With courage and resilience, you act; and life will never ever be insurmountable.
“Strumming my pain with his fingers. Singing my life with his words. Killing me softly with his song. Killing me softly with his song. Telling my whole life with his words. Killing me softly with his song…” The “Queen of Hi-Fi” Susan Wong (黃翠珊) was crooning! Susan is one of the most mesmerising singers for everlasting songs in Hong Kong. She released numerous all-time favourite albums for audiophiles.
“Look at his poses! Although he is singing, it looks like the sculpture of Michelangelo’s David is moving as well!” The popular influencer Brian Chow (周國豐) was making amusing remarks when he appeared on a TV singing competition as a judge.
Now, Susan and Brian work together to present a magnificent concert. Susan Wong sings and Brian talks. I am the producer of the charity event.
Hong Kong’s tough social environment impacts young people’s mental health. With a teenage suicide rate among the highest in the developed cities, Hong Kong has seen a distressing surge in youngsters taking their own lives in recent years. Research shows their suicide attempts have doubled, resulting in more than 30 cases per day. Survey also reports that nearly one third of the students in Hong Kong are affected by emotional and mental health issues. The troubles include anxiety, depression and fear arising from causes such as school academic pressure, peer bullying, family tension and teen dating.
Dr May Lam of The Hong Kong Mental Wellness Association (香港情緒健康學會), Susan, Brian and I discussed how we could join forces to contribute to discouraging the exacerbation of mental health problems among the young in Hong Kong. We came up with the idea of a meaningful concert as a soft and artistic tool. Music and chat can plant the seed of right messages in the mind of people. Blessed is the influence of unwavering love and care. There is no heaven like mutual support. We want to tell, and also want the audience to tell, those in need of help that they can heal themselves, or seek a hand which can assist them.
The charity concert called “You’ve Got a Friend (好在有朋友)”. It will be held in HKAPA from 9th (Wednesday) April to 13th (Sunday) April 2025.
We decide to turn the puzzle of complexity into slogans of simplicity. We are the advocates for 2 quick points. If you are down and troubled, always remember:
- “It’s okay not to be okay”—Nobody is perfect and life surely consists of hard times. You should not look down upon yourself as a loser and must believe that with confidence, there are ways to solve your difficult situations. When you strive to become better than you are, everything around will become better too.
- “You’ve got a friend”—We were inspired by the signature song of Carole King. Friends, voluntary organisations and even health professionals are important for you. They can help keep you from feeling alone. You can express your worries and thus lower your stress. They let you have a sense of connection and boost your self-assurance that you can gain the control of life reversibly.
It is not easy to do a charity concert. We need sponsors, manpower and publicity. In particular, we thank the kind-hearted sponsorship corporations and organisations. Please bear with me because I have to thank the following for their advice or participation:
- Agnes Chan (陳美齡), the educationalist;
- Hardy Tsoi (蔡錫昌), the drama guru;
- Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (香港演藝學院);
- WSM Music Group (環星娛樂);
- Commercial Radio (商業電台);
- Integrated Publicity Services (傳藝公關廣告);
- Hins Cheung (張敬軒), the superstar;
- Virginia Yung (翁嘉穗); and finally
- our great teammates: Maria, Vincent, Daniel and Pang Chai.
My gratitude also goes to the guest performer Tam Fai Chi (譚輝智) and the choirs from the kind schools, and their music is the beautiful add-on to the concert:
- Alliance Primary School, Kowloon Tong (九龍塘宣道小學);
- Maryknoll Convent School (Secondary Section) (瑪利諾修院學校(中學部));
- Marymount Primary School (瑪利曼小學 );
- St. Stephen’s Girls’ College (聖士提反女子中學)
Our project leader Dr May Lam instills in us indomitably: When you are unhappy, you see darkness cover the earth. But, when you cheer up, you will see the light at the end of the tunnel…Please enjoy my interview with Brian and Susan: https://youtu.be/qzf8uCsoAKE?si=vbdTNUWC_wiRLnnC
If you want to buy ticket, please click: https://cultural.cityline.com/tc/2025/youvegotafriend.html
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