Who thinks some singers today needs to change their image or change their music style in terms of genres? Does anyone realise some singers keep the same image for so long and style for son long that we sometimes get very bored of them? A change would be nice to make things new to spice up HK music... but someimes, it doesn't always work....

Some examples:
- Edison Chen - change from a popstar idol singing pop/love songs to rapping. Is he making rap/hip hop mainstream in canto-pop? is that good to change style in cantopop or damages the whole cantopop iamge?
- Joey Yung - change image from cute innocent to sexy image.... is it good or bad? does it make her anymore popular this way? does it affect her style of songs (she has some fast songs which reflects some sex appeal).
- Jordan Chan - change from regular popstar to Hip hop, RnB singer.... without doubt, he was more popular in terms of album sales like this.... so it is good for him. should he keep it or not..
- Wang Leehom - from focusing on soul/love ballad to the new chinked-out hip hop style... it sure works from the looks of it.
- Leo Ku - Change image from the dorky look in the 90s to the new hairstyle and dressing in 2003.
- Emme Wong - Changed not just her image.. but her name... Dior sang regular love songs and chaning to Emme... she is suddenly trying to become a dancing singer and whole new look...

These are some i can think of on the top of my head.... so is it good for singers to change image/music style? Who else should change to improve things for themselves and the HK music business?

Preferbly better if u guys can provide a good reason

isabella-- she needs 2 change her image from young slut 2 some1 more mature... she's losing fans bcoz she acts kinda slutty and she seems 2 'cling' onto twins... 4 more fame

She does seem to cling on to Twins and Kenny alot, but i must say she is actually having a promising movie career. Im no sure if she is slutty and all that but she seems to act quite mature for her age to me. If she did change her image to a more mature look and all, im not sure if it wil do her any favor. Some might feel she is only a little girl trying to look older, might make people think she is more slutty... LOL

No particular singer really, but I'd mark out like crazy if someone from the HK music industry went 70's disco style, for even just one appearance, one song, one event, or one album. Just the thought of it has me calling off work, if ya know what I mean. =)

Definition: Mark-out

"Mark-out" is a term used by professional wrestling fans when they see something they cheer wild and madly about.

Yep. It'd be funny as hell and though it wouldn't last long, geez what commotion it'll make.

Thing is, stuff like that might be a career killer if presented poorly, so I don't know what singer would be able to pull it off....successfully.

Steve are u a 70s disco fan or something... or is this some kind of joke? LOL. Anyway i wouldn't think anyone would choose to go into the 70s disco style.

Well since Twins is always the subject in the Critics section.... should they rid their young girly image? In fact, i think they already gave it a blast and trying to get out that image and be more mature. Their songs have changed but not alot..... Their main writer of their songs Ronald Ng (Ng Lok Sing) has always written songs for Twins and customized it to fit their singing. Maybe they should ditch him... LOL... What y'all think?

Ha ha Phish, the reason for the 70's thing is because I feel like I haven't seen a brash, new, unfamilar image in a LONG time in HK. The only person I can think of in HK with such an image right now would be Denise Ho, who's as "punk" (as HK people would put it) as any singer right now.

I'm a retro kind of guy and I always appreciate efforts by singers to RECOGNIZE past musical eras as a type of respect and appreciation. I'm not saying the singer has to ONLY sing 70's disco music or wear bell bottoms, afro and pick, dance the hustle, stuff like that, but it'd be so refreshing to see music that EDUCATES us instead of just being awfully similar to what we've been hearing for the last decade or so. Singers willing to try daring, new styles usually have my respect.

Aaron Kwok - Went from mushroom cut dancer to short haired, metrosexual image.

Leon Lai - Lover boy to techno beat/up tempo singer.

I think those are the only two more elaborate changes I can think of right now. Edison Chen and Joey Yung also went through a transformation of sorts, but I can't put them in the same category because Joey's style of music didn't change too much, and Edison seemed to change to hip-hop because he's a wannabe. I don't think Edison even practiced a "real" hip hop style much.

To be honest, im like you too, i appreciate the effort by singers to look back at old stuff and more or less innovate on them because at the end of the day, the singers in the past pretty much established and formed the industry which these singers are in today.

