In a time when everyone said being a YouTuber had no future, he chose to face the challenge head-on. Despite the marginalization of creativity, he continued to use music to tell stories. He is Sunny Lam, a Hong Kong internet singer. With his Cantonese covers and original songs, he sang out the voices of countless Hong Kong people during times of social upheaval and the pandemic, turning hardships into joy, persisting in his creative pursuits, and illuminating the dark corners of the era.
Sunny Lam’s music goes beyond entertainment; it is a form of healing and documentation. The songs he sings satirize social issues and resonate deeply with the audience. His music channel has 286,000 subscribers, and he has created over 500 videos in the past decade. The ticket for his planned concert, “Stay in Hong Kong, Sunny Lam Concert,” scheduled for June at the West Kowloon Cultural District’s “Blank LiveHouse,” was sold out within 5 minutes of being available for purchase, with additional tickets selling out in 3 minutes. However, the concert was abruptly canceled just before the show, sparking further public discussion.
Sunny, who has had a love for music since childhood, excels in playing the piano, arranging music, and singing. Despite never winning any awards in singing competitions during his youth, he openly admits, “I love music so much; I never thought of giving up.” After graduation, like many others, he opted for a stable job in the marketing department, working from nine to five, but his musical dreams never dimmed. Over the years, he submitted demos to record companies multiple times but never received any responses.
In 2014, he decided to open another door himself. Sunny Lam launched a YouTube channel, where he covers old songs with his own renditions, sometimes adapting classic Cantonese songs. He said, “Since no one was offering me songs, I decided to sing and post them online myself.” His works cover a wide range of topics, from urban life and nostalgia to social phenomena, with songs like “Today’s Hong Kong” and “Black Sugar Bubble Milk Tea” attracting attention. His songs addressing social issues have resonated with many people: “I remember, ten years ago, before Hong Kong was occupied, you could always get a front seat on the MTR. The old markets were full of nostalgic local shops; now this scene is no longer visible.”
In an interview, he shared, “Previously, it was thought that post-90s and post-00s were less concerned about current events and enjoyed visiting mainland China. The feeling back then was like that, young people liked to go to Shenzhen for dining and shopping, but now I really feel they understand what is happening in their city.”
In 2019, he quit his stable job to pursue his music dream full-time. Shortly afterward, the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement and the pandemic erupted, plunging Hong Kong society into unprecedented turmoil. However, for Sunny Lam, this became a turning point in his creative journey.
That summer, his topical songs went viral overnight, surpassing a million views. Although his works were later taken down, he had already become the ‘current affairs music chronicler’ in the hearts of Hong Kong people. During the pandemic, he created songs like “Fangguan I Love You!”, “Wuhan Love”, and “Hong Kong 777”, using humor to express the emotions of Hong Kong people.
He said, “I would describe myself as someone who finds joy in adversity. I often feel unhappy, but writing songs is my way of expressing my feelings and relieving my emotions.”
In 2022, his creation “Justice Will Destroy Family” surpassed 1.3 million views, becoming the channel’s champion song. He plays multiple roles, transforming into political figures, adding an element of performance to his videos, with lyrics writing, recording, and video editing all done by himself, sometimes completing entire pieces within a few hours.
“Some say I’m funny, but I take every song seriously. Even if it’s satirical, I hope there’s a deeper message behind it, not just for the sake of being funny,” he shared.
In recent years, his channel has incorporated more local news content from Hong Kong, such as “Ho’s Leaving the Engagement Ring Behind”, where he played the role of both Mr. and Mrs. Ho, sparking widespread discussions. Although these songs are covers and cannot earn advertising revenue, he continues to create, saying, “Cantonese songs are a part of my upbringing, and I hope to reintroduce them to the new generation in my own way.”
In 2020, he was invited by Lin Xi to cover and reinterpret the children’s song written for Leslie Cheung, and filmed a music video dedicated to “Lin Sir”. In April 2024, he won the “Best Lyricist” award at the 33rd Hong Kong Drama Awards for the stage play “Di-Dar”, a moment he found deeply moving: “In the past, I’d always be presenting awards to myself. This time, it’s a recognition from the industry, and that means something entirely different.”
Despite industry recognition, life has not always been smooth sailing. This year was supposed to mark a significant moment for Sunny Lam, as he was set to step onto a physical stage. His concert at West Kowloon, highly anticipated by music fans, was ultimately canceled. In response, he simply stated, “I’ve done my best,” encapsulating the difficult situation faced by Hong Kong’s creatives.
Faced with various challenges, he chooses to let go of attachments, saying, “In recent years, I’ve learned to step back and look at everything lightly, and people are happier as a result.”
From being a “Slasher” to a full-time YouTuber, over the past decade, Sunny Lam has created over five hundred pieces, documenting the light and shadows of Hong Kong. His songs have become common references among netizens and provide warmth in challenging times. His creations serve as a mirror and a pain reliever.
“No matter how tough the environment is, I want to remind everyone that as long as you can laugh, you’re not dead yet. Finding joy in adversity can help you get through tough times,” he emphasized earnestly.
Sunny Lam’s musical journey continues. He may not fit the typical image of a singer, but through headphones and smartphone screens on countless nights, he is the voice that countless Hong Kongers cling to and persevere with.