After ten years in the music industry, Fiona Sit ended 2013 with a bang with her eleventh studio album "Tenacious," her best work yet and a cohesive representation of her maturation into a dominating HK pop princess.
The album opens with "Contagious," which makes use of club beats and dub step influences, which results in an infectious and catchy dance song. Fiona's vocal delivery is cheeky and fun and not ruined by excessive uses of auto tune like Cantopop dance songs typically like to do. It is definitely one of the better dance songs I have heard and a great way to start the album.
"Weekend Pictorial/周末畫報" is one of the best songs of 2013, and easily the best upbeat one. Cantopop songs usually tend to be slow ballads, auto tune doused club songs, or mid tempo, but "Weeknd Pictorial" is simply a fun, catchy, and refreshing pop song that will have you bobbing your head and snapping your fingers to the beat. It is genuinely a fresh breath of air.
"Tenacious" then takes a slower turn with "Zhu Ge Liang/諸葛亮." The song possesses a very romantic yet sorrowful feel, established by Fiona's gentle and emotion-filled vocals. What sets the single apart though is its lovely musical composition, which has a slight blues influence that perfectly brings out the bittersweetness of the lyrics and vocals.
"A Little Clingy/小小癡纏" brings out the youthful and effortlessly cute side of Fiona and is honestly just a sweet, simple, and good hearted song that makes you smile without being too cheesy.
Things become more laid back with the airy "Art Waits/等待的藝術." It is not one of the album's stand outs, but nevertheless an enjoyable track.
"I Say Goodbye/告別我", composed by Fiona's close friend and musical talent Khalil Fong, is a beautiful ballad reminiscent of 90s Cantopop. The composition of the song is simply gorgeous and everything blends together perfectly, which should come as no surprise given the person behind it. Fiona's vocals shine here with her heartfelt yet slightly restrained delivery. The song truly shows Fiona's maturation and sophistication, and the MV is tasteful.
The album makes a miss with "F.Night", which is made tacky with Fiona's narration through out the song. The song seems to try to be a little mysterious and dream-like, but the effort for the most part falls short.
Meanwhile, the hidden gem on the album is Mandarin track "Recovery/復原", which did not do as well on charts as the other singles. Fiona wrote the lyrics for the song following the death of her beloved cat, who helped her get through her previous depression. I have mixed feelings for the English introduction, which gives off the impression that the song's tone is very dramatic and solemn when it is light and bittersweet, but the rest is in a word, lovely. Mandarin was very appropriate for the song. The light R&B beats and her vocals matched together beautifully with the melody. She looks absolutely gorgeous in the MV, which makes use of simplistic but artsy shots and dark lighting.
The album closes with "Palace Ruo Mei/宮若梅," a song dedicated to the character Gong Er in the film "The Grandmaster." The song boosts a much more powerful feel with an obvious rock influence. While Fiona delivers much of the album in a gentle and restrained register, she allows herself to belt more here without losing control of her vocals, as if to say she is finally letting loose, which is a very appropriate way to end the album.
Overall, "Tenacious" finds a balance between two sounds and images: the youthful, bubbly, and endearing Fiona and the matured, sophisticated, and more artistic Fiona in the slower songs and ballads. All the singles released from the album are wonderfully produced and sung, and the only weakness on it is "F.Night." After vastly improving her vocals and music sound in 2012, Fiona successfully finished 2013 as a force to be reckoned with and the new HK pop princess.
Regardless of if you are a fan of Fiona, you have to acknowledge the very far way she has come since her debut and the consistency in the music she has released in the last 2 years. Do give "Tenacious" a listen, even if it is just for the singles, whether you are a Fiona fan or want a reminder that there is still good music being put out in Hong Kong.
Following the smash hit "Cold Joke", Fiona Sit releases her new single "Farewell", which is burning up the charts!
Over the last year, Fiona has made great strides in her musical career. Her vocals as well as musical style have sharpened and matured, showing she will be the star and diva of tomorrow. This latest plug joins the streak of great singles Fiona has been releasing.
"Farewell" is a beautiful and phenomenal ballad. Its musical composition is lovely and pleasing to the ears, with a sound that is slightly reminiscent of 90s Cantopop. The instruments and musical elements blend together beautifully. The lyrics, which talk of falling in love with someone you know you will have to say goodbye to, are emotionally sung and executed gracefully by Fiona. The pacing of the song is very nice, as it is neither too slow for a ballad nor too fast. "Farewell" also gives a more sophisticated musical direction and image to Fiona.
In addition, the music video is nicely executed with tasteful artistic direction, and as a result compliments the song very well. There is a melancholic feel to it, allowing the song to touch you more. Everything about the song comes together so effortlessly and beautifully.
