After 25 Years, Eason Chan Re-sings 'King of Karaoke' and Rediscovers His Original Intentions, Moved to Tears in the Recording Studio

Eason Chan, who has created countless classics throughout his career, recently traveled to London, UK, to record for a charity music project. He teamed up with the 140-year-old Lyndhurst Hall recording studio and the 60-member international top-tier The Heritage Orchestra to breathe new soul into the timeless hit "King of Karaoke," creating a brand-new orchestral version, "King of Karaoke AIR."

This classic, which spans 25 years, is reborn again, and Eason was moved to tears several times at the recording site.

It is reported that the "King of Karaoke AIR" project was originally a commercial invitation, but Eason laughed and said it ended up being “a big mess I made myself.” He said: “Since we're doing this, we can't just do one version. The Cantonese and Mandarin versions are like twins and must appear together.” What started as a simple idea eventually evolved into a transnational production. He personally traveled to London to record simultaneously with a world-class orchestra, bringing new brilliance to this classic in the present era.

Eason revealed that there was zero rehearsal in the recording process this time — three takes for the Cantonese version and four for the Mandarin version. "When I stepped into the recording studio and heard the orchestra play that familiar melody, my tears just flowed uncontrollably." He expressed that this collaboration was “a once-in-a-lifetime precious experience” that made him feel like he had returned to his original feelings when first singing “King of Karaoke.”

"King of Karaoke" was written by Lin Xi with music by Chan Fai Yeung, and became an immortal classic in the Chinese music industry when it was released in 2000. Eason said that this song is not just a love song, but also a kind of cultural reflection—"the more heartfelt the singing, the more misunderstood the loneliness." He described the re-recording experience as like a baby tasting food for the first time—pure and profound. “When I heard the orchestra play the first few notes in London, I got goosebumps all over. Even though they couldn't understand Chinese, the power of music is enough to transcend language.”

Although the project budget was exceeded several times, Eason insisted on paying out of his own pocket to complete the filming. “I want to keep this as a memento and make it into an MV to share with everyone. This feeling is truly worth it.”

Producer Chan Fai Yeung used “old soul in new look” as the production concept, fusing nine solo sections in the music, all performed by top-tier musicians who worked on Hans Zimmer’s and the “007” movie scores. He remarked: “Hearing Eason’s voice again after 25 years, it’s richer and more storied—depth granted by time.”

"King of Karaoke AIR (Day Version)" and "King of Karaoke AIR (Night Version)" MVs have already been uploaded on Eason Chan’s YouTube channel. Fans can simultaneously experience the perfect blending of the classic and contemporary music.