Soulboy is the debut Mandarin album by Hong Kong Mandopop artist Khalil Fong. It was released on 18 November 2005 by Warner Music Hong Kong.
Soulboy was influenced by Fong's childhood in Hawaii, taking inspiration from Ritchie Valens's music and many other 1960sâÂÂ70s musicians like Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder and James Brown. Fong's father was a professional drummer, and Fong began to learn percussion instruments at an early age. As a teenager, he started to learn to play the guitar and actively submitted his own music audition demo tapes to record companies, but he was turned away for being too young. However, in 2000, Warner Music Group took notice of Fong's demo and made him a behind-the-scenes composer and producer. Fong went on to compose many songs for other singers such as Andy Lau, Jacky Cheung, Chen Kun, A-Mei and Sammi Cheng.
In 2003, when Sammi Cheng noticed that Fong wanted to sing, she personally went to Warner's music arrangement director to vouch for him. However, a change in the company's senior management prevented him from pursuing a career as a singer.
Through continuous efforts, in 2005, Warner Music adopted a "listen to the voice but not the person appeared" approach to pave the way for Fong's debut, arranging for him to participate in major concert performances.
On 5 May 2005, Fong was invited to open for the Taiwanese pop rock group F.I.R's live broadcast concert. Fong sang the songs "Spring Breeze" and "Sound of the South" (Ã¥ÂÂé³). These songs draw from Fong's experience living in both Eastern and Western cultures, which provided him with rich materials and inspiration for his debut album. Integral to this cultural fusion is Fong's use of soul music, popularized by African-American musicians, combined with the foundation of Chinese music that characterizes Fong's unique musical style.
Soulboy is an album of R&B and soul combined with traditional Chinese music. The lead song, "Spring Breeze," is a cappella, with beatboxing to act as the percussion. Fong's singing voice lends to his unique blend of R&B and Zhongguo feng, along with Western blues lyrics that feature Hong Kong flavor words such as "peach blossoms (æ¡Âè±), willow trees (æ³æ Â), Yumen Pass (çÂÂé¨堳), Nanniwan (Ã¥ÂÂ泥湾)" and a soothing melody, giving this love song a pop music flavor. The song also includes harmony and draws inspiration from Lovin' You, produced by Stevie Wonder for Minnie Riperton.
The song "Sound of the South" features piano and erhu instrumentals, tying into the song's title about classical nanguan music. The melody turns from a minor scale into a major scale. The lyrics tell the story of blind Chinese musician Abing's life and inner spiritual world, focusing on his erhu song "Erquan Yingyue" (). Fong's lyrics reflect the bitterness of pursuing dreams and the regretlessness to pursuing reputation and living situation. This song demonstrates Fong's respect for his traditional music and culture. While his musical attitude aims to express modern emotions through traditional musical forms, Fong's work also embodies an attempt to pass on and innovate traditional culture.
The album's theme is "world harmony" (ä¸ÂçÂÂ大åÂÂ), with a focus on serious content like society, life and human nature Soulboy contains songs in Mandarin, as the label's plan was for Fong to target the Mandarin-speaking markets of mainland China and Taiwan. The title Soulboy was also a name Fong used when he served as an instrumental accompanist on other creative works by himself and other singers.
The album Soulboy was released on 18 November 2005, quickly gaining popularity with Mandopop fans. Fong's hit songs from this era include "Spring Breeze" (æ¥風å¹) and "Everyday" (æ¯Â天æ¯Â天) from the album, and Fong gained a reputation as "Hong Kong David Tao" and "Hong Kong Jay Chou." Fong, along with three other singer-songwriters, Ivana Wong, Hins Cheung and Louis Cheung, are known as the "Four Little Powers of Hong Kong Singers and Songwriters."
All arrangements are by Khalil Fong. All producers are Khalil Fong, Edward Chan and Charles Lee.
IFPI Hong Kong Record Sales Award 2005 - Top 3 Best Selling Male Local Newcomers. On 1 January 2006 evening CRHK's Ultimate Song Chart Awards presentation was take place in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and Fong was won Chik Chak New Male Singer Silver award. Chinese Music Media Awards Best Male Newcomer Award nominated in 2006 .