Music Album Review: Raymond Lam’s “A Time 4 You”
A Time 4 You
by Raymond Lam
Language: Cantonese
Released by EEG on January 24, 2013
Rating: 
A Time 4 You is a wonderful keepsake for Raymond Lam (林峯) and TVB drama lovers. The 17-track music album features 4 new Raymond Lam songs and 13 well-loved hits from the 33-year-old’s past album releases. Multiple theme songs from popular TVB dramas will trigger memories of Raymond’s romantic onscreen aura and great acting moments, which add to the emotional punch of the album compilation. The album is anchored mainly by love ballads which showcase Raymond’s vocal range, interspersed with new songs that feature heavier techno and hip hop beats.
Released two days prior to Raymond’s “A Time 4 You” Hong Kong Coliseum concert on January 26, the music album successfully builds upon the 2-month marketing momentum set forth by EEG. With the exception of “The Same Forest” <同林> and “BB”, two of the of the new songs were especially written for the concert, and while they feature energetic musical arrangements, the lyrics fall flat and repeat mindlessly.
New Songs Track by Track Review
“Nice”
“Nice” is the theme song for Raymond’s “A Time 4 You” concert and aptly opens with techno beats that will make your pulse race. The musical arrangement is exciting, marked by the sensual notes of Raymond’s voice. These are promising signs for the future direction of Raymond’s albums to explore new genres, but the thin lyrics for “Nice” quickly become monotonous after replaying several times.
“Once Again”
Similar to “Nice”, “Once Again” is obviously created to add to Raymond’s concert atmosphere and for him to showcase his new dance moves. “Once Again” opens promisingly with lush cinematic sound effects, but quickly spirals to mindless lyrics of “Once Again, DaLaDaLaDaLaDa DaLaDaLaDaLaDa” that run on repeat.
“BB”
The musical arrangement is fluid and dynamic. This song’s lyrics fare better than the two opening songs in the album, and satisfies fans eager to hear Raymond croon “BB” endearingly as his voice dips to buttery tones. Very sexy, more so than the heavy-hitting “Nice”.
“The Same Forest” <同林>
Raymond’s mini-movie, Give Me 1 Minute to Say I Love You <愛在魅來1分鐘>, which starred Eliza Sam (岑麗香) as his ghostly love interest, had a staggered release of 4 segments from December to January to keep fans in suspense. “The Same Forest” is a beautiful ballad that speaks of a bygone love, in which two lovebirds have grown up and after gaining new perspectives, drift apart. Tang Chi Wai (鄧智偉), who composed the majority of Raymond’s songs featured in the album, once again arranges a seamless musical composition for “The Same Forest”, but it is truly Raymond’s emotional notes that makes the ballad memorable.
Other Hits
The rest of A Time 4 You album only gets better as it is filled with Raymond’s greatest hits, such as the acclaimed “The End of Naivete” <幼稚完>, “Light Up My Life”, “Love is Not Enough” <愛不疚>, and “Chok”.
A Time 4 You is highly recommended for fans and a great introduction for new listeners of Raymond Lam’s music.
Full Tracks in A Time 4 You Album
1. Nice (“A Time 4 You” concert theme song)
2. Once Again
3. BB
4. The Same Forest <同林>
5. The End of Naivete <幼稚完> (Highs and Lows ending theme)
6. Waiting for Your Return (Return to the Three Kingdoms opening theme)
7. Light Up My Life (My Sister of Eternal Flower opening theme)
8. Heat Run <热能放送>
9. Chok
10. Come 2 Me
11. Let’s Get Wet
12. Love is Not Enough <愛不疚> (Moonlight Resonance ending theme)
13. Looking for You in Love Memories <爱在记忆中找你>
14. If Time Arrives <如果時間來到>
15. Another Way to Love You <換個方式愛你>
16. We Are Well <我們很好> (Growing Through Life ending theme)
17. Until You Are Not Looking for Me <直到你不找我>
Recommended Tracks
“The Same Forest” <同林>
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“The End of Naivete” <幼稚完>
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“Light Up My Life”
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Listen to “A Time 4 You” Full Album at QQ.com
This review is written by Jayne for JayneStars.com.
