Phua Chu Kang & Rosie’s New COVID-19 Vaccine Rap Video Gains International Fans

“Some say leh, some say lah.”

Our beloved PCK is back with another rap, but this time it’s not for SARS.

S’pore Govt Enlists PCK & Rosie to Rap About Getting Vaccinated

The Singapore Government has come up with yet another advertisement featuring our dearest Uncle Phua, encouraging more Singaporeans to get vaccinated.

Though we often cry about how bad our media industry is, Gurmit Singh and Irene Ang still manage to warm the cockles of our hearts by playing their roles as Phua Chu Kang and his wife Rosie respectively.

After all, who can forget these two iconic Singaporean characters.

The two-minute long rap impressively manages to cover a bunch of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) including whether the vaccines are safe, who can take the vaccines, and why there is a need for higher vaccine uptake with the (then) low number of community cases.

Dammit Rosie, you kind of jinxed it.

The video, which was uploaded onto the government’s official Twitter account (@govsingapore) on 2 May, has since garnered over 600,000 views and nearly 2,000 likes. If the opening scene looks familiar, that’s because it follows after the last scene of the previous COVID-19 song “Singapore Be Steady!”

What a clever idea.

Though it just doesn’t hit the same as “SARS is the virus that I just want to minus”, it does a pretty damn good job of being a bop.

Watch the rap in its entire glory here:

Don't play play! Singapore's favourite contractor is back to rally Singaporeans to get their COVID-19 vaccines!
Visit https://t.co/FfrPW5sKb3 for more info. #IGotMyShotSG pic.twitter.com/fOXGHDJnko

— Singapore Government (@govsingapore) May 2, 2021

A Hit With International Viewers; Tickled By “Steady Pom Pi Pi”

Though some Singaporeans found the advertisement somewhat cringey, many were delighted by PCK’s catchy rap which made the video truly unique to Singapore.

And somehow, an advertisement made to urge more Singaporeans to get vaccinated gained the attention of Twitter users from all over the world. Netizens from several countries have taken to Twitter to gush about this banger.

Well, this is certainly a banger 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/gOpIMuNZx2

— Brian Ashcraft (@Brian_Ashcraft) May 3, 2021

Singapore wins this round, sorry, we stan https://t.co/tlUtYRsxd3

— Michelle Yesudas (@MichelleYesudas) May 4, 2021

Many even urged the health ministry of their respective countries to come up with a similar idea to increase the uptake of vaccines in the pandemic, going so far as to tag their officials!

Hey @OttawaHealth and @GovCanHealth – why don’t we have an awesome campaign like this? I feel like you could probably convince @VancityReynolds … 🤣 https://t.co/TX2AQZNu6C

— Marg Sheridan (@MargSheridan) May 2, 2021

Brilliant. Not sure what the @GOVUK equivalent is going to be but I look forwards to it https://t.co/mBecl5PNA4

— Marcus Shepheard (@MShepheard) May 3, 2021

One user even said that the song is a massive hit with their toddler. Maybe this will be a SAR-vivor 2.0?

Singapore's vaccination awareness campaign video👇 is a massive hit with my toddler. Catchy stuff. 🎶 https://t.co/vTs8OzP005

— Jessica Prince (@jesshwprince) May 2, 2021

While less popular amongst the younger generation, “steady pom pi pi” is still a quintessential Singlish phrase—the phrase which captured the attention of many international viewers!

Just enter the phrase into the search bar and you’ll see many tweets that were delighted with the Singlish phrase, which means to be calm and cool in difficult situations.

Maybe “steady pom pi pi” will trend on Twitter soon.

I’m told that “pom pi pi” was originally onomatopoeia for the sound of a cheerleader’s pom pom; with “steady” it means, as I thought, “be chill.” And “no sabo” means “don’t sabotage,” and I’ll be using that expression from now on

— Doug Saunders (@DougSaunders) May 2, 2021

Don’t play play, find out more about Singapore’s vaccination programme on the official government website, here!

Feature Image: Facebook (Gov.sg)