(Face-to-face with China Focus) Alan Tam looks at Hong Kong in the past 25 years: the spirit of Hong Kong is the opportunity to spell it out "before"
China News Agency, Hong Kong, June 28th: Alan Tam looks at Hong Kong in the past 25 years: the spirit of Hong Kong is the opportunity to spell it out "before"
China News Agency reporter Suo Youwei and Fan Siyi
On July 1, Hong Kong will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland.
In the past 25 years, more and more Hong Kong entertainers have come to the mainland to develop, and the development of Hong Kong's performing arts industry has also witnessed the changes in Hong Kong's social environment.
What changes and developments have there been in the Hong Kong performing arts industry since the return?
How can patriotism be passed on from generation to generation?
How do you view the synergy and integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area?
Alan Tam, a well-known Hong Kong artist and winner of the Medal of Honor of the Hong Kong SAR Government, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "China Focus Face-to-face", and told us about Hong Kong in his eyes for the past 25 years.
Excerpts from the interview are as follows:
"25 is a good age"
China News Agency reporter: You often say "I will always be 25 years old", why do you say that?
How do you stay so young?
Alan Tam: I often say that I will always be 25 years old.
I think 25 is a good age.
Because most of the 25-year-olds have finished their studies and have worked in the society for a period of time, they will be more experienced in dealing with people, and they will know how to deal with things better. They are young and energetic.
In any industry, 25 is a very good age.
I use exercise to stay in shape. When I was quarantined a while ago, I couldn’t gather in crowds, play football or go to the gym, so I went climbing.
Usually I play football on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and on Wednesdays and Saturdays during the day.
Alan Tam, a well-known Hong Kong artist and winner of the Medal of Honor of the Hong Kong SAR Government, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "China Focus Face-to-face", and told us about Hong Kong in his eyes for the past 25 years.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Li Zhihua
'The days of peace are not easy to come by'
China News Service reporter: Many people call you a patriotic singer. You also said that your patriotism cannot be separated from your father. What kind of influence did your father bring to you?
Alan Tam: He used to show me something when I was young.
At that time, the only supply line on the Yunnan-Burma Highway to Chongqing was my father who came to (participate in) the docking.
Because the road is very tortuous, there are often cars falling from it, and you can't drive too hard. It's dark at night, so you walk in the dark.
Because the Japanese army will come to bomb during the day, and then they can't walk during the day, only at night, which is very, very dangerous.
The days of peace we have now are not easy to come by, so I hope there will be no more wars.
The spirit of Hong Kong "is spelled out"
China News Agency reporter: Friends who are familiar with you often say that your upbringing is very exemplary, showing the "Lion Rock Spirit" of Hong Kong people.
Nowadays, some young people in Hong Kong often complain that they can't afford to buy a house or have a poor future.
How would you cheer them on?
Alan Tam: I used to live in North Point Health Village, which is also a public housing estate.
At that time, the place was very small. My parents had two older sisters and three younger sisters. The eight of us lived in one place, which was very crowded.
Although the place is small, the atmosphere is very good and there is no fuss.
Why didn't you complain when you worked so hard?
Because everyone has that kind of Hong Kong spirit, and in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, they were all spelled out.
My parents came from a large family, and then they came to Hong Kong. My father was working alone, and he had to provide food and daily living for six children, as well as provide books and teaching.
There was a time when my sister didn't go to work, I couldn't even pay the tuition fee of 5 yuan, and I had to ask some relatives and friends (borrow) and rely on them to help.
At that time, the atmosphere was a big family. It was common for a family to have six or seven children, at least four or five. There were occasional noises, but the relationship between brothers and sisters was very harmonious.
Today's children are overprotected in the "greenhouse", and suddenly there are some ups and downs outside, they will be very discouraged, and there may be a sense of failure, which really needs to be taught slowly.
Put the spirit into the lyrics, hoping to encourage young people
China News Service reporter: You participated in the formation of a band called "Winner Band", which became popular in Hong Kong and even globally.
Could you please share the story of the group, including the name change from Loosers to Wynners, what happened in the middle?
Alan Tam: Actually, the previous Loosers were not failures, they just relaxed.
But the homonym is the same as "failure", so many people call us "losers".
But we have been tempered from failure to become Wynners (Winner), and we have succeeded.
In those days, a bunch of children were on the street, happily living a day, and there were not as many material requirements as now.
Several of [the band] are relatives.
For example, guitarists A Jian and A Qiang are tailors in Electric Road, Chen You lives behind them, and Chen Baixiang and his younger brother are in the same district.
After I met them, it became a team.
We released our first album in the 1970s, and it topped the charts in Thailand, Malaysia and other places in a short period of time, becoming the favorite music of DJs in many regions.
At that time, I just loved music, and I just wanted to express the original flavor in the music. We are all proud to be exactly the same as the original song.
Later, it gradually developed into Hong Kong original music.