Overall, "Farewell" is a heartfelt and stunning song, and one of the more memorable ballads I've heard. It continues to show how Fiona is improving and maturing, as well as on her way to becoming one of the brightest and biggest singers in Cantopop. This is definitely my new favorite song from Fiona (which I seem to say every time she releases a new single nowadays?), and I'm sure there is more great material to come.
Cantopop has long lost its level of prestige with the dozens of different award shows that give out countless awards. It starts to become hard to tell which awards are really an "honor" and which are just pork chop awards. At the same time, still so many artists and songs go unrecognized. The same people win every year (Joey, Eason, I don't doubt you're very talented, but someone else deserves to win!) until it loses it's meaning. The year of 2012 was quite a great year for Cantopop, and the first ever AEE HK Music Awards hopes to recognize the people who may have not gotten the attention or accolades they deserve without giving out so many awards their meaning is lost.
Song Awards
Top 10 Songs of the Year
#10 - "The End/到此為止" by Shiga Lin
Ballads are nothing unfamiliar to the world of Cantopop, and although "The End" is nothing groundbreaking, it's still a beautifully composed and sung song. Shiga's vocals are gorgeous and full of heartbreaking emotion. The song is very personal and full of meaning, as it signified Shiga acknowledging, learning from, and moving on from a damaging scandal that hit her early last year. She deserves all the accolades she's received for this song, and does not go unnoticed here either.
#9 - "BB88" by Khalil Fong
Upbeat songs are not too common (and quite often they're not good either) in the HK music industry. Khalil released the most upbeat single of his career with "BB88", a pleasant surprise because it stays with his signature R&B sound, while also very creative, catchy, and fun!
#8 - "Drenched" by Wanting Qu
Although written in English by a China-based artist, "Drenched" became a huge hit following being used in the HK movie "Love in a Buff". The song is magical and absolutely beautiful with Wanting's deep and soulful vocals and the moving musical composition, so it just can not go unrecognized here!
#7 - "Cold Joke/冷笑話" by Fiona Sit
After a year of consistently releasing great singles, Fiona capped off the year with "Cold Joke", her most mature and best work yet. The song, from the lovely musical composition to her vocals, is full of so much emotion that you know it is very special to Fiona. There is feeling in every breath. The song is delivered with so much grace.
#6 - "Frail/孱弱" by Kelvin Kwan
Kelvin found his niche sound this year in alternative/rock influenced songs, and "Frail" is the cherry on top of a great year of experimenting with the new musical style. The song is gripping, slightly gritty, and full of angst, not something many Cantopop singers can pull off. It allows him to showcase his vocal abilities while keeping it fresh and original instead of the typical love ballad.
#5 - "So Dry/疗Dry" by Eric Suen
Eric finally returned with a new album again and completely took us by surprise with "So Dry". It's unlike anything he's ever written before. It's catchy, upbeat, but also creative, whimsical, with a message that's easy to relate to. Rarely is an upbeat Cantonese song that good! "So Dry" is the new working people's theme song.
#4 - "Death Row/斬立決" by Pakho Chau
Perhaps no other song leaves as much of an emotional impact following listening as "Death Row", as it honestly does leave you in a state of sadness. The song touches on the issue of cyber bullying and depicts the horrors through its well-written lyrics, a haunting melody, strong vocals by Pakho, and evokes so much emotion.
#3 - "Goodbye" by Dear Jane
After a year of sweeping up awards for "Yellow Fever", "Goodbye" is still a little shining gem that went mostly unnoticed and undecorated by awards. It is a phenomenal song that is heartfelt, moving, powerful, serene, wonderfully produced and polished. Tim sounds his best vocally with his gentle yet powerful delivery, and the instruments come together beautifully.
#2 - "Yesterday/昨天" by Mr.
Mr.'s "Yesterday" is hands down the best rock ballad of the year. It is a beautifully and wonderfully arranged. At a long length of 5:15, the song does not drag on, but continues to deliver to the very end and leaves an impact. The song is powerful, thoughtful, and meaningful. Alan's vocals anchor the song, and the instruments shine, particularly during the guitar solo.
#1 - "Non-Vegetation/人非草木" by Kary Ng
Taking the top song honor is Kary with "Non-Vegetation". The composition and arrangement of the song (which consists of both piano and strings) coupled with Kary's soft but strong vocals is breathtaking and enchanting. Both a bit of sadness and sweetness is evoked. The song says that humans are not like vegetables and meant for living, which is exactly what Kary has been doing: living the life. "Non-Vegetation" is the best song of the year, and Kary's best yet.