Yes Aaron when he started was just a pop idol who appealed to young girls and he had the boyish looks and the catchy pop songs for the young listeners. Its all untill the haircut when we see the changing to not only his looks, but his style of music. He got rid of his trademark mushroom hair and then with the spikey hair and attempted many old-style dance/pop music which relates alot to 80s pop and some 60s-70s western pop (for example his attempt to do the Elvis style in 95)... not to mention his dancing became more erotic/flashy (whatever you want to call it) and trying to work on the stage presence.....

To be honest, this attempt really worked in the 90s for him and made him extremely popular to even older listeners because they can relate to his dancing and its till now he finally earns his name as the King of Stage...... i don't know if he should continue with this image because everyone is hop hop driven these days and if he wanted to get the young fans back, maybe he should attempt R&B/hip hop dance songs (but not the image). It won't hurt to try and won't be bad because he has the dancing talents, why waste it and not give it a blast..... even Jordan Chan succeed.

Leon on the other hand had the pop songs and typical love ballads in the early 90s and everyone notcies his change in the latter 90s to the trance/rave/techno style songs with the helping hand of his good friend Mark Lui. Obviously Leon didnt change his originality of a singer however, so he does not dance much to his upbeat songs but i must say his dance songs are very popular among youngsters and it actually worked for him. He didn't even need to learn or improve on dancing which many of these songs required.

Edison - i guess what edison is trying to do like i mentioned before was to get rid of his reputation of a bad singer. He probably knows he aint good as a singer so decides to do Hip hop which was rare in canto-pop. People like LMF and Hard/Soft Alliance were rapping in the past but Edison is trying to bring it into the mainstream sector. I personally think it didnt work because he doesn't have the hip hop look to begin with and plus its likely he has no knowledge of hip hop and rapping and attempting to change both image and style would obviously cause stir-ups. As we can see in other edison threads.. people are critizing his imag and rapping.... so i think it has failed....

Joey obviously is changing her image and keeping her style. Her music maintains similar or probably the same because people actually like her songs like the way it is...... so no point changing. But what we notice is that she does incorporate some fast songs which allows her use her new image.
I personally think she changed her image because people criticized her looks in the past. It has done her a favor with the guys but girls think its slutty.

Wow Phish, unless I'm reading incorrectly, you elaborated all of my points. Nicely done.

Let me add in that Andy Hui changed not his image, but song style dramatically in 1999 I think. All of a sudden he became the most dramatic, depressed, singer to ever grace this era of HK music. Virtually all his songs were of the crying type.

At this point in time, Aaron Kwok would benefit most from a change in style or image. Maybe he should go to Japan for a year and promote there, come back fresh and rejuvenated. At this point Aaron's just riding past fame; unless something happens it's unlikely things'll change.

One other singer I'd like to see change is Janice, but not her actual image. She's got to get rid of her "overly happy to be here" camera presence. It's one thing to smile to the camera 24/7, but another to be attempt to be subtle and humble like most professional singers are in front of a camera.

Thanks Steve for compliments.... anyways i want to continue off from what u said.

About ANDY HUI? Hmmmm.... i personally never realised the change in his style of music. His image has always been the same but i never really realised how much his music changed. I know for sure that many of his songs in the 90s were K-songs but i can't tell how his songs become more depressing from 99.... u mean the lyrics?

I know for sure though that he gets extra emotional when singing from 2000 onwards. He either cries during a song or gets really hyped and tensed.

JANICE: i personally think she should just keep it as it at the moment. Firstly, she is still new and she is very popular and has a clean image. She has the popularity so far and music style is relevant so far... so nothing is wrong really for her to change at all to subtle, humble in front of camera.... i think people like her "Happy" image.... if she did change.. people as usual (especially media) will assume she is putting the attitude because shes now popular.
i don't think she really need to change unless something goes downhill for her... just keep it as it is to maintain her popularity

Since u mentioned ANDY HUI.. i think i will continue with the other 4 NEw Kings:

- Hacken - to be honest.. i cant find a distinctive reason why his popularity shot up in 2002... i can't say it was his songs because his music style and songs have always been the same. His got off his cocky attitude at least but his overall image is average.

- Edmond - i think edmond was the clean cut average looking singers in the ealry 90s but i noticed his change to a youthful character in the late 90s. he dressed younger and he had the songs for a while.... he even attempted to gorw a beard for a new image (which failed).... the current Edmond now obviously has to change again... his songs needs to go back to how it was in the 90s and he needs to look youthful again.

