Maxence Cyrin, Hong Kong, 2008-05-09

Leslie Cheung about 17 years ago

French pianist Maxence Cyrin played a range of covers and some original compositions last night (May 9) as part of this year's French May event.

The show started at 20:30 and Maxence walked onto stage and play his cover of Moby's "Go". He then played the highlight of his 2005 album Modern Rhapsodies, a cover of "Behind The Wheel" by Depeche Mode, and continued with more covers of songs by Felix, Aphex Twin, The Cure. Before playing the next one, he introduced the song and said, "I am going to play a Britney Spears tune now." He started playing "Toxic", but mid-way through the song, a fire alarm in a distant broke out. After the song he left the stage shortly and came back and displayed his humour side. He introduced himself, and French cheese and wine "since French May is what we are here for, to introduce you our country". Then the stage manager showed up and explained it was the fire alarm on the 1/F buzzing and we were waiting for firemen's instructions. Finally after 15 minutes, firemen found out it was just a false alarm and the show resumed in a few minutes.

"I am going to be serious now," he joked and started to play "Smokebelch II". After a few more songs and a short break, he played a cover of Kraftwerk's "Radioactivity" and Nirvana's "Smell Like Teen Spirit", Cocteau Twins' "Ivo". Introducing the last number before encore break, he said, "I am going to play a French song now. It's called 'Da Funk'," and launched into the Daft Punk cover.

For the encore, he sang along with a Patrick Hernandez cover of "Born To Be Alive". It was originally the last number on the setlist (and he dropped out a cover of Justice's "D.A.N.C.E." from the set), but he returned shortly to play an improvised song, inspired by the fire alarm incident earlier, suitably titled "Fire Alarm In Hong Kong". He sang along and it was a funny number.

The setlist of the night, with some of the names of original performer:

Go {Moby}
Behind The Wheel {Depeche Mode}
Don't You Want Me {Felix}
Windowlicker {Aphex Twin}
Jaguar {Rolando} / Sueño Latino {Sueno Latino}
A Forest {The Cure}
Toxic {Britney Spears} - fire alarm broke out mid-way through the song
[break for waiting firemen's instructions]
Smokebelch II {Sabres Of Paradise} / Unfinished Sympathy {Massive Attack}
L.F.O. {LFO}
Medley: Frank Sinatra {Miss Kittin} / Plastic Dreams {Jaydee} / Tainted Love {Soft Cell}
[short break]
Radioactivity {Kraftwerk}
Smell Like Teen Spirit {Nivrana}
Ivo {Cocteau Twins}
Triangle
Melody For A Pin-up
Get Down {Paul Johnson}
Who Is Elvis {Phenomania Interactive}
Acid Eiffel {Choice (Laurent Garnier & Shazz)}
Da Funk {Daft Punk}

[first encore]
Born To Be Alive {Patrick Hernandez}

[second encore]
Fire Alarm In Hong Kong

Photo by Love Da Records