From AC Repair to Pop Royalty: Aaron Kwok’s Journey
Ever wonder how the Heavenly King of Hong Kong pop got his wings? Spoiler: he once wrenched air‑conditioners!
Early Years: The Day‑Job Reality
- 18‑year‑old Aaron was busy installing cool air under the comfort of a modest salary of HK$1,700 (about S$311).
- His day job? A trusty air‑conditioner mechanic – a role that kept him warm (or cool!) during the early ’80s.
- He spotted TVB while watching a “canteen boy”—that’s a staff worker like you’d find in the lunch corner—who signed him up as a dancer.
TVB & the Dance Dream
Aaron sent in a dream‑filled application in 1984, hoping to hit the dance floor. The clip on TVB’s 55th Anniversary Footprint shows:
- The photo of his application, the little note about his prior employment, and his modest paycheck.
- How a seemingly ordinary meeting in a canteen turned into a blockbuster career.
Key Takeaway
From fusing cool air with hot beats, Aaron transformed his humble beginnings into a legendary pop career—proving that even a single rack of air‑con fan blades can spin into worldwide stardom.
Aaron Kwok: From Gutter to Glitter – A Journey That Even the Gods Would Take Notes On
TVB’s 55th Anniversary Footprint was a feel‑good tribute, a mashup of fireworks and nostalgia that put a spotlight on the night‑starry crowds of Hong Kong pop. The episode stitched together the rise of four pop legends – Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok, Leon Lai and Jacky Cheung – but the stage was reserved for Aaron’s own roller‑coaster.
Stepping into the Spotlight – but With No Pay‑Check Up‑To Speed
- Half a decade of stagnant wages – Aaron recalls, in a 1991 book titled I Need Love, that when he first signed with TVB his salary didn’t budge for almost five years.
- “I would go to work feeling guilty,” he writes, explaining how his mom’s earnest concern was magnified by the lack of paycheck progress.
- He admits his dream was to upgrade his parents’ living space so they could enjoy a bit more room, but the “little house” of his income still felt like a child’s playroom.
The Tiny Role That Sparked a Giant Oath
Picture this: Aaron in a 1990 film, The God and the Demons of Zu Mountain, rehearsing, bright-eyed. At home, he proudly pointed at the film’s poster, but his family squinted and sighed – he looked like a speck on the screen.
He confesses, “I felt a touch of guilt. In that moment I swore, ‘If I get another chance, I’ll make sure you guys can see me clearly.’” So a promise was sealed. He has been keeping it to this very day.
Celebrating 32 Years of Rock‑and‑Roll
Last Sunday, on September 25th, Aaron unfurled his Instagram, marking the 32nd anniversary of launching the hit single “Loving You Forever.” A grin stretched wide across his profile as he reminisced about that landmark.
I’ve never felt this sentiment can stay mute. “My heart remains unchanged, and I will keep giving my all on every stage,” he wrote, both to fans and the universe at large. Whether it’s the classic ballad “Never‑Ending Love” or a new single, he promises it will stay the anthem that unites them all.
Why It Matters
For a giant of music, steps that seemed utterly trivial – the glow of a cameo, or a meagre salary – became milestones that taught perseverance. And as Aaron reminds himself, every stage is a meaty stage, no matter how tiny you appear on the screen.
