Wang Leehom explains that the burning piano in his music video was a prop rather than real antique

TAIWAN: The management of Mandopop musician Wang Leehom has responded to recent rumours regarding the piano that appears in the music video for his latest single, according to The Straits Times. On April 10, the 48-year-old unveiled a 30-second teaser prior to the release at midnight on April 11 of the official music video for I’m Alive, where Wang is seen playing a piano that goes up in flames.

On April 11, Wang wrote in English and Chinese, asking if anyone could tell that he re-sang the first line.

He continued by saying that it is somewhat different from the studio single and that he wanted it to be just right for the time being. Wang then asked fans to let him know what they thought and whether it was worth it to burn that piano. The Taiwanese-American released another clip on Instagram on April 11, where he posted photos of the burnt piano and his face, which had signs of burns.

The singer shared that his piano had been destroyed and that he was sad, not because of his face but because his piano had been transformed into “glue”. It was a real piano, even though it was damaged.

Based on Wang’s social media post, the burning piano is a metaphor for the trials of fire that strengthen faith. The singer then added that the scar on his face was purely cosmetic. Many online users speculated that the piano was a rare antique worth millions of yuan upon seeing the videos.

Agency denied allegations

On April 12, Wang’s agency denied the allegations on Chinese social media platform, Weibo.

Wang’s agency explained that the piano was not an antique collector’s item but a prop, mass-produced, modern model. It only costs 2,200 yuan (S$400).

A receipt for the prop piano was also supplied by the agency, proving that the item was ready for shipment the following day after the order was placed on Dec 23, 2024. A photo from before and another photo from after the music shoot was shown.

Strictly adhered to safety regulations

The agency said that special effects could not produce the continuous shot from the first flame to the complete destruction of the piano. The entire shooting process strictly adhered to safety regulations. Professional firefighting teams, first responders and isolation facilities were on-site to ensure no injuries and secondary disaster risks.

Wang Leehom, sometimes credited as Leehom Wang, is a Chinese-American singer-songwriter, actor, producer, and film director born on May 17, 1976, in Rochester, New York, USA. The singer-songwriter  is a prominent figure in the Mandopop scene, often referred to as the “King of Chinese Pop.”