Malaysian Youtuber composes song about mamak food
The mamak is more than just an eatery to us – it’s a place where we hang out with our kakis until late night, where we catch World Cup matches with enthusiastic screams and cheers, and where maggi goreng tastes the best.
Malaysian Youtuber Jiven Sekar of The Salad Show is clearly a big fan of mamak too – he decided to pay tribute to our all-time favourite late-night food joints by co-creating a rap song and filming a music video that will surely resonate with Malaysians nationwide.
Mamak Rap has beats, dancing, and lyrics all about mamak
The Mamak Rap first started out as a TikTok video on Jiven’s channel just for fun back in April. But when he realised that the catchy beat started trending with lots of encouraging comments from netizens suggesting that he create a full song out of it, Jiven decided to pull out all the stops and produce a full-scale music video to boot.
He did so together with producer, arranger, and vocalist Darren Ashley, fellow lyricist Vix Chandra, and a large and dedicated crew, choreography, dance, and talent team.
Video credit: TheSaladShow
The Mamak Rap music video is not your average Youtube video. It has a well-known cast comprising of familiar faces such as Malaysian Youtubers, TV hosts, and influencers.
Jiven shared with The Smart Local Malaysia that his team took 4 years to conceptualise the entire thing. The MV has been a work in progress for 2 years while the music, lyrics, and tune, created by Jiven, Darren Ashley, and Vix Chandra, took a year to come together.
The result: a 4-minute MV that looks professionally shot, choreographed, and edited, complete with a rap number that’s humourous, catchy, and truly Malaysian.
Image credit: TheSaladShow
The video starts off with 2 friends, played by Jinnyboy and Ryan Matjeraie, coming together to catch up at a mamak. They then signal to the anneh, played by Jiven himself, and asked what’s on the menu. This prompted the anneh to launch into a rap describing in acute detail all the food and drinks that his mamak has.
From breakfast, tea time, to supper, spicy or non-spicy, all kinds of roti, curry, and goreng, the Mamak Rap’s extensive lyrics will make every single one of our neighbourhood mamaks proud.
Image credit: TheSaladShow
The MV looks like a euphony of synchronised dancing, stunts, beats, animated swirls, and neon lights all seamlessly put together, but what viewers see is only a fraction of what the team had to go through.
Jiven recounted that filming was tough as they could only shoot during weekends after closing hours, sometimes going up till 5AM before wrapping up. The schedule was so tight that they were shooting all the way up to the night before the release.
Image credit: TheSaladShow
Netizens highly impressed with Mamak Rap MV
Also dubbed as #TheMalaysianSong, the Mamak Rap MV premiered on 15th September and has garnered more than 37,000 views and over 4,300 likes on YouTube at the time of writing.
The comments were filled with entertained netizens praising the quality of the song and MV. Sarvendren Chettiar was among those who acknowledged the team’s efforts and shared that he’d watched the video multiple times.
Image credit: Sarvendren Chettiar
Apart from its creative impression, the Mamak Rap has also ignited Malaysian pride among fellow Malaysians who resonate with the song, including Chimardhineesha Naidu who said she could feel the Malaysian vibes through the video.
Image credit: Chimardhineesha Naidu
Viewer Vishfro joked that the Kayu Nasi Kandar mamak where part of the MV was shot – located at Taipan Business Centre, Subang Jaya – now looks like a club. We think so too, what with all the hip-hop dances and coloured lights in the video.
Image credit: Vishfro
Mamak song tribute unites Malaysians
There are some things that can’t be found elsewhere and the Malaysian mamak culture is one of those. From beautiful natural wonders to scrumptious food, our country is known for many good things, but ask every Malaysian what they miss the most when they go abroad and you’ll most likely get a unanimous answer – mamak.
Sometimes you don’t need impressive buildings and landmarks to feel proud of our country- something as humble as a mamak can already be endearing to us.
For more works of art celebrating Malaysia, check these out:
- 3 KFC outlets in KL & PJ now have insta-worthy street art murals celebrating Malaysian culture
- Malaysian photographer creates impressive Merdeka-themed photo using lights
- Malaysians draw “Truly Malaysian” things after local artist’s prompt online
- Legendary roti uncle honoured with Penang mural
Cover image adapted from: @saladshow
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