Intro

I am going to introduce you to my world.
My public life, as columnist, image designer, producer, performer, recording artist, and now as guest music lecturer is well known.
I love to sing, photograph and design. I had a flourishing art business for over twenty years.
No matter how busy I am, I make time for my family, friends and fans. Here we go!

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令人懷念的第一次

剛從馬來西亞演出回港不久,就爽快答應了一件從來沒有做過的艱巨任務:寫稿!

不久之前也有記者朋友提議我可嘗試寫鬼故出書,自己也有興趣創作,寫寫旅遊趣聞、娛樂秘事,甚或諷刺時弊,試試亦無妨;但礙於只想專注從事與音樂有關及慈善的工作,遲遲未有動力嘗試。大概是這次大馬演唱會及後自駕遊不亦樂乎,太得意忘形才會這麼衝動的首次以二千字來現場報導作為歌者第一身的喜悅。

甫一踏出機場,已經要馬不停蹄地趕著接見馬來西亞傳媒做專訪。幸好自己一早準備了髮型,只需匆忙地梳洗化妝便可,才不致被延遲的班機耽誤行程。而且剛巧遇著是馬來人的新年假期,更不容有失

一連數天從早到晚的訪問,首次接觸的大馬平面媒體、電台與電視台,著實有很多的新鮮感及複雜的心情。有第一次全英語的錄像訪問,第一次遇見馬來西亞的同鄉記者(自己幾代都是大馬華僑),當然有第一次全華語的還要是直播的電台訪問!那份既新鮮卻親切但又緊張的感覺真的難以用筆墨形容,疲累亦興奮得一掃而空。

終於來到重頭戲也是今次大馬之旅最重要的任務-《我是發燒歌手》HiFi Live音樂會。這次是為慶祝星馬大眾集團九十周年,由大眾書局CD-Rama特別呈獻首次大型Hi-Fi音樂會,作為慶典的一場回饋樂迷的特備活動,非常有誠意!被邀請之演出歌手顧名思義全是Hi-Fi發燒歌手,在發燒唱片界有一定的好評,有不少發燒友追捧。CD-Rama邀請了當地美聲組合2V1G(Winnie何芸妮、Roger Wang羅傑、Serena張盈慧)、鋼琴家鄭澤相、May毛依媚,與以被冠上「亞洲Karen Carpenter」之名、代表香港的我,首次跨國合作演出。很榮幸可以有此難得的機會以音樂會大馬發燒友,藉此再一次衷心感謝大眾書局與環球唱片促成這次發燒唱片界盛會,雖然馬來西亞仍然處於被稱為國難之馬航事件系之悲傷沈重氣氛,但當晚仍然被傳媒大篇幅地廣泛報導,好評如潮,引起各界高度關注,能以真音樂緩和哀傷的情緒,撫慰創傷的心靈,真正做到以音樂帶出正能量,獲得空前的成功,為低迷的唱片業界、歌手及樂手們無疑打了一支強心針。

音樂會終於在本年七月二十八日假吉隆坡KLCC - Plenary Theatre隆重舉行。我們一早已到達會場進行綵排。第一次與當地頂尖級Hi-Fi爵士樂手人馬合作,心情難免又驚又喜。再加上連日來天氣酷熱但又行程緊密地踏著時興的幾吋高跟鞋拍照宣傳,並不停要以三種語言工作,即使是隨我同行的兩位香港私人助理也差點吃不消。幸好已經來到到步的第三天,而馬來西亞大部分華人都懂得以廣東話溝通的,總算容易適應下來。環球唱片的悉心照顧亦功不可沒,幾天來儘管忙碌,但仍能忙裡偷閒,帶我們吃盡大馬美食:有別於新加坡的肉骨茶、香港沒有的芽菜雞、各式各樣的地道小食及惹味的多種海鮮等,又便宜又可口!還有情有獨鍾的兒時情懷咖央多士和特產咖啡就算我不喜歡吃辣,演唱會一完畢,當晚已急不及待仍然腳踏高跟鞋也放縱地大吃一頓去了。

