Dominican musician’s superb reference to Hong Kong-Xinhua

Photograph taken on Sept. 16 reveals Chris Polanco in his music studio in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua)

“The whole lot is supposed to be,” stated Polanco, who has skilled ups and downs in his curler coaster experience as a musician in Hong Kong.

by Xinhua author Lu Yun

HONG KONG, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) — When Dominican musician Chris Polanco arrived in Hong Kong 22 years in the past, a way of belonging mysteriously hit him.

“It is sort of bizarre as a result of once I arrived right here, I fell in love with town instantly. I felt like, that is residence,” stated Polanco in a music manufacturing studio in Hong Kong’s Central District.

This sense of connection runs by means of his complete music profession, which is highlighted by high-profile partnerships with famend singers corresponding to Eason Chan in addition to his surprising reputation singing with followers on Instagram.

“The whole lot is supposed to be,” Polanco likes to say. For the 44-year-old who has skilled ups and downs in his curler coaster experience as a musician in Hong Kong, life is stuffed with magic hyperlinks.

LINKING MUSIC

Within the 12 months 2000, Polanco took his first flight out of the Dominican Republic for a contract job on the Ocean Park in Hong Kong. For six months, he carried out Latin music earlier than the dolphin reveals to heat up the group.

“Generally, Latin music could be very upbeat, entertaining and interactive. And the Ocean Park has a tropical really feel. It linked instantly,” he stated.

Whereas introducing Latin music to Hong Kongers, Polanco began to be taught from the native music business, increasing his music kinds whereas studying new languages.

Now talking fluent Cantonese, he would swap amongst Spanish, his mom tongue, in addition to English and Cantonese whereas chatting with mates from everywhere in the world.

Regardless of the language variations, he thinks that Cantonese pop music and Latin music have rather a lot in frequent.

“When individuals consider Latin music, they consider solely quick music. However Latin music has quite a lot of totally different kinds. It may be sluggish, which is similar to Cantopop,” he stated, beginning to sing a traditional Spanish track to make the purpose.

In August, Polanco launched his first Cantonese single, with a music video exhibiting him taking part in devices and singing together with his iconic sun shades.

The track was properly obtained amongst audiences from totally different cultural backgrounds. In Chinese language, English and Spanish, his followers replied: what a terrific track! Thanks, Chris. 

Photograph taken on Sept. 16 reveals Chris Polanco in his music studio in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua)

CONNECTING PEOPLE

By nature, Polanco is an emotional man. When he performs a tragic track, the internal corners of his eyebrows could be angled upward to point out a tragic look. When a fan resonates together with his music, pleasure would creep onto his face.

The signature sun shades, which have already develop into a part of his public picture, cover feelings together with each pleasure and sorrow.

His “low time”, Polanco recalled, was when he resigned from his second job in Hong Kong, jobless and struggling to pay hire.

“My mother referred to as and stated, simply come residence. I used to be like, no, I really feel like I’m linked to this place,” he stated.

Music was his remedy at the moment. He would write songs within the daytime. When evening falls, he would watch Cantonese operas on TV, which gave him peace and power.

“I assume I used to be Chinese language in my earlier life,” he laughed.

Earlier this 12 months, Hong Kong was hit arduous by the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Staying at residence, Polanco began to provide Instagram posts that enable individuals to sing with him.

Sporting his T-shirt, sitting in entrance of a keyboard, Polanco would begin with “Alright, sing this with me,” after which it goes a preferred track, in Cantonese, English, Mandarin, or Spanish.

The movies rapidly went viral, and Polanco gained greater than 80,000 followers in three months. He was glad to have the ability to encourage and produce constructive power to individuals throughout troublesome occasions.

“It is not solely about us singing, it is about individuals sharing their singing with the world. That is actually superb,” he stated.

With music, Polanco is ready to join with individuals world wide.

“Music is my channel and name to carry constructive messages to individuals,” he stated.

FINDING HOME

As a member of the DUO band, which excursions with Eason Chan the world over, Polanco grows a reference to the opposite members, whom he thought of household.

“We received so hooked up to one another that music got here to develop into a secondary factor,” he stated.

He additionally satisfied his son to maneuver to Hong Kong 5 years in the past, who was enthralled by the colourful metropolis and made it residence.

Hong Kong has probably the greatest ecosystems on the earth for musicians, and he takes benefit of that surroundings to protect and develop Cantonese music.

“I hope the brand new generations would go and take heed to these Cantonese songs and perceive how lovely music might be,” he stated.

To be an actual Hong Konger, Polanco wants a Chinese language identify. Certainly one of his followers shout out the identify “Chan Package” in Cantonese at one in every of his performances, and he gladly accepted it.

Like many different issues in his life, issues simply occurred naturally.

“I arrived sooner or later and could not think about that I’d fall in love with this nice metropolis,” he sings within the music video, this time together with his sun shades off, exhibiting an enormous smile on his face.

“Lastly the day had arrived for me to take the choice. I am so glad, fortunate to be dwelling right here.”■