hong kong event music

Cantopop All-stars 80s Dance Party with Hong Kong Beat wedding and party disco

Music in Hong Kong in the 1960s was mostly a choice between Chinese folk, and western pop and rock from the likes of the Beatles, the Carpenters, and such like.

Then, in the 70s, the advent of what was to be termed ‘Cantopop’, Cantonese language songs, mostly written for the city’s burgeoning TV and film industry, brought new stars, as well as crossovers from traditional Chinese music and opera, to the popular market.

Most songs in the 70s were still strongly influenced by pop and folk, as ballads or mid-tempo two-step, jive, and cha cha, however the end of the decade saw the birth of music for a younger generation, the ‘late boomers’, who demanded dance music like the disco, synth pop, and hi-nrg of the West.

Many of the songs were covers of Western hits, but there was creativity and showmanship among the talent as well, and this created new idols, leading to the Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop, and more Queens than you could shake a sceptre at.

Here are just some of the hot tunes Hong Kong Beat played back then.

 

Hong Kong Beat wedding and party DJ wishes all my Irish friends, followers and clients a great St Patrick’s Day!

“May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow,

And may trouble avoid you, wherever you go.”

Have a great St Patrick’s day listening to this selection of great rock, pop and reeling tunes from some of the Emerald Isle’s finest artists.

Hong Kong Beat wedding and party disco celebrating International Women’s Day with some R&B and dance music

This year, International Women’s Day has perhaps never had more relevance.

Hong Kong Beat expressing support for all women resisting and speaking out against harassment, abuse, neglect, discrimination.

Come on guys, if somebody treated you the way some men treat women, you’d floor them.

Show respect.

Hong Kong Beat

James Brown sang “it is a man’s world”, asserting things like ‘man made the car, the train, electric light, the boat, the ark’…

Unfortunately some men stop thinking at that point, as proof of their supremacy, but James went on to say “it would be nothing, nothing, not one little thing, without a women or a girl.”

He was right, but only to a degree, because, without a woman, none of us would be here. Period.

Men, this is the 21st century. It really is time for us to cherish and respect womankind as an equal.

Wishing all women a happy and hopefully fulfilling International Women’s Day and, although I know there are many parts of the World where this means nothing at all, just wishing that at least one more man will find enlightenment towards our better half.

(Dedicated to my dear wife and wonderful daughter)

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Hong Kong Beat wedding and events DJ wishes all a Happy Year of The Dog!

February 2018 marks the start year of the Earth Dog in the Chinese almanac bringing with it masculine energy, an outgoing and fun-loving vibe, and maybe even getting a little reckless…

So what better way to celebrate such a year with Hong Kong Beat than a mix of some heavy rocking and belting tunes about dogs, and well, their canine cousins.

Kung Hei Fat Choy, and wishing all a healthy, prosperous and successful Year of the Dog!

Shhh! Silent DJ at work! Hong Kong Beat wedding and event disco on iconic silent events

You’ve probably been to great parties where the DJ was just starting to swing when it’s been time for him to pull the plugs and put the tunes away, and you’ve maybe been one of those – I know I have – urging him to play one more song, then another. But sadly, you’ve been left a little disappointed. Yes?

Those of you who’ve been to Clockenflap in Hong Kong (if not, have a look here) will probably know about the ‘silent disco tent’. A surreal place where everybody jumps and dances around, singing along to their favourite tunes… Except there’s no music. Well, there is, but only in the wireless headphones they are wearing. And they have a great time.

Sounds odd? Well it’s actually a great way to cater for a lot of different musical tastes in one room, with three channels on each headphone that can play different music genres, or different styles of DJs, all at the same time.

But it’s not only a great way to satisfy multiple tastes in music, but also a way to bring music to a party and event environment when audible music is otherwise not allowed or is inconvenient; making it a solution to those party unhappy-endings!

I’ve catered to several parties where the venue’s noise control policy, or just simply polite consideration for neighbours, meant an early end to the night, or prohibited audible music completely. This has included some iconic venues where we have had to close down quite early and usually just as we were starting to get going – rooftop terraces and pool sides; beach front restaurants; elegant ballrooms in majestic hotels; restaurants, gardens, and marquees in grounds in residential areas… Even on board Hong Kong’s heritage trams!

Not every day you get to do a party with such a dramatic setting. The Beach House, Cheung Sha, Lantau.

All were in prime, high-end fabulous venues for wine, food, setting, and ambience, but the one thing that detracted from the full satisfaction of the function was the need to call ‘last tune’ at around eleven pm! Not the kind of party nightlife Hong Kong is famous for, or that Hong Kongers usually expect!

So ‘silent disco’ is an answer, and allows for longer parties that can simultaneously cater for all tastes, from the 20 somethings dancing to chart hits, to the mums and aunties ripping it up to 80s and 90s classics, to the grans with 60s and 70s pop and disco, and any combo in between. Or, western pop for one side of the family, Chinese pop for the others; even maybe a channel especially dedicated for dad dancing!

