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Gosh, my Instagram stories and feed are filled with that highly catchy song, originally by Rose of Blackpink, the K-Pop sensation, and Bruno Mars, the American-Filipino singer-songwriter, who has had many hits including his duet with Lady Gaga “Die With A Smile”, released earlier in 2024. Obviously, being a typical Malaysian who has somewhat lost track of K-Pop ever since Big Bang, I knew nothing when the original Apateu or APT was released. Believe it or not, I found out through a Kelantanese Hokkien content creator, affectionately known as AbeWee, otherwise the older brother of MekYun, who used this song for one of his recent posts.

In fact, Apateu or APT. is based on Rose’s favourite game, which is a drinking game. So kids, remember to be careful about this.

Also, if you do remember, the song has a dance beat and move, similar to that of a Spanish song, Asereje, which for whatever reason, also paints a certain picture about being caught in Hedonism, which is why that song was banned in some countries. Well, I think my readers should have some conscience in terms of what they wish to listen to and how much they want to listen to.

And if you do go to TikTok, well, maybe just don’t go there for now… unless you wanna see more of the game being played by those in South America.

A few days ago, a Penang Hokkien version popped up on my Facebook profile. I haven’t had a conversation in Hokkien since 2022 when I last went to Penang, so this in itself is already a delight. But other than that, this version involves two content creators, sweetly taking Malaysians down memory lane, by focusing on the iced gem biscuits, otherwise known as Atapci – apparently by Penangites. Among others, the atapci biscuits are associated with one’s childhood, especially if you grew up in Malaysia.

Basically, the two content creators (Jing Jing and Eva) invites an Ah Boy and Ah Girl to eat the biscuits, in view of Apateu, apateu, teaching viewers how to have those biscuits the correct way, to prevent kids from wasting them, also ensuring that these biscuits are not ones that should be made simply. Later, the two continue on about how sharing one pack of these candy-like biscuits won’t be enough – in place of “Don’t you want me like I want you baby, Don’t you need me like I need you now” other than how you only need RM3 to get these biscuits.

So yup, go ahead and have a listen of the Penang Hokkien version. But don’t blame me if you end up overeating atapci!
 

Did you know?

The bottom part of the atapci biscuits was conceptualised by Huntley and Palmer of Reading, Britain in the 1850s. Then, in 1910, the icing on top was added.

“Apt” or “Apateu” refers to apartment.

Notes

Jing Jing is a content creator, passionate about keeping Penang Hokkien very much alive. While her other videos are commentaries on social issues, she has recently included cover versions of popular songs that are also cute, but with the Penang Hokkien twist. Jing Jing also does teach some Hokkien phrases used on the island.
 

Eva Yin is a music composer, video creator and actress and collaborates with Jing Jing.

The author grew up surrounded by a lot of Melaka Hokkien (as well as trinkets and symbols of the Peranakan way of life), thanks to the author’s late Hokkien maternal grandmother and mother. Then again, she is able to make sense of conversational Penang Hokkien although there are notable differences that would make her stop short. One example, according to a Penang Hokkien acquaintance, is the word for stone… which is much to the author’s surprise is plain “ba-tu”(like what you’d find in Malay) but with the Hokkien tones. Whereas in Melaka Hokkien it’s chioh thau.