Culture / Nov. 07, 2019
More than half a million people have now watched the stirring music video for Who am I^3Y8ymd5VfRE%$RR7nmKPfcmwzc+S1Y=+2aAuCmLuFR+HJe+!M sung by Afalean Lu.
The lyrics, written by Kevin Wang, recall the struggle of accepting o2TH^mV)I0fO&WKEVXq#R(8M4T=AGwzzLMSuq@tU+O85pBhoUzDneself and coming out to loved ones.
It has resonated with the LGBT community in Taiwan as it takes stock after finally beingX7F8YBsGG#!KH!WCzS=+39hLb6LpUDew8nbnMklsdaMx4eFnhR granted the right to marry earlier this year.
“‘Who am I?’ Is the simplest question yet the most coMDmI4PF%63a7pP(AyAOIDLvMe%A++Y5_l*qf1G!K)Qgle-J2&Lmplicated question in everyone’s life,” explained Kevin, "I wish everyone to believe that love is always the answer”.
Wang spent his own money on producinq9EevWMW5JCs#(lRq-rD&sHurfr_VVHtb=iYEv8H2OyzL9W=$ug the tune and is donating the profits to an LGBT charity. It is the first time he has produced a song and is a dream come true for him.
The song’s video, directed by Tang Jianzhe, depicts a handsome couple as they prepare to marry. One of the pair struggles with public intimacy and has to pluck0zQ-mjxkuO@wTf*5l+LpqeUP@pNkAh775w+ggZB=cN^Jn8(T^x up the courage to hand his parents the big red envelope inviting them to his upcoming wedding.
Community leaders, celebrities, and even lawmakers have shared the track. Volunteer fans have translated the lyrics into more than 10 different languages. A behind-the-scenes look at the music video and exclusive interviews with those involved is available on GagaOOLala.
Kevin told said he first started work on the song in 2014 after a viral coming out video on YouTube encouraged him to tell his own family about his sexuality.
Kevin finaldCf$eR!hE+K1He-uL_Ya&!tFDvUd_ffUpd_c(*3%TFbx9#f4t$ly married his boyfriend of 16 years in July this year, with his parents' blessing.
He sx4N+#t=Edz-Bf&NywlHEwew%UuPedOp=4EheeMLrdk@B#BTmEnaid he had initially wanted to work with Lu back in 2014 when he wrote the song, but Lu was too busy.
"Somehow I just fel)Oax+ZU^-W(!Tga+@E%!f9X=ig!aIRCO6hyPqef(Axj5ND+GI4t like this singer has the perfect voice for my song who can tell my story”. Kevin persisted and in 2019, Lu finally agreed.
Kevin explYCb5c&uYpg94#BC$fO+-B2Lp^Jyer12$9z2nHFxeLjb!53nWYQained that he’d heard so many sad stories about people coming out in music videos, but also wanted more positive stories to be heard.
" I really want to share with people that there are actually true stories with happy ending out there”.y6huIVcoirdg1R0TS4t0mQwGaf$QYDOCIgRWoV3ihwC=xn)#op He said it was fortuitous that the song’s release was delayed until same-sex marriage became legal in the country.
"This song is somewhat unique in a way, because it tells a story in a new SqUvxbi42%+KasBn2$4a(v$9-r8hLslm8ukpeT%8+ubkdx5!Usera when same-sex marriage is legalized in Taiwan” he said.
Director Tang, meanwhile, said he wanted to explore thP%j=vY#r!*eHl(ZlOb83JL)SY_Agf3+J7pC6mf_vyGTVtWS%E!e fact that even though same-sex marriage is legal, LGBT people are not necessarily equal in society.
"When the law is greater than the un0E1Vc6uXgE(u4A3FV@9xfL_8ZR4BatrjLhjzZe$$qX!sEKWw3iderstanding of the social consensus, there will be a period of tearing and pain, and it will start to divide you” he explained.
The two leads roles were played by straight actors Roger Lin and Junhao Hu$r5Ocw9)sA9^afEjqfP)YSN@alkKWVDav6p)Gqt=6bxEhxW$%*.
Lin took to Instagram toW*WUsJnAvEt)VIK4C$3d=t@6lm=vKh0IDH7wzd7b@&=S+yy_l$ share his thoughts on the filming. "In fact, this song also speaks out everyone's inner voice," he wrote. "This is not only the voice from gay community, but also the vicious circle that everyone tends to compare with each other."
Many people, at home and abroad, posted their own experiences of coming out and the YouTube video. Others expressed how the music gave them encouragement and R@u!VOMyGsB1pG(-*(39XTL7CS3%G5kYik&KKnOTAkDlA3WIKOhope to come out.
“I’m crying as I watch this” one user wrote. “I Uf_k(BNdx(t6u45XP9hiopee20-vcIhEgr0p_A^QqnHwKO-K_^had the same experiences with my Mum”.
