Here is a list of the best canto pop artists, albums, MTVs and Live gigs I've discovered in 2001. The order corresponds to my preference order, therefore it doesn't mean that a record is better than the other one but that I like to listen to it the most. Enjoy!

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1/ Nicholas Tse (Tse Ting Fun) –Senses –Viva –Jade Butterfly [CD]
If you are keen on Rock music, Nic Tse is the man in HK. His last three albums are basically must buys! Even if some of them weren't produced in 2001, let's see how good they are, because you cannot miss any of them.

'Senses'
Senses mixes ballads with rocky tunes including the hits 'Viva', 'Senses' and probably the 2000 finest HK song 'Make No Sense' from the opening credit of the 2000 best feature Time and Tide. With such album Nic Tse throws his maturity to the face of all his critics and those who might still doubt of his singing skills. And he's damn right.

'Viva'
Viva starts with two of Nic Tse hits, i.e. 'Senses' and 'Viva'. What was the point to include theses two tracks from his previous album 'Senses'? 'Viva' doesn't need it to be a great album. Loud guitars, catchy rock tunes (track 8 is my favourite) and a cover of Oasis, (a song from Japanese rock singer Gackt), are enough to make you wanna dance. Let me add as well that Nic shows how skillful he is with a guitar.

'Jade Butterfly'
Nic Tse reported that this is his best album. His actual aim is to work harder and to make a much better album than this one. Jade Butterfly proves already that Nic has a deep voice and that he's skilled in music composition. Track 6 displays his passion and his sense of drama. Anecdotally track 5 and 'Prelude' are largely inspired by the chorus of 'Madame Réve' from French singer Alain Bashung!

Nicholas Tse (Tse Ting Fun) –Viva Live [VCD]
If you still have doubts about what has been said above about Nic Tse progress and skills, this concert called 'Viva Live' will demonstrate that he is also a great entertainer on stage and a gifted guitarist. 'Viva Live' is probably the best concert released in 2001. Is Nic Tse the best rock singer in HK with Mark Lui's band On Line?

2/ Shino Lam / Lin (Lin Xiao Pei) –Shino For [CD + VCD]
Shino Lam is back to invade HK charts in 2001 this time with 'Shino For', new release after Shino's great album and MTV VCD 'She Knows'. Hongkongers apparently appreciate her since she performed successfully, last December, for the first time in HK at the Convention and Exhibition Centre. This young Taiwanese singer deserves our attention with so much catchy tunes, e.g. 'Cry All Night' or 'Diamond Sky'. Her success has already spread from Taiwan to Japan since she speaks English, Mandarin and Japanese, that's why she signed with Avex Trax, the mythic music company that signed Japanese super-stars Namie Amuro and Hitomi...

3/ Faye Wong –Faye Wong [CD]
One can't miss quoting Faye Wong's work whilst listing the best albums of the moment. This one is especially good.
Compositions are very original and varied, and Faye's voice is as usual enchantress.
A must to own.

4/ Grace Yip (Ip Pui Man) –Shine [CD]
When I discovered Grace first album 'Amazing Grace' I was astonished by the maturity of her voice and the composition and rhythm of her songs (e.g. 'Dancing Queen' & 'Boom Ba La'). By now 'Amazing Grace' must be your desert island album. Grace's second album is a definitive proof of her singing skills and her sense of entertainment. If ever you still need to be convinced, listen to the song 'I'll Find You'!

5/ Yanzi (Sun Yan Tzu)- Kite - 2000 Live [CD]
I have to thank fate to make me discover Yanzi singing live in '2000 Live'. Conclusion: from a well produced album 'Kite' to a live concert, Yanzi voice is absolutely delightful and her catchy songs are well composed and sung. Yanzi is definitively a name to remember.

6/ Anthony Wong (Wong Yiu Ming) –Broad Daylight [CD]
This one has nothing to do with actor Anthony Wong Chau-sang (Bunman, The Untold Story). This Anthony Wong's concert was the first occasion I had to hear him and I must say that I was seduced. Rocky, groovy, catchy, 'Broad Daylight' is with Nic Tse's 'Viva Live' the best that the actual HK pop music industry can offer. If you need any proof, just listen to the song called 'Material Girl'.

7/ Fan Mavis –Jue Shi Ming Ling [CD]
Fan Mavis has this strange skill to make you travel back to the American forties calling at HongKong! Actually she can do anything she wants with her voice, for our greatest pleasure.
'You Don't Trust Me At All' and track 12 are nearly instant classics.

 

8/ Yuki Xu –Miss Right [CD]
Yuki Xu has the incredible ability to mix Dance, R'n B and Break Beat rhythms to her voice (track 7 is a good example).
A nice piece of work for aficionados of such groovy music.

 

9/ Genie Zuo –1986 [CD]
I was pleased to discover this Mandarin compilation of 18 songs from Genie Zuo.
Believe us, it's worth listening to such heterogeneous album from crazy paced 'Crazy Party Zoo' to slow-ish and cool 'Goodbye'.

10/ Gei Hiu Gwan – [CD]
What was quite attractive listening to this album is the depth of Gei Hiu Gwan voice mixed with great music and a peculiar Indian flavour sound.

 

11/ Sammi Cheng –Taipei 2000 Concert Live [CD + VCD]
This good quality concert shows Sammi's ability to sing catchy dance songs or ballads in Mandarin.
Don't miss her duet with Yanzi.
By the way, Sammi's look is quite eccentric: she has a punk haircut, she wears a SM outfit with French Cancan accessories and she dances on a kind of sexy choreography!

 

Written by Thomas, January 2002
If you find that I might have missed some great stuff,
or should you have anything to add or to comment about, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Most of the CD and VCD quoted above are available at YesAsia.com

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