Timeless show by Khalil Fong
Hong Kong singer-songwriter Khalil Fong wowed the Malaysian crowd with his soulful voice and multiple talents.
By Chew Wan Ying
There were many reasons why Khalil Fong Timeless Concert Live in Malaysia 2010 was a timeless affair.
At the Arena of Stars, Genting Highlands, the Hong Kong based Mandarin singer gave his Malaysian fans a night they would definitely remember for many, many years to come.
At the show, he changed more guitars than costumes – he was decked out in the same attire throughout, only taking off his jacket halfway into the show and wearing it again near the end of the show.
Mixing in with Cantonese and Mandarin, he spoke very little and preferred to let his singing and music do the talking.
The multi-talented 26-year-old hit the piano keys, strummed on different guitars, got behind the drums set and even did a Stevie Wonder impression at one point.
The outcome was a wonderful 150-minute audio experience that lingered long in the mind.
The singer tackled a plethora of genre and succeeded – crooning the beautiful, beautiful Moon River, belting out Bad, or singing his heart out in Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You.
He did a moving rendition of Faye Wong’s Hong Dou (Red Bean) and mesmerized the crowd with Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine.
"Hold on," he said halfway into the show. When he turned around, he was sporting a pair of shades.
Putting on his best Stevie Wonder expression, he wowed the crowd with two rousing Stevie tunes: Superstition and Sir Duke.
Next, he took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, sat on the floor and sang Georgia On My Mind.
Though there was no impersonation of Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk – which he did in Hong Kong to rave reviews – his fantastic covers of the Jackson 5’s I Want You Back and Jackson’s Bad made up for it.
What more, he also did a splendid rearrangement of Jackson’s Billie Jean, turning the R&B hit into a slow, ballad-y number with no less angst and edge.
And did I mention that he sounded even better than his records?
Fong showcased his fine, soulful voice through his own numbers such as 123457, Singer and Model, Sing Along Song, Perhaps Love and one of his early hits Love, Love, Love.
However, the biggest surprise of the night arrived when Fong appeared behind a drums set to bring fans a four-song encore set.
After performing La Bamba and You Are the Sunshine of My Life, he whipped out a camera and started taking pictures of the crowd from all sides.
Needless to say, the crowd was more than happy to strike poses for their favourite singer.
Fong ended the night with Love Song.
Published June 1 2010
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