Island's Sunrise

On March 18, 2014, the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement (CSSTA) controversy triggered the occupation of the Legislative Yuan by students, subsequently drawing a growing number of protesters to gather in the vicinity. During the initial day of the protest, Fire EX.'s lead singer, Sam Yang (Chinese: 楊大正), accompanied by guitarist Jheng Yu Chen (Chinese: 鄭宇辰) and bassist JC (Chinese: 陳敬元), engaged in a sit-in demonstration in front of the Legislative Yuan. In an interview, Sam Yang expressed his desire for sustained public interest in these matters, stating, "I hope everyone will maintain a high level of engagement with these issues. You don't have to take immediate action, but this is a significant matter that concerns us all."[4] The song "Good night! Formosa!," originally featured on Fire EX.'s album "A Man On The Sea," has gained recognition as one of the most popular independent music compositions in recent years. It has become a frequent inclusion at various social movement events.[5] Notably, student representative Lin Fei-fan, widely regarded as a key figure in the occupation of the Legislative Yuan, has long been an avid fan of Fire EX..[6]

As the Sunflower Student Movement gained momentum and became influenced by certain media narratives, the students contemplated the potential of using art as a unifying force for the masses. Meanwhile, Fire EX., actively participating in the movement, also pondered how they could contribute to the protests, even though they initially lacked the confidence to create songs specifically for the cause. However, Chen Ching-Yuan, a graduate of Taipei National University of the Arts, proposed the idea to Sam Yang, that they should compose a song for the student movement. The suggestion received unanimous approval from the band members, leading to Fire EX. taking charge of arranging and recording the song. In search of inspiration for the song, Sam Yang visited the Legislative Yuan on March 23rd. It was there that he encountered Lin Fei-fan, who had witnessed the televised protests and police interventions at the Executive Yuan. Lin Fei-fan shared his thoughts with Sam Yang, "What I'm thinking now is that we need a little bit of gentle power.”[7]

Following the movement, Sam Yang dedicated two days to composing the song "Island's Sunrise" and another day to recording it.[8] He revealed that he was deeply moved and even shed tears while writing the song, reflecting on the tragic violence resulting from the police's eviction of the protesters at the Executive Yuan. Recounting the experience, Sam Yang expressed, "At midnight, the crackdown began, and I had never witnessed such a situation before. I couldn't fathom the fear my friends were experiencing. As dawn broke, I envisioned the emotions running through everyone, which inspired me to write 'Island's Sunrise'." He further emphasized the lasting impact of the Executive Yuan crackdown, stating, "The shock of that day's events was so profound that we cannot easily forgive such acts."[9] Additionally, Sam Yang shared his strong desire to contribute to the student movement, expressing that creating this song held tremendous significance for him in that regard. In an interview, Fire EX. collectively conveyed the song's message, highlighting the growing responsibility each individual must shoulder at some point and the heightened awareness that brought everyone together. They also expressed their belief that despite the passage of time, this collective experience would empower everyone to become braver individuals.[10]

On March 27th, Fire EX. and the students involved in the song's creation visited the Legislative Yuan and the protest site to teach the song. They captured the voices and visuals of the participating students and the crowd using audio and video equipment. Reflecting on this experience, Fire EX. expressed admiration, stating, "The people there displayed remarkable courage, the courage to envision a better future for Taiwan."[11] The recorded materials were subsequently handed over to students from Taipei National University of the Arts' School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation, and School of Fine Arts. These students collaborated to produce two music videos: "Island's Sunrise - Documentary Version" and "Island's Sunrise - Animation Version." The "Island's Sunrise - Documentary Version," released on March 29th, primarily comprised edited footage and text from the preceding ten days. In contrast, the "Island's Sunrise - Animation Version," released on March 30th, utilized silhouettes, animations, and a combination of videos and photographs. The animation employed a simple yet impactful visual approach to convey the message, "Brave people of Taiwan, rise once and for all."[12]

