Canto-pop climbs the world ladder

While the international scene has been singing the praises of Hong Kong film-makers, Canto-pop music has been warbling a comparatively different tune.

It has always been an uphill struggle for local singers and music-makers to win respect for their creative output - 'sugar 'n' saccharin', 'bland' and 'mindless' have been some of the more critical observations. But this year, two high spots have been achieved in the industry and both have one thing in common: Jacky Cheung Hok-yau.

Cheung, who finished a 43-show run of Hong Kong's first original Canto-pop musical Snow.Wolf.Lake earlier this month, was also named 'Best-selling Chinese Artist' for the second consecutive year at the World Music Awards in Monaco last month.

The award came as a result of sales in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China, audited by the International Federation of Phonographic Industry (IFPI). Among the international singers honoured at the awards ceremony hosted by Princess Stephanie of Monaco, Jon Bon Jovi and Halle Berry, were Celine Dion, Fugees, Alanis Morissette, Lionel Richie and the Bee Gees.

Cheung was not able to attend the presentation because of Snow.Wolf.Lake performances but was presented with the award at a special showcase ceremony organised by his record company last week.

'I did not have much confidence that I would win the award this year because I have not released that many albums due to work on Snow.Wolf.Lake, but the Mandarin album did sell quite well,' he said, after the ceremony.