Taiwan’s top drag queens come together for a one-of-a-kind lockdown lip-sync battle amidst the pandemic

In an earnest bid to keep alive the drag spirit of Taiwan as it continues to battle its coronavirus outbreak, GagaOOLala has brought together eight of Taiwan's most iconic drag queens for a virtual lip-sync showdown video of "Don't Rub Salt on the Wound", the official theme song of its latest original drag short film, Best Sisters Forever. 

2020. In the year that the world witnessed one of humanity’s worst pandemics that has since taken more than 190 million lives worldwide and sent much of the global population into self-confinement and never-ending lockdowns, Taiwan came forth as one of the world’s rarest exceptions being one of the few places where life went by completely normal throughout 2020. In fact, Taiwan was the only country in the world to host the largest in-person gay parade in 2020 with an estimated 130,000 visitors in attendance, a year into the historic legalization of same-sex marriage in the nation. 

However, in the wake of its first major local outbreaks in May 2021, Taiwan, like much of the world throughout 2020, ultimately had to witness the impact of the coronavirus first-handedly with the country imposing a semi-lockdown in effect on 15 May 2021. With gatherings limited to five people indoors and 10 outdoors, the nation’s thriving LGBTQ+ nightlife culture came to a complete halt thereby directly impacting the rise and prominence of its drag culture. Habitual to living their lives and making a living under the spotlight, Taiwan’s drag queens soon found themselves struggling with their livelihoods and have had to eventually resort to the newly emerging ‘online’ means of performance much like the rest of the drag queens across the globe in the course of the pandemic.

To showcase the talent of the local drag queens, GagaOOLala has put together a five-minute compilation video featuring the eight divas performing “Don’t Rub Salt on the Wound”, the 1999 mega-hit by A-Mei, the Taiwanese indigenous singing legend. An emotional track that reflects over the sorrow and regrets of the past with a parting message of gleaming hope and faith, the song continues to hold a very special place in the hearts of Taiwanese people across all generations, and it reflects the current mood in the island.

The video comprises an original lineup of eight leading drag queens who have previously competed in Make A Diva, a Taiwanese drag reality competition series, or had years-long experience in acting, dancing, singing, and performing in the drag scene of Taiwan. They include “Spicy Matsu”, who borrows her drag avatar from the Chinese tutelary deity of the sea, Matzu; “Rose Mary” the winner of Taiwan’s first drag queen contest, Miss First Nation Taiwan; the aboriginal drag performers “Draggy Boo Boo”, best known for her portrayal of drag roles in the theaters and “Feilibing Queen”, renowned particularly for her singing abilities. The local drag house of “Mesula” is represented by “Kimmy Mesula”, a contestant in the second season of Make A Diva who set a mark for herself with unique vogue dancing abilities, “Marian Mesula”, the Taiwanese comedian who recently came out as a transgender, and the vocal drag advocate “Yolanda Mesula”. Finally, there is "Amily Givenchy", who is originally from South Africa but spent most of her drag years as a professional drag dancer in Taiwan.

Spicy Matsu

Rose Mary

Draggy Boo Boo

Feilibing Queen

Kimmy Mesula

Marian Mesula

Yolanda Mesula

Amily Givenchy

"Don't Rub Salt on the Wound" is the theme song for Best Sisters Forever by director Patrick Liu, the man behind Taiwan’s most successful LGBT film of all time, Your Name Engraved Herein. The short film offers an authentic glimpse into the drag spirit of the island nation and the different issues of identity, empowerment, relationships, and sisterhood within the vibrant community. Elsewhere, the movie also features original performances by some of Taiwan’s most famous drag queens in the Red House of Ximending district, Taipei’s most popular LGBT entertainment neighborhood.

Best Sisters Forever is director Patrick Liu’s latest film after Your Name Engraved Herein, the two-time Golden Horse Awards (Best Cinematography and Best Original Film Song) winning title and the only LGBT movie to have ever surpassed the NT$ 100 million mark (approximately US$ 33 million) at the Taiwanese box office. The short film is Liu’s attempt to explore ‘drag’ and the theme of ‘sistership’ in the drag community to which Liu comments, “What has always fascinated me is this special sense of bond or sisterhood that exists among members of the gay community but is rarely talked about or discussed in the mainstream. So, this is where I kind of wanted to play with this idea of ‘sisterhood’ and create a story around it specifically in the context of drag.”

Best Sisters Forever, GagaOOLala Originals.

The plot behind Best Sisters Forever centers on the graceful Xuerong (played by the prestigious singer-songwriter Heng-Chi Kuo) and the fun and frivolous Yihong (played by the Golden Bell Awards winning aboriginal actor Ta SU), two gay best friends ‘sisters’, who get into a heated argument over questions concerning promiscuity and eventually decide to go their separate ways. The terrible misunderstanding leaves the once inseparable ‘sisters’ estranged for several years. However, ten years later, a tragic turn of events suddenly reunites the two. Knowing their days together are numbered, the pair, then, set out on an adventure hoping to gain lost opportunities and make fond memories. Along the way, they gradually make important discoveries about life, love, friendship, and family, with a long-lost dream ultimately coming true for the life-long duo.

Best Sisters Forever is now available for streaming on GagaOOLala globally.

Best Sisters Forever: https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/2168/best-sisters-forever-2021