- Leo - i don't really need to say.. his new image and new songs have done him good. His old songs use to be very sappy and now he has gone K songs.... which is popular among most young listeners

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Althoug Eason is not one... i just want to add him cos i consider him the 5th....
- music style he don't need to.... its been quite consistent and has always been approved.... but i would like Eason to change his hairstyle and dressing....LOL... i remember Eason use to look very smart and was a clean cut singer. From 2000, it was alot of wild hair and some very shocking clothes at amjor award ceremonies.... (who remembers the big cloak in dracula style worn on 2002 Metro awards)

Im adding Gigi Leung... im quite sick of seeing her same style all the time. well she is presenting a good clean image but it just seems too plain.... i always pciture her with the big dress and the short-ish hair.

In talking about Gigi Leung, I remember I once saw a promotion concert of her with a "Sammi" look-a-like image, with long hair, tied up in the back, and dancing in a poor, but serious and sexy fashion of slightly overused techno beats with Canto pop.

This was a year or two ago, and I can't really remember what she was doing, but it was a show like K-100 I saw it on.

Since we are talking about his image here. Let me add my comments.

He definitely needs some wardrobe help. He indeed use to be clean, cut and smart with his clothes and hair. Then he just went all ridiculous.

I kind of like the crazy hair and crazy clothing 'cause thats who he is. I think as he grew older he kind of felt like he doesn't need to wear suits all the time and look clean and cut all the time so he turned to his real true self by dressing rockish-punkish.

I'm not saying that he's the one to bring change but, he was the first guy I saw that didn't wear a full blown suit to award ceremonies. He of course has worn suits back in the days but he was the first one I saw change. He would wear a suit with sneakers or a suit with a tee. It was refreshing.

Back when the 4 Heavenly Kings were still accepting awards, all the guys would wear suits to the ceremonies and I have one word -- BORING. Now, hardly anyone wears a suit head to toe to award ceremonies anymore.

So even though I like that he isn't boring when it comes to his outfits I must say some of them are just ridiculous. Back in 2003 I think, he went on an episode of JSG singing with Elva Hsiao. She was dressed nicely and he dressed...well lets just say, it needs to be burned. It was these weird plaid pants that were wide and didn't reach his ankles with this HUGE purple top that was almost down to his knees. I have one thing to say, WHAT WAS HE THINKING?


The outfits I did like were of course he plain suit with tee and sneakers.
This years Chik Chak 903 outfit...with the gold hat. The hat was perfect for his outfit.
This years RTHK, the Rolling Stones signature. Not only on his tee but on his jacket also.

Actually, Aaron wasn't much of a suit guy. The guy was all about shiny clothes, MJ style army suits, Shining shoulder pads, big furry cloaks.....very gay... but its his style.




I remember that IMAGE LOL.... wasn't he performing the To ALice song? That cover.... Yeah was LMAO. His hair was a mess aswell... But then again, Eason isn't like the worst dresser because in 2000 JSG awards... him and nicolas tse were praised for being the best dressed of the night.. and the worst was JOey...

Well Aaron was a totally different story. He has style.

Back in 1998 JSG awards, he wore that train of a suit with a top hat and when Celine Dion presented him with the award he took his hat off like a gentleman and gave Celine Dion a little bow.

Totally remember that.

But yeah i don't want to go off topic again so back to Easons image... i rather he go back to 2000 looks and before. He had a range of good haircuts and some cool clothes which he wears at ceremonies...

Its probably boring but at least it fits his image and his song styles. I mean, everyone praises him for being a consistent reliable singer so maybe its cool to go back to the old look whcih makes him look mature, manly and a gentleman shall i say. Keeps a clean good image as well.

Whether went wild to adapt to his wild songs these years is questionable. But he had good love ballads which is his trademark and stylish suits mostly works well with these songs styles



Yeah but u know...... for concerts, u change your style as much as u can. A concert is an excuse to wear anything crazy.... she still always look the same.

She has changed her style from being a regular innocent female singer to a composer/singer though which gave her some good results i must say.

arent Twins like over 20 already? shouldnt they change their 17 year old teenager girl look?
and Edison Chen, my god, he scares me so much especially with him and his wannabe rap.
He should just vanish from the music scene. Save us all the horror.

