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Michael Bublé plays Hong Kong
Canadian singer Michael Bublé's world tour has been a long and winding road
Michael BublĂ© is on the home straight of a gruelling world tour — which calls through Hong Kong on January 21 — and even though it's presented challenges, the Canadian singer is enjoying every moment of it.
"I have just finished 161 shows and have about 30 more to go," says the 39-year-old. "Every audience is different, every night has been spectacular."
Towards the end of last year, there was a week in Europe when Bublé and most of his band and crew fell ill with the flu. For eight shows, he pulled through with the aid of antibiotics and steroids. "It's not the most fun to be sick on stage, but this is something that just happens," he says.
And during one show in Australia, BublĂ© accidentally stepped on his microphone stand and it kicked back, smashing a front tooth out. He continued through the rest of the show and later underwent emergency dental surgery. "The next day I did another show. I am very proud to say I didn't cancel," he says. "I know how important my audience is — they paid good money and took their valuable time, and I know I have a big responsibility. I think I have only cancelled one show in my life."
Although this will be Bublé's third time in Hong Kong (the last time was in November 2011), the upcoming show in the city will be particularly exciting for him as he will be joined by his Argentinian parents-in-law. "We're bringing my wife's parents to the show and I've told them [Hong Kong] is a completely different world. It is such a beautiful place with a mix of cultures."
He then jokes about his Canadian home city of Vancouver: "We call it Hongcouver. We're actually the only white people — everyone is Asian there."
Married to Luisana Lopilato, a 27-year-old Argentinian actress and model, Bublé admits his world tour has meant a lot of travelling for her and their 18-month-old son, Noah.
"There's no balance [between being a singer, and a father and husband]. You need to choose what's important to you," he says. "I'm lucky that my wife has been so supportive — she came on tour and brought our son along. If she hadn't done that, I wouldn't have been able to be the father that I want to be and spent the time that I want to spend with my son.
"Now that my tour is coming to an end, it is my turn to support her because that's fair and she's a career woman. Her career is important to her, like mine is important to me. It's time for me to slow down and follow her around Europe and South America when she's working."
Bublé is a contented family man and takes the role very seriously. "Nothing is more important than my family. Right now my wife is preparing food for me and I know she makes fun of me when I say something like that. But I know that she knows it's the truth," he says with a laugh.
This tour is promoting Bublé's latest album, To Be Loved (released in 2013). Asked about his favourite song on the album, Bublé chooses Somethin' Stupid, which he sang with actress Reese Witherspoon. "I think it's a really beautiful and romantic piece."
The upbeat It's a Beautiful Day, the lead single which was released before the album, came second. "It's kind of an anti-love song and so many people know me for having these romantic songs. I thought it was a lot of fun to sing a song about breaking up as opposed to being in love."
Though critics tend to compare him with jazz vocalists such as Frank Sinatra, Bublé refuses to be categorised into a particular genre of music. "I want to sing songs from all different genres. I want to take chances and keep growing," he says.
"I think when I come to China, people will be shocked by the different genres I perform. I do rock, pop, R&B … I love all kinds of music. My musicians and I are pretty confident in our musical abilities and we go for it."
Perhaps this refusal to be classified is why To Be Loved is the singer's favourite album to date. "For the first time, I took big risks — I made this record in a different way."
When he is not busy recording songs or performing onstage, Bublé enjoys relaxing with his two favourite hobbies: astrophysics and ice hockey. "I love studying about black holes and the universe, and all those wonderful mysteries.
"As for hockey, I play anywhere in the world — wherever there are rinks. If they have one in Hong Kong, I'll play."
Michael Bublé, January 21, 8.15pm, AsiaWorld-Arena, Lantau, HK$480-HK$1,880, Cityline. Inquiries: 21115333
