Cantopop group Grasshopper (草蜢) kick started their new world tour “Live Goes On” at the Hong Kong Coliseum recently on 5 – 8 November 2017, with an additional date on 10 November 2017 due to popular demand.
Even though I just watched Grasshopper perform in Singapore back in August, I still went to the 8 November 2017 date in Hong Kong because why not? I must say that it was a full house despite a Wednesday; a testament to their longevity as a performing artist.
They started the concert by saying that this will be the only chance for them to have a chat because thereafter, it will be non-stop music and performances. And they weren’t lying. For this “Live Goes On” tour, there was hardly any talking! The songs just blended into each other and there was no pause or break whatsoever in the music. And this was a concert that started at 8.30 pm (HK) and the music only stopped at 11.10 pm (HK)! If you included the encore with the house lights on, the concert only ended at 11.30 pm (HK). That is a solid 3 hours concert which I paid HK$488 (with fees. ~SG$87.30) for. So totally worth it!
As per all stops on any Grasshopper concert, there will always be another encore after the house lights come on. Every Grasshopper concert regular would know not to leave immediately once the house lights come on. LOL. In Singapore, about one-third left at the August concert but in Hong Kong, only a handful of people left even thought it was already past 11 pm (HK) and the next day was a working day.
Flying to Hong Kong to watch this Grasshopper tour was a good decision; they sang quite a few songs which they rarely perform live. I’ve been to quite a few Grasshopper concerts in various cities over the years and it was the first time I have watched these songs performed live!
I was surprised and super happy that 怎么天生不是女人 & 我们都就是这样失恋的 songs made the set list!! 失乐园 was a request from a fan during the encore after house lights came on and I would like to thank that fan for asking for that song and Grasshopper for agreeing to sing it. 😭
我们都就是这样失恋的 (Everyone Falls Out Of Love This Way) is one of my all time favourite songs ever since I heard the Chinese version when it was released back in 2009. The lyrics in the Chinese version is really sad and beautiful and a few years later, I realised that the original was a Cantonese version released in 1996 so I went to YouTube it. After a few listens, I realised that the Cantonese lyrics was even sadder and more meaningful than the Chinese version.
相恋的单恋的依恋的一个个没结果
Falling in love, unrequited love and affectionate attachment has no happily ever after
谁人能有勇气问个为何
Does anyone have the courage to ask why so
匆匆的这一生只失恋一次已是够多
Having one’s heart broken once in our short lives is one too many
却更怕归家的只得一个
But it is even scarier to think that there is only 1 person in the world for you
* 恨世上所有爱侣互相展示热情
I hate all of the couples in the world who flaunt their love for each other
从来未碰上最爱仿佛是种罪名
Seems like it is a crime for not having ever met someone to love and be loved
若世上真有永远幸福这(件)事情
为何在情感中这么多苦痛哭声
都这般失恋的请应我一声
If happily ever after really exists, then please tell me why is there always so much pain, tears and heart break in a relationship
Sad but so true. 😭
I know some people are surprised why I would like “uncles” like Grasshoppers but it’s really about their songs and how entertaining they are. It’s a bit of a shame that the beauty and meaning in their songs cannot be understood by non-Cantonese speakers and the translations doesn’t fully bring out the same meaning and depth to the lyrics.
Purely because of these 3 songs, I would love to go to Genting Highlands to watch Grasshoppers again for the NYE Countdown edition of the concert but sadly, I cannot because of work. 😞 I’m pretty sure it will come to Singapore at some point in time, so here’s hoping and waiting.