Today, I’d like to talk about Khalil Fong—and Scent of a Woman.
It’s been over two months since Khalil Fong passed away. These days, I listen to his songs on my commute every day. His departure has left many with a sorrow that’s hard to describe—a mix of regret and loss. Only forty-one, so talented and kind, and gone so suddenly.
I listened to Khalil the most when I was about fifteen or sixteen. Every song on Orange Moon is still etched in my memory. And yet, I can’t recall why I stopped following his later albums, 15 and JTW. Perhaps I’d fallen in love with British rock around that time. In hindsight, I even feel a bit guilty about it.
Now, at twice that age, I find myself listening to Khalil daily once again. Beyond the familiar love songs filled with poetry and emotion, I now hear his passion for music (like in Listen), his humor, and his quiet wisdom.
His final album, The Dreamer, feels like a whispered monologue on life, creativity, and love. The music is gentle, but its meaning and emotion are weighty. And of course, with his passing, the act of listening has become all the more poignant.
So what does Khalil Fong have to do with Scent of a Woman?
The Dreamer includes two songs inspired by films: GF, which references The Godfather, and Tango, which was reportedly written after he rewatched Scent of a Woman. (Seems he was a big Al Pacino fan!)
I also rewatched Scent of a Woman a few months ago. To me, it’s Al Pacino’s most captivating role—a blind, retired army officer who’s lost the will to live, yet finds the courage to go on through his unexpected friendship with a young man. The story is simple, yet powerful and full of tension.
Khalil’s Tango is a song rich in visual imagery. From the first notes, you’re transported to an old film scene. It’s as if Al Pacino is right in front of you, savoring the scent of a woman’s perfume, then inviting her to dance. Unhurried and graceful, he performs the most beautiful tango—even without seeing a thing.
And when it comes to quiet reflection, you can’t ignore What Is Love（誰知愛是什麼）:
"Who knows what love is? How do we interpret it?
It is a seed, and also a flower.
When the sky falls, even cowards feel no fear—
Such is the greatness of love."
「誰知愛是什麼？ 如何解讀她？
她是一顆種子，也是一朵花。
天塌下來，膽小鬼們都不怕，
愛呀，就是那麼的偉大。」
Or Only Twenty-Three(才二十三）:
"Youth is a dream,
Life a breeze in spring,
Passing without notice,
And suddenly—the world expands."
「青春是一個夢，
人生如一陣春風，
不經意地飄過，
境界驀然遼闊。」
These songs aren’t complex, nor are they hard to sing. But somehow, they grasp the essence of life and love.
A friend recently asked why I haven’t been writing about movies lately. I told him I’ve been rewatching old films. New ones just don’t seem to hit the same. The same goes for music. The Dreamer is one of the rare albums that still feels genuine and creative.
I imagine this album will accompany me on many more commutes. And I truly believe—Khalil Fong’s music will not be forgotten by this world.
Listen in:
