HKVP World Tour: San Francisco
Anni Lam

The first party of the HKVP World Tour in San Francisco was an amazing success (it was just last week on Saturday, September 3rd)! Fans showed up at the Soluna Lounge for a 5-hour evening of hors d'oeuvres, dinner and dessert. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was just right. The most exciting part was seeing all these Generation X and Baby Boomer strangers mingling together because of a common interest and making new friends along the way. Throughout the night I heard laughter from all the tables and saw people introducing themselves to each other, striking up interesting conversations. Some even went clubbing together afterwards too! We had guests from all walks of life - from a Finnish Leslie Cheung fan to hobbyist Cantopop singers (both Chinese and Caucasian!) and from computer engineers to former DJs to aspiring filmmakers. People flew in from other cities too! I thought people would start leaving after dessert was served, but everyone stayed put long after that. The last of us left around midnight after rounds of hugs, handshakes and goodbyes. I couldn't have asked for more - the night turned out perfectly. We're already talking about doing this the same time next year.

Up next: New York City
We're planning the next stop of the HKVP World Tour in New York City, scheduled tentatively for either 2 weeks prior to Thanksgiving or 2 weeks prior to December. We will announce the party at least 6-8 weeks in advance to give all out-of-towners enough time to make travel arrangements. Please stay tuned to HKVP Radio for the latest updates.

More:
Read why HKVP is touring
Post your thoughts about the San Francisco party
Post your thoughts about the New York party

What's Holding Us Back: Asian American Music Needs an Identity Before It Can Blossom
Chheng S. Lim

Music defines. Whether it's the trendy New York hipster, the rural Southern gentleman, or even the latest flock of New Age hippies mocking mainstream commercialization of Goan trance, all of these (and many other) groups share a common seamless thread in that they take music as a quintessential marker of their personal identity.

"Music is one of the few channels of communication that is timeless. It attaches to memory like glue. It expresses things in a more beautiful light. It can portray negatives in a positive light, and vice versa," says Carl Choi of Catch Music Group, who manages Asian American artists such as Far*East Movement and the International Affairs for The Emcee, formerly known as Jin.

Where is our popular representation? While there are certainly a number of Asian American artists that discuss the subject of race politics within their songs, their comparatively low - profile character renders them almost invisible to the general American public. Some people state that it is because a wildly popular, mainstream Asian American artist has yet to appear - someone that can engage mainstream America. Yet I think the issue stems much deeper. Read more

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Read article
Browse more music articles in Rhythm Magazine
Official website: Far*East Movement

Win a free poster from HKVP Radio of Cantopop's brightest stars - Andy Lau, Anita Mui, Hacken Lee, Nicholas Tse, Joey Yung, Lee Hom Wang, Jade Kwan, Edison Chen, Twins and Angela Chang. All you have to do is fill out a feedback survey. Be sure to include your full name and mailing address where we can ship your poster to (no P.O. boxes please). Winners will be chosen at random. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. USA residents only. Win a poster!

"Secondly their going rate for an evening or dinner only doesn't amount to a whole lot at least in US dollars. The exchange rate today 12-08-04 is $1.00 US = $7.77.

"I've never understood the two faces of Chinese society. It's okay for one class of people to behave a certain way and not okay for another. I say Chinese society because it doesn't seem to be limited to Hong Kong.

"Remember last year in 2003 the uproar over the betal nut girls in Taiwan. They dressed very skimpy to sell betal nuts in these transparent roadside stands. People were getting so righteous saying this behavior was improper. Yet it is okay for women to dress thinly to see cars, boats, computers, lingerie etc. Aren't these behaviors equivalent? Yet one gets accepted and the other gets rejected." - Henry, Oakland

"Dear Anni and the team of HKVP Radio, You all did the best of best for us to remember back all the good and nice music that had been played since 1985. Thanks." - Daniel, Kuala Lumpur

"Thanks Anni for the retrospective look of 2004. It has been a very sad year for HK music. The very best seem to have left us for a better place. Thank you HKVP Radio for providing listeners with music that brings us back to happier times. A lot of songs here are hard to find so I am thrilled to log on to HKVP Radio at night. I also catch up on my celebrity gossip too! It's great." - Sheila, Boston

"No, thank YOU, Anni, for putting this station on the air and making it stick! You have truly brought the good ole days back...but online! It's so beautiful, and I'd like to thank you for this great escape. Thank you (x1,000,000,000)!!!!" -John, Calgary

"I listen to your station every day at work and love the music. Continue the great work and I look forward to more great music." - R Wong, Millbrae

"Hi Anni & HKVP Radio: I hate to admit that I don't have enough time to come to this site as often as I would like! As a result I don't notice the wonderful updates and enhancement that are made, right away. In the past year I've really enjoyed the links to or snippets of articles relating to so many entertainers and celebrities in Hong Kong. I appreciate the updates on the legends like Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui who have passed away. It's heartwarming to read about what dedicated fans are doing in their memory in Hong Kong and indeed all over the world. Thanks HKVP Radio for being a life line to what is happening." - Karen, Vancouver

"Thank you for your efforts in putting such a unique blend of music together. I am often teased about my preference in 'old' music, but seeing that there are others out there that share the same musical taste is really assuring. Keep up the good work. Your loyal fan," - Jonathan, Vancouver