Songs that narrowly missed getting placed or ultimately removed included G.E.M.'s "Someday I'll Fly" (meaningful, but in the end sounded generic), Raymond Lam's "Because of You" (lovely, but not outstanding), and Eason Chan's "Heavy Taste" (unique and catchy, but already heavily awarded). I also really wanted to include Kary's "Ferociously", Fiona's "Better Me", and Pakho's "Irreversible", but excluded them as I didn't want to include more than one song from an artist.
Genre-Specific:
Best Ballad: "The End/到此為止" by Shiga Lin
The most beautifully composed and sung ballad of the year with a story behind it. Although ballads are vastly overdone in Cantopop, Shiga breathes a breath of fresh air into the type of song.
Best Dance Song: "Ferociously/狠狠" by Kary Ng
Dance songs in Cantopop are often poorly done, full of autotune, or just not catchy. Kary's "Ferociously" is catchy, funky, refreshing, with great choreography.
Best Rock Song: "Yellow Fever" by Dear Jane
Rock has found its way back into the mainstream Cantopop industry, a feat worth celebrating. Dear Jans's "Yellow Fever" is a catchy, infectious rock song with a great hook and intertwines dub step well.
Best Duet: "Lone Ranger Companion/獨行俠侶" by William So and Kay Tse
A great collaboration between William and Kay. The song has a lovely melody and the two talented artist's voices blend together and compliment each other very well, making it a more memorable duet.
Music Video Awards
Best Music Video: "Confessions/告白" by Kary Ng
The best music videos don't take away from the song, but compliment it and make it even better. In Kary's first attempt at directing, the MV of "Confessions" acts out the story and message in the lyrics. It depicts the emotional despair of a person who cheated in a relationship, and the one cheated on. The different shots and settings used done and chosen well. Everything from the shots of Kary resting her head on her boyfriend by the sea, to the ones of them hanging out happily in the past, to her singing as her dress flows with the wind are fantastic. The entire video does a spectacular job of boosting the emotion of the song.
Honorable mentions include Kelvin's "People of My Generation" for it's concept, Pakho's "Death Row" for it's art direction, and Eric's "So Dry" for it's creative use of animations. In general, I saw quite a few great music videos this year.
Album Awards
Album of the Year: "My January" by Kary Ng
"My January" went largely unrecognized by awards and deserves a lot more love. "My January" is a collection of Kary's personal stories of love and life that flows smoothly from track to track until the very end. It shows her maturation into a fine and talented young lady with songs that show her talent, feeling, and grace.
2nd Place: "Back to Wonderland" by Khalil Fong
Khalil returned to the funkier and retro sound and concept of his popular 2007 album "Wonderland", and it worked. There's still the same R&B/soul style we know him for, but with a more upbeat and funky twist. It's an album brighter and quicker in pace than his past works, and one that will have you swaying your head to the music.
3rd Place: "Self-Portrait" by Raymond Lam
Raymond genuinely surprised me with "Self-Portrait", a mature and creative piece of work that exhibited many different musical styles that all worked well with him. Raymond may be known as more of an idol and not taken very seriously as a singer, but many overlook the fact that "Self-Portrait" is still a fantastic album and his best one yet.
Artist Awards
Most Promising Artist: Shiga Lin
Shiga showed potential as a newcomer, and over the last year has polished up her vocals to the point she's now one of the most beautiful and controlled young voices in HK. She did well with ballads such as "The End" and "Movin' On", and also the midtempo and inspiring "Run". She proved she is also strong and capable of overcoming hardship, which shows she can last a long time in this cutthroat industry. She breathes fresh air into the HK music industry, which is in need of youthful talent like her, so expect to see a lot more of her.
Most Improved Artist: TIE, Fiona Sit and Kelvin Kwan
Fiona first debuted back in 2004 as a singer with potential, but her vocals weren't always too reliable and she had trouble gaining success. Yet, her voice and control has improved heaps and bounds over the years and she found lots of momentum in 2012 and exerted many different musical styles in her album "Filicious". All the singles released were hits, and she was able to hold her own concert at the HK Coliseum for the first time. She too, is steadily becoming a young lady worthy of respect as an artist and will soon emerge as one of the best.
It has been an exciting and impressive year for Kelvin. He made a comeback to the industry last year, but successfully shed his image and past this year. He's no longer someone to be associated with his scandal back in 2009, but as the man and talented young artist he is today. His "Occupation" EP showed he is capable of many musical styles and found a niche in a more gritty and rock influenced type of music. He has involved himself in the creative process of his music and tried his hand at directing one of his music videos. This may not have been expected, but Kelvin has vastly improved and is quickly becoming one of the most talented and worth noticing young singers in Hong Kong.