Agree totally!!! And Raymond/LF was listed in the credits of three of the new songs. LF had said recently that he corroborated with CW and Ben on the music.
Thoroughly enjoyed the first two concerts, awesome dancing and singing, especially his classics! Wished he had added ‘Drenched’ on the latest CD – it was romantic and powerful!
Countdown to his third concert tonight!
LF Love FUNG!
Very happy to hear that his first 2 concerts have been very explosive with both his dancing and singing. I will have to wait for his DVD release.
Hey this album should include OMT remix , chok remix , LGW remix
I heard that he sang a medley at the concert which included CHOK, Come to Me, Let’s Get Wet and How Deep which was really explosive and got the crowd going.
What’s the Chinese name of the song drenched?
I don’t think there is a Chinese name to this song.
Lyrics ‘Drenched’
When minutes become hours
When days become years
And I don’t know where you are
Color seems so dull without you
Have we lost our minds?
What have we done?
But it all doesn’t seem to matter anymore
When you kissed me on that street, I kissed you back
You held me in your arms, I held you in mine
You picked me up to lay me down
When I look into your eyes
I can hear you cry for a little bit more of you and I
I’m drenched in your love
I’m no longer able to hold it back
Is it too late to ask for love?
Is it wrong to feel right?
When the world is winding down
Thoughts of you linger around
Have we lost our minds?
What have we done?
But it all doesn’t seem to matter anymore
When you kissed me on that street, I kissed you back
You held me in your arms, I held you in mine
You picked me up to lay me down
When I look into your eyes
I can hear you cry for a little bit more of you and I
I’m drenched in your love
I’m no longer able to hold it back
When you kissed me on that street, I kissed you back
You held me in your arms, I held you in mine
You picked me up to lay me down
When I look into your eyes
I can hear you cry for a little bit more of you and I
I’m drenched in your love
I’m no longer able to hold it back
There is a post on You Tube sung beautifully by LF.
Enjoy! LF Love FUNG!
Isn’t Drenched sung by Wanting ?
Correct
16. We Are Well (The Drive of Life ending theme)
Wrong here. 我們很好 is the subtheme for Growing through life instead of Drive of life. 爱在记忆中找你 is the subtheme of Drive of life.
Nice and Once Again only have one purpose: To dance in the concert. Hence its lyric is simple in order to let him dance. It suits the purpose.
Fox
Corrected…was thinking of The Drive of Life instead.
A wonderful compilation indeed. Raymond has so many heart warming slow songs over the years as well as songs with a great tempo that will get you moving your body. I am thrilled that he included Another Way To Love You as that remains one of my all time favourite songs of his. It is not as well known as the other tracks but it definitely is one not to miss.
“will trigger memories of Raymond’s romantic onscreen aura and great acting moments”
Great Acting?????? LOL!
Yes great acting. 🙂
Back in his good old years, when he didn’t have to juggle singing and acting career and lose himself.
The End of Naivete (Highs and Lows ending theme) and Love is Not Enough (Moonlight Resonance ending theme) are my favourite songs for Raymond Lam. I think that this is his style more (well at least the ones where I really like him) 😀
I wasn’t so fond of Chok.
The lyrics to 幼稚完 sucked, but I liked the song. I agree those are some of my favorite LF songs, but I also like Worth it to Cry (from Justice Pao), and Splattered Ink Peach Blossoms (from his first album) and songs that are more ‘zhong guo feng.’ I also like his sexier songs such as Tonight, Illusion, Come to Me, and Hello. And I must be the minority, but I also REALLY like the songs he sang in his period dramas (Twin of Brothers, Tossing Rain, Turning Cloud, Face to Fate, Three Kingdoms, etc.). He has a variety of styles, and each one is good, but the only style I like the least is his more ‘in your face style’ like from the LF album. I think he’s gradually moving from this style though. I think that as a singer, he should experiment with a variety of styles, but there will definitely be some that are more suited for him than others.
@ Cara: I couldn’t agree with you more and am on the same page with you on a lot of your points. To this day, I still love Worth It To Cry. The erhu blends perfectly in this song and I can never get sick of the melody. From his first album, I also enjoy Take Care of Yourself a lot.
Tonight, Illusion, Hello, Let’s Get Wet and One More Time are all excellent fast upbeat songs and I enjoy listening to this style much more than Chok and more recently Nice. Not to say that the latter two are not good but it’s a completely different style which needs time to get accustomed to. I actually still use Come to Me as my ring tone and have been for the past few years as I prefer the original Come to Me over the remix version but the rest of the remixes sound amazing especially OMT.
@Gar – I love LF’s more melancholy songs such as Worth it to Cry and Realize (subtheme from TRTC). The erhu and the R&B styles blend together so perfectly. LF’s pretty good at the R&B songs – I also like A Shadow’s Love Story from his sophomore album.
I think songs such as Chok and Nice are the types of mainstream songs in that will make people who don’t notice his music listen to him more. The autotune, 莊冬昕’s style, etc. I agree with your point about how these songs will take a while to get used to. Though I think that his newer albums are an improvement from LF.
@Gar – but no matter what, no choksta please. XD Even as a LF fan, that makes me facepalm.
I like “Light Up My Life” best, especially the faster remix, as it’s a more upbeat song than some of the lost or frustrated love songs.
The beat to “Chok” is actually quite catchy, but I suppose people criticize it more for the lyrics.
I never heard Light up my life faster remix version.
Yeah, where is this version? Jayne, can you share pls? thanks! 🙂
I think ppl simply critize its name. The only ppl that should hate the lyric are the reporters and whoever cared for his private life too much, lolz. He pointed them quite clear.
Haha, although I’m a longtime LF fan, I still think that Chok was ridiculous, and after Ma Ming “sang” that song in Three Kingdoms, I just LOL when I hear that song. I’m a bit iffy about his newer image. I always thought of his image as a bit more subtle, elegant, “princely” and 優雅 (esp compared to the images of other male stars who debuted around the same time – Ron Ng, Bosco Wong, etc.), so I’m iffy about his new “in your face” image since the LF album.
yes this! ^_^
LF has said that he wants to bring a ‘new’ look and show off a different side of him for his Honeys at each concert. I’d rather see him try new styles in his songs. I give him credit for that, to give his Honeys constant surprises 驚喜! Love 一刀切!
CHOK was coined by the press for LF after his role as Prof. Kingsley. Since it somehow got stuck with him, he and CW decided to go with the flow and make the best of it. Hence the song was written, and going in the opposite direction from the love ballads.
LF cannot please everyone! He is true to himself as a artist who explores all genres. He studied music, voice, and is a great dancer. Each concert is better than last one! LF Love FUNG!
^Like the look in the link below. Scroll down for more screencaps. Got to say captured in moment freeze frame can be so inopportune and compromising and misleading but hilarious, nonetheless.
http://tieba.baidu.com/p/2124611433
Clamine,
The dance was meant to incite controversy, although I do think the pose is a bit too graphic. They did ditch the bed prop from his concert last year.
Seeing it on stage and it isn’t that controversy at all.
Thanks for all fans updates and sharing…you are true lucky to able to attend the concert …of course…everyone’s expectation are different…but it is okay…we are all supporting Fung to do better in all direction…i will have to wait for DVD come out 🙁
The third concert was the BEST! LF changed the line up of the songs. Special guests were Kate Tse, who sang 初見 with him (LF sang that song with Miriam Yeung in their movie ‘A Perfect Wedding’.) Mag Lam sang the same duet as the second night. Both ladies then sang a solo of their own songs.
At one point LF went off the stage and went to the director’s work station/panel and sang from there. Of course he was mobbed along the way up and down the stairs.
LF said heartfelt words of thanks to his musical team, his sponsors, etc, especially to this parents and siblings. He said sorry for neglecting them because of his busy work schedule. Many, many times during the night he said LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU ALL!! When he asked the fans to sing 幼稚完 for him, you could see that he was very touched, with his fist over his heart and savoring the moments with his eyes closed. Then he thanked everyone for the beautiful sounds which he will keep dear to his heart.
