Nov 08, 2016 Sam Hui, the God of Cantopop, live in Oakland
J Pop, K Pop, Indonesian Gamelan, and Cambodian psychedelic rock–there have been plenty of Asian music genres to cross over into subculture coolness in the United States. Seemingly left in the dust is Cantopop, Cantonese-language pop music from Hong Kong. Even so, my family and I went on a road trip to see Sam Hui at the Oracle Arena in Oakland last weekend because it was a lot easier than going to Hong Kong.
The Golden State Warriors’ home court was sold out and it should have been. On a global scale, Hui is bigger than KD, Steph Curry, Run TMC, Rick Barry, and Wilt The Stilt Combined. The Hui Brothers movies are hugely influential to Hong Kong cinema, launching the careers of Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and John Woo, and then there are the soundtracks. One graphic at the concert juxtaposed Brother Sam with Elvis–the God of Cantopop and King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Cantopop isn’t for everyone. There are many karaoke-friendly ballads with mellow keyboards and soft drum machines. But Sam Hui has a lot of really cool rockers, perhaps influenced by covering the Pelvis and The Zombies early in his career. The theme to Private Eyes (a 1976 movie directed by his older brother Michael Hui and starring the brothers Michael, Ricky, and Sam) is an awesome working-class anthem using street Cantonese that he broke out after only two songs on Saturday night.
Cantopop’s God of Song usually plays 3- or 4-hour concerts in Hong Kong, and could afford to play hits in the beginning and middle as well as the end of the 2 1/2-hour benefit gig. He also included guest stars such as his protege Justin Lim (who accompanied the most Elvis-tinged portion of the show) as well a mini set featuring his son Ryan (who plays his own indie rock music and is my pal that we drove up to hang out with).
Although practically everyone in the arena knew the lyrics from their youths in the ’70s and ’80s, karaoke-style lyrics were provided on the video screen. Often, Sam walked down to the center aisle to hand out a basketful of scarves, accept flowers from fans, and hold out a microphone for a massive singalong. As evidenced by the recent Desert Trip with The Stones, The Who, and Paul McCartney, fandom doesn’t have to end with the arrival of an AARP card.
The mega set went by in a blur of outfit changes, dancing girls, glow sticks, and singalongs: hits from records and movies mixed with heartfelt tributes to Leslie Cheung and Sam’s late brother Ricky as well as a smooth rendition of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” for the locals. There was a lot of story telling and waving to the fans, too.
In addition to seeing baby pictures of my pal Ryan followed by him playing on such a huge stage, my highlight was witnessing the sold-out venue clapping along to a song from The Swordsman. That was the first Hong Kong movie I ever saw in a Chinese theater and first time I ever heard music by Sam Hui. Amazing!
Who knew I would become friends with Ryan Hui, that I would eventually get to catch him and his dad in concert, or that I’d see that song performed 25 years later? Or get to take my family and in-laws backstage to hang out and meet them? That was a very cool weekend for me.
Follow Sam Hui at facebook.com/samhuimusic, Ryan Hui at facebook.com/thestayupmusic and Imprint on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, too.