The best singer/band awards are the top honors of the AEE HK Music Awards. They're judged by the performances of the artists this year, which include the quality of material they've released and the success they achieved, as opposed to just whose the most popular.
Best Band: Dear Jane
Dear Jane was the rising band of 2012 as they achieved great critical and commercial success, sweeping up countless awards for "Yellow Fever", putting them on the map. They're helping bring rock to the mainstream Cantopop with their more unique punk influences and honest and passionate music. It's been great seeing them see reach new heights this year, and it's only expected that 2013 be an even better year for them.
Best Female Singer: Kary Ng
Winning the top song award, best dance song, best music video, and best album, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise as Kary grabs the top honor of Best Female Singer. It's truly been a fantastic year for her and it showed the completion of her transformation into a young woman and musical artist. She's became one of the shining stars of the Cantopop industry, since she has both years of experience and youth (she is only 26 years old but has been in the industry since around 15). Mark my words, she is going to become the next pop diva. Move over Joey Yung!
Best Male Singer: Kelvin Kwan This may come as a surprise to some people and met with mixed response, but it's been an exciting and impressive year for Kelvin. He made a comeback to the industry last year, but successfully shed his image and past this year. He's no longer someone to be associated with his scandal back in 2009, but as the man and talented young artist he is today. His "Occupation" EP showed he is capable of many musical styles and as mentioned above, found a niche in a more gritty and rock influenced type of music. He has involved himself in the creative process of his music and tried his hand at directing one of his music videos. This may not have been expected, but Kelvin is quickly becoming one of the most talented and worth noticing young singers in Hong Kong. ***Update 11/2/13**** I had intended to update this a LONG time ago, but then...life happened, so I never got the chance. This comes awfully late, but I thought it was worth changing before the next awards comes around.
Best Male Singer: Pakho Chau After I had originally posted this, I had listened to Pakho's music more in-depth and was blown away by the material he released in 2012, as well as all he had accomplished. Pakho has gone from a fresh-faced idol in his early days to an accomplished singer, songwriter, composer, and occasionally music video director (he directed Shiga Lin's "Time for Love" MV). He has evolved into one of the most respectable and versatile young artists today, and is a force to be reckoned with. The singles he released this year were all among the best of 2012. "Death Row", "Imperfect","無力挽回/Irreversible", and "只有一事不成全你/There's Only One Thing I Won't HelpYou With" were all phenomenal singles that showed his talent, passion, artistic touch, and maturity. Pakho topped off his strongest year yet with his much anticipated first HK Coliseum concert as well as a compilation album, both titled "Imperfect." He has truly come far and secured himself as a staple of the Cantopop music industry. With Pakho, there is hope for continuous fresh and high quality Cantonese music as he continues to take the industry by storm.
This wraps up the first AEE HK Music Awards! The results may look much different than the existing award shows, but my goal was to recognize those who usually do not receive the awards I think they deserve. What do you think was the best of 2012? Comment with your thoughts!
As another single from Fiona's dance oriented EP "Filicious", "維多利亞女皇的非常秘密任務", which (very) roughly translates to "Victorian Secret Mission", is an electronic and dance styled song.
At first listen, the song seems weak. Like Dear Jane's single "Let's Just Do It", the auto tuned verses ruin an otherwise good song. The song improves itself by the pre chorus, which possesses a serene and space like feel. By the time it launches into the chorus, it becomes a full on catchy dance track. Fiona looks great in her unorthodox costume, and the style of the MV fits with the feel of the song.
Overall, "Victorian Secret Mission" may not be her best song (I personally think that's a toss up between "Better Me" and "Hangnail") from her new album, but still a notable one. In an industry dominated by love ballads which can get boring, this is a fun and catchy dance song that makes you want to get up and move. And how often is a Cantopop song all of those things?
Fiona has released her third song of the year, "倒刺/Hangnail". She is on a roll this year! Consistently releasing some of the best material this year and her best yet, she once again has listeners (or at least me) wanting more.
"Hangnail", or "Inverted Thorn", opens with a strong piano intro that manages to hook in the listener within the first five seconds. The piano continues to play in the background and flows into a serene, mysterious, and trance like composition that makes the song mesmerizing and intriguing. Fiona's vocals, which have vastly improved over the years, sound fantastic and help create the trance like feel. She hits the high notes with ease. She sings the lyrics with emotion, seeming to express the pain she feels. The main vocals are also layered over with back up vocals done by herself and other singers, creating an even more intricate sound.
The song's refreshingly mesmerizing and mysterious sound, coupled with the showing off of Fiona's vocals, make this one of the most unique and intriguing songs of the year. I can't wait for her to release her self directed music video!
