On 1st April, Malaysian-born singer Namewee (黃明志) shocked fans with a sudden death announcement – but many quickly realised it wasn’t real and that the singer was still very much alive. However, Namewee was adamant that he wasn’t pulling an April Fool’s prank, saying that his “passing” was part of his “life’s plan”.
In a post shared on 2nd April, the public figure, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, mentioned that he had filmed his “funeral” held at the Nirvana Centre funeral home in Kuala Lumpur. After a couple of days of waiting, the video, which also doubles as a music video for his song “When I’m Gone (當我離開以後)”, was released on 4th April. As the title suggests, the song is written from Namewee’s perspective and shares a message for his fans and loved ones for when he is no longer alive.
The video mimics the happenings of an actual funeral, including people crying and paying their respects to the dead. It starts with a scene at the funeral home, where guests inside the hall are mourning Namewee’s death. Namewee then appears in black and white as if to show that he is no longer with us. In the next scene, the 41-year-old was lying in his coffin as guests overlooked his body.
Guests began saying their eulogies as Namewee performed with a band in the background. A video played during the funeral showed glimpses of the singer’s life and career, including his work and other music videos. Namewee’s coffin is then brought out of the hall and into a hearse by a group of men. The video ends with the singer ascending to heaven, where a group of angels greet him. Before the credits roll, a quote appeared on screen, writing, “Do not fear death but rather the unlived life”.
Many fans have reacted positively to the song and video. Some even said they plan to play the song at their funeral because of the meaningful lyrics. What are your thoughts on the music video?
Check out the video for “When I’m Gone” below:
Source: YouTube
