An anti-police song has been criticized by Wen Wei Po, a pro-Beijing newspaper, after it went viral on the Internet and became popular among the angry crowds on the streets in Hong Kong.
Fat Mama Has Something To Say, with the background music of Chandelier, originally performed by Australian singer Sia Kate Isobelle Furler, had more than one million views on YouTube as of Thursday after being posted on September 2. The song is treated as a derivative work, or secondary creation, that does not violate Hong Kong’s copyright law.
The idea of the song was inspired by a speech made by Portuguese-Chinese singer-actress Maria Cordero, who has the nickname “Fat Mama,” at an event supporting the Hong Kong police on July 20.
Cordero told thousands of police supporters at Tamar Park in Admiralty that young people had been misled by irresponsible pro-democratic lawmakers to take to the streets, to disrupt public order and vandalize facilities.
She praised the police for their efforts to protect the city and its people. She also called for young people to go home and for the pro-establishment camp to vote the irresponsible lawmakers out of the Legislative Council.
But Cordero’s speech got a dramatic rejig by some netizens and was turned into an anti-police song with chorus lyrics like “Ah…corrupt cops! You don’t do your duty! You don’t even study!” – when the original lyrics are “I’m gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier.”
Using a humorous tone, the song criticizes police for doing nothing to protect Hong Kong people when more than 100 white-shirt gangsters attacked people in Yuen Long subway station on July 21 and riot police beat up passengers on a train in Prince Edward station on August 31.
It also accuses the police of beating up journalists, lawmakers and young girls, while violating Hong Kong’s law and order.
The song has become well known. It was sung by demonstrators across districts in Hong Kong when riot police appeared to use force selectively.
On September 14, the police were seen arresting a dozen young protesters and residents then releasing several pro-Beijing attackers after the two groups brawled in Amoy Garden in Kowloon Bay. The following day, riot police were also accused of protecting and releasing some Fujianese who attacked protesters and journalists in Fortress Hill and North Point.
“The government condemns all forms of violence,” Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on September 17. “Police arrests and subsequent prosecution by the Department of Justice [are done] in an impartial manner and not politically driven.”
‘Fat Mama Has Something To Say’ has become the second most popular song after ‘Glory To Hong Kong’, which was first released on the Internet on August 31 and has gained 2.1 million views on YouTube so far.
Another version of the ‘Glory To Hong Kong’ performed by an orchestra was released on September 11 and has had 1.6 million views so far.
Written by Sia and American songwriter Jesse Samuel Shatkin, Chandelier was released in March 2014. The song’s MTV, featuring dancer Maddie Ziegler, has been viewed on YouTube more than 2.1 billion times. The song was also used in a Christian Dior advertisement starring Hollywood actress Natalie Portman.
On September 17, Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB), fully-owned by Sun Hung Kai Properties, posted a picture of its mascot “Bus Boy” on social media singing the altered Chandelier’s chorus lyrics: “Ar…ride the bus. How come it’s so comfortable? You can enjoy the views!”
The post said it was inspired by a viral song.
But on Thursday, a Wen Wei Po article criticized the bus company for disrespecting the police with its new version of ‘Fat Mama Has Something To Say’, saying it spread hatred against the police with irresponsible and groundless accusations.
In response, a KMB spokesperson said the ad only aimed to promote bus services.