Faye Wong's 1993 hit 'Monsoon' finds new audience through The Weeknd

A Cantonese pop song released more than three decades ago has found an unexpected second life, thanks to Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd, whose latest musical tribute to Hong Kong has brought renewed attention to one of Faye Wong's best-known songs.

The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, surprised audiences at the opening night of his four-concert run as part of his ongoing world tour, titled After Hours Til Dawn, in Hong Kong on Oct 24 by unveiling an unreleased track titled, Hong Kong.

The song incorporates the original vocals and melody of Wong's 1993 hit Jihou Feng (Monsoon), weaving her distinctive Cantonese singing into his atmospheric R&B sound.

On Nov 1, the new track was released on major digital music platforms worldwide.

The unexpected pairing quickly caught the attention of fans, particularly those who grew up listening to Cantopop in the 1990s. Videos of the performance spread across social media, while Wong's original recording experienced a resurgence in streams and online discussion.

The performance clips quickly gained traction on social media in China and overseas. Footage of the song's live debut surpassed 18 million views and received more than 1 million likes on Instagram. Meanwhile, posts related to The Weeknd's Hong Kong performances topped Douyin's entertainment rankings, with one post garnering more than 288,000 likes.

The choice of Monsoon was rooted in The Weeknd's long-standing interest in Hong Kong's cultural identity, particularly its Cantopop and cinema of the late 1980s and 1990s.

Wong, widely regarded as one of the most distinctive voices in Chinese pop music, became a defining figure of that era. Her ethereal vocal style and unconventional musical approach helped distinguish her from many of her contemporaries.

Originally included in her 1993 Cantonese album No Regrets, Monsoon has introduced a younger generation of listeners to a defining piece of 1990s Cantopop.

She also became internationally known through her role in Wong Kar-wai's 1994 film Chungking Express, in which she starred alongside actor Tony Leung. The film, celebrated for its portrayal of urban loneliness, fleeting romance and youthful longing, has since become a landmark of Hong Kong cinema.

The renewed popularity of Monsoon illustrates how music can travel across generations and linguistic boundaries. For longtime listeners, it is a chance to revisit a familiar voice; for younger audiences, it is an introduction to a distinctive chapter of Hong Kong's pop history.

The Weeknd's ongoing world tour, which began in 2022, has sold more than 7.5 million tickets and generated over $1 billion in box-office revenue, setting a record for the highest-grossing tour by a male solo artist. The Asian leg was expanded from its originally planned 11 dates to 17 due to strong demand, with its final two shows scheduled for Nov 4 and 5 in Kuala Lumpur.