
Give
this short album a few listens, and you’d be awed by
how far the “God of Songs” has come. While it
is evident that the family man has not been taking on many
movie and music projects the last few years, you can feel
that for every one that he is involved in, there is one hundred
percent sincerity.
Although
it has been long time no see, he has always been by your side.
And that is what is truly important.
ALBUM RATING:
Review
by John Li
|
