Chinese Food

Album: Single Release Only (2013)
Charted: 29
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This ditty about loving Chinese food was penned by songwriter/rapper Patrice Wilson, the head of Ark Music Factory and the guy behind Rebecca Black's viral hit, "Friday." He told MTV News: "I wrote [the song] last July the night before my birthday when I was sitting down with some China Express takeaway."

    "I just thought, 'Wait a second, I love Chinese food!," Wilson added. "I can make that a song because there are no Chinese food songs out there!'"
  • Wilson penned the song in half an hour. "When you sing about stuff you love, it's not hard," he told MTV News. ("Friday" only took him a quarter an hour to write.)
  • The tribute to fried rice, egg noodles and "Chow Mo-Mo-Mo-Mo Mein" is sung by 13-year-old Alison Gold, who is a member of Tweenchronic, a Hip-Hop duo that released a song and video for Ark Music called "Skip Rope." Wilson chose Alison after a nearly three-month search, after remembering her "bubbly" personality from their previous collaboration. "She sang the demo and it sounded great and I knew immediately that I had the perfect person for 'Chinese Food,'" he told MTV News, noting that it didn't hurt that the teenage singer also loves Asian cuisine.
  • The song describes at the beginning of the song Alison's average day of bowling, clubbing, hugging and being hungry. We're not sure how the barely-turned teenager gets in clubs but we assume now the video is a viral hit, they'll be taking a closer look at her fake ID!
  • We hear Patrice Wilson spitting a verse about liking Chinese food too. The rapper tells us that he also wants some broccoli whilst he plays Monopoly presumably because the two words rhyme.
  • Wilson also appears in the video. He plays the middle aged guy in the panda bear suit, who rather disturbingly befriends Alison, gatecrashes a slumber party and takes part in a pillow fight with her friends. He admitted to MTV News regretting his choice of attire as it was a 90-degree day in Burbank on the day of filming.
  • The sleepover scene in the video was shot in Alison's actual bedroom. "When Patrice flies away in the in the little rainbow he's actually flying through the roof of my house," she revealed to MTV News of the clip's surprise ending.

Comments: 1

  • Brett from Lakewood OhioWhat is the name of the girl that works at the Chinese restaurant in the video “ I love Chinese food”
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jonathan Cain of Journey

Jonathan Cain of JourneySongwriter Interviews

Cain talks about the divine inspirations for "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Faithfully."

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Howard Jones

Howard JonesSongwriter Interviews

Howard explains his positive songwriting method and how uplifting songs can carry a deeper message.

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A Timeline

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A TimelineSong Writing

Untangling the events that led to the "Stairway To Heaven" lawsuit.