Lucky as the Hong Kong music fans, access to the most up-to-date international music is always convenient and fast. Music lovers are given massive choices to choose from that suit their tastes. In the past 20 years, the “International Pop Poll” that is organised by Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) has been promoting foreign pops. Active participants of the local music industry were invited today (21 April) to announce the awards of the “20th International Pop Poll” Award Presentation, to commend the outstanding performance of English and Japanese singers and songs in the local music arena last year.
The Award-presenters and performing guests include: TAI Keen-man, Assistant Director of Broadcasting (Radio), KONG Kwok-ping, Chairman of Hong Kong Record Merchants Association, Angelina LAW, Managing Director of CASH Music Foundation, NG Yu, Chairman of IFPI (Hong Kong Group), Ronnay BOTEJUE, CEO of HKRIA, Bryan CURTIS, Head of English Programme Service of RTHK, Ray CORDEIRO (Uncle Ray), veteran disc jockey of RTHK’s Radio 3, Singers Audio Traffic, Rosemary, Hiromi, G.E.M., Rubberband, Dear Jane, Kate TSUI, Victor HUANG, Jason CHAN, Justin and Janice VIDAL. The singers were dressed up as the 90s pop music icons on the presentation. Rosemary, Hiromi, Dear Jane, Kate and Jason rendered the awarded English and Japanese songs, while Audio Traffic, G.E.M. and Rubberband had performed a medley with songs by popular foreign bands and boys/girls groups of the 90s. As this year is the 20th anniversary of the “International Pop Poll”, the presentation was ended with Justin and Janice’s performance on the four nominated songs of the “20th Anniversary Super Gold Song” Award.
James FUNG Wai-tong, Chairman of the “20th International Pop Poll” Organising Committee, said that the presentation has already drawn a history of 20 years and that RTHK would continue to organise it to fulfil its PSB obligation of providing the public with a diversified music culture. Online polling was overwhelmingly enthusiastic this year, with a total of nearly 30,000 votes. As for the assessment method, winners of the three Best Selling Album Awards were chosen according to the statistical information provided by Hong Kong Record Merchants Association Ltd. The other ten English and Japanese song and singer awards were presented based on public voting by fans as well as assessments by professionals from the field, which constituted 60% and 40% of the total score respectively. The “Super Gold Song” Award went to the song scoring the highest number of votes on the “Top Ten International Gold Songs” list. Finally, the “20th Anniversary Super Gold Song” was voted among all the past Super Gold Songs.
Regarding the overall results of the Poll, Beyonce had again captured the “Top Female Artist” Gold Prize, with her song “If I Were A Boy” seizing a “Top Ten International Gold Song” and “Super Gold Song” awards. The English rock duo The Ting Tings also came out with flying colours by securing a “Top Ten International Gold Song”, the “Top New Act” Gold Prize and the “Top Group/Band” Silver Prize. The Japanese singers and songs front also witnessed keen competition. While the theme song of the animated film “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” proves to be catchy, it is also voted as one of the “Top Japanese Gold Song”. Rising R&B singer Thelma Aoyama grabbed a “Top Japanese Gold Song”, “Top Japanese New Act” Gold Prize and “Best Selling Album Awards (Japanese Album)” with the popular song “Soba ni Iru ne”. Although the film “Titanic” was screened years ago, its theme song “My Heart Will Go On” proves its timeless popularity by winning the “20th Anniversary Super Gold Song”.
The “20th International Pop Poll” Award Presentation was emceed by RTHK Radio 2 DJs Alex Lee, Alyson Hau, Robin Pak, Teen Power DJs Alan and Annie. Highlights of the Award Presentation are scheduled for broadcast on this coming Sunday, 26 April from 12noon to 2pm during the programme “International Pop Chart” on RTHK Radio 2 (FM94.8-96.9). The public can also visit RTHK On Internet (www.rthk.org.hk) for the archived webcast version of the Award Presentation.
http://www.rthk.org.hk/special/20poppoll/index.htm
