As concern grows over this year’s deadly flu season — with schools shut early for Chinese New Year to prevent the virus spreading — we thought you might need a shot of cuteness, so here’s a particularly potent dose.
It’s a pop-song by primary school from the Hong Kong Taoist Association Wun Tsuen Ng Lai Wo Memorial School in Tai Po about how much they just loving going to school. Oh, shucks.
The video, uploaded on Monday, is set to the music of Cantopop singer Kelly Chen’s dance-pop song Amnesiac Weekend.
The lyrics, though, are less about having fun at a club and more about concentrating on school work, dreams, aspirations, spreading wings and so on.
“We go to school to learn about wisdom that will let me spread my wings and live my youth,” they sing, with the yet-to-be crushed optimism of young children.
“I like going to school, we’re all happy going to school,” goes the chorus.
The video was made with the help of students, teachers and parents to “positive and happy learning,” according to the caption.
The original clip, posted on the school’s YouTube account, has been watched more than 12,000 times, while re-posts on Facebook have garnered more than 600,000 views.
Some netizens were touched by the clip.
“I like going to work, we’re all happy going to work,” commented one person, possibly after connecting with their inner child and forgetting the heavy burden of responsibility that weighs heavily on many in the labor force.
Others, though, weren’t on board, saying the whole thing looked kind of brainwash-y.
“When I started watching I thought it was a school in North Korea,” said another netizen, whose confusion about the clip’s origin was likely resolved when the children failed to call for the destruction of US imperialists.
Another took aim and fired off a shot at Hong Kong’s entire education system, notorious for its cram culture and high pressure, suggesting singing happy songs just won’t cut it in terms of serious reform.
“If Hong Kong can reduce drills and rote learning, then everything will be fine,” they said.
The video is far from the first music video by students to take the internet by storm.
In October, a group of students from the St Francis of Assisi’s College in Fanling who ran for student council (and won) released a campaign music video about Wi-Fi. It has since racked up more than 1 million views.
And for those of you who want to hear the original Kelly Chen hit — for those of you who want the hard copy, it’s track two of her album Paisley Galaxy — here it is in all its early noughties techno and dance glory.
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