Silly Tango
Hu Xia
Boyish-looking, bespectacled China singer Hu Xia is best known for the touching theme song, Those Bygone Years, from the Taiwanese hit youth drama You Are The Apple Of My Eye (2011). On this disc, he must be hoping that lightning will strike twice with Change It Over, which, at some points, threatens to segue into that earlier hit.
At least the opening track, Static Electricity, and the title number, Silly Tango, head off in less expected directions. Castanets and accordion give Silly Tango an unusual musical flavour as Hu tangos with his emotions.
The album is generally heavy on ballads, which suits his clear and expressive voice.
Among them, Could We Make It leaves a deeper impression with Lin Xi’s wry lyrics: “We might not get caught in the rain in the future/Because we need to take care of our health.”
My Smiles Belong To You is another standout. Singer-songwriter Sandee Chan penned the lyrics and co-wrote the music: “You left a space for me to secretly listen to your heart/You’ve kept watch over a silence, waiting for him to say he loves you.”
Rather than following in past footsteps, original poignant ballads are the way to go if Hu wants to waltz with success.
(ST)