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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如何成為好的唱片歌手?

常常有人問我,你不出唱片的時候,是做什麼的?我笑著說,多著呢!因為除了是歌手身分,需要出席宣傳活動及商演外,平日的工作就是唱片監製,當然現在閒時也寫寫專欄啦!除了監製自己的唱片,也定期監製不同類型的影音宣傳品:有歌手的發燒專輯,也有商業客戶的廣告宣傳品及政府部門的宣傳非賣品等,包括DVD、CD-Rom等影音製作。
唱片監製的工作範圍很廣泛,是全方位的製作人,大多數是由零開始構思,曾為各類公司及機構度身訂造合適的影音宣傳品,留下很多珍貴的回憶及寶貴的經驗。能夠為客戶設計出令人難忘的廣告,提升客戶的競爭力,加強企業形象,得到客戶的讚賞及認同,那份成功感及優越感是不能言喻的。這也是驅使我們一直不怕艱辛甚至不息代價堅守理念的最大動力。
客戶的信任及支持,對於創作人尤其重要。近年來製作多張自己及其他歌手的發燒唱片,開展了發燒唱片的業務。眼見唱片業萎糜不振,認識很多從事音樂創作的朋友都紛紛轉型甚至轉行以維持生計,唱片公司亦各出奇謀,早陣子一窩蜂似的推出各式各樣的合輯,現在則以推出以女聲為主、翻唱舊歌以發燒錄音為賣點的專輯。隨著大量這類的唱片湧現市場,良莠不齊的現況日益嚴重。由於製作成本與質素參差,很多喜愛唱歌的人便多了很多前所未有的機會。即使是新人也可能可以輕易推出個人專輯,成為唱片新星,一嘗當歌手的滋味,實現當歌手的心願。
然而,要當一個真正的唱片歌星,真的是這麼容易嗎?
記得以前還是一間國際唱片公司的合約歌手時,偶然遇過一位有經驗的歌手對我說,出唱片不難,如何可以繼續出唱片才難!這位歌手繼續跟我分享他的故事:跟我一樣,他也是透過歌唱比賽被發掘,但他簽約香港的唱片公司,卻要等到在台灣才有機會出唱片。之後回港幸好也有機會再出唱片。然而,一張又一張的個人專輯推出後,反應卻只是一般。他外型不俗,歌藝亦出色,可能稍稍欠缺運氣吧。長江後浪推前浪,若然不能在短時間內令人留下印象,那怕是多麼有潛質的藝人,恐怕投資者還是會另覓人選的。弱肉強食、適者生存就是最顯淺的商業原則。
可幸的是,這位歌手和我一樣,起初雖然發展得一般,但我們默默耕耘,也懂得變通,漸漸地各走出一條屬於自己的路,各有專長:他成為了一位經理人,我就成為了發燒唱片監製及歌手,繼續在音樂圈發光發熱。
發燒歌手的入行,我認為現在的門檻不是人們說的那樣高,但卻並非想像中的那麼容易!由於現在發燒唱片比從前普及了許多,選擇也五花八門,消費者要求也會相對較高。還是那句,入行易,留下難!若有志成為出色的發燒歌手朋友們,我會建議還原基本法,即是歌首要唱得好!唱翻唱歌的話,要比原唱者更有特色,才會有知音。記著,消費者當中不乏專家,他們有耳朵的多的是呢!不要以為某某歌星唱得一般,你唱得好過他,你便可以當歌手!很多想入行的新人或許只是想當明星偶像罷了!要想成為好的唱片歌手,不可自欺欺人,更不可自滿,必須力求上進,知己知彼,才有資格去爭取機會而已。若只是想當偶像派,現在競爭比從前更激烈,更需要有一把好嗓子,而且還要有天時、地利、人和啊!傳世的歌星,大概不會只是僥倖吧?

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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