Singapore Newpaper

Veteran duo better than today's stars
By Chang May Choon

COINCIDENTALLY, the cabby who drove me to Suntec to catch Sally Yeh and George Lam in concert last Saturday said he had just dropped his wife off there.

He's a big fan too, he said, but work came first.

Which is a pity, because he missed a fabulous show.

One that kicked off with Sally grooving on stage to the funky beat of Dancing Queen, and ended with the 9,000-strong audience standing up to boogie like they were at a Cantopop disco.

Mind you, most of them were middle-aged couples, aunties and uncles, and a handful of sprightly grannies and grandpas too.

But they seemed to be enjoying themselves, as much as their teenage kids - or grandkids - would at an F4 concert.

To think I had reservations initially.

Unlike the taxi driver, I was hardly a fan. All I know is Sally's hit duet, Choice, with her hubby George.

But it did not matter.

Sally's vocals were so powerful, so compelling, I was totally blown away. Saccharine-voiced popsters today can't hold a candle to veterans like her.

Alternating between dance numbers and slow ballads, the gold-clad powerhouse teased and entertained the crowd.

But however hard she urged them to stand up and cheer, they would not budge.

Not until George came on stage anyway.

The moment he walked into the audience to shake hands, suddenly everyone was jumping up either to mob him or catch a closer glimpse of his signature moustache.

Dressed in black, his macho vocals were no less powerful than Sally's.

They make a lovely couple - she's sassy, while he's cool as a cucumber.

Married for six years and 10 months (as she proudly announced), they hammed it up for the camera - holding hands, snuggling close, bickering, and teasing each other mercilessly.

After he greeted her with 'Is that snot hanging from your nose?', she got her revenge by making him strap a red haversack across his white tuxedo.

Not forgetting their fans, they divided the men and women into two groups and engaged them in a wacky karaoke battle of the sexes.

George led the guys, while Sally led the ladies in singing their duet, Choice.

The couple also showered the crowd with gifts - from T-shirts to teddy bears and tennis balls.

Their energy was infectious. During the encore, they finally nudged everyone out of their seats, clapping their hands and gyrating to the groovy beat of Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now.

'People keep asking why we're back to perform after so many years,' said Sally in Cantonese.

'That's because we enjoy your company, and we love to sing!'