LF had two encores tonight! He sang until five minutes to midnight, saying at one point that he doesn’t care that he will be fined for going over.
At the second encore, he asked Tang Chi Wai to sing 幼稚完, the theme from Highs and Lows with him, which surprisingly CW obliged! It was very special.
The audience cheered and went wild after each and every song. Everyone wanted to savor each precious minute, showing our appreciation and support for his hard work.
LF is truly a talent and an awesome entertainer! He sang in Cantonese, Mandarin and English flawlessly, while dancing during many numbers.
Good luck to LF with whatever his heart desires. His Honeys will be by his side! LF Love FUNG!
Wonderful…YES…Good luck to LF with whatever his heart desires. His Honeys will be by his side! AL Love FUNG too! I wish the DVD will have all three night…yea…i know…it will have the final night mostly! can’t wait for it to come out 😛
I wonder if Michelle came to all of the concerts or at least one of them?? Did he have a different guest for each night?? My buddy went and loved them all.. Hope that everyone that went had a blast. I can’t wait to get this album!
Day 1 Lollipop F
Day 2 Lollipop F and Mag Lam
Day 3 Kate Tse and Mag Lam
Still reliving the three days with my videos and photos. Can’t wait for the DVD!
During the second encore on the last night (wearing a black CHOKSTA hoodie) he said he sang all the songs already and did not rehearse any other songs. He sat on the floor (so cute) over Terry (the musical director) and band because they were “underground” and discussed which song to sing next. Then LF sang 心呼吸 with a musical sheet given to him by Terry.
The concerts were just awesome! The atmosphere was electrifying and the floors were vibrating with the beat. LF worked so hard to give his best each night. LF Love FUNG!
Thanks for the info! I can’t wait for the DVD too since I could not go. MY buddy went and LOVED it… A great memory to have since it may be awhile before he has another concert. I know that Ray worked hard and it surely paid off… Great to know that Kate made it as a guest too.
I wonder how they will have the DVD since it was 3 days?? Will they have elements from each day on there. It would be cool if they did.
Yes. They will splice the footage from the three nights together like the way they did with the LUML concerts in 2011. I also attended all three nights last time and could tell from subtle elements.
The DVD may not include the part with Kate Tse 謝安琪 since she is not with EEG much like Andy Hui 許志安 who was a guest in 2011.
Sorry, LF wore a sleeveless black CHOKSTA tee shirt. Ms Lok 樂小姐 wore the black hoodie. The lines for the souveniers were very long, especially the first night.
EEG had a separate line to buy his new A TIME 4 YOU CD and DVD which came with a recycle bag and large concert poster. They also sold all of LF’s earlier music CDs and concert sets.
Thanks for all of the info! Which other souvenirs did they sell?? You went to the 2011 concerts too?? You are so lucky to get to go to so many. I am glad that they will have footage from all 3 nights. You had to get in line to buy the souvenirs??I can imagine… I think my buddy will tell me all about it when she comes back soon. Glad that you all had a blast and can’t wait for the DVD. I actually had a dream about the concert the night of the first concert… strange..
The souvenir stand sold black, red and blue tee shirts; black and red hoodies; red and black hats; iPhone and Galaxy phone cases. The CHOKSTA towels were sold out. That’s all I can remember.
Kay* Tse not Kate
Michelle went ytd.
I know and saw pix.. Thanks for the info!
If this is Michelle Ye you’re talking about, then I’m so freakin’ happy. *is a shameless RayMic fangirl*
Ooops! I do have a friend Kate Tse and was talking with her about the concerts. I stand corrected! Some of us at the concert thought it was Miriam Yeung who might sing with LF when the music started before Kay ascended the stage. Still, Kay was really good in her duet with LF. The part when she teased him about BB was really funny. Then she called all the audience LF’s BB, and LF said we are all his Honeys. Soooooo sweet!
find this…sang very well 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8BpnYOUKSQ