OFF TOPIC!!!

Gigi Leung....composer? Enlighten me Phish.

Which songs?
Which singers?

It's a little tough to translate them in to English and have me understand, but I'm willing to do the research if you just give me the names. I'll sniff'em out after I know who I'm looking for.

What can you tell me Phish?

LOL Steve... i promise u.

She began to change to become more of a composer/singer. She has composed for people like Hacken, Sammi, Hins Cheung... just to name a few (and of course herslf)

some songs include
高妹正傳
無所不在
同班同學
我們的永遠
順時針
高妹 (by hacken)

Just to name song.... theres more...

That's a fine list you've got there.

Crap, now I've got to look up Chinese websites, which takes hours to completely read and get through due to the enormous amount of ads and spyware. Oh well, I deserve it for being a Canto-pop fanatic, as well as an Asian one. =)

Thanks for the info Phish, I'll go check this out and get back to you with what I found out.

LOL wonder why u are so desperate to search for them? Im not a Gigi fan but i have to prove my point. Wouldnt say she is a dedicated composing singer but she is one of those that makes attempts because there is a gap in the market at the time for a female singer to write their own songs as well as sing

Not so much desperate, just looking for others who share a passion for music the way we've proven to each other. Finding artists who take the time to understand the process of music composition instead of just presenting a song in it's final form and reaping the benefits (or absorbing the punishment, depending on how you look at it) is every bit as rewarding for me as it is for the singer/composers themselves who see the beauty of music that only composers can see.

I liked his image back in the days and I wouldn't mind if he went back. Although, I also like his image now 'cause this is who he is. When he isn't wearing some wacky outfit, he usually has a simple tee on. I actually like his tees a lot.

He wears tees that represents him. He had this plain white tee that said "songwriter." He has a lot of outside of Asia rock band tee's like the Rolling Stones. He has this set of Sunday-Saturday tees. I don't like all of them but I like most of them. They are very expressive actually, for a not so expressive guy (in terms of getting personal.)

Twins.... They have to change their image and the way that their sing because they are already 25 years old.

Twins - that stupid innocent act is so freaking annoying
F4 - they aren't even an actual group to begin with. their stupid hairstyles gotta stop and stop appearing as F4, because they suck.
yumiko - stop trying to be a dancing queen when u cant dance for crap
basically all singers who are trying to act innocent and crap. frekaing annoying

^ i think ive mentioned that Twins had made an attempt to change their image. But because they have maintained a good fanbase of different age-groups of fans, its goin to be really hard to change and rid.

I think Cookies surprised me alot with their change. They use to have the short hair, silly clothes and look 12 years old. Now stephy, miki, theresa and kary have matured hella alot and even their songs have matured with them. U can actually see a major change. U can call them Ladies or Women whereas i still call Twins girls

It will take time for Twins to change i completely but then again, with their management, even if they wanted to... its hard and they gotta convince the managers.

I agree. Cookies have matured drastically whereas Twins haven't at all. I heard that they wanted or did change their style to look more sexy but, when I saw them after they said they wanted to change, they still look like girls.

The only thing that I think Twins need to change, is their voices. Not singing voices, their speaking voices. They both still talk like they're trying to be cute and all and it really doesn't make them look mature at all. Sure, you can argue that that is the way they speak and they can't change it but, I'm sure they can 'cause when they hit 30, they can't possibly have that same childish voice. I think its a matter of if you want to change it or not. But of course, not everyone can change something like that.

Joey, she can do whatever she wants with her image but, she needs to grow up. She still speaks like she's a 13 year old that hasn't gone through life yet. Its not her voice, its the way she answers questions and acts. She doesn't look like she's matured either.

OMG about the Joey thing ... its so true. Not only her though. Alot of artists in EEG are not mature enough and alot are really bad at answering questions or handling media.

I always get that feeling that when an EEG artist is talking to the camera answering questions... theres a manager or co-worker nearby watching and possibly guiding them.

---- Well i think Cookies has got rid of the bubblegum pop and now their music style has matured and sounds alot better. Kary in particular took the daring route of doing rock in Ping Pung which i was quite impressed with, after they left bad impressions for me in the 9 Cookies days.