Jimu News chief reporter Zhang Cong
Dialogue person:
Lin Zixiang, a famous singer, musician, and actor.
, as a witness to the most glorious years of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, also left behind "In the Middle of the Water", "I Need You Every Minute", "Dare to Love and Dare to Do", "Ten Twelve Inches", "Real Man", "Digital Life", "Choice" and "Man Becomes". "Self-improvement" and many other classic songs, a singer who is regarded as an idol by Andy Lau and Leslie Cheung. It is not an exaggeration to say that George Lam is a benchmark figure in the Hong Kong music scene.
In 2016, Lin Zixiang and his wife Ye Cuiwen, who had been retired for many years, appeared on "I Am a Singer" to support Hacken Lee, which shocked people to realize that the "Iron Lung Singer" is immortal. In recent years, due to the variety shows "Our Song" and "The Endless Sound", more and more young people are impressed by Lin Zixiang's majestic high-pitched skills.
Dialogue background:
html On January 13, Lin Zixiang, who finished his concert in Chengdu, once again hit the screen with his high notes.At the age of 76, he can produce high notes that even young singers would be ashamed of, and he refuses to be disturbed by teleprompters... All of this seems to make George Lam the "only one" in the current music scene.
Of course, he has always been the "only", but now in 2024, how strong and high his status is is obviously no longer a concern of Lin Zixiang. When talking to a reporter from Jimu News, he said that at the age of 76, he is still He chose to stand on the stage because he really couldn't forget the energy and happiness brought by the concert. All he cared about was "I don't know how long I can sing."
Many people don’t know that Lin Zixiang, who can often produce overwhelming high notes on stage, actually speaks “very quietly” in private, and those emotions expressed in a low voice are almost all about the fans and the music. This kind of love is the motivation for him to still stand on the stage at the age of 76, and it is also the reason why he insists on "truth" and "truth singing".
"I want everyone to come to the concert, I'm not here to sing karaoke for you." Lin Zixiang said in an interview before the Chengdu concert on January 10.
I feel so lonely when the song ends
Thank God, I can still sing
Jimu News: The name of the concert is "Fifty Firms", and many fans will be curious about its origin.
Lin Zixiang: In Cantonese, we have a saying of "fifty shoulders", which means that at this age, (shoulder and back) will be very painful, but there is also a word "jian" in Cantonese, which means "very strong", so I use this In other words, I have been singing for 50 years, but I still hope that I can still be that strong and continue to sing my songs.
Jimu News: A tour of this scale must be a very big challenge. You are 76 years old, why do you still work so hard?
Lin Zixiang: There is a sentiment that I don’t know if you understand. Some people say that an actor will return to his own body after filming a movie. In fact, the same is true for singers. I speak very quietly, and I am afraid of loud scenes, but when I get on stage, I am like another person. When the music starts, I seem to have entered someone else's body, and then as soon as I finish singing, I am like another person. You have to be yourself - after singing, stepping off the stage, and going home, standing there as soon as you walk in, the song ends and everyone leaves, it feels quite lonely.
was really stressed before going on stage, and he was very tired after singing the whole show, but the feeling of meeting the fans was really enjoyable, so after taking a break, he couldn't help but want to find the happy person on the stage. It feels...I think it's hard to stop.
Jimu News: This kind of interaction is very fascinating, including the most direct emotional feedback from fans.
Lin Zixiang: The audiences in almost every place are very good. Maybe it’s because they haven’t seen me for so long. They like to see me singing so hard. (Laughs) In fact, I have been thanking God in my heart that I can still sing those songs, because I am afraid that my voice will suddenly break...but fortunately, I can still sing. As long as I can sing, I don’t think about anything else. After all, after 50 years, it can still win the hearts of the audience and touch their ears.
Jimu News: Is the interaction with fans the most precious thing to you?
Lin Zixiang: Yes, it’s all true love.I have been singing for so many years and so many similar things have happened. Sometimes when I was singing a song and I walked up to an audience, I can still remember the look they gave me. Sometimes I even see that look. That look made me cry. (Chokes) How can you not remember their love for you? Once I sang a song in Canada, the staff said that a special guest was coming to see me. It turned out to be a 100-year-old fan. He came to the scene in a wheelchair and sat there to listen to me singing. I was I will never forget these scenes of running up to him and singing to him.
There is only one "bottom line" for concerts
and that is the "real"
Jimu News: So when we see you singing on stage, you always work the hardest. Everyone calls you an "iron lung" who is not shy about singing your overwhelming high notes to the audience. In fact, it is very tiring for singers to insist on such high-pitched performances.
