Mandopop song mocking Chinese nationalists as ‘Fragile’ goes No. 1 on Hong Kong and Taiwan YouTube

A satirical song meant to mock Chinese nationalists recently went viral and is now banned in China.

“I’m so sorry”: On Oct. 15, Malaysian rapper Namewee released “Fragile,” a Mandopop song created with Taiwan-based Australian singer Kimberley Chen and uploaded on YouTube.

The song’s music video — which has received over 12 million views in a span of a week — is supposed to mock China’s authoritarian government, Taiwan News reported.
The song’s title “Fragile,” which is translated to “glass heart” (玻璃心) on YouTube, refers to Chinese netizens who become keyboard warriors whenever someone criticizes the Chinese Communist Party on social media.
The music video heavily features the color pink, which supposedly refers to online patriotic Chinese nationalists, also known as “little pinks.”
According to Taiwan News, the satirical song made references to the “repression of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China’s claims to Taiwan, bat soup representing COVID, the Great Firewall, Xi Jinping embodied by Winnie the Pooh, censorship and the ban on Taiwan-grown fruits.”
The lyrics also seemingly refer to China’s relationship with Taiwan and Beijing’s “sweeping claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea,” reported CNA English News.

“Pardon me for offending”: Award-winning hip-hop artist Namewee said he was inspired by his online interactions to create “Fragile.”

He told CNA that it was “fascinating how some would obsess over small details and then amplify them endlessly.”
Many netizens know of Namewee because he is not afraid to address political and social issues in his songs.
“You’re a bad listener, but retaliate on each one there is. I wonder how I have offended you? You assume the world is your enemy,” Namewee sings.
Chen also goes on to sing, “You claim that I belong to you. Don’t deny and come home. Can’t lose anything, let you win everything. It’s unreasonable. You urge me to explain to the world, our inseparable relationship, and take care of your heart of glass.”

“Heart of glass”: While “Fragile” was banned days after its release in China, its music video became an overnight hit in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, among others.

According to Taipei Times, the song was banned on Chinese microblogging site Sina Weibo. All of the artists’ other songs were also removed from Chinese music streaming services.
“Fragile” became No. 1 on YouTube in Hong Kong and Taiwan days after it was first banned in China. The song also jumped to No. 3 on the video-sharing and social media platform in Malaysia on Oct. 21, according to Kworb via Taipei Times.
Fans or not, Namewee thanked everyone who listened to his song. He said, “Whatever reason brought you to the song,” he said, “I’m okay with it. You are the person I’m looking for, whether you feel happy or unhappy after listening to the song.”

Featured Image via Namewee

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