Pop duo team up with inspired song of hope

Pop singers Eason Chan and Jolin Tsai teamed up for the first time to release an English version of their original anti-pandemic song, Fight As One, showing their support for those fighting the coronavirus.

The song was released on April 3 by Yunnan Media Group. It has been viewed more than 7 million times on Yunnan Media Group's account on Sina Weibo. The song gained immediate popularity with fans applauding its theme and the collaboration of the two pop stars.

"It's a fight we cannot lose. It's a fight for you and me. A fight for everyone, no matter where you are from," some of the lyrics go.

The two singers also released the song on their social media platforms. "Love will keep us together," wrote Hong Kong pop star, Chan, on his Sina Weibo platform, which has more than 20 million followers.

"As COVID-19 has become a global concern, we want to do something for the people in the world who are struggling with the viral outbreak. The song shows our courage and determination to fight together," says Tan Ke, of Yunnan Media Group, who directed the music video of the song.

Scenes, such as empty streets, people at home and healthcare workers on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic, are featured in the music video. The lyrics were written by Andrew Chu, Eric Kwok and Jerald Chan, and translated by Li Qian.

The composer of the song, Song Bingyang, flew from his home in Chengdu, Sichuan province, to his studio in Beijing to write the song. It took him about 10 minutes to complete. According to Song, he usually writes at least 10 different versions of a song and picks one as his favorite, but for Fight As One, he only wrote one version.

"The coronavirus pandemic has had an impact on everyone, and connects people all around the world. We share similar emotions, such as fear and anxiety. However, hope is an important message we want to offer people with the song," says the 30-year-old, who started to learn to play the violin when he was 3 and the piano at 5. He studied at Berklee College of Music from 2012 to 2014 and launched his career after returning to China in 2014.

According to Tan, on March 24, Yunnan Media Group released a Chinese original anti-epidemic song, titled Shan He Wu Yang Zai Wo Xiong (My Homeland is Safe and Sound in My Heart), which was performed by Chinese actress Tong Liya and singer-songwriter Cai Xukun. The track, also composed by Song, was released the day before the cities of Hubei province－except Wuhan－lifted a two-month lockdown.

"The two songs were made with the creative team members working from home. When we read the feedback and messages sent by the listeners, we are glad that the songs united us," says Tan.