Lin Zixiang: I have a bottom line when holding concerts, which is "truth". I was even afraid that the concert would play lyrics, subtitles, and teleprompters for me on stage. I would definitely refuse. When we were doing "The Voice", the staff would put a subtitle there because the singers were really under a lot of pressure and were afraid of making mistakes. But I can't. On the contrary, I will make mistakes as soon as I see the teleprompter, because what I want to do more is to really sing in front of the camera and for everyone to really sing. Not to mention the concert, I am not here to sing karaoke for the fans, I want to give them the most genuine feelings. (What do you value most about authentic singing and interaction?) Definitely.
Jimu News: I heard from the staff that you don’t have time to change clothes at the concert.
Lin Zixiang: Yes, I always sing from the first song to the last song in my concerts. From beginning to end, I don’t change my clothes and I don’t drink water because I don’t want to have a pause in the middle. No matter how simple it is, It takes 5 minutes to change clothes. I'm worried that the audience's mood will "drop" if I'm not around. I hope I can carry that good atmosphere from the beginning to the end with them.
Jimu News: Will you make any special preparations for the concert? There will be many people who want to keep fit and maintain their physical strength.
Lin Zixiang: Actually, no, you said it was tiring. In the last century, when we held concerts in Hong Kong, we had to perform for 20 consecutive days. On the contrary, this is not the case now. I will go to many cities, but I can rest and adjust in between. I just pay attention to my diet. After arriving at the concert venue, I don’t drink alcohol, eat spicy food, don’t eat fried food, and don’t eat dark things. I don’t have any other special requirements to protect my throat.
When I went on stage, I was very simple. I prepared makeup, hair, and clothes all by myself. I always cut my hair myself. I am an easy person to get on stage, unlike many singers. Or actors, it takes a lot of people to help them. (laughing)
Jimu News: I feel that you speak relatively quietly. Is this a way to protect your throat?
Lin Zixiang: No, I have always spoken (very quietly) since I was a child. I like this, whether it is recording or interviewing. I am afraid of "loud" scenes. In this way, I can express myself better. No one in our family is loud. , except Ye Cuiwen. (laughing)
Good songs are vital
I will always miss the past
Jimu News: Many people will be curious, the audience has listened to a classic many times on different occasions, and of course the singer himself has sung it more times. How to keep it fresh?
Lin Zixiang: No, every time I sing this song, I am actually singing it to different people. Those people are coming to listen to me live for the first time - I am not singing it to myself, but to me. To the audience. Moreover, the audience is different, and the reactions they give me are also different, so I will not make my singing boring or boring. There is an "current" between the singer and the audience. Once you get out there, you'll be "energized". Many people will mention that one of my songs is related to an important moment in their life, and I feel very happy and have a sense of accomplishment.
Jimu News: Because of singing variety shows, you have gained many new fans. What we are very curious about is that after 50 years of singing and experiencing the heyday of the Hong Kong Philharmonic and Chinese music circles, is there an era you miss the most?
Lin Zixiang: If I have to say, of course I think the 1970s and 1980s are what I miss the most. We have several good friends who came out of that era together, but now, they are no longer here. In that era, everything was uncomplicated. No one would take pictures of you when you walked on the street. Whatever we wanted to do could be done quickly. It was very simple. The same was true for life and work. There were no other worries. Unlike now, when you go online, many things are true or false, and you don’t even know what the truth is.
Therefore, the emotions and music of the songs we composed at that time were very direct, and the fans could easily understand the emotions we wanted to express through this song. What now? Everything has become too computerized, but nothing can move me like it used to. Those songs before
are so good! Including those songs from the 1940s and 1950s, which I still listen to now, as well as Beethoven's and Chopin's. Those melodies are in my mind all day long. I don't think there is anything so-called "old". On the contrary, those "old" things are much more "real" than now.
Jimu News: A good song must have vitality.
Lin Zixiang: Yes, if a song is well written and sung well, then it will exist forever. We used to write letters, and I sent my handwritten letters to my mother, which I still keep, even though she has passed away. Not to mention a song.
Jimu News: If you had to pick a song, which one do you think would be your life work?
Lin Zixiang: It’s too difficult to choose. If I had to say it, I would prefer it to be "Little Apple" which you are not familiar with. It was "Little Apple" written by me! That song was written by me to my son. The lyrics are: "When you leave me one day, I know exactly what you are thinking... The world is big and there are many changes. I feel like you are like a little apple." Because, I I have been singing for 50 years, and many audience members seem to have become my "sons" or my family members. Therefore, I will sing a short part of "Little Apple" at the last song of every concert. , give it to them.
(The picture shows Lin Zixiang at the Chengdu stop of the "Fifty Strong" tour concert)
(Source: Jimu News)
