It’s been almost four decades since Yip Sai Wing and Paul Wong debuted in popular Hong Kong rock band Beyond, but the love their fans have for them is still undoubtedly strong.
Performing to a packed crowd at Resorts World Genting’s Arena of Stars last weekend, after local Cantopop rocker Alex Chia opened the show for them, the duo hit the nostalgia button hard the moment they took the stage as they performed one of Beyond’s biggest hits, “Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies”.
Local Cantopop rocker Alex Chia was the opening act for Wing & Paul “Impulse” Live Concert in Malaysia. |
The song, which became the last one to be performed by the late Wong Ka Kui, their leader who passed away after a game show mishap in 1993, moved many of the fans as they either silently filmed the performance with their smartphones or loudly sang along.
Paul flanked by his fellow guitarists. |
It was only after “Breakthrough” that the duo took a breather, they had been belting out song after song for the past half hour plus. Saving their voices, they had not talked much except to greet their fans, thank them for being with them through the decades and to occasionally introduce whichever song they were singing next.
One of their hardcore fans holding up a sign that said “I grew up listening to Beyond”. |
The crowd didn’t sing along loudly all throughout the show, but they were obviously warming up their vocals because towards the end, the whole venue was starting to sound like a karaoke bar dialed up to 100, especially when songs like “AMANI” and “I Really Love You” – the latter which received the biggest reaction when it started playing – were performed.
Wing and Paul donned matching black shirts during the encore. |
Wing appeared first for his drum solo, before Paul returned to the stage to perform “I’m Angry” together. After taking a group snapshot with their fans, who by now were mostly standing, even those who were in the terraced seating could be seen standing up and dancing around by now, the duo closed the show with “Glorious Years” and a repeat of their opening song, “Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies”.