巨星
上次提過唱K不需要太多個人風格，娛己娛人更為重要，興趣娛樂而已，開心就好。做專業唱片歌手就不一樣了，要在錄音時顯露出個人特色尤其重要，不單只是唱得好聽，至少要有一個特點，而且最好是無人能代替的，否則很容易被人忘記淘汰。以前年代新人或許可以有三兩張專輯的時間探索自己的歌路，學習調整歌藝、心態、情緒等各方面的裝備，但現在唱片業萎縮，新人可能最多只有一碟的時間去開竅，甚至只有推出幾首單曲的機會，就要面對去留了。監製的角色就是要與歌手有良好的溝通，能在指定的錄音時段內激發及帶動到歌者的情緒，發揮出最佳的表現。
剛有幸看到Olivia Newton-John在香港會展Grand Hall的演唱會。千辛萬苦下竟然有機會和她談話及合照，興奮到第二天心情還不能平伏下來！小時候的我曾留意過她，也買過她的唱片，其後組band時也表演過她的歌， 包括《 I Honestly Love You 》丶《 Hopelessly Devoted To You 》等。今年已68歲的她還精神奕奕，在台上又唱又跳，風采依然－她還提到她曾經患過乳癌！－真的配服到五體投地！而且她是Karen Carpenter 的好朋友，令我更感莫名的親切感。演唱會由她的signature song代表作《 I Honestly Love You 》的一小段作為overture開始，很快她已warm up進入狀態，《 Xanadu 》丶《 Suddenly 》丶 《 Sam 》丶《 If Not For You 》等，還有跳唱她曾令人印象難忘的運動服video《 Physical 》，首首都是她的經典名曲，真是聽出耳油！跟著還有她也有翻唱過的《 Jolene 》丶 《 Take Me Home, Country Roads 》丶 《 Cry Me A River 》等，真是唱到無人知道她原來也是cover version！ 這就是所謂的個人風格。
當然除了《 Xanadu 》（仙樂都）這首音樂劇歌曲外，她另一最為人熟悉的音樂劇就是《 Grease 》（油脂）內的歌曲：《 You Are The One That I Want 》丶《 Hopelessly Devoted To You 》丶《 Summer Nights 》等，掀起了一個又一個的高潮。最後以《 I Honestly Love You 》作結。如果這晚你有份在場觀看的話，一定意猶未盡，估不到她以一曲大家都喜愛的經典Standard《 Over The Rainbow 》為是晚的演唱會劃上一道美麗的彩虹作為encore的完美句號。
一個滿足的演唱會完結後，有幸和幾位香港歌星及嘉賓們一起到後台等候這位國際巨星合照留念。計有曾經和我合作過的李樂詩與杜德偉，我兒時最愛唱他們的歌曲的葉蒨文和林子祥夫婦...…。等候期間，連香港這些巨星都會像小粉絲一樣在等她，葉蒨文也表示ONJ 的現場表演實在太令人感動了，尤其是唱《 Sam 》時，令她毛管也直豎呢！真是識英雄重英雄！
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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