Following the release of the song “China Pain,” Namewee and Wong Chau-sang have collaborated once again on the duet “Drive FIT.” The song was deliberately released on June 27, just a few days before the handover day of Hong Kong on July 1, implying a connection between Hong Kong’s handover day and the decline of the Hong Kong film industry.
This new song continues the spark between the two artists. Their previous song “China Pain” has accumulated over 25.99 million views to date.
The new song “Drive FIT” (Watch MV) adopts a very typical Hong Kong film theme song style. For this, Namewee specifically invited the lyricist of the theme song “Friendship Years” from the film “Young and Dangerous,” Lau Cho-hui, to write the Cantonese lyrics, aiming to present this new piece with an authentic Hong Kong flavor.
Wong Cho-sang’s portrayal of “Big D” in “Young and Dangerous” has left a deep impression on audiences. Namewee believes that he is the perfect fit to interpret “Drive FIT.”
The song expresses a sense of nostalgia and helplessness for lost youth, as well as memories of Hong Kong’s glorious era and reflections on the decline of the Hong Kong film industry today. Namewee mentioned that the song reflects various meanings, such as using the fallen character of “Big D” to symbolize the declined Hong Kong film industry, while the character he portrays in the music video is a director who is unable to fully showcase his talents due to limited resources, reflecting the challenges faced by aspiring directors today.
Since the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, the local film industry has undergone many changes. Factors such as political and economic changes post-handover, restrictions on freedom, and adjustments in cultural policies have led to a shrinking creative space for Hong Kong films, weakening market competitiveness. Many directors and producers who were originally active in Hong Kong have chosen to seek opportunities in other regions, resulting in the gradual decline of the local film industry. Namewee purposely released the music video during this period in the hopes of drawing more attention and reflection on the current state of the Hong Kong film industry.
To recreate classic scenes and scenarios from films, the production team specially invited several well-known internet personalities from Taiwan, including “Superlife,” “Grass Dad,” “Bouncing Board,” “Youtiao Brothers,” “Taichung Shao Da Ji,” “Movie and Food Experts,” to make cameo appearances.
After watching the music video, many netizens left comments below the video:
“So full of Hong Kong sentiment, as a Hongkonger, there are a thousand words in my heart.”
“After watching, I understand that Namewee wrote this as a tribute to the glorious era of Hong Kong cinema and in mourning for Hong Kong in ’97… I cried, thank you Namewee~”
“A tribute to Hong Kong in the 90s and 80s, the most brilliant entertainment industry of that era, that was the best Hong Kong.”
“Wong Cho-sang sings so well, Cantonese songs sound the best when sung in authentic Hong Kong-style Cantonese.”
“As a mainland Chinese living in China, if someone asks me who my favorite actor is, I will definitely say Wong Cho-sang. Some people may be supporting roles in movies, but shine brightly in life. In the river of history, the roles of lead and supporting actors are not defined by the time they live in, but by the praise of future generations.”