Koma Wing's time

beyond --a noted HongKong rock band .

Growing up, I listened to all forms of music. I was really into rock music. There was just something about cranking guitars and the hard beats of the drums that really caught my attention.

It didn’t make sense to me, but I enjoyed it nonetheless because it sounded good. One day, I saw an interview with Wong Ka-kui, the lead singer of Beyond. He said, “Music is heard by the ear and understood by the heart.” I was about ten or eleven years old, but it made perfect sense to me. I began having a different kind of respect for him and his band. I began admiring their style and unique sound. I began listening to all their music and even begged my mother to translate the meanings of the lyrics. I began to hear the music with my ears and understand it with my heart.
Beyond was a band formed by lead singer Wong Ka-kui, drummer Yip Sai-wing and some friends. They were soon joined by Ka-kui’s younger brother, Steve Wong Ka-keung. Through time, some people joined and left. A few years later, Paul Wong Koon-chung joined and formed the final makeup of the band. Together, this group worked their way through gigs big and small to achieve eventual recognition as one of the most famous Asian bands ever.
There is so much I remember about them. The most vivid memory I have was when my mother told me that the lead singer, Wong Ka-kui died. I was at a loss for words. I asked her how he died and reading from the newspaper, she told me that he was playing a game on stage and fell. He had passed away at the hospital in Japan on June 30th, 1993. I remember choking up in tears. He was my idol. Even for a twelve year old, I was a fanatic often replaying songs over and over to familiarize myself with the lyrics and the notes of every instrument played.
At the time of his death, Beyond was taking off. They had a huge following since the late 80’s and played their first concert at the Hong Kong Coliseum in 1991. It was an experience that people could not forget. The people sang every song and screamed every moment they could while standing and waving their arms. It wasn’t like any other concert where people just sat there and listened, applauding and cheering only after each number. It was like a rock concert of the West, where the band fed off the energy of the audience and vice-versa.

Beyond had a vision and pushed for their music to reach international recognition. They decided to record their next album in Japan. They realized that the bands in Japan were just as serious and as good as they were. Ka-kui once said that he felt a bit intimidated by all the talent in Japan, but it was a great learning experience and helped to motivate them to be better and to work harder. They did not want to let their fans down, and only wanted to produce the best music possible.
Ka-kui was once asked what would he do if he won the lottery and he responded by saying he would use the money to build a studio to help the unknown musicians. He clearly emphasized that it was for musicians and not singers. Ka-kui understood the difference, especially in Hong Kong. All bands struggled. There was never a big demand for rock music and even now, there are no bands in the Hong Kong music industry.
After the death of Ka-kui, tens of thousands of fans were in mourning. The future of the band was in jeopardy. No one knew what was going to happen, not even those who were involved in the daily affairs of the band. However, in the mind of the members, there was no doubt that they would continue. They wanted to carry on the mission of their fallen brother. They wanted their music to be heard and they knew that Ka-kui would want that as well.
They got to work right away and picked up where they left off. Ka-keung was now the new lead singer. They all worked on writing new music and practicing. In 1996, they geared up for the second concert. Ka-kui was missed at this concert, but it didn’t stop everyone from having a great time. The band members took their usual position with Ka-keung the bassist on the left, Paul the lead guitarist on the right and Sai-wing on the drums in the back. The middle was always Ka-Kui’s spot. Everything went smoothly until the last show where Ka-Keung wanted to dedicate the song 祝您愉快 (Wishing You Happiness) to his brother whom he missed dearly. He sang it a cappella with the audience singing along. While singing, he began crying and without finishing the song, expressed his pain. The concert ended emotionally with the famous song Ka-kui wrote, but never performed, 海闊天空 (Sea as Wide as the Sky).
Anyone who is unfamiliar with Beyond, knows that song or has heard of that song. When I performed that song for the first time last year in front of a young audience, everyone knew the words and sang along. This song, like almost all Beyond songs, are about voicing problems and pains of society. Their music is their tool in exercising their thoughts and feelings of the world. They may very well be one of the few rock bands that have composed over a hundred songs with less than five love songs.
After a few more albums, Beyond pretty much stopped composing music together. Maybe it’s because of differences of opinion within the members, or perhaps they would rather pursue their own paths. Maybe it’s both. Whatever the reason, they put a pause on all Beyond affairs. The only song they wrote in the past few years was 長 空 (Vast Emptiness), which was featured in the Hong Kong blockbuster movie Infernal Affairs II (2003). That year, the song eventually won the award for Best Music Score in a Movie.

In the same year, Beyond had their 20th anniversary concert. Anyone who was there can tell you how much fun it was. The atmosphere was electrifying. I didn’t get to see it in Hong Kong, but I did see them when they went to Atlantic City that year during Thanksgiving in November. It was my first time seeing Beyond live and it was a tremendous performance. They played for about two and a half hours and I sang every song I knew.
Once the tour was over, the Beyond members went back to doing their own thing. They each had their own band, their own albums, and their own style. They often stayed out of the limelight and didn’t care so much for fame. They wanted to make a living and quality music.
I didn’t hear much from them until last October when someone told me that Beyond was breaking up for good and they were going to have a farewell concert at the end of January. Since I was in Hong Kong working, I purchased, right away, tickets for the first show. I wanted to see more than one show, but work got in the way. I went to see the show with my friend, who is also the lead guitarist of my band. He came to visit Hong Kong and stayed an extra week to see the concert, missing a whole week of class.
I’ve been to many rock concerts in my life, but this one would probably be on my top five-list. I say that because they played for over three hours, taking a break only to change into different clothes. There was no encore, but they already made that clear. They were going to play their hearts out and give us a fulfilling experience. I didn’t know how that was possible since it’s never fulfilling. I sat about six or seven feet away from the microphone on the far end of the stage. When Paul would sing there, I was about arms reach from him. It felt great to be able to see him up close.
There was something very different about this concert. Even though they played about thirty or so songs, they didn’t play songs that everyone wanted to hear. They played the songs they wanted to perform. While introducing one song (I don’t remember the name or which song) that they played, Paul said, “The next song we are going to play is one of my favorites of all time. However, most people don’t like it. But I also know that some people like it and as long as some people like it, it’s good enough.” Right away, I had a renewed admiration for him and the band. They had character.
Beyond was on our minds the whole night while we drove back. We popped in the CD and sang with our sore throats for another hour down the Garden State Parkway at five in the morning. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad that Beyond is breaking up forever. However, I am almost certain that they will have a reunion performance in ten years or so. I will be sure to fly to Hong Kong to witness it.
Beyond isn’t the same as any of the other singers/groups in Hong Kong. In their 2003 concert, Paul made a statement: “We never thought that we could make a lot of money, drive nice cars, or live in nice houses… we never thought about those things like those superstars. We never wanted those things! We only wanted one thing… that you all remember there is a rock band in Hong Kong named Beyond. And that’s enough.”
It is a known fact by many that none of the members of Beyond are rich, and none of them make a lot of money. Those things are a perfect reflection of their true character. They were out to make music, not money. During the last concert in Hong Kong, Paul once again said something really profound: “I think if Ka-kui was alive today, he would be really disappointed with the music industry and what music has become.” I’m sure a lot of singers and song writers felt insulted by that comment, but I cannot help to feel that he is right. Music in Hong Kong today is garbage—but that’s another story for another day.
As you can already tell, I am a big fan. I can’t say I’m one of their ultimate fans because I actually know a few people who can sing and play every song. They know everything about them and even I had to ask for help with some of the information with this article. But all this doesn’t matter to me. What matters to me is that I feel like part of my life is complete because I have been able to listen to their music. I haven’t missed a day without listening to them in the past four or five years. I would like to thank them for being a part of my life and creating music for the soul. I hope I can meet them one day to shake their hand and thank them personally.
In closing, I just want to wish all the members of Beyond success in all their future endeavors. I will continue to buy the CDs and go to their concerts, whether they are together or not. Thank you Beyond.
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