Veteran Hong Kong singers Alan Tam and Sam Hui will join hands for their “Happy Together” concert in Shenzhen on March 30.
Sam Hui
Hui, 71, is credited with popularizing Cantopop both via the infusion of Western-style music and his usage of vernacular Cantonese. Hui is considered by some to be the first major superstar of Cantopop. In the early years of his career, Hui performed English songs that were popular in Britain and the United States. He wrote the theme songs for the comedies produced by his brother and started performing Cantonese songs. His music gained popular appeal, particularly with the working class, for its simplicity and the relevance of the lyrics. A noted recurring theme in his music often describes or humorously satirizes Hong Kong society and events. While some of his songs are light-hearted, others carry philosophical messages brought out through the artful use of Chinese words that have varied symbolism.
Alan Tam
Tam, 69, also played a major role in developing the Cantopop scene in the 1980s as he was known for singing romantic ballads. From 1983 to 1987, Tam received numerous music awards for four consecutive years, which made him a superstar in Hong Kong in the 1980s. In early 1988, he publicly quit all pop music award ceremonies and put his efforts in seeking a new direction for Cantopop music. Today, he is still active in the music industry, holding concerts on a regular basis. In 2007 he was the recipient of the 30th Hall of Fame Award from the Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong (CASH) for his 30-plus years of contributions to the Hong Kong music industry.
Time: 7:30 p.m., March 30
Tickets: 480-1,680 yuan
Venue: Gymnasium of Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, 3001 Binhai Boulevard, Nanshan District (南山区滨海大道3001号深圳湾体育中心体育馆)
Metro: Line 2 to Keyuan Station (科苑站), Exit A