On a sunny, breezy Sunday afternoon in February 2009, about 4,000 red-clad, smiling people flocked to the Diocesan Boys' School for one common purpose: to see Denise Ho play a live concert for free. They sat on the green grass of the outdoor sports ground, gathering around a small temporary stage where Denise would entertain the guests. Such a setting lent the concert a sense of intimacy that is fitting for the theme of the event, Happiness is Free, a catchy title coined by Hong Kong's top lyricist Wyman Wong.

This generous gesture is the latest endeavor in Denise's social consciousness project that begins with the album Ten Days in the Madhouse and continued with the Decameron documentary. After directing people's sight and sympathy towards the forgotten communities of society, it seems natural that Denise took her plan to another level, dispensing "happiness" to all with the sheer power of goo vibration.

Just what constitutes "happiness"? As apparent in the montage of interviews with the audience members, there are as many answers as there are mouths. For Denise, it begins with the simple act of giving. As she declares, she is enjoying so much happiness that she has to share it with people, and she urges the audience to pay the happiness forward. Thank heaven there exists such a sincere and selfless artist, and it is especially impressive considering such a high-profile mainstream pop star would have the heart to devote her life and career to these lofty ideals. More power to her!

It is pleasing to see that Denise gets considerable support from her peers, friends, and family. Longtime collaborator Mak Yan Yan is the director and producer of this project. Hanjin Tan and Harris Ho (Denise's elder brother) form the core partnership of her music creative team, and also lead the live band that includes at17's Ellen Loo and Eman Lam, who provide backing vocal and instrumental support. The girl duo have their moments to shine, too, singing The Best is Yet to Come and Over the Rainbow to a zealous audience.

The most moving moment of the DVD recording lies in one of the interview clips, where Denise's dad reveals childhood anecdotes of his daughter, and he's heard humming the tune of a Denise song. That is a proud, content, and happy parent, and he has very good reasons to be.