An old friend turned 30 recently and marked the occasion with a bang. The festivities took place over two nights at the Taipei Arena and more than 60 artists, from rock band Mayday to Mandopop balladeer Wakin Chau, turned up to celebrate this milestone.

Happy birthday, Rock Records.

At the second concert on Sunday, the performers’ affection for the iconic Taiwanese record label was palpable over the course of five hours. The celebrations will continue in Singapore on Jan 22 and also travel to Hong Kong, Malaysia and China.

As one familiar hit followed another and one familiar face followed another, it was a reminder of how much good music Rock Records has put out over the years.

One of the biggest pleasures was seeing stars from the past grace the stage once more.

Here were Wa Wa belting out hits in her trademark husky vocals from Heavy Rain (1991) and Alex To dancing up a storm to Saving The Earth and then stripping to a pair of shorts that advertised the word “Rock” for the rousing Take It Off.

There was Tarcy Su, as big a Mandopop star as they come in the 1990s, belting out her monster hit Lemon Tree and then unexpectedly tearing into a Minnan number, Chase Chase Chase.

When Malaysian duo Wuyin Liangpin emerged, a collective gasp went up in the stadium. Michael Wong and Victor Wong (no relation) went their solo ways in 2000 and it has been a long time since they shared a stage as a team. Too bad they performed only a single song, Palm, which was one of their earliest successes.

Then again, given the turnout, the performers had time only for a few numbers each, leaving you wanting more. And if some singer or song was not your cup of tea, you did not have to wait long for someone else to take the spotlight.

What was surprising was how little was actually new or unknown to me. Some were songs that have lain dormant and half-remembered all this time, while others boasted familiar refrains nestled in less familiar songs by less-known singers.

Even the segment which showcased Rock Records’ earliest material in the early 1980s – from the folk pop of Autumn Cicada to pop ballad Forget Who I Am – triggered a few moments of recognition.

While some singers have come and gone, others have remained closely associated with Rock Records for much of their careers.

Michelle Pan, the first singer to sign on to the label, still has a honeyed alto that is a treat to listen to. She declared: “The blood of Rock Records flows in me.”

Other stalwarts such as rocker Wu Bai and singer-songwriter Bobby Chen Sheng also rallied round for the bash. Chen teamed up with host Cao Qitai for some humorous banter as Cao milked his forgotten sole song, Show Must Be Going On, for every last bit of drama.

Still, others were conspicuous by their absence, including singer-songwriters Lo Ta-yu and Jonathan Lee, as well as Sarah Chen and Sandy Lam, who had some of Rock’s biggest albums.

Some could not make it due to conflicting schedules and even the roster of artists who performed on the two nights in Taipei differed slightly. There was some speculation on the reasons for certain no-shows but, really, it did not dampen the highlights-filled festivities one whit.

Mayday singer Ashin, whose band rocked out the Minnan number Fool, unleashed a riposte to those who say that Rock’s voice has grown softer in recent years: “Have you grown deaf?”

When the electricity was cut off at midnight halfway through Wu Bai’s Love You For 10,000 Years, due to the city’s regulations, the fervour of the fans remained undiminished. Everyone sang along with gusto and lingered on when it was over, reluctant to let the evening end.

One final song had been planned – a mass singalong of Happy Paradise, a track first recorded by Rock’s stars in 1986. Even though the stage was now off-limits and the microphones silent, the contingent of performers began singing it and slowly, people began to join in.

It was a lovely end to an unforgettable celebration of music and friendship, and a beautiful beginning for whatever is coming next.

(ST)