Macau’s entertainment scene was electrified last night as Hong Kong artist Alex Fong (方力申) successfully launched the Macau leg of his “SHOW UP” 2025 music tour, marking his first major solo concert in 17 years. The performance, held on Saturday, May 15th, was not just a collection of hits but a profound declaration of self-acceptance and a celebration of his multifaceted career, drawing massive media attention for its emotional revelations and surprise celebrity appearance.
Fong, a former champion swimmer for Hong Kong, explained that the significant gap between concerts stemmed from the impossibly high standards he held for himself as an athlete. He had previously felt his repertoire lacked diversity, his dance skills were inadequate, and his communication was weak. He confessed that realizing audience acceptance was more critical than perceived perfection finally fueled the decision to take the stage again.
From Swimmer’s High Standards to Pop Success
The concert spanned Fong’s two-decade career, blending fast-paced dance tracks like “Ice Pole Two Kilometers” (冰極兩公里) and “Speeding Dragon Ball” (超速龍球) with beloved classics. He performed several of his signature ballads and tributes to former labelmates, including “Seven Friends” (七友) and “Two People Travel One Day Later” (二人行一日後). A nostalgic moment featured footage from a 2001 music event alongside Miriam Yeung, prompting Fong to reflect on his early struggles.
He recounted how, starting out, extreme nervousness led him to repeat answers during interviews, inadvertently creating the impression of arrogance. His breakthrough in communication, he credited, came much later while hosting the popular variety show Beautiful Cooking (美女廚房), where he learned crucial conversational skills from co-hosts Ronald Cheng and Edmond Leung.
The evening featured a heartwarming reunion when actress Nancy Wu (胡定欣) surprised the audience, joining Fong for a duet of “Good Intentions, Good Reporting” (好心好報). The close friends, who have known each other for nearly 30 years since their teenage years on the sports circuit, shared a youthful photo onstage. Wu playfully reminded Fong to choose his words carefully, noting the irony of how the formerly quiet swimmer became a singer while she, who once harbored dreams of singing, became an actress.
Fong jokingly recalled their memorable first on-screen collaboration in the drama Integrity Commission Investigation (廉政狙擊), revealing that his debut line to Wu, who played his mother, involved pushing open a door and immediately calling her a profanity—a scene he enthusiastically described as “indescribably happy” and one he would only have accepted with her as his co-star.
Clarifying the ‘Acceptance’ Misunderstanding
A notable portion of the show was dedicated to clearing up a recent headline controversy regarding his wife, Maple Yip (葉萱), and the announcement of her pregnancy. Fong addressed reports following the announcement at his Foshan concert that suggested he “couldn’t accept” having a daughter.
He clarified that the comment stemmed from a moment of cognitive dissonance. His wife had kept the news a secret for a day, leading him to believe they were expecting a boy. Fong explained he had spent a full day mentally adjusting to the idea of having a son, only to be told it was a girl. His temporary confusion and inability to immediately switch gears were misinterpreted by media headlines, resulting in a week of public criticism regarding his gender preferences.
Now fully embracing fatherhood, Fong shared his emotional preparations for the new baby girl. He revealed plans to officially adopt the English name “Isla” for their daughter and intends to bid on a special vanity license plate spelling out “FAMILY.” The letters correspond to their family’s names: Fong, Alex, Maple, Isla, and Yip. He even teased the possibility of a future sibling having the name “Lisa,” an anagram of Isla.
Concluding the night, fong donned the three gold medals he has recently accumulated in swimming competitions, forcefully rejecting the labels “former Hong Kong athlete” or “past champion.” He asserted his identity as a “current world champion.” Standing on a makeshift podium, he performed his inspiring anthem “Keep Swimming” (繼續游), a song associated with his successful round-the-island swimming challenge. The tour’s final stop is scheduled for Dongguan in January next year, with a promise of an entirely new, never-before-seen concert experience in Hong Kong later in 2025.