Soulboy is the debut Mandarin album by Hong Kong Mandopop artist Khalil Fong. It was released on 18 November 2005 by Warner Music Hong Kong.[1][6]
| Soulboy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 18 November 2005[1] | |||
| Recorded | 2005 | |||
| Genre | Mandopop, Soul, R&B[2][3][4][5] | |||
| Length | 49:26 | |||
| Language | Mandarin | |||
| Label | Warner Music Hong Kong | |||
| Producer | Khalil Fong, Edward Chan, Charles Lee | |||
| Khalil Fong chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Soulboy | ||||
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Background
editSoulboy music genre style was influenced by Fong when he was childhood grew up in Hawaii attracted by Ritchie Valens's music and many other 1960s–1970s musicians like Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder and James Brown.[7] Due to his father was a professional drummer, he began to learn percussion instruments at an early age. Since he was in teens time, he started to learn to play the guitar and actively submitted his own music audition demo tapes to record companies, but declined of being too young, under difficultly chose circumstances, Warner records saw the demo no one to greets and finally chose Fong in 2000 and the record company made him a behind the scenes composer and producer, and he composed many songs for other singers such as Andy Lau, Jacky Cheung, Chen Kun, A-Mei and Sammi Cheng.[8]
In 2003, when Sammi Cheng noticed that Fong wanted to sing, she specifically went to Warner's music arrangement director to intercede for him.But the change in the company's senior management has prevented him from pursuing a career as a singer.[9][10]
Through continuous efforts, finally in 2005, the warner record company adopted a "listen to the voice but not the person appeared" approach to pave the way for Fong's debut, arranging for him to participate in major concert performances.[11]
On 5 May 2005, Fong was invited to the opening guest of taiwanese pop rock group F.I.R's live broadcast concert and sang the songs "Spring Breeze" and "Sound of the South" (南音).[11] The different life experiences in the East and the West culture provided him with rich materials and inspiration for his first music album to creation, making his works full of the collision and fusion of Eastern and Western cultures.He also desire to borrow soul music popular among black people, integrated it into the foundation of Chinese music, and develop a unique musical style.[2][12]
Composition
editThe album fulled R&B and Soul music combined with Chinese music style. The lead song "Spring Breeze" in the debut album used a cappella style and Beatbox to acts as the drum part of the song to performed and full of Fong's unique singing voice controls the R&B style and combines Chinese culture elements on the basis of Western blues lyrics with a featured local flavor words such as "peach blossoms (桃花), willow trees (柳树), Yumen Pass (玉门关), Nanniwan (南泥湾)" and soothing melody, making this love lyric song full of pop music flavor.The song also include harmony and draws inspiration from Stevie Wonder produce song Lovin' You for Minnie Riperton.[2][13]
The song "Sound of the South" was used the instrument piano and erhu to performed and show the song's title about Chinese culture nanguan music, melody is from minor scale turn to major scale. The lyrics tell about the blind Chinese musician Abing's life scenes and inner spiritual world with his Erhu instrument song "Erquan Yingyue" (二泉映月) story and reflect the bitterness of pursuing dreams and the regretlessness to pursuing reputation and living situation.It shows Fong's respect and homage to traditional music and culture. The song not only demonstrates Fong's musical attitude, which is to express modern emotions through traditional music forms, but also embodies an attempt to pass on and innovate traditional culture.[14]
Title and art work promotion
editThe theme is "World Harmony" (世界大同) in this album and also about serious content, dealing with society, life and human nature [2][15][16]and it's contain songs in Mandarin language, which is the label's plan for Fong to develop his musical path to the Mandarin-speaking markets of Mainland China and Taiwan. The title Soulboy was also the name used when Khalil Fong served as an instrumental accompaniment creative work for his own and other singers' songs appellation.[17][4]
Released and reception
editThe album Soulboy was released on 18 November 2005 and it got into the Mandopop groovy public view of many of Fong's famous earlier hits song, such as "Spring Breeze" (春風吹) and "Everyday" (每天每天) from his debut album.[18] With these hit songs, Fong is also known as "Hong Kong David Tao" and "Hong Kong Jay Chou", furthermore together with three other singer-songwriters Ivana Wong, Hins Cheung and Louis Cheung, they are known as the "Four Little Powers of Hong Kong Singers and Songwriters".[19]
Track listing
editAll arrangement is Khalil Fong. All producers are Khalil Fong, Edward Chan and Charles Lee.
