HONG KONG — On what would have been the 70th birthday of late superstar Leslie Cheung, a close friend released a never-before-seen concert clip showing the singer cheekily dedicating a song to her while scolding her for being too nosy about his setlist.
Susie Wong, a longtime confidante of Cheung, posted the footage on Instagram early Thursday. The video, filmed during one of Cheung’s concerts, captures the iconic performer in a white shirt, teasing his friend from the stage.
“The next song is for a very good friend of mine,” Cheung tells the audience in Cantonese. “When I was having tea with her yesterday, she kept asking, ‘Will you sing this? Will you sing that?’ I hate it when people are so nosy — I’m not singing anything!” The crowd erupts in laughter. Then Cheung grins and announces, “This is for you, Susie Wong — ‘No Need for So Much.’”
The clip, which appears to be from the 1990s, quickly went viral among fans who still mourn the actor and singer two decades after his death.
But Wong’s post included more than just the concert moment. In the caption, she shared a playful anecdote from their mahjong sessions.
“When we played mahjong, there were many ‘killer songs,’” she wrote. “One was when Cheung sat as my upper player and kept discarding honor tiles and terminals over and over. I would stare at him and sing ‘No Need for So Much’ … 😡🤣 Happy birthday my dear friend ❤️”
The song, originally a Mandarin hit by Taiwanese singer Emil Chau, was covered by Cheung in Cantonese and became a fan favorite.
Cheung, known affectionately as “Gor Gor” (older brother) by his fans, died in 2003 at age 46. His legacy endures through films like Farewell My Concubine and Days of Being Wild, and hits like “Monica” and “Wind Continue to Blow.”
Thursday’s birthday tributes poured in from across Asia, with fans lighting candles at the Star of Avenue in Hong Kong and posting memories on social media. Many noted that Cheung’s influence on Cantopop and queer visibility in Chinese cinema remains unmatched.
Wong’s post offered a rare, intimate glimpse into the private personality behind the public star — someone who could be both playful and prickly among friends, and who turned a mild irritation into a lasting inside joke.
For fans who never knew the man offstage, the video and mahjong story humanize a figure often placed on a pedestal. It also underscores how Cheung’s friendships with figures like Wong — a radio host and actor — kept him grounded during a career that made him a household name.
As the entertainment world marks his 70th birthday, the shared memory serves as a reminder that even the brightest stars leave behind not just art, but the small, messy moments that make life rich.
