News Wrap for Week 12.2.2007 - 12.8.2007

Kay Tse has recently been surrounded by negative press about her weight. Seen with her newborn son, Kay has been criticized for being "fat." At the 2007 Metro Radio Awards' Press Conference, on December 1, 2007, Eason voiced his support for Kay and asked listeners to forget her image and focus on her music.

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Over 50 singers were present at the 2007 Metro Radio Music Awards' Press Conference on December 1st morning. During the press conference, Eason Chan, Denise Ho, Joey Yung, Leo Ku and Miriam Yeung were seen with exhausted faces; Eason, Joey and Miriam were late for the event; and these top 5 singers left not even 30 minutes into the event, which led to rumors that Metro Radio's executive Chu Ming Yui 朱明銳 was extremely upset.

For the past 2 nights, these 5 singers (along with Andy Hui) were rehearsing for the Another 10 Years of Chik Chak Reunification Concert until 4 in the early morning. It is said that these 5 singers left Metro Radio's event early to practice for the Chik Chak event to take place that night, causing rifts that these singers left one station to help another.

Regarding these rumors, Miriam responded that they were required to get to the AsiaWorld-Expo by 12 in the afternoon. Eason's company expressed that Eason had no prior knowledge of the plans because it was all company organized. When asked if they'd rather help another station, Eason's company expressed that they will not talk about that topic. Denise on the other hand expressed her thanks to Metro Radio for their understanding and allowing them to leave early.

When Metro Radio's executive Chu Ming Yui was asked regarding these top singers leaving early, he put up a smile and made his company look understanding by saying, "We had a prior agreement, if they wanted to stay for the press conference they can stay, if they need to leave they can leave. Staying for the press conference was up to the record company." He lastly hinted that Metro Radio had already changed the event to an earlier time to work with the artists.

Source: sina 12.2.2007

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For the Another 10 Years of Chik Chak Reunification Concert on December 1, 2007, Andy Hui, Eason Chan, Leo Ku, Denise Ho, Joey Yung and Miriam Yeung had minimal time to prepare for the show and spent 2 nights practicing until 4 in the morning. Afterwards, Denise posted on her blog that this concert made the 6 of them even closer and despite the long hours no one complained.

Prior to the concert, the 6 singers recorded what they felt was most tragic to them in the past 10 years, which was then broadcasted during the concert. Joey feels her teacher, Roman Tam's, passing was most tragic. She feels sad that he was not able to see her grow up and she will always remember what he had taught her. Denise feels her Sifu, Anita Mui's, passing was most sad. She feels that her Siufu's passing forced her to grow up quickly. Andy feels that both of his parents' passing in the past 10 years due to illness was most tragic. During Andy's performance of 單車, Andy overcame with emotion and tried his hardest to hold back his tears. Leo was envious of the singers who were able to plug new songs during the two years he spent in Mainland acting. Eason feels most sad that he is not able to spend time with his entire family, not being able to see them everyday and not being able to tell them his feelings at the first moment. In the video, Eason turned around with this back facing the camera after speaking, giving off the impression he had to turn around to shed tears. Miriam feels there were more sad than happy events over the past 10 years. At times, it was so sad that she could not even cry, while she cried when she was happy.

Andy was responsible for singing the song 單車, a song that talks about a father and son relationship, and because of his father's recent passing he could not sing it at all during the practices. He later revealed that before the show he told Eason to sing it if he really couldn't. Eason says he told Leo to sing it if he couldn't either. During the show, Andy held back his tears and performed the song himself.

It was obvious that these singers did not have enough time to practice. During the show Miriam forgot some of her dance steps and she was unable to get into some songs because of an earpiece malfunction. Leo had a microphone malfunction where half way through a song the mic stopped working, they had to replace the mic and start the song all over again. Eason also swapped two verses of lyrics in a song.

When being interviewed after the show, Andy, Leo and Miriam revealed that the police showed up during their practice session. Andy and Leo joked that Eason wasn't wearing his shoes and the smell made the police suspicious, so they showed up. Eason joked that the police were Andy and Leo fans because when they saw the two singers everything was alright. [Actually, the police showed up because they were making too much noise early in the morning while practicing.]

As for the rumors circulating that these top singers left Metro Radio's event early and Eason being late to the event, Andy joked that they will need to punish Eason. Eason asked, "what type of punishment" and Andy responded, "they will give an extra award." The two men laughed at the joke before Andy said, "hey, I didn't even show up."