Hardly anybody will be left unhappy with the music choices at the end of the night, or with an early ending. And the excitement of so many different styles happening at the same time creates a great buzz and adds to the enjoyment, leaving your guests talking about the party for years to come.

But ‘silent disco’ doesn’t have to be for just dancing… The concept’s application is almost endless for any place or event where you might have a noise restriction policy, or a need to cater to different audio needs, or the ambient noise levels are too high for the event audio. Some examples might be: multi-cultural events; outdoor events; viral marketing campaigns; shows requiring simultaneous languages; multi-product launches. More ideas can be found at my website here.

Hong Kong Beat works with an experienced Worldwide silent event provider who uses only high quality audio transmitters and headphones and, in terms of music, Hong Kong Beat will work closely with you to craft play sets, either played by a live DJ or professionally pre-mixed, to your exact needs. Take a look here to check and listen to the variety of music I offer and music FAQ, and here for iconic party ideas.

If you do not want silence for the entire event, perhaps pre-dinner cocktail and dinner background music, or for speeches, Hong Kong Beat can provide the traditional audio equipment as well for that part of the evening, or work with your chosen venue to provide music through their in-house system, with the ‘silent’ event kicking in later when the audio levels have to be muted.

Want to build a party and dance floor mood, or enhance an event décor, with intelligent lighting? Hong Kong Beat also has several options on lighting, ranging from packages with computer programmed wash lighting, up to club-like ‘full house’ lighting and atmospherics effects.

More information on comprehensive packages offering audio and/or lighting can be found here.

The great benefit in selecting Hong Kong Beat, is dealing with just one supplier for all your music, audio, and lighting needs, cutting down costs and tricky liaison between different suppliers or the need for an event coordinator, and ultimately giving you peace of mind and a successful, memorable event.

The possibilities are endless really, not just as solutions to venue noise controls, but as a way to stretch your imagination and host the iconic events that people will always remember.

So, don’t make a noise, but make a big impression with your next ‘silent’ iconic party or event with Hong Kong Beat wedding and event solution.

For more information, or a chat about what is possible, drop me a line.

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Hong Kong Beat party and wedding disco lines up a bunch of stiffies, with punk and new wave from Stiff Records

Probably the first really influential indie label, Stiff Records was founded in 1976 at the leading edge of the wave of punk, and later, new wave rock movement, and brought together an eclectic set of artists from the UK and US counter-culture and pub rock culture of the time, and bringing the new music movement to public attention through its Stiff Tours around UK, Europe and USA.

Although many of the acts signed to the label remained or became obscure as the 80s wore on, some became icons of the movement with wider success and fame – like Elvis Costello, The Damned (with ‘The Rose’, acknowledged as punk rock record 001), Madness, Ian Dury, The Pogues, and Devo.

Delving into my collection of Stiffies to bring music as diverse as punk, ska, psychobilly, southern blues rock, synth pop, and even some Burt Bacharach and gospel, in tribute to an era and label that made a huge impact on rock music, even though it was only relatively short lived

(click the image for the show)

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Great Summer Parties with Hong Kong Beat wedding and party disco, in a Latin and tropical mood

Pool splashes, junk trips, roof top chill out, garden bbqs … all good ways to celebrate summer. Add to that summer sounds selected to set feet moving, and you have a great summer party.

Hong Kong Beat recently served up a 60 minute mix of Latin and tropical rhythms, with a dash of pop, from current chart releases, for a junk party, and can still taste the mojitos listening to this 🙂

Chart dance, K-pop and C-pop from Hong Kong Beat wedding and party disco, for an outdoor summer silent disco party

90-ish minute live recorded set from a recent outdoor rooftop silent disco with Sound Off Experience at the FWD Max Passion Party, for a mostly 20s/30s aged Hong Kong crowd, so spinning a mix of current chart dance, as well as Korean and Chinese chart dance tunes from the past few years.

It was just getting lively but had to pull the mix to let the main event –  local live band Supper Moment – get on to strut their very good stuff 🙂

 

Dad Dancing with Hong Kong Beat wedding and party disco for Fathers’ Day!

Dad dancing could be defined as “wildly exuberant dancing, often after drink has been taken; performed by men predominantly over 40; who learned their last dance moves at least 20 years ago; have vague recollections of fad dance moves learned during ‘that fabulous holiday to Haven in France’ when their kids were small; punctuated by air guitars, tortured miming, wild drum solos and knee slides across packed dance floors, to the embarrassment of their kids and wives…”

All I know is that their favourite tunes are floor fillers and the dads are great for the party.

Saluting Dad Dancers everywhere for Fathers’ Day 2017!

 

Hong Kong Beat wedding and event disco celebrates St Patrick’s Day

Wishing all my Irish friends and followers a great St. Patrick’s Day with a 90 minute eclectic rocking-and-reeling mix of reels, pop, and rock songs by Irish sons and daughters from the past 5 decades.

May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head be always strong.
And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead!