Brunei sheds its mystery for Jacky
By Anwar Ismail

Jacky Cheung beats the music as a guitarist strums. Pix: Rudolf Portillo

A good dancer Jacky Cheung is. Pix: Rudolf Portillo

Crowd dancing with the music. Photo: Anwar Ismail 

If showmanship had another name then I would call it 'Jacky Cheung'. This was what Jacky Cheung had shown throughout his concert on Friday night at the Jerudong Park Country Club Amphitheatre, true showmanship. "Brunei is a mystery to me", he said during the concert.

With 4000 plus strong and supporting fans behind him, it can be said the Jacky Cheung 2002 Music Odyssey was a sell- out.

The two-hour concert promised became three hours and the 20 or so songs said he would be singing increased to more than 30, thanks largely to the enthusiastic crowd who thronged the concert. The fans still wanted more.

It is hard to describe in words how this concert felt like and how it has become. Only those who came would have understood the feeling.

I for one, who doesn't even understand Cantonese nor Mandarin, was totally absorbed by the charismatic Jacky.

I was not alone in this department yet we all laughed with his bantering and was silenced by his deep emotions as if we understood each and every bit of word he was saying.

Speaking in Cantonese, Mandarin and English, he said that he was not sure which language to speak. Finally he opted to speak mainly in Cantonese.

The songs he brought in spanned his 17-year career. Delving firstly from his newest album such as the English language Touch of Love, Cantonese First Class and the Mandarin Fever, building up to his old evergreen songs.

"The fans love to listen to my oldies", he said.

The styles of music he sang changed from time to time and his lucky fans loved them and sang with him.

His voice was as powerful as a packed punch hitting the right note.

At some part during the concert, Jacky said that he found the fans here just like those he encountered in any other country.

"Brunei to me is no longer a mystery," he decided near the end of his concert.

He thanked the fans for their support and also the organiser, QAF Brunei, for making the concert a possibility, the priority sponsor Standard Chartered and the others like Kingston Beverage & Creamery Sdn Bhd and Royal Brunei Airlines.

For all the songs he sang, the movements he made on his feet and the wonderful atmosphere he had created, will be something the fans at his concert will never forget.

He also made some costume changes and together with his troupe of six exotic dancers, were enough to make my neck sore yesterday morning.

After being mesmerised with the constant movements and dances, Jacky Cheung showed he is a good dancer!

Dazzling light effects and wonderfully coordinated pyrotechnics truly spiced up the evening and the atmosphere was ever-changing for his songs.

There were booms and there was bang in the special effect pyrotechnics which all set off precisely at the right moment.

The music was well orchestrated thanks to the maestro Goh Kheng Long leading the way. Jacky's 12 international professional live band consisting of pianist, violinists, guitarist, you name it, were there all the way with him strumming and beating the music away.

It was as crisp and clear as ever after all it was supported by the best sound system in the world available at the amphitheatre.

The Jacky Cheung 2002 Music Odyssey ended with fans beaming with appreciation and satisfaction and also tinged some sadness for it could be their only chance to see their favourite singer up close and personal.

Courtesy of Sunday Bulletin