Cover Khalil Fong (Photo: Getty Images)
Khalil Fong (Photo: Getty Images)
1 / 1
In memory of Khalil Fong, the celebrated singer-songwriter who died at age 41 on February 21, 2025, Tatler revisits seven of his songs that captured his creative prowess and evolution
Hong Kong-based singer-songwriter Khalil Fong died at age 41 on February 21, 2025.
Fong, who primarily sang in Mandarin and English, was celebrated for his R&B and soul sounds, which were rarely heard in the Chinese market at the time of his musical debut in the 2000s. In addition to his own material, he also composed songs for Canto-pop stars such as Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng and Taiwanese singers like A-Mei.
In memory of Fong, we have compiled a list of seven of his hits that best showcase the evolution of his musical style.
Don’t miss: New York-based Chinese ‘curves’ artist Yuan Fang has her eyes set on Hong Kong this month
Above Khalil Fong (Photo: Getty Images)
Khalil Fong (Photo: Getty Images)
1 / 1
Spring Breeze (2005)
Spring Breeze is from Fong’s debut album Soulboy (2005), which was celebrated for combining Chinese music with western musical elements. This song was sung in a cappella and also featured Fong beatboxing. The lyrics referenced peach blossoms and willow trees, which carry symbolic meanings of love in Chinese literature.
Sound of the South (2005)
Another song from Soulboy, Sound of the South, which features the piano and erhu, was a tribute to the early 20th century blind Chinese musician Abing.
The song demonstrated Fong’s talent for modernising traditional Chinese music and cemented his then-growing reputation for musical composing.
Don’t miss: Hong Kong conductor revolutionises classical orchestra music with Canto-pop
This Love (2006)
This Love, which is the lead single in the 2006 album of the same name, presents different types of love and obsession: between couples, of luxury goods—and longing for someone. It won several awards in Asia’s music industry in 2006; awards include the Singapore Hit Awards for Best Song Producer and the Metro Radio Hits Music Awards for Best Mandarin Song.
Love Song (2008)
Love Song had a relatively simple melody and lyrics, though it was praised for capturing the complexity of relationships. It went viral online and led to him being selected My Favourite Male Singer at the Ultimate Song Chart Awards Presentation in 2008. Fong, who was 24, was the youngest person to have won in this category.
Red Bean (2009)
Red Bean, a sentimental 1998 Mandarin love song written by Hong Kong lyricist Albert Leung was originally sung by Faye Wong. Fong’s interpretation of the song featured a more light-hearted sound with a more distinctive beat. When it came out in 2009, his version delighted fans and expanded his audience base. It also marked the beginning of his wider recognition in the pop music scene.
TWIOCAMIC (2020)
In 2020, Fong had a creative breakthrough with TWIOCAMIC, which is short for “The World Is One Country And Mankind Its Citizens”. This is one of his early hip-hop singles, demonstrating the singer-songwriter’s constant exploration of different genres. The song is a poignant manifesto of his worldviews and personal philosophy during the global pandemic.
Twenty Three (2024)
Fong’s health declined in 2020 and he took a break from public appearances. Behind the scenes, however, he never gave up on music. In 2024, his comeback single Twenty Three captured the fleeting nature of time and was a nostalgic look back at his 23-year-old self—an age he considered the beginning of adulthood. The song invites the listen to reflect on how far one has come since they were 23, as lyrics spoke of the yearning for the simplicity of youth.
The song was part of his last album The Dreamer, which he created amid his health battles. The album was released on October 18, 2024. In a pamphlet inside the album, he wrote, “I wish that you could continue to embrace your dreams, work hard, grow, transform and discover your potential in every step of your life.”
Topics
Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