| No. | Title | Music Composition | Lyrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Prologue | Khalil Fong | Khalil Fong |
| 02 | Little Sister (妹妹) | Khalil Fong | Khalil Fong |
| 03 | Spring Breeze (春風吹) | Khalil Fong | Chow Yiu Fai |
| 04 | Everyday (每天每天) | Khalil Fong | Chen Yuzhen |
| 05 | Woman (女人) | Khalil Fong | Khalil Fong, Liang Rulan |
| 06 | Tell Me How to Say (叫我怎麼說) | Khalil Fong | Khalil Fong |
| 07 | Who's Scared (哪怕) | Khalil Fong | Liang Rulan |
| 08 | Sound of the South (南音) | Khalil Fong | Albert Leung |
| 09 | Can We? (我們能不能) | Khalil Fong | Khalil Fong |
| 10 | Jump (跳) | Khalil Fong | Khalil Fong |
| 11 | Conclusion (總結) | Khalil Fong | Chow Yiu Fai |
| 12 | Rushing (趕場) | Khalil Fong | Khalil Fong, Liang Rulan |
| 13 | Waiting for You to Be Back (等著你回來) | Yan Kuan | Khalil Fong, Yan Kuan |
| 14 | Know You (Hidden Track) (認識你) | Khalil Fong | Khalil Fong |
Credits and personnel
edit- A&R – Evi Yang, Tommy Chui
- Arranged by Vocals, Instruments – Khalil Fong
- Art Direction – Eunice Volume 2
- Executive-Producer – Gary Chan
- Graphic Design – Tony Volume 2
- Illustration – David Lai, K.D.T Soulboy
- Photography By – Paul Tsang
- Post Production – Cyndi Fung, Maggie Cheung, Shannie Yu
- Mixing – Frankie Hung, Edward Chan, David Sum, Simon Li
- Producer – Charles Lee, Edward Chan, Khalil Fong
Accolades
editIFPI Hong Kong Record Sales Award 2005 - Top 3 Best Selling Male Local Newcomers.[20] On 1 January 2006 evening CRHK's Ultimate Song Chart Awards presentation was take place in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and Fong was won Chik Chak New Male Singer Silver award.[21]Chinese Music Media Awards Best Male Newcomer Award nominated in 2006 .[22]
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFPI Hong Kong | 2006 | Hong Kong Record Sales Award 2005 - Top 3 Best Selling Local Male Newcomers | Won | [20] |
| CRHK's Ultimate Song Chart Awards Presentation | 2006 | Chik Chak New Male Singer | Silver | [21] |
| Chinese Music Media Awards | 2006 | The 6th Chinese Music Media Awards Best Male Newcomer Award | Nominated | [22] |
References
edit- ^ a b "HMV Soul boy". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2007.
- ^ a b c d "岁月如歌·经典音乐时间方大同·世界大同". 贵州音乐广播. 贵州网络广播电视台. 18 October 2021. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ "Soulboy – Khalil Fong". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ a b "香港音乐才子方大同 情人节带来恋人"爱之歌"". Beijing Youth Daily web (in Chinese). Sohu. 15 February 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ "A man of the world". AsiaOne. 27 September 2014. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Soulboy方大同专辑简介". Hit FM (Taiwan)Hitoradio.Com (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ Baha'i Blog (16 July 2017), Baha'i Blogcast with Rainn Wilson - Episode 18: Khalil Fong 方大同, archived from the original on 14 December 2021, retrieved 17 July 2017
- ^ "个人明星首页:方大同个人简介大事记" (in Chinese). Sina Corporation. 2013. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "娱乐圈最后一个处男,心灵"长生不老"的音乐偶像:方大同". NetEase. 20 July 2017. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "他是香港唯一不唱粤语的顶流,粉丝称华语第一人,陶喆也是他歌迷". Sohu. 2 April 2024. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ a b "方大同是巨蟹座 方大同演艺生涯和好听的歌集合" (in Chinese). 闽南网. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ ""玩乐男孩"方大同专访：玩转灵魂音乐的稀有动物". 26 September 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Ne-yo强势回归 加盟UNITY还有音乐节唱足1小时". Sohu Music. Sohu. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "歌海遗珠-方大同"南音"" (in Chinese). 百度百家号-一家咨询. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "HYPEBEAST 專訪方大同：即使不做專輯也不會停止創作" (in Chinese). Hypebeast (company). 19 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "点新人闯歌坛创作型歌手占优势" (in Chinese). Sina Corporation. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ "音乐才子方大同推出"未来" 情人节献给恋人们" (in Chinese). Sina Corporation. 15 February 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ "Khalil Fong lets the music speak for itself". The Straits Times. 17 February 2019. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "陈奕迅：我的生活只有音乐，没有"一哥"". Yangcheng Evening News. Sina Corporation. 13 April 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b "2005 IFPI Hong Kong Album Sales Awards winners list". Archived from the original on 2 July 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ a b "2005年叱咤乐坛流行榜颁奖典礼完全获奖名单" (in Chinese). 2 January 2006. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b "第六届华语音乐传媒大奖提名名单" (in Chinese). Sina Corporation. 28 June 2006. Retrieved 10 March 2024.