After the show, Eason, Leo, Denise, Joey and Miriam went for a mid-night meal to celebrate; Andy Hui could not make it because he had to leave for Mainland in the early morning. Miriam says, "We were busy practicing the past couple of nights and we were exhausted, but since it is rare that [the 5 of us] were able to get together, we decided to give up sleep for a meal. Eason could not stop talking, he would pretend to be other singers singing or pretend to be animals, it was extremely funny."

Sources:
hocc blog 12.2.2007
wenweipo & sina 12.3.2007

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Eason goes to Fo Shan, China to promote his Listen to Eason Chan album, where he reveals album plans for 2008.

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Singers attended the 2007 Chik Chak 903 Music Awards' Press Conference, where the top 5 Favorite Males, Females and Groups were announced. At the press conference, singers had the opportunity to promote themselves for votes and participated in the voting. Eason says it wouldn't seem right if he voted for himself, so he gave his vote to Hins Cheung as a form of encouragement.

In no particular order:
Top 5 Favorite Male Singers
Eason Chan, Hacken Lee, Hins Cheung, Jay Chou, Leo Ku

Top 5 Favorite Female Singers
Denise Ho, Kay Tse, Joey Yung, Ivana Wong, Miriam Yeung

Top 5 Favorite Groups:
at17, Fama, I Love You Boyz, Twins, Zarahn

Sources:
sina 12.4.2007
tungstar 12.4.2007

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Wednesday night, December 5th, Eason attended the weekly TVB Jade Solid Gold show as guest host and performer. During the show, Eason performed songs with British singer, X Factor winner, Shayne Ward and Chinese singer Karen Mok. This episode also featured Janice and Vic Zhou.

Rundown:
Eason & Shayne - Every Breath You Take
Eason & Karen - 堅強的理由
Eason, Shayne & Karen - What a Wonderful World
Eason - 他一個人 (to introduce Vic)
Vic - 我不是 F4
Eason - Crying in the Party (to introduce Shayne)
Shayne - Breathless
Eason - 裙下之臣 (to introduce Karen)
Karen - 日場夜場
Eason - 時代巨輪
Janice - 無所謂
End Credits roll while Shayne & Eason are dancing

Every Breath You Take


堅強的理由 & What a Wonderful World


dancing


OR

Sources:
video: tvb 12.5.2007
photos: ent.tom.com (courtesy of tungstar) & applydaily 12.6.2007

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Eason Chan & Connie Chan 陳寶珠 were present at the Hong Kong Blood Cancer Foundation event on Thursday, December 6th. The usual talkative Eason didn't say much during his first encounter with Connie Chan, saying he was frightened by Connie because of her veteran status and didn't expect that she was so approachable.

Eason performed a piece of his song 每一個明天 during the event as a thank you to all those who donated money to the foundation. Eason reveals he has a friend who has cancer, which made him realize how fortunate he was. Asked whether he will start his own charitable foundation, Eason says there wasn't any rush and he would like to set up a trust for his daughter first.

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Sammi Cheng attended a promotional event for her Sammi Cheng Show Mi Concert 2007 being released on Blu-Ray. During the event Sammi says she will be working on a movie opposite Eason Chan called 查之女 where she plays a high ranked officer who is afraid she won't get married.

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Ivana Wong released her first Mandarin album on December 6, 2007, titled First Mandarin Album. She shot an MV for her first song, 你是我最愛的人, off the album. Many of the industry's top singers showed their support and encouragement for Ivana and her push into the Mandarin market, including Sammi Cheng, Leo Ku, Miriam Yeung, Eason Chan and Ivana's secondary school idol Andy Hui.

Sammi says, "I look forward to listening to every song in your first Mandarin album." Leo, who has performed numerous of her songs over the past 2 years, used the words 非常 (extremely, always or very) to say 13 things he likes about Ivana's song and her as a person. Ivana's secondary school idol Andy Hui hopes that Ivana will help the Hong Kong industry revive its glory in the Mandarin market. Miriam, who sees Ivana as a little sister says, "she is a very talented, very unique and very cute. I like her, I hope she likes me and will write songs for me to sing in the future." Eason, with his humor says, "Ms. Wong, be careful when you eat 胖 in Taiwan because I have experience [with 胖 in Taiwan.] Have fun in Taiwan and don't come back, bye bye."

Sources:
sina 12.7.2007
ent.mop.com (photo courtesy of tungstar) 12.7.2007