The 12-member group is part of a new wave of local singers being embraced by Hong Kongers at a time when the city has been plagued by the COVID-19 pandemic and political challenges in the past three years. Their music has given birth to a new generation of fans who have found hope and comfort in songs in a uncertain time.
Her new song “Rumours” is quite “sexy” and “sensual” and comes with a wave dance, a big difference from the group’s previous strong dance songs and fun music, its members said in a interview with the Associated Press on Sunday. Their first Cantonese song featured an image of “a bunch of kids” and their strong side, the new track shows them becoming men, it said. by Ian Chan.
“We’re not trying to target any market, but we want to show the possibility of what a boy band from Hong Kong can bring to everyone,” said Chan. “Hopefully, we can bring ourselves and bring Cantopop to more places.”
Mirror’s global debut is not only a test of whether they can find an audience beyond Hong Kong, a market of 7 million people. The reception abroad can also show whether the singers of Hong Kong, who have dominated Asian shows for many years, can regain ground in the region.
Cantopop, sung in the language of the majority of Hong Kong’s population, is making a strong comeback with new idols and different genres after many years of silence behind Mandopop. and K-pop. Local fans find the new stars more relatable, unlike their predecessors who are often seen pre-packaged and in some cases looking at mainland China. The rise of Cantopop reflects a growing hunger to express the city’s cultural identity.
Members of the Mirror broke into the industry after participating in the media’s reality talent competition in 2018 and stole the show. The artists – Frankie Chan, Alton Wong, Lokman Yeung, Stanley Yau, Anson Kong, Jer Lau, Anson Lo, Jeremy Lee, Edan Lui, Keung To, Tiger Yau and Chan – are in their 20s and early 30s. . Some are good at singing, some are known for their dancing skills, some have devoted themselves to acting while others have hosted TV shows.
Their hard work and determination has helped them attract a loyal following, especially students, elderly women and young families.
In 2021, Keung said: “I believe that Hong Kong singers can become the best in Asia again.” In that year, their happiness became a cultural phenomenon of Hong Kong.
Fans flocked to shopping malls to support their performances, with some making and buying promotions to celebrate their idols’ birthdays. Fans’ partners flooded Facebook with “love yourself” stories, including plastering their walls with posters of the singer. The panel discussions offered many Hong Kongers an escape from the bad news about COVID-19, political challenges and social changes facing the city.
“We always have a social responsibility to bring positive thoughts and some good vibes … to people who like us,” Chan said.
But a terrible accident last July put a heavy strain on their rise.
A large video frame fell from the ceiling during a concert and hit two backup dancers, leaving one of them, Mo Li, seriously injured. The band stopped their public appearances for two months. Hong Kong authorities have charged workers from the concert’s main contractor who are allegedly responsible for the incident. Last month, Li’s father said his son took his first step with the help of a special machine.
“We will never say that we have won,” Lui said, adding that it was a “big lesson.” It taught them to always value time, said Stanley Yau.
As the Mirror works to eradicate this phenomenon, it has also been hit by criticism of poor entertainment, with some critics blaming the clergy. in pursuit of advertising money instead of focusing on their singing and dancing.
According to Lo, the group is trying to slow down their schedule to find a good balance and members are now gathering at least once or twice a month for activities such as meetings or dance lessons – the a big change because they rarely see each other outside of work inside. past, he said.
The release of “Rumours,” his words about chasing a girl and the way rumors arise, marks a very important point for the group, especially the members of the choir. All Cantonese.
The English pronunciation was a big challenge, said Lui, and they were taught each one during the recording.
According to Lo, the group will closely monitor the response of the audience but it is certain that they will continue to perform music in Cantonese even if some of the members can compose solo songs in the Mandarin. The group also has plans to launch a game worldwide possibly next year, he said.
According to Lui, their desire to revive Cantopop as Asia’s No. 1 music seems “like a dream.”
“But I think we should have that goal in our hearts and we should try to do our best to pursue this dream,” he said.