For Eric Moo, being able to survive four decades in show business has made him feel extremely fortunate.
The Malaysian singer, whose first album was released in 1984, is set to celebrate his over 40 years in the music industry with a concert at Resorts World Ballroom in Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore in January 2027.
He held a celebration concert at Arena Of Stars in Malaysia back in January 2026.
In an interview on July 14 in Singapore, the 63-year-old shared that he feels “very heartened” that his Singapore fans have continued attending his shows and loving his hits such as Foolish Heart (1994) and Love Is So Heavy (1995) over such a long period of time.
“I cherish it very much,” he said. “Some people don’t even live past 40 years old.”
Recalling the 1980s, the star – who attended The Chinese High School and Jurong Junior College in Singapore – would never have imagined lasting so long in the fickle entertainment business.
“Back then, (Hong Kong singer-actor) Alan Tam held an anniversary show, and I thought 15 years was already a long time.
“To think he has been singing for more than 50 years, and many others have been performing for 30, 40 years.”
Over time, Moo himself has cultivated a distinctive image among Asian celebrities, with his snow white hair and tanned complexion.
“Many variety show hosts, reporters, even hairstylists, have asked whether I purposely dye my hair white,” he said.
“(But no), it is what I was born with. Even the roots (of my hair) are white,” Moo said.
His hair was black until his 30s, when it started turning white and he dyed it black for a while.
In the late 2000s, he got tired of dyeing, shaved his head, and let his white hair grow out naturally. Since then, a full head of white hair has been part of his signature style.
On this distinguishing feature, he joked: “I can’t do anything bad. I will get recognised immediately.”
And as for his seemingly permanent tan, the avid golfer – who admits to not applying sunscreen – gets it naturally from hours playing the sport at least once a week, with buddies such as Taiwanese singers Show Lo and Chris Yu.
Emotions from the past
However, his music output has slowed down.
Moo’s most recent album is We Worship Our Messiah Forever (2018), which features Christian music, and his most recent release is the song A Love Letter That Will Never Be Forsaken (2022).
Despite the lack of new material, he is content with performing old tracks.
“My fans won’t be looking for anything new,” he said.
“They are simply hoping to rediscover a sense of nostalgia.”
His most loyal fanbase, he estimates, are in their 50s and 60s. And he sees himself as an intermediary, singing songs that help fans recall memories.
“It is like the appeal of the (2026 Chinese movie) Dear You,” he said.
“Viewers are not necessarily crying because of the plot, but because of emotions from past experiences that are triggered by the movie. Similarly, my songs can conjure up stories from people’s past,” he said.
For this reason, Moo is opposed to rearranging his songs dramatically during live performances.
“Some singers rearrange the songs to show how good they are at music, changing the rhythm and number of beats.
“But the rearrangements are done so (drastically) that even their own mothers wouldn’t recognise the (originals). This will confuse and disappoint the listener,” he lamented.
Less patient
While he caters his performances for an older crowd, he has also encountered younger fans who listen to him on streaming platforms and watched him appear on the panel of Chinese reality programmes Masked Singer China and Crossover Singer in the 2010s.
Because of the shows’ punishing filming schedules, he appears on fewer of them nowadays.
“Recording is long, agonising, and can take 10 or 15 hours at a go. I am probably less patient now.”
The singer, who has lived in Taiwan and Beijing, visits Singapore about three or four times a year for work and to visit his mother and younger brother, fellow singer Allan Moo, who live in the island republic.
Eric Moo is married to Taiwanese former model Pang Meijun, and they have two daughters in their 20s.
A fan of hawker centres, he loves to eat chicken wings, char kway teow and prawn mee. Asked if he has considered becoming a Singaporean, he replied: “It is very expensive (to live here). I can’t afford it.”
The hot weather also poses some difficulty for him too, he added.
“Every time I visit, I feel so at home that I want to stay longer. But four days in, after sweating every day, this urge would disappear. I think coming back a few times a year is (a good balance).” – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
