Tuesday April 28, 2009
George Lam is the real deal
By SETO KIT YAN
George Lam’s concert was all about creative music arrangements and power-packed vocals.
HONG Kong star George Lam raised temperatures in chilly Genting. He showed his Malaysian fans that he was the real deal as he played to a packed hall at the 6,000-capacity Arena of Stars, Genting Highlands, on Saturday night.
George Lam's no-frills concert delighted his fans. Backed by a 40-piece symphony orchestra, Lam’s singing was as sensational as ever. At 61, the man could easily put most singers half his age to shame.
No need for all the fancy footwork or flashy fashion. Not for him the fiery pyrotechnics or frilly confetti. Not even so much as a costume change or sexy dancers in the background.
There were no lyrics on the screens but his fans knew the words to his songs by heart. In fact, fans were so mesmerised by his vocals, they couldn’t care less about anything else.
The unassuming entertainer did not even make a grand entrance, leaving that distinction to the more flamboyant silver-haired conductor of the orchestra.
Lam simply walked on stage dressed in a white jacket and black pants and began singing. No drum rolls or flashing lights, the show was all about his creative music arrangements and power-packed vocals.
The highlight of the show was definitely Lam’s not-to-be-missed rendition of his signature hit Nam Yee Dong Ji Keung (Guys Be Strong). Due to lack of space, only nine of the 24-seasons Chinese drums, which provided music back-up for the song, were carted onto the packed stage.
Red and yellow lights bathed the stage and the audience roared its approval as Lam belted out his theme song from the popular Wong Fei Hong TV series and feature films.
Lam serenaded the audience with Barry Manilow’s I Write the Songs and tunes he wrote for other singers: Ling Si Sap Fan (Happy Birthday to Me) for his wife Sally Yeh, Sing Gwong Dik Bui Ying (Shadow of the Starlight) for Paula Tsui and Ying Yin Gei Dak Gor Yat Chi (Still Remember That Time) for Teresa Carpio.
The hall erupted in thunderous applause when Lam rattled off, “3 0624700, 3 0624770, 5 34202, 13942, 4314 0624”, part of the lyrics of another of the unorthodox musician’s hits, which was mostly made up of numbers titled Sou Jee Yan Sang (Number Life).
Lam belted out more than 30 songs in Cantonese, English and Mandarin. Throughout the show, he never left our sight. He didn’t even stop for a breather.
The singer continually blew kisses to his adoring fans who were an older crowd ranging from those in their 30s to grey-haired 60s but no less enthusiastic. Many uncles and aunties were seen raising their arms and jumping to catch souvenir tennis balls that Lam threw to the audience.
For Sam Yan Hang (The Trio), Lam sang with six-year-old Kimberly Wang and jazz songstress Angelita Li. Wang was the winner of a talent search for a lucky fan to join him on stage while Li doubled as his back-up vocalist during the show.
George Lam is backed by 24-seasons Chinese drums as he belts out his signature Wong Fei Hong hit Nam Yee Dong Ji Keung. During the encore, Lam delighted fans with Sap Fan Sap Yee Chuin (10’12”) as well as his Cantonese cover versions of hits such as Billy Joel’s Uptown Girl (I Love You), Starship’s Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now, Glenn Medeiros’ Lonely Won’t Leave Me Alone as well as Sarah Brightman and Jose Carreras’ Amigos Para Siempre (Friends for Life).
When fans requested for a second encore, the singer obliged with the English version of Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.
- George Lam and the Symphony Orchestra Live in Malaysia concert was organised by Star Planet.
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