It was worth the wait for fans who have not forgotten the homegrown songster’s 25 years of contribution to Mandarin pop music.
Contributed by Daniel Chew
With hits like “Ka Fei Wu” (“Black Coffee”) and “Wei Le Ni” (“For You”), Eric Moo has done what most people have failed to give him due credit for.
Born in Malaysia in 1963, Moo’s family moved to Singapore when he was 8 years old, after his mother’s death. Being a rebel since his days in Chinese High School, his only reason for going to school was for band practice. He met a group of friends who enjoyed singing and composing songs more than attending lectures and tutorials. Out of this friendship, the xinyao group Di Xia Tie (Subway) was formed, with Moo as the lead singer.
He also met and influenced Chen Jiaming, who later on became a popular local song writer and singer, and both of them became room mates who dared to venture onto the career road least traveled—the music industry.
During the 1986 World Cup finals, when Argentina won by Maradona’s “hand of god,” Moo, who had no money, bought two beers and watched it with Chen. This bond of friendship and hard times revealed Moo’s heartaches and humble beginnings.
His success today is under-rated and perhaps more credit should be given due to him for his contribution to the local music industry. Many adoring fans would attest to that as they remember their own fond memories when these songs were being aired on the radio.
His recent conversion to Christ has not driven his supporters away, but instead allowed them to see the changed side of him. The Moo we see today is changed and doing even better than before. One can say there is something different about the way he speaks, something so sincere and caring behind his voice.
Based in Beijing now, Moo has a strong fan support plus over two decades of solid songs and hits.
Critics might say that Moo is yesterday’s story, but who can predict what he’ll do next? Judging from his fans spirited sing-along and shouts of adoration, he might just make a comeback on local shores.
