"I'm looking forward to my first concert in Hong Kong on May 18 and I expect to have surprise," said Patricia Kaas -- "ambassador of French pop music" in a telephone interview with a group of correspondents in Hong Kong Tuesday.

Patricia Kaas, being in Kwangju of South Korea for her world tour concerts, told Hong Kong media that she had made many music tours to Asian countries with her French songs.

She said she loved scenic spots in Asia and was more impressed by the shyness of Asian audience. " I'm curious to see how the audience will react," she said.

She noted she would arrive in Shanghai, the first stop of her three-leg trip to China on Wednesday and then go to Beijing for another concert, before her trip to Hong Kong, both the last leg of China visit and last leg of Asian tour.

"Though the Chinese language is difficult to learn, I would try to learn some greetings in Chinese, such as "Hello" and "Thank you," to welcome my Chinese audience.

According to sources of the French Consul General in Hong Kong, Kaas endorsed as an ambassador of the French pop music for more than 15 years, has sold more than 100 gold and 20 platinum albums and won all the essential European music award, including "Music Awards," and "Bambi Awards."

Her performance were viewed by 3 million spectators at more than 1,000 concerts in over 30 countries.

Commenting the description of the "French Madonna," Kaas replied that "I'm quite different from Madonna of the United States though I like her songs."

She said the "title" of "French Madonna" came from her trip to Vietnam in the past few years, and she disagreed with her likeness of Madonna.

Since May 2004, Kaas's world tour concert "Sexe Fort" (stronger gender) has been running in different countries. In the past one year, she traveled to 17 countries and gave about 120 concerts.

The songs in her concert in Hong Kong are mostly selected from her new electrifying album "Sexe Fort."

Her songs like "My Own Boy Friend," and "If You Go Away" have become very popular in France.

Insisting on singing mainly in French, she explained that she can express her more passionately and matured in French.

Asking if she had any plans to compose or write songs for herself, she replied "I don't think I have that talent so far."

Though she had cast roles in films, she said "I prefer on the stage rather than casting roles in films."

Asking about knowledge of Hong Kong, she said she was told that Hong Kong is a city with many high buildings, many seaside restaurants and a lot of people."

She said she keeps a female dog and it is a great pity that she could not take "her" to her trips.

Besides fashions specially designed for herself, the half-French and half-Germany lady also likes brands like D&G, and a Japanese brand.

Like other ordinary women, she likes go shopping and decorate her houses for "making my home look different."

Kaas's concert is one of the 37 French cultural activities in the "French May" French Cultural Festival Hong Kong, within the framework of the French Year in China.

The on-going festival started on May 1 and will last until June4.

This is the first time that the Consul General of France to promote French pop music in Hong Kong, aiming at introducing a full-fledge French culture to Hong Kong people.
 
(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2005)