Lee Hom's " Forever 1st Day " Album Diary

89/09/16~89/09/22 @ Part 15

Dear Friends,

Another week has passed, and today I find myself in Shanghai continuing work on Stanley Tong's "China Strike Force". We began shooting today at 5 p.m. and will probably continue till 6 a.m., pretty much the same schedule as I've been having in Hong Kong during the shooting of "In the Name of Heroes". If this keeps up, I won't have to adjust at all to the jet lag when I go back to New York for Thanksgiving! Oh God, don't get me started thinking about my mama's cooking.I've eaten in the some of the best restaurants of the world, but I'd put my mother's home cooking at the top of the list. There's just nothing like having dinner at home with my family. Of course, years ago, I took it for granted, but now I realize what a privilege and pleasure it is to eat at that table, especially now, as eating a meal at home is something that I haven't done in almost a year.

This last week I have been between Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Shanghai. One of the highlights for this week was on the 16th , when we had a wonderful get together with 500 fans at Planet Hollywood in Hong Kong. It really blows my mind when I hear so many kids singing along with my songs in Mandarin, especially since their mother tongue is Cantonese! I was especially happy at the fans gathering because so many of the kids came up to me and said "I really like your music" or "I like the song (not one of the main singles). That one is my favorite". Those comments are encouraging and refreshing for someone like me, who spends so much time writing all the material for my album. I sometimes feel sad because I know that most of the public only knows my new album through the songs "Forever's First Day", "Descendants of the Dragon" and "Don't Be Afraid" because these were the songs that received most of the radio and MTV airplay. But if you want to know my honest opinion I still favor the songs "City of Pleasure", "the World of Wild Imagination" and "Love is a Stage" and I'm glad to hear it when there are people listening to and appreciating these songs too. Thanks for your positive feedback and enthusiasm at the fans gathering on the 16th. Days like these keep me going!

In another one and a half months, both of these movies will be complete. First "In the Name of Heroes", which will finish shooting in mid-October, and then "China Strike Force" which will wrap up in early November. I am really getting excited, not for the shoot to end, but for the showings to begin! So far, I have seen preliminary edited footage for both of the movies, and I am so amazed at how things are turning out. I had no idea, after editing how exciting everything could look! Once again, I am reminded how lucky I am to be part of a project involving so many talented professionals.

I have written many new songs and bits of music in the last few months since the release of "Forever's First Day", and I will be getting back into the studios in Hong Kong next week to start recording some demos. It'll be so great to get to work again in my field of expertise. These demos, hopefully will be the beginning of a new release.possibly a new single coming out before the end of the year!

Thanks for all your support,
Homeboy