The Weeknd sparked joy and nostalgia at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong on Saturday with his performance of unreleased track “Hong Kong”. Sampling Faye Wong from her 1993 hit song “Seasonal Wind” (also known as “Monsoon”), The Weeknd’s rework of Hong Kong’s Canto-pop legend was a tribute to the neon-lit metropolis.
Wong’s vocals encapsulate the revolutionary experimental art scene of ‘90s Hong Kong, which was full of love and isolation set in a metropolitan context: "That time, the monsoon blew so emptily / As if everything in the world would vanish without a trace / You are like the monsoon, all plans to resist you are futile / And then, there's nothing left but undying heartache."
The Weeknd matches the wistful yearning of his source material, singing "Any time it felt this good, it ends in tragic song / I'm so used to weathering changes / So if you ever change your mind / I'm waiting in Hong Kong." Performing against a backdrop of Hong Kong late at night, The Weeknd’s new track isn’t his typical melancholic ballad —“Hong Kong” is his love letter to the sights and sound that dominated the Cantonese pop and cinema scene 30 years ago.
Faye Wong is a singer-songwriter and actress that is widely regarded as the “Queen of Cantopop” and is well-known for her lead role in Wong Kar-Wai’s film Chungking Express (1994). Her airy voice, angsty love songs, and whimsical style secured her as Hong Kong’s it-girl of the ‘90s and the voice of her generation.
The Weeknd’s tour this year has previously featured songs dedicated to the cities he has performed in, such as his show in Rio where he played his song named after the city (a duet with Brazilian singer-songwriter Anitta).
