A guest on a mainland Chinese singing competition recently earned the ire of Canto-pop fans by saying that Hong Kong’s music scene no longer has “the edge it had in the past” — a comment echoed by two singers on the show — even though none of them could name a recent Canto-pop song. Well, we can name plenty. Here are nine Canto-pop songs released in the first half of 2022 alone that prove that Hong Kong’s music scene is still very much alive and thriving.
“Caution Wet Floor” by MC Cheung
After sweeping many newcomer’s awards last year with his R&B hits and ballads, MC Cheung returned with a bang in 2022 with “Caution Wet Floor”. The rock hit — composed by Terry Chui and with lyrics by Wyman Wong — showcases Cheung’s vocal range and questions the evils of society.
“Dinner in Bed” by Gareth.T
“Dinner in Bed” is the English version of Gareth.T’s 2021 Cantonese hit, which roughly translates as “Super Romantic, Mega Warm”. Dropped on Valentine’s Day, the soulful and romantic song — composed by Gareth.T himself and his regular collaborator Teddy Fan — is as good as its name. Don’t forget to check out the MV.
“Big Boobs Bubble Butt” by Joyce Cheng
Joyce Cheng again showcases her strong vocals and dance skills in this groovy hit. Composed by J. Arie and with lyrics by Wyman Wong, the song tackles issues of body image.
“Embrace Yourself” by Panther Chan
Singer-songwriter Panther Chan wrote this uplifting song to encourage and remind people that they are not alone in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. We especially love the official lyric video, which features Chan walking through and taking photos of Ap Lei Chau.
“Innerspace” by Mirror
Mirror returns with their first group song of the year, “Innerspace”, which showcase their chemistry with intricate choreography by Rock Fang. Composed by Jeremy G (Future Sound), Lee Joohyong (MonoTree) and Jhen F(Future Sound) and with lyrics by Siu Hak, the dance hit invites listeners to enter and introspect their innerspace and the mysteries of the body.
“doodoodoo” by Terence Lam
A collaboration between singer-songwriter Terence Lam and his Taiwanese counterpart Crowd Lu, the song encourages listeners to enjoy what they see in their daily lives while humming the titular jingle. If you’re animal lovers like us, we think you’ll enjoy the MV.
“No Place to Call Home” by Yoyo Sham
Roughly translated as “No Place to Call Home”, this tune — composed by Eman Lam and with lyrics by Chow Yiu-fai — features Yoyo Sham’s beautiful vocals and soulful singing. Always shuttling between different places, Sham explores the topic of what home means to her.
“Glacier” by Vincy Chan
Composed by Vicky Fung, the song features Vincy Chan’s vocal techniques. The song’s poetic lyrics by Chow Yiu-fai about glaciers and humans go well with the Hong Kong-Singaporean singer’s beautiful vocals.
“Wanna Be Like You” by R.O.O.T feat. 9m88
“Wanna Be Like You” is like a match made in heaven. Composed by R.O.O.T with lyrics by its lead singer Jan Curious and Taiwanese jazz musician 9m88, the song features the soulful vocals of both acts in Cantonese and Mandarin, and a catchy arrangement by the indie band.
