Cantopop star Eason Chan on Singapore fans, Hong Kong's music scene and being a 'go-with-the-flow guy'

For close to three decades, Hong Kong music sensation Eason Chan has been electrifying audiences. And he showed no signs of lethargy as he fielded questions from reporters on Monday (Apr 17), fresh off two successful weekend shows at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The 48-year-old Cantopop star's recent Fear And Dreams tour marked the first time he was back performing in Singapore since 2017, and CNA Lifestyle caught up with Chan to talk about his lasting career and the future of the Cantopop scene.

When asked about his memories of Singapore, Chan praised his local fans: “People always say that Singaporean audiences are kind of more reserved and they’re more focused on the show. But obviously, that is not right. (For all of my shows in Singapore), they’re pretty passionate and energetic people.”

This passion was on display at the end of his Apr 15 show, when fans left comments online asking him to speak in Cantonese – a request he obliged for the following day’s show.

“I’m quite surprised people wanted me to speak Cantonese (during the concert). Because it’s so natural for me to speak in English when I come to Singapore.”

And it's not just his fans who are important to Chan, who showed his appreciation for his crew. “I can’t have anyone missing. They have to be there to make this production a success, or rather, complete.”

With over 40 albums to his name and millions of fans worldwide, what does success mean to an accomplished singer like Chan at this time? 

“I’m very grateful I don’t have to be concerned about how I maintain my everyday life," he admitted. "I don’t spend much. I only spend money on necessities like water and food, not even petrol. Just the running costs. So I guess that’s pretty successful for me. And I get to play a lot of tennis, which I really enjoy, three times a week.”

Chan’s love of tennis is well-documented. During the interview, he shared how he flew to Singapore just to catch the WTA Finals back in 2016. 

When asked what he would still like to accomplish on both a professional and persona level, Chan maintained the same level of candour and humility.

“I think, most importantly, health. I still wanna keep (performing). I don’t think I’m (maintaining good health) just yet. I’m still eating junk food and sleeping late, which is not the best way to have a healthy body. So I have to improve that.”

He added: “Music-wise, I’ve never planned ahead since the beginning (of my career). I’ve always been a 'go-with-the-flow' guy. I’m very happy now that I can share this Fear And Dreams concert with, I dare say, the world.”

As for his thoughts about the Cantopop music scene and music in general, Chan is optimistic.

“What I’m seeing in Hong Kong is an improvement. We never used to have a singles market there because it wasn’t commercially efficient for music companies. But now, we do. Why? Because the way we make music is different; the way we sell music is different. The way people perceive music is different. I can hear pop music from Vietnam with just a click and go ‘Oh, this is very good.’ I think the future is versatile for any kind of music.”