For those unaware, Fiona will be having her first concert at the prestigious venue, the HK Coliseum, on July 7th. Congratulations Fiona! You've come so far and deserve every bit of your success.
Close friends and WarnerHK label mates Khalil Fong and Fiona Sit performed and were interviewed on RTHK's "Music on the Move" on June 2nd. The performances were exceptionally enjoyable due to the simplicity and raw feel. The lighting and candles also created a wonderful atmosphere.
For her live performance, Fiona sang her song "甜蜜蜜/Sweet Honey" as Khalil played guitar for her in the background.
Fiona's live singing has improved so much! She sounds very sweet here and had good voice control. The high notes were done well too. I love how Khalil is such a down to earth and nice person with a passion for music that he's willing to do something as simple as play guitar to another singer. The friendship between the two is too cute!
Of course, Khalil was able to take center stage too, and performed two songs. He performed a short cover of Stevie Wonder's song "Lately". Along with singing, he also played a piano accompaniment. His performance was near flawless, as his voice was controlled yet so soulful and soothing.
In addition, Khalil sang his hit "好不容易/Finally", from the successful album "15". It was short, sweet, and simple. With so much talent and soul, Khalil does not need more than just a guitar or piano and his voice to impress!
Great performances from both Khalil and Fiona. I hope to see them perform together again in the future. I would've loved to see them perform "All You Need is Me" and for Fiona to finally sing "Better Me" live, but it wouldn't fit the mellow and relaxed atmosphere they had going. Soon please?
Fiona Sit continues to impress and improve with her latest single "Better Me". It is her best work yet, and will blow you away. "Better Me" is a meaningful and touching song executed beautifully.
Earlier, Fiona revealed she had suffered from depression and attempted to commit suicide. I was shocked to hear that behind her sweet and seemingly upbeat and happy go lucky face and personality laid someone so unhappy and tormented. Thankfully, she has gone past that dark stage in life and found happiness again, which is shown in the song.
The lyrics of the song are simple yet meaningful. They tell of how a special someone makes her a better person, and as a result, a happier one. The English lyrics are incorporated into the song seamlessly and sweetly. I especially love the worlds "Laugh a little more/Love myself a little more". The words state how she has learned to cherish her life and accept herself.
I was pleasantly surprised at the MV. It has an extremely simple concept, but its simplicity is what makes it beautiful. A busy or exciting video would've ruined its beauty. The MV shows two different Fiona's, one who is heartily singing along to the song, and one who is next to her showing expressions of sadness and depression. By the bridge, she is shown coming to accept herself and starts singing along as well. It is raw and very emotional. It makes the song even more memorable, leaving an impact on you. Fiona looked stunning, and did a good job of emoting.
"Better Me" is a representation of how far Fiona has come and how she's come to embrace what she has and accept herself. It is such a meaningful and beautiful song, and I love it to pieces. I can't wait to see her perform this live! One of my favorite songs of 2012.
Fiona Sit returns with her new single "All You Need is Me", which was just released two days ago. Making a guest appearance is Hong Kong's "Soulboy" Khalil Fong, Sit's real life good friend. I love Khalil, and find the two's friendship very sweet and adorable. As a result, seeing the two collaborate on a song again was a treat.
In "All You Need is Me" are two things you rarely see in a Cantopop song: a dance feel, and Khalil rapping. The song has a very Western feel with its dance beat and techno influence. There is definitely a club feel to it as well. I wasn't fond of the song the first time around, but after repeated listens, it's really growing on me. The sound is refreshing for Hong Kong music.
Everything about Khalil Fong here is different. Known for his simplistic and casual sense of style, it's interesting to see him dressed in a flamboyant fashion, what with his gelled hair, sunglasses, and eye catching suit. In fact, I wouldn't have recognized him if I didn't see his name beforehand! Then he opens his mouth, and you know it's him. His rapping was very fun, cheeky, and complimented the song well.
The music video is an interesting sight. It has a very glamorous feel, and I like how it switches between the black and white color tone to the colorful sets. It is a little too flamboyant for my taste, but it's nice to see Hong Kong putting more effort into creating an eye catching video instead of one that looked like it had next to no budget. However, I think it could've done without the creepy scene at the end where Fiona was eating the cake. Overall, one of the better videos I've seen in a while.
Fiona is a Westernized girl, and it's reflected in this song and music video. Her vocals are decent and the beat is very catchy and upbeat. I'm not a huge fan of dance music, but this song really grows on you. It also marks another great collaboration between Fiona and Khalil. It will be fun to see these two perform this song live!
