Hong Kong singer William So was in Singapore in August for the Songs That Keep Us Together 2 concert. Just three months later, he will return for a solo concert. In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao (LHZB) before his earlier performance, he spoke warmly of Singapore, a place that holds many special memories for him. He also thanked the organisers for inviting him to perform here so often in recent years. His son Jazz So has played the drums on stage during the Big Four's tour in Hong Kong and Malaysia. Asked whether Jazz would join him on stage in Singapore this time, So said: “He may be preparing for exams then, so I imagine it won't be easy.”
Having inherited his father’s musicality, nine-year-old Jazz has dabbled in instruments like the keyboard and guitar. He also started learning the drums at a young age and has even played for So in public performances. Speaking of his son's musical abilities, So said: “I tell him to enjoy music. Don't we talk about ‘playing music’? But if you make music your career, it may not make you happy. That's what my father told me, because he used to work in music too.”
So's father was a member of the Hong Kong Police Band in the early 1970s, and So inherited his musical gifts. Although his father supported his decision to become a singer, he warned him early on that music was the noblest of hobbies — but making it a career was another matter.
Although Jazz has not expressed interest in entering show business, So has already begun sharing these lessons with him. “I've passed on to my son what my father told me. I won't interfere with whatever he chooses to do in future, but I have to tell him about the realities early on.”
So said that he and the friends from the music industry whom his son regularly meets are, in fact, among the very few “lucky ones” who have turned their passion into a career. “Take his two godfathers, Dayo Wong and Eason Chan. They're among the very best in the business. But perhaps only one in 10,000 people reaches that level. The attrition rate is extremely high, and he knows it isn't easy.”
He also noted that children today are growing up in an environment unlike any before. With artificial intelligence (AI) tools, they have far more ways to access and absorb information than his generation did, while advances in technology can also help them learn. Yet even though young people today are highly capable, the competition they face is correspondingly fiercer. So said: “I think talent can bring you some success, but becoming a big star takes luck. Ultimately, it depends on whether fate gives you that opportunity.”
No fear of ageing as he approaches 60
So turns 60 in 2027, but the years seem to have left few marks on him. “Thank you!” he said with a laugh. “I don't really do anything special, apart from applying more face masks, exercising more and making sure I don't dress too much like an uncle. My everyday outfits have always been quite flamboyant, but I choose clothes I like that suit my age.”
He has no anxiety about growing older. “I really agree with what Tony Leung said in an interview about being comfortable with how he looks as he ages. For men especially, it's only when you reach a certain age, and have the experience and appearance that come with it, that you can pull off certain roles.” So acknowledged that if he were to act again now, he could no longer play a young man. He would rather embrace everything this stage of life has to offer.
Still, he knows “there's no such thing as a free lunch”. Staying in good shape takes discipline, including watching his diet and exercising regularly. He recalled something veteran actor Patrick Tse once said: “As long as you care about looking good, you won't let yourself go.” So added with a laugh: “I care about looking good, so I exercise three times a week without fail.”
Having become a father at 50, he also hopes to spend more time by his son's side. “I don't want to be plagued by illness and pain while I'm with him. I want to be healthy as I watch him grow up.”
“The More We Kiss, the More It Hurts” no longer hurts
Speaking of concert staples such as “Kiss More, Hurt More” and “It’s Hard to Love Someone”, So said his early performances might have been accompanied by heart-wrenching pain. But after years of reflection and moving through different stages of life, singing them now is more about capturing and expressing his current state of mind. “It probably doesn't hurt as much any more.”
Asked how he feels each time he takes the stage to perform these classics again, he said: “These songs are like records of a chapter in the past. Tonight, we come together to revisit that chapter. Once the songs are over, those memories can fade too. They don't have to linger in our lives today. These songs may have accompanied many people through a period of their lives, but that time has passed.”
He hopes his listeners can feel the same way — there is no need to remain unable to let go of the past and its regrets so many years later.
If he had to choose a theme song for his life, So would pick “Black Suit”, composed by Singapore musician Dick Lee. He believes every man should have a black tuxedo in his wardrobe. “Whether you're attending a wedding, a formal occasion or a funeral, a black suit means facing any situation in life with confidence and poise. I'm not afraid of life's highs and lows, as long as I can face them with grace.”
He added with a laugh that he has far more than one black suit in his wardrobe. “There are so many, from all sorts of different brands!”
Shin Min Daily News and radio station 96.3 Hao FM are the concert's official publicity media partners.
So In Love – William So Concert 2026
Date: Sunday (8 November 2026)
Time: 8pm
Venue: Esplanade Theatre, Singapore
Tickets: $188, $168, $148, $128, $108, $88 (excluding booking fees)
Bookings: bookmyshow.sg
