It’s an exciting time being a Cantopop/Mandopop/C-pop fan and listener. The Weeknd has been making rounds and trending online as he’s on his international tour with the After Hours Til Dawn Tour.
The Weeknd played the opening night of his 4 date Hong Kong run at the Kai Tai Sports Park Stadium.
To much of the surprise, he debuted an unreleased track to the delight of the Hong Kong crowd. The track called Hong Kong played a sampled from a classic song by Faye Wong called 季候風, translated as Seasonal Wind or Monsoon. It’s from her 1993 album, 執迷不悔 (No Regrets).
With his dark R&B tones and the use of Seasonal Wind sure brought a smile to everyone around the world.
The clip posted on various social media showed a video of Hong Kong streets and city landmarks. It also showed the step print effect, famously used in Wong Kar-Wai films.
The video brought a nostalgic feels since it showed The Weeknd has a love for Hong Kong.
Abel Tasfaye as he’s known has been hanging with legendary Hong Kong stars, Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Carina Lau ahead of his Hong Kong run.
Why Cantopop Matters?
The 1980s and 1990s generation either grew up in Hong Kong or live away from Hong Kong have grown accustomed yo what parents watched from TV shows and music awards through video rental stores in Chinatown. Video rental stores are no more as the Internet and video streaming has taken over. It has made easier and faster access.
Cantopop songs were copied from Japanese Pop music to cater to the local audience.
Certain generations still love the classics from the 1980s and 1990s no matter what. Cantopop is the heartbeat to Hong Kong’s identity.
It has come full circle from a Canadian artist who just happens to love Hong Kong.
Reflecting Back (Continuing the 20 Seasons Celebrating the Blog)
With twenty seasons of the blog in continuing to look back and reflect. This essay or post has somewhat been a love letter to Hong Kong and Cantopop music. Since the early 2000s until now, listening to radio from Hong Kong has never gone away.
During my time as a radio host from the late 2000s to early 2010s, there were times of playing Cantopop music and I knew it didn’t sit well with the past management, which was one of the creative differences at the community radio station. I just couldn’t stop playing certain Cantopop songs to show the nostalgia.
I wish I had researched more of the songs and artists while needing to practiced saying the names in Cantonese and Mandarin very well.
Cantopop and Hong Kong never left me.
Thanks to The Weeknd for showing the love of Hong Kong and Cantopop.
Posted below are the clips from Instagram and YouTube.
Videos
From The Weeknd’s Instagram
季候風 (Seasonal Wind/Monsoon) by Faye Wong music video
Images
Can’t stop watching the video from the Hong Kong concert.
Reposted from video by The Weeknd
Reposted from video by The Weeknd
Reposted from video by The Weeknd
Reposted from video by The Weeknd