Following the teach-in on March 27th, the video showcasing the chorus of students occupying the Legislative Yuan garnered an overwhelmingly positive response. It quickly amassed over 50,000 views within a single day of its upload.[13] On March 29th, at 9:00 pm, the students from Taipei National University of the Arts officially released the "Island's Sunrise - Documentary Version" video at the Legislative Yuan. The video received tremendous support from the students present in the chamber.[14] On the same day, Fire EX. announced on Facebook, granting the non-commercial use of "Island's Sunrise" and "Good night! Formosa!" to supporters of the Sunflower Student Movement.[15]

At 3:00 pm on March 30th, the students who continued to occupy the Legislative Yuan gathered and prepared for the chorus of "Island's Sunrise." As the song was in Taiwanese Hokkien, the hosts repeatedly read the lyrics to help the students remember the pronunciation.[16] In the first half of the video, the protesting students fervently chanted, "Because of you, who defy the wind and rain, we can continue to be here, resolute in our presence. Though circumstances may separate us, the song unites us." In the second half, they added, "700,000 people took to the streets, marking a new beginning for democracy in Taiwan. Together, we brave the wind and rain for the sake of democracy in Taiwan!" As a closing slogan, the video was then sent in solidarity to Ketagalan Boulevard, where the protesting crowd had gathered.[17]

During the 330 Anti-Trade Rally, in addition to the speeches delivered on stage, the crowd was also taught to sing "Island's Sunrise."[18] At 7 p.m., Fire EX., who was set to be the finale of the event, led a massive gathering of 500,000 protesters on Ketagalan Boulevard, singing "Island's Sunrise" and "Goodnight! Formosa!" Many individuals spontaneously illuminated the scene by using their mobile phones or flashlights, swaying to the rhythm.[19][20] Afterward, Sam Yang expressed his emotions during an appearance on the talk show "News Wawawa," stating, "I was moved to tears as I witnessed the current state of the environment. Everyone displayed such tenderness and determination. I never anticipated that my music would possess such immense power."[21] On the same day, during the support events held in Tokyo, Kyoto, Fukuoka, and New York, the crowd enthusiastically sang "Island's Sunrise," the iconic song representing the Sunflower Student Movement.[22][23]

Continuing their support, Fire EX. actively engaged with the ongoing activities at the Legislative Yuan whenever their schedule allowed. Sam Yang said, "When I discovered that music can bring strength and hope to people, I felt happy to be able to make music."[24] On April 1, despite the rain leading to a temporary reduction in the protesting crowd outside the Legislative Yuan, the band took the initiative to lead the students in a rousing chorus of "Island's Sunrise" at 9:00 p.m. The performance had a remarkable impact, revitalizing the protest on Qingdao East Road and Zhenjiang Street to its previous size. The event indirectly contributed to the surge in viewership of "Island's Sunrise" on YouTube, surpassing 500,000 views. Wu Qingtan, the director of the First Taiwan Army Special Forces Rights Promotion Association, anticipated that the number of views would soon surpass one million, emphasizing that the Taiwanese people were singing the song as a symbol of resistance against the unforgivable.[25] Notably, on March 31, "Island's Sunrise" and "Goodnight! Formosa!" by Fire EX. claimed the top two spots on the iTunes chart.[26]

The song "Island's Sunrise" quickly became a widely embraced anthem of the Sunflower Student Movement, resonating deeply with the passionate protesters who actively participated in the movement.[27] It held such significance that even the students occupying the Legislative Yuan made it a customary morning performance.[28] The band behind the song, Fire EX., gained immense popularity, garnering the endearing title of the "Glory of Kaohsiung" bestowed upon them by netizens.[29] On April 5, the video for "Island's Sunrise" video surpassed 1 million views on YouTube, a testament to its widespread appeal. Recognizing the global reach of their message, the project team announced their intention to release a new arrangement and lyrics for an international English version of the song to effectively communicate the demands of the protesters. They openly sought the collaboration of a chamber orchestra, talented arrangers, and female singers for this endeavor.[30] Additionally, creative netizens adapted "Island's Sunrise" into a wind version, which they intend to perform publicly on April 10 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. as the students depart from the Legislative Yuan.[31]