Kneeling down on the stage and bowing to his fans with a big smile and hoarse voice, Canto-pop singer Eason Chan ended his successful run of 18 gigs at the Hong Kong Coliseum earlier this month. But he didn't stop there and is now preparing for his concerts at Beijing's Workers' Gymnasium on Thursday and Friday.

"I shouted until I lost my voice at the show, which was mind-blowing for the fans and better than listening to a CD at home," he says in Beijing about the last show in Hong Kong. "That's why I like live performances and keep on touring."

He says that he likes big-budget musicals with all the frills, or more intimate gatherings at a coffee shop, to interact with his fans.

Known for his audacious stage shows, Chan has worn tiger costumes, reggae wigs and even high heels, in order to create drama.

"I like changing clothes and making fun of myself," he says. "The tour is killing me now that I am getting old and physically slowing down, but it's so much fun to be on stage."

Chan has starred in more than 20 films since 1997. In 2008 he was nominated for best supporting actor at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards for Trivial Matters.

"Due to my poor looks, I usually play supporting roles in movies," Chan jokes. "But I take the lead role in my own concerts."

Chan held concerts in Beijing in 2008 and 2009, which gives him confidence for the upcoming concerts.

He says the 10 Years of Eason Chan concerts will be the starting point for another 10 years. Crowned as the best singer since Jacky Cheung (who was nicknamed the "God of Songs" during the 1990s), Chan will perform some of his all-time classics in Mandarin, Cantonese and English.

The 36-year-old singer studied architecture at the University of Kingston in London before embarking on his musical career.

When he returned to Hong Kong for his summer vacation in 1995, he entered the New Talent Singing Contest and unexpectedly won first prize by beating 2,000 others, with the song Gazing at the Moon, originally sung by Jacky Cheung.

He went on to win various music awards in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Chinese mainland.

As Chan's popular King of Karaoke suggests, many of his songs have inspired KTV dreamers over the years. As such, an online karaoke competition is being held among Chan's fans and the winner will get a chance to perform with his or her idol at the upcoming concerts.

After his Beijing concert, Chan will set out for his first European tour, playing London, Manchester and Rotterdam in May.

China Daily

(China Daily 04/27/2010 page19)