Abang Lay is Back! Performing in the Rain and Dancing While Sick—True Professionalism

Chinese all-round artist Zhang Yixing held the global listening session for his new album Fight as Buddha in Kuala Lumpur. Although dubbed a listening session, the event was staged like a full-fledged concert featuring a stunning water stage, with Zhang performing drenched in water and dancing nonstop for almost two hours—a true show of sincerity. During his performance, it was unclear if he had caught a cold or if his rhinitis had relapsed, as he was frequently seen blowing his nose with tissue. Despite performing while ill, he maintained excellent vocals and dance throughout the show, staying in top form.

On Saturday night, Zhang Yixing brought his 7th album Fight as Buddha to Kuala Lumpur for a global listening session. Despite being called a “listening session,” the standard of the stage, visuals, and dance performances were all on par with a large-scale concert, prompting the thousands of fans present to exclaim, “This is basically a concert!”

The show began with Zhang Yixing slowly emerging from the center of the audience. As the overture played, he made his way to the stage, opening the show with a spectacular “Call My Name” performance amid rain curtains and water stage special effects. Later, during the performance of the album's title track “Fight as Buddha,” he was lifted into the air on wires, descending from above like a mythological figure arriving in the real world. With a “Great Sage Returns” stance, he overlooked the entire venue as dazzling lights and a sea of purple support lights electrified the atmosphere.

After performing three songs, Zhang Yixing turned to his Malaysian Shells (fan nickname) and said, “I'm back after two years, Abang Lay is here!” The Malaysian-style greeting immediately closed the distance between him and the fans. When talking about why he chose Kuala Lumpur as the first overseas stop of his global listening session, he joked, “Because this year is the Year of the Horse (马年), so ‘马来’ (Malaysia/Malay), I came here!” This cheesy pun drew laughter from all.

To match the new album's theme, the production team specially built an awe-inspiring water stage, setting the main stage on water. The interplay of light and water reflections, along with occasional fire special effects, created a fantastical and oriental myth-inspired visual experience. Zhang Yixing performed high-intensity singing and dancing while drenched in water throughout: kicking, stomping, sliding, and splashing water, with each move provoking screams from the audience.

He commented that the weather in Malaysia is hot, so he brought “water” to the scene, hoping everyone could cool off together. That's why the water stage ran throughout the entire show. However, Zhang appeared to be unwell—he was repeatedly seen blowing his nose with tissue, possibly catching a chill from prolonged exposure to water during the performance, or suffering a rhinitis outbreak. Regardless, it did not affect his singing or dancing. Even when hitting high notes or doing complex choreography, he remained in peak form, drawing admiration for his professional display.

Besides the explosive singing and dancing, Zhang Yixing also showed his versatility as a musician, handling everything from ballads to Chinese-style stages and even singing and playing the piano. During the two-hour show, Zhang not only premiered many new songs worldwide but also delivered new remixes of his most iconic works—such as “Sheep,” “Run Back To You,” “Psychic,” “Would You Be Mine,” “Colorful Love,” “Who Cares,” “My Ideal One,” and “So Wrong”—giving fans an exhilarating treat. Notably, he incorporated the traditional Chinese intangible cultural heritage dance, the Yunnan Lisu people's “Aximu Gua,” blending folk culture with modern electronic music—showcasing Eastern tradition on the global stage as one of the evening’s highlights.

In addition, a short film personally directed by Zhang Yixing was screened during the concert, charting the journey from the Monkey King (Qitian Dasheng) to the Buddha of Victorious Battle. Through music, he presented the transformation from the “lonely bravado of Havoc in Heaven” to the fulfillment of becoming Buddha. He also shared that the album subverts the traditional image of “invincible in every battle”, with the core message encouraging people to accept imperfections, accept regrets, and embrace vulnerability to become truly strong. He hopes everyone can see their truest selves through music. “I’m quite a lonely person, but being with you all makes me feel less alone. You’ve all stepped into my heart.” His confession sent the crowd of Shells into a frenzy of cheers.

Always known for indulging his fans, Zhang Yixing left the stage unexpectedly during his performance of “Hate Love Songs” to interact closely with fans in the front row. He said he cherishes each chance to meet fans, as every performance is one less, and even took the opportunity to promote his upcoming film “Kungfu Soccer Girl,” written and directed by Stephen Chow, urging fans to buy tickets in support. He wrapped up the global listening session with “Beijing’s Rain,” and before leaving the stage, called out, “I’ll miss you all—remember to come see me in Beijing!”