Like many of us, I never heard of this singer until his duet with Jay, Qian Li Zhi Wai. I remember asking my mom a few months ago, “Who is Fei Yu Qing?” She explained that he was a famous Chinese singer and that he was my grandma’s favorite. I wasn’t too interested, and I just stuck the name in my mind.

Then while I was surfing the internet, I saw that he had a new album out and I decided to listen to it. I was not impressed (because that’s the kind of album you would expect from a 50-year old veteran), but I was charmed.

This kind of music is the music that the younger generation doesn’t pay attention to. But it’s also the music you can’t find in a Jay, Leehom, or Jolin album. Mellifluous, ethereal, and refreshing, it doesn’t bang you with drums louder than the vocals or with the same guitar chords playing throughout every song in the album. It’s the music that clears headaches and calms you down. This music is to the ears what a garden with birds chirping and flowers smiling is to the eyes.

And the lyrics! Everyone knows how beautiful Chinese poetry is, and if you’re impressed by Vincent Fang, you would be enthralled by the lyrics here.

To the tracks that hit me. “Gui (歸)” is the first song in the album - and it’s probably the best. Excellent contrast of slow and fast, soft and loud, presents itself in this catchy song. It’s a happy and relaxing song which makes you feel like spring is coming. “Wang Zhu Yi Ji Qiu (網住一季秋)” is the second track. Though slightly repetitive, I can live with that in this light and carefree song. “風中的早晨 (Feng Zhong De Zao Chen),” the fourth track, blends a R&B background with the classic melody. An awesome fusion - this twist makes the song my favorite in the album. The album ends with “千里之外 (Qian Li Zhi Wai),” this version being without Jay. How else would you end this album?

Light drums, excellent use of instrumentals, and soft vocals makes this album stand out. Of course, those are what makes Fei Yu Qing stand out. And you can’t deny it - anyone who has stayed in the music industry for thirty years has done something right.

With such a positive review, you might be thinking that you should grab the album NOW. But this album isn’t Fei Yu Qing’s best. Some songs I thought to be lacking in emotion, I would have liked slightly more variety (spoiled by Jay Chou). So as for me, I’m not buying this album just yet - but I’m going out and buying the collection of Fei Yu Qing classics because I’m sure those are impeccable. So I end this review telling everyone not to buy this album, but to get a collection of Fei Yu Qing (or Teresa Teng or Feng Fei Fei or any veteran singer) classics. You won’t regret it - ever. If you liked Khalil Fong or David Tao for the freshness of their music, you’re gonna love Chinese oldies. It’s retro time, baby - back to the seventies!

1. 歸 (Gui)
2. 網住一季秋 (Wang Zhu Yi Ji Qiu)
3. 秋蟬 (Qiu Chan)
4. 風中的早晨 (Feng Zhong De Zao Chen)
5. 情何物 (Qing He Wu)
6. 天水流長 (Tian Shui Liu Chang)
7. 橄欖樹 (Gan Lan Shu)
8. 曠野寄情 (Kuang Ye Ji Qing)
9. 你那好冷的小手 (Ni Ne Hao Lun De Xiao Shou)
10. 漁唱 (Yu Chang)
11. 千里之外 (Qian Li Zhi Wai)