China News Service reporter: Many of your songs show an inspirational attitude, inspiring generations of young people.
What is your favorite masterpiece?
Alan Tam: I used to arrange some songs for a while, thinking about whether it is possible to put our spirit into the lyrics, hoping to encourage young people to work hard and study hard.
"Success Takes Hard Work" is one of my favorite songs, and every line in it is encouraging.
China News Agency reporter: Can you sing us a segment on the spot?
Alan Tam: Two words at the scene?
Is it karaoke?
Do I sing like this?
One or two is fine:
Mo Zai is traumatized by bitterness
Don't bother to find the truth
The world is unhappy
must also go straight
success requires hard work
Willing to hold on to the purpose and hope
Don't be afraid of failure
Confused
must also be confident
can find the way
Every time I go back to the mainland, I can see the development
China News Agency reporter: You chose to go north for development very early. What was the opportunity at that time?
Do you still remember the first time you went to an inland city?
Which cities have you been to and are there any memorable events?
Alan Tam: We are honored to have entered the mainland in the early 1990s.
In the past few years, I have gone to some places again, and I have not recognized it.
We have witnessed the country from a relatively backward situation, gradually first-tier cities, second-tier cities, and even third-tier cities are very developed.
Every time I go back to see (development) is very happy.
Impressed of course, especially in Shenzhen.
Because Shenzhen is relatively close, we often go there to play ball, and we can go to eat and buy things. Almost every half a year or a few months, we will find that the sign of where I am (impression) has disappeared, and the entire building, The regions have been changed and become something new, which is really amazing.
The first time I went to the mainland city was (Shanghai), but it was still relatively backward (at that time).
It's not the same now, it's incredible, especially near the Bund is already very prosperous.
In the past, we often heard that relatives and friends in the mainland asked to send something back. They hoped to send some electrical appliances such as refrigerators and TV sets, as well as some raw materials, and they all hoped to send them from Hong Kong.
No need now, it's too advanced now.
China News Service reporter: Looking back at the decision to develop Beishang, do you have any feelings?
How has this decision changed your life and work?
Alan Tam: Of course it's a bigger market.
From Hong Kong to (to) Southeast Asia, the (market) is actually very broad. In places where there are Chinese people in the world, I will have my market, but it is not enough to add up to a market in China (mainland).
More fans and more audiences can enjoy the kind of input I have on stage, and I will have a response, a support, and an interaction in the face of them, which is more motivation for us.
Alan Tam, a well-known Hong Kong artist and winner of the Medal of Honor of the Hong Kong SAR Government, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "China Focus Face-to-face", and told us about Hong Kong in his eyes for the past 25 years.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Li Zhihua
I hope more young people from Hong Kong can go to the mainland for exchanges
China News Service reporter: As an iconic figure in the Hong Kong music scene, what changes have you witnessed in Hong Kong in the past 25 years?
Alan Tam: There were not many singers in our era, so there were many opportunities.
There are new people coming out every day, but their performance opportunities are not many, so I really hope that there will be an organization to support the younger generation of artists and let them play, which is really rare.
There are many young people in Hong Kong who do not know anything about the mainland, nor do they understand it.
There may be some bad news and bad information in their heads, which is completely misleading for them.
We should give them more opportunities to come to our mainland, such as student exchanges, or exchanges with young artists, to give them a platform.
Or the Hong Kong (SAR) government will give some funds, someone will lead the team to communicate every month on time, and give young people a walk in the Greater Bay Area, so that they can open their eyes and understand what kind of (development) level our country has reached now. .
After young people come back, they may have their own views and their own experiences, and then put what they have seen and heard into the songs and let them play it out on their own. .
The picture shows an advertisement celebrating the Handover on Nathan Road lamppost in Mong Kok.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Li Zhihua
Opportunities are all in the "front", all in the Greater Bay Area
China News Service reporter: We noticed that you participated in the first Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cultural and Art Festival. What do you think of the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area? What can regional development synergy bring to Hong Kong?
Alan Tam: When it comes to the integration of Hong Kong in the Greater Bay Area, there was a song called "Before", which I think is rather mysterious.
Because "forward" represents a lot, I keep moving forward, looking forward and rushing forward.
There is also Qianhai, many opportunities are in Qianhai, and Hong Kong can understand it.
Young people also need to understand. Everyone should learn about it from various aspects and see where they fit in. Opportunities are all in front of them, and they are all in the Greater Bay Area.
The Greater Bay Area has transportation advantages and can communicate in common languages.
Now young people all over the country are going to Shenzhen, and they have bases in Qianhai.
In the past, the scientific and technological innovation bases we mentioned are all there, and the traditional Chinese medicine (base) is also there. Many opportunities are now in front of us, and we must be able to seize them and develop them well.
As the whole situation in Hong Kong has stabilized now, I also hope that the epidemic will gradually stabilize in the future. I hope that Hong Kong can be the same as before, and tomorrow will be better!
(Finish)