DUO Eason Chan Concert Live 2010

Eason Chan

Ahead of his concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Sept 18, check out what Eason Chan served up on his home turf.

The 18 gigs at the Hong Kong Coliseum in March and April were a personal record number for him. Maybe that explains why his voice was not quite up to its usual high standard and he sounded a little strained and tired at points.

Still, this generous three-CD spread takes you through his hits from 1998’s My Happy Era to 2006’s Under Mount Fuji, to this year’s No Man’s Land.

Apart from his own songs, Chan also performed a delightful array of covers including Faye Wong’s Promise, Kay Tse’s Street Of Wedding Invitations, and even a Japanese track, Mr Lonely.

What you won’t get to experience here, though, are the outrageous costumes worn by Chan and his charismatic stage presence. Those will have to wait till September.

Regeneration

Chemistry

The R&B duo Chemistry first created sparks 10 years ago when they won the Asayan talent search variety show, Japan’s version of American Idol.

They have gone on to release several No. 1 albums and singles, with Regeneration being their sixth full-length offering.

While Yoshikuni Dochin and Kaname Kawabata look like chalk and cheese on the album cover – one a sensitive lovelorn soul; the other, a boxer getting ready to do battle – they prove that their chemistry has not fizzled even though the opening number has them singing: “Go alone had to quit ya/On my own, better without ya”. The album includes Period, the opening theme for the hit anime series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

More satisfying, though, are At That Time, which incorporates a rap from Japanese hip-hop veteran Dohzi-T, and the slinky number Dawn.

1st Mini Album

2AM

Once upon a time, there was an 11-member Korean boyband called One Day.

They then split into two groups, 2AM and 2PM. Compared to the diurnal 2PM which went down the route of energetic dance music, the nocturnal 2AM went for a smoother R&B sound, in keeping with the vibe of its name.

The result was that 2PM emerged triumphant in the popularity stakes.

But with a repackaged version of their first album, 2AM have proven that night and day can meet.

Their catchy new single I Did Wrong ups the tempo and comes with an epic 10-minute music video that has group members Jo Kwon styled as a club DJ, Changmin as an ice hockey player, Seulong as a biker and Jinwoon as a basketball player.

The rest of the album, which includes material from their first two singles, slides into a less distinctive, if not unpleasant, groove.

The question, then, is this: If 2AM continue to move in the direction of fasterpaced numbers, what will distinguish them from 2PM? Will they get back together One Day?

(ST)