Although the energy in the stadium seemed to dip after more than 90 minutes, the mesmerising production set, as well as backup dancers and instrumentalists, did their best to keep audiences engrossed in between Lau’s costume changes and song breaks as the night wore on.
Some concertgoers have said in online forums that his show could afford to be more compact, so audiences wouldn’t lose attention halfway. After all, Lau has long established his star power and unshakeable position in showbiz. He could have simply sat on stage and sang acoustic songs for an hour, in my opinion, and still drawn similar-sized crowds.
But there was no doubt why his concerts are known for their captivating grandeur.
The show had mythical beasts and flying dragons, imaginative visual effects – from lights and laser beams to vibrant Chinese calligraphy backdrops – and even a few songs whose theatrics embodied Hong Kong pop culture’s era-defining “glamour with a hint of grit” aesthetic made popular by the film In The Mood For Love.
In the end, it didn’t matter that I don’t understand a lick of Cantonese, which I initially thought would affect my appreciation for the concert.
Lau is clearly a showman. He loves the spotlight, and the spotlight loves him. And as limits go, you can tell he knows where his lie – and pushes past them anyway.
