Hello and welcome to another edition of  China Beat here on "China Radio International". This is Zhong Qiu.

Hong Kong singer and actor 古巨基or Leo Ku, came to fame in 1997 on the back of his hit single欢乐今宵, "Enjoy Yourself Tonight", which showcased his unique falsetto range. With the release of the smash hit album 劲歌金曲, "Jade Solid Gold" in 2005, Leo Ku's career reached climactic heights. This best-selling album featured Ku’s covering the romantic classics of the 1990s. His latest mandarin release, 情歌王, "King of Love Songs" continues the concept of covering popular love ballads. With this album, Leo Ku has become the "king of love songs" and this release highlights his mastery of ballad crooning. For the rest of the show, sit back and relax as we listen to this new album by Leo Ku, the "King of Love Songs".

(King of Love Songs)

Hong Kong singer and actor 古巨基 or Leo Ku in "I Am Still Yours". [Photo: cnmdb.com]

The album opens with the title track, "King Of Love Songs". This twelve-minute medley includes Leehom Wang's "Forever Love", Wakin Chau's "Tomorrow I Will Be Married To You", Faye Wong's "I Am Willing", and Jacky Cheung's "Farewell Kiss" among many other memorable tunes.

(King of Love Songs)

Another hit off the album is Leo Ku’s duet with Taiwan singer, Fish Leong, 还是好朋友, We Are Still Friends. Written by seasoned Canto-pop composer Albert Lam Jik with lyrics from Kay Huang, this track is a piano-driven love ballad. Ku and Leong are matched in tone, although the lack of texture in the duo's vocals creates some challenges for their harmonies. Nevertheless, the co-operation between the king and queen of love songs explores the fine line between romance and friendship; and "We Are Still Friends" presents a different perceptive on love.

(We Are Still Friends)

Another highlight of the album is the second track,我还是你的, "I Am Still Yours". It was written by the golden duo of Yao Ruo Long (姚若龙) and Kay Huang, who have decades of experience in the industry and have worked with the likes of Jacky Cheun, Faye Wong and Lee Hom Wang. With this headlining creation team, this ballad is a must-listen-to track off the album.

(I Am Still Yours)

Leo Ku has excellent vocal capabilities and control over his breathing and tempo. His vibrato is interesting and his use of falsetto adds texture to his tone. He is one of the few Cantopop singers who make use of falsetto. Because of this, many people, including David Tao, have praised him for his unique talent. He is also the first singer to have won all four newcomer gold awards at Hong Kong's radio and television stations.

(Beautiful In All Side)

The fourth track, 每一面都美,or "Beautiful In All Side" is a softer rendition of David Tao's R&B hit. Different from the original release, this guitar-driven rhythmic verse sounds more earthy and intimate. In this song, Leo Ku relaxes his voice to follow the warm sentiment of the song. Although he doesn't posses the bluesy vocal texture with deep bass, Ku's warm expression and crisp pronunciation still adds to this cover track.

(Beautiful In All Side)
(Little Sweety)

The song we are hearing is the fifth track, 小甜蜜, or "Little Sweety". As the title implies, this is a fairly sweet pop song, both musically and lyrically. The livelier melody and Leo Ku's softly whispered words of love go perfectly together with his boyish charms and looks—a track to grow on teenage girls perhaps. It is not a song to display Ku's vocal charisma, though, it fits the album at the perfect point to keep the pace and tone moving along.

(Little Sweety)

With this song, "Little Sweety", we come to the end of this edition of "China Beat". We'd love to hear your comments and suggestions. You can email us at Chinabeat@cri.com.cn or log on to our website at crienglish.com, find China Beat and leave your message. This is Zhong Qiu in Beijing. Bye for now.