The audiences roared with excitement when the lights were turned off. It was an electrifying moment in the packed concert hall in Bukit Jalil National Stadium: the audience was screaming, blowing whistle, and swaying light-flickers from side-to-side. Yes, that was definitely a lively concert in darkness even before it was started.
At 8:45 p.m. – a delay of 15 minutes – an announcement over the loudspeakers declared the start of the sold-out concert. The multi-coloured lights at the stage were turn on, and immediately, it was followed by an explosive start of the show by Jacky Cheung in his concert titled, “The Year of Jacky Cheung World Tour 2007”.
The audience erupted with a roar of approval again screaming Jacky Cheung’s name: Hock Yow! Hock Yow! (Cantonese version) amid thunderous applause and blowing of whistles loudly. The atmosphere was really super-charged. You have to be there – LIVE – to be part of the crowd and enjoyed in that concert.
I was attracted to this Hong Kong pop star Jacky Cheung’s concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Friday 14 September when I read in the Star newspaper (dated 6 Sept) that “only the best for concert by Jacky Cheung”. Before that, he canceled his show 15 minutes before the start of a concert in Hong Kong due to an unspecified illness. Though Jacky Cheung has performed a few times in Kuala Lumpur, that night was my first time watching him live in concert.
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The Performance
It was a spectacular and breathtaking world-class concert with fireworks flames to add on to the excitement. It was a high-energy performance by Jacky Cheung and it was really a concert to remember. In between songs, he tested out his vocal power by screaming at the top of his lung. The audience responded by screaming in reciprocity but with much less assertiveness.
With so many hit songs, it was quite a bit of choice for him to choose which songs should be sung. The audience could sing along very well, whether they were Jacky Cheung’s new hits or all-time favourites. Singing and seeing their idol at the same time must have been an exhilarating experience.
There were five giant screens facing the audience for fans to enjoy the close-ups of their idol. As for me, I even used my binoculars to look at the giant screen to have a much bigger and clearer view.
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Light-hearted Moments
In between songs, he told the audience a little of his family background and career. We were told that his father, uncle and cousin were fishermen who spent most time in the sea. So he spent much of his younger days with women (mother, sisters and aunties). When he got married, there were eight women in his house – wife, two daughters and five maids. So he said he understands women very well. He quipped: since he is a man, he also understands man too, much to the amusement of all.
He told the audience that he has been 23 years in his singing career since he shot to stardom at 23 years old. So, we all got his age correct. This is his 61st concerts appearance since 2007! What an incredible feat.
Apart from jokes, the words he said have a message to the audience: that we should strive hard amid adversity; the sweet success will come later.
Since it was an outdoor stadium, the most expansive tickets holders were actually under the sky with no shelter. It drizzled at times and I saw some of the spectacles were carrying umbrellas. Never mind, the feeling of getting so close to their idol would supersede the unpleasant feeling. Possibly, the fire in them would quickly dry up the wet clothing. Sweating profusely, Jacky Cheung said it does not make a difference to him whether it is the rain or sweat.
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Four Heavenly King
Jacky Cheung is one of the Four Heavenly King of singers in Hong Kong. However, the term Four Heavenly King is used in different context in Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia Boleh: it is a vegetable dish with four different types of beans such as petai (local smelly bean), long bean, four-angle bean and egg-plant fried in sambal belajan. If our Heavenly Kings were to know that their titles were been abused, I think they would not be amused.
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The Encore
After two and quarter hours in the concert, it was time to bid goodbye. With the lights at the stage all turned off, the audience all got worried. So there was thunderous encore calling his name and blowing whistles loudly amid light-flickers swaying frantically from side to side.
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Almost minutes later, the stage was lighted and our idol re-appeared. The entire audience got excited again and broke into loud applause. This time, for every one song that Jacky Cheung sang, he signaled to the audience to gauge the acceptance level; so, the audience cheered loudly. That was a fair deal since he has been singing for hours. So whenever Jacky Cheung ended a song, the audiences gave their approval by shouting at the top of their lungs.
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The encore lasted almost one hour from 11:15 p.m. That was my first Jacky Cheung’s concert and I truly enjoyed myself in that show. All shows must end. When Jacky Cheung sang this song about friendship, well wishes and farewell, a girl sitting at the front of my roll immediately got excited, much like hitting the jackpot, telling her friend that she guessed that song would be sung. Everyone in the concert was singing along with Jacky Cheung -- it was superb audience participation. That song really touched our hearts at that moment and I was worried that some of the fans might get hysteria. Luckily, it did not happen.
The stadium was lighted up when the song ended. We were enthralled and mesmerized by Jacky Cheung’s concert for 3 hours and 20 minutes. It was a fantastic feat that his voice still sounded refresh as though the concert was just started. Everyone left feeling happy and satisfied.
I made a right decision to watch Jacky Cheung in concert, postponing a trekking trip to Pine Tree Trail in Fraser’s Hill the next morning to Saturday 29 September. Well, looks like we will have to wait for another few years for Jacky Cheung’s re-appearance in Kuala Lumpur. This time, I will sure give my undivided support by buying his albums and practising how to sing.
Written by KC
1 comment:
It was indeed a very entertaining concert. I like his narrations, the use of personal stories, really added a lot of emotional and personal touch into the concert. The fans were ecstatic as well... really great!
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