World Masters Games closing lyric muting draws public backlash

Taipei, May 31 (CNA) The muting of the lyric "I'm from Taiwan" and changes to the on-screen subtitles during the 2025 World Masters Games closing ceremony on Friday night have sparked widespread public outcry in Taiwan.

The action was a huge sign of disrespect to the original creator, Taipei City Councilor Chien Shu-pei (簡舒培) of the Democratic Progressive Party wrote on her Facebook page Saturday.

The post has so far received over 120 comments from netizens, with some describing the muting and alteration of the lyric as "shameful."

As mayors of the host cities of the 2025 World Masters Games, New Taipei's Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) and Taipei's Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) owe the public an explanation, Chien wrote.

"I'm from Taiwan" is a line from the song "All Eyes on Me" (世界都看見), performed by the three-member Taiwanese hip hop group Nine One One. The original lyrics, sung in both Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese Hokkien, were written by band members Chen Hao-yu (陳皓宇) and Liao Chien-chih (廖建至).

However, during Friday night's closing ceremony, the song "All Eyes on Me" was performed by a cheerleading group, with the lyrics displayed on a large screen in the background.

The line was also altered to "阮作伙來欸," meaning "We are here together" in English.

Hou did not directly address the issue on Saturday, only saying that the performances featured a great deal of Taiwanese culture, including Taiwanese songs.

However, the New Taipei City government later issued a statement saying the lyric was altered because the audience included people from various countries and the event focused on the theme of the World Masters Games.

Meanwhile, the city's Cultural Affairs Department acknowledged that the lyric was altered in the hope that everyone could sing "We are here together" to reflect the Games' spirit of "We Are the World."