去大馬一定會掛住吃的。我們當天早上綵排完畢,午飯已開定紅酒慶功!然後下午各人開始準備變身,化妝、做型忙到不可開交之餘,我居然還有精力間中接受電台專訪!這可能就是在香港訓練有數,一心幾用的藝人特性。於是好像很快便到了傍晚七時,演唱會便正式開始。真的如電台預言,坐無虛席。因為有消息指出,這有別於一般的音樂會早已全場爆滿無法再兌換到入場券了。也許演唱會主題《我是發燒歌手》容易令人聯想起《我是歌手》之類的現場實力演唱,確實會令樂迷非常期待的。而值得一提的,是音樂會以購買專輯送門票的概念,讓發燒友以一個價錢既可到場館親身享受一流聲效的現場奏樂及演唱,還可以在夜闌人靜時細細回味高質素的發燒錄音,可比較同一首樂曲在不同的環境氣氛下,有著不一樣的感染力,樂趣無。而先購買唱片,聽過有關發燒歌曲,才去看該演出歌手的現場演繹,可大大提高投入感,容易引起共鳴之餘,更有另一番音樂感受。這也是我們香港同業可嘗試的有效宣傳方法之一,值得參考。

節目一開場,我們眾表演者率先一字排開,神情肅穆,對近日馬航的死難者默哀一分鐘,以表哀悼。隨即展開一連串高格調的爵士樂,把哀愁通通帶走。打頭陣的我以戰戰競競的心情先用謹識兩句的馬來語跟大馬的觀眾打招呼,唱出第一首歌,也是收錄在我第一張唱片內的英文歌-Desperado,再唱出第五張廣東唱片內的愛的根源。歌曲引子由鋼琴家鄭澤相獨奏帶出,在此特別多謝他替我為是次演唱會歌曲重新編奏。第三首〈Superstar〉特別由Roger以高超的結他技巧替我伴奏,我的第一節演出就此順利完成。

跟著出場的2V1G、Serena、Winnie、May,她們都是演唱華語歌為主,各有強烈的個人風格,全是實力的好歌手。好戲連場,我分別與挺着四個月孕肚的Serena合唱了長夜My Love Goodnight,以及與Winnie合唱了Over The Rainbow然後唱一曲Close To You,再出類拔萃的歌手及樂手們以我的風繼續吹(告別版)〉和全場大合唱作結,真是樂事。兩個半小時的演唱會就在我們與台下所有觀眾大合照及享受站起來拍掌的朋友歡呼聲下完滿結束。此外,大家當然意猶未盡,歌迷魚貫地排隊跟我們合照取簽名呢!

畢竟這是馬來西亞第一個大型Hi-Fi歌手演唱會,也是馬來西亞出色的爵士樂手與我首次音樂Crossover,總是令人懷念的。

About Astor

Astor is able to express herself with logical literacy but full of artistic feelings. She acts to record her valuable, interesting and unforgettable experiences during her travel and plans to share with others her instant feelings, thoughtful insights and findings via poems, free verses, prose, narration, reference, etc.

Music, Movie, Musicals and Me

Music and theatre have had a close relationship. Theatre can associate with movie or musical theatre (musicals) and I love both of them. I sing theme songs in some Asian movies, such as“When I Dream” (theme from “Dragon Squad”). It easily recalls people not only from scenes of the movie, but also from memory. I love theme music from movies as well as songs from Musicals, especially Broadway. I remember I have fallen in love with Broadway since I was 12. Musical films characteristically contain elements reminiscent of theatre; performers often sing and dance as if there is a live audience watching. Some musical films were adapted for the stage after their great success, such as “The Wizard of Oz” and“Fame”, while successful musicals also definitely received movie adaptations, i.e. stage-to-film adaptations, such as“Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Evita”. We can share our moments after all these years by passing through “Over the Rainbow”, “Out Here On My Own”, “I Don’t Know How To Love Him”, “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”, “You Must Love Me” ……

“Moon River” (theme from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”) has to be selected in my new album "Theatre" although it has been covered by hundreds of artists all over the world. I sing it each time, it seems like a live performance accompanied by the pianist just in front of the audience.

“The Way We Were” (theme from “The Way We Were”) must be selected because it was the song of one of my favorite singers that influences me most, Barbra Streisand, and I won the singing contest with it!

“For All We Know” (theme from “Lovers and OtherStrangers”) was selected, of course, in tribute to my forever idol, the Carpenters.

WORDS from Astor :

I hope all of you would like the presentation of my albums.
Everlasting love dedicated to SUPERSTAR...
My dearest family,
Mom and Dad,
Uncle,
Tony,
Jan.
All the one I love,
Teachers and tutors, who have enlightened me,
All singers and writers of the original songs, especially Karen and Richard Carpenter.
All musicians,
All my fans and friends.
Thanks GOD.

Astor Fong

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