Intro

I am going to introduce you to my world.
My public life, as columnist, image designer, producer, performer, recording artist, and now as guest music lecturer is well known.
I love to sing, photograph and design. I had a flourishing art business for over twenty years.
No matter how busy I am, I make time for my family, friends and fans. Here we go!

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《發燒音響》月刊專欄 :也談發燒

從小學業成績尚算不錯,雖讀理科,但語文能力出奇的好,大概女性的語言天份是佔優的。個人從事過很多不同類型的工作,很多朋友可能不知道我曾經修讀醫學護理及心理學,至現在機緣巧合展轉涉足出版界、廣告界、唱片界、公關界,以致I.T.界,能夠成為發燒歌手及監製,也是無心插柳的,更從沒想過會成為專欄作家。從而認識了不少投契的音樂朋友及記者,還有幸獲邀在  貴刋開名人專欄,這麼難得的寶貴經驗及機會,當然二話不說的一口應承。
話說在一個星期日下午,與記者大哥閒聊之際,口輕輕地答應的。其實也心知定期寫千幾二千字絕不容易,尤其是甚少提筆的我 (現在縱使可能用手機寫字便利得多),與專業的寫手們相比,真的獻醜了,還請各位多多包涵,只因小妹寫的全是真心話,有感而發,與我製作的發燒唱片,所抒發的情感是同樣真摰的。
今期就率先在此班門弄斧一番,談談「發燒」。也歡迎讀者賜教,互相切磋交流,提升專業水平。
近幾年因為出版了幾張個人發燒專輯,並因為本出身於流行樂壇,與半個娛樂音樂圈有著千絲萬縷的關係,於是多了上主流媒體接受訪問。也少不免會被問及何為發燒唱片,而我也樂於簡介「發燒」給普羅大眾,我們發燒友才不致只是小衆,被標籤為曲高和寡,甚至有時被指不懂音樂,只重音效,浪費金錢的一群。最近就有一本國際潮流雜誌誤將「Audiophile CD」寫成「Audio File CD」,還要報導成是我説的。我們發燒友當然一看就知是錯了,因為所有的音樂CD都是audio file 來的,「Audio File CD」又怎能只解作發燒唱片呢!很多發燒友朋友紛紛來電查證,擔心報導錯誤會令我不高興,有損形象,我卻沒好氣的說,若是我粉絲或朋友,一看就知不可能是我誤解的,何需理會?清者自清。可能因為「Audiophile」與「Audio File」驟耳聽來發音差不多,我當時也沒有為意解釋清楚,才有這美麗的誤會。不過,著實有澄清的必要,免得把錯誤訊息繼續傳遞下去。
「發燒唱片」我會定義為高音樂質素之餘,更要高質素音效,缺一不可, 才有資格稱為發燒唱片,否則就是混水摸魚,濫竽充數。因此,要製作一張發燒唱片,絕不能馬虎,更不是只有財力就可製作出一張大家認同的發燒唱片的。無論樂手或歌手,彈奏與收音技術,以致後期製作包括印製壓碟過程,稍一鬆懈,音效都會有所偏差的。我本著良心及創意執著,從事廣告設計及唱片製作多年,與不少知名歌手及製作人合作過,跟Ricky Fung、Keith Yip等名監製偷過師,總算累積了一些獨特的製作心得。我一向自嘲為科學怪人,會以科學的角度去平衡藝術的主觀,日後逐一與大家分享討論。能夠追求高品質音樂品味及享受,大概就是令我們發燒友著迷鑽硏的原因吧。雖然嚴格來說我不覺得我是發燒友,但也不讓男發燒友專美,男讀者們也請讓你們的女友或太太一起參與啊,有時候,女性對音樂或音效也會有獨特的見解呢!我與不少男發燒友談論過,現在確是多了不少女發燒友,而我也收過很多女發燒粉絲的電郵呢!當然,若想men's talk專屬的話,就是另一個話題了。

About Astor

Astor is able to express herself with logical literacy but full of artistic feelings. She acts to record her valuable, interesting and unforgettable experiences during her travel and plans to share with others her instant feelings, thoughtful insights and findings via poems, free verses, prose, narration, reference, etc.

Music, Movie, Musicals and Me

Music and theatre have had a close relationship. Theatre can associate with movie or musical theatre (musicals) and I love both of them. I sing theme songs in some Asian movies, such as“When I Dream” (theme from “Dragon Squad”). It easily recalls people not only from scenes of the movie, but also from memory. I love theme music from movies as well as songs from Musicals, especially Broadway. I remember I have fallen in love with Broadway since I was 12. Musical films characteristically contain elements reminiscent of theatre; performers often sing and dance as if there is a live audience watching. Some musical films were adapted for the stage after their great success, such as “The Wizard of Oz” and“Fame”, while successful musicals also definitely received movie adaptations, i.e. stage-to-film adaptations, such as“Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Evita”. We can share our moments after all these years by passing through “Over the Rainbow”, “Out Here On My Own”, “I Don’t Know How To Love Him”, “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”, “You Must Love Me” ……

“Moon River” (theme from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”) has to be selected in my new album "Theatre" although it has been covered by hundreds of artists all over the world. I sing it each time, it seems like a live performance accompanied by the pianist just in front of the audience.

“The Way We Were” (theme from “The Way We Were”) must be selected because it was the song of one of my favorite singers that influences me most, Barbra Streisand, and I won the singing contest with it!

“For All We Know” (theme from “Lovers and OtherStrangers”) was selected, of course, in tribute to my forever idol, the Carpenters.

WORDS from Astor :

I hope all of you would like the presentation of my albums.
Everlasting love dedicated to SUPERSTAR...
My dearest family,
Mom and Dad,
Uncle,
Tony,
Jan.
All the one I love,
Teachers and tutors, who have enlightened me,
All singers and writers of the original songs, especially Karen and Richard Carpenter.
All musicians,
All my fans and friends.
Thanks GOD.

Astor Fong

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