Danny Chan's Greatest Hits

When considering the best male singer of Hong Kong, Jacky Cheung is generally the most popular choice. But I think Danny should be in for a shout too. Both are clearly very different in their styles and approach, Jacky was more of a crooner and Danny was somewhat effeminate. They are also a hit with the ladies and have their share of classic love ballads. Personally though, I always felt that Danny meant what he said with conviction in his yearnings and his songs were not simply empty displays of virtuosity. The way he suffers from heartache or even from being lovestruck is pretty damn convincing and shows the powerful effect a beautiful woman has on a man. His openness is appreciated by both sexes.

I first noticed him in a 1989 awards ceremony where he received an honour for the song "Yat Sang Hor Kau." Aside from another music show later, that was pretty much the only occasion I saw him perform up until his premature death. Fast forward 6 years later when my family had a satellite dish for TVB and the tv series Break Through was broadcast, I finally got a glimpse of the man again but this time in all his youthful exuberance. He was definitely not what I expected him to be and such a stark contrast meant a significant evolution of the artist, which got me interested.

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