In Malaysia, Chinese New Year songs have evolved from mere seasonal tunes to a cultural tradition—a ritual, almost—that unites generations. You’ll hear them on the radio, in malls, and everywhere on the streets. This unique musical genre captivates audiences across all age groups, and its festive spirit generates astonishing popularity online. A simple YouTube search this season yields well over hundreds results, with leading tracks amassing millions of views. What began as celebratory cheer has also now become a reflection of the potential our local music scene holds, where production values and creative ambition consistently rise.
The phenomenon is distinctively Malaysian, with the involvement of large-scale production crews, talent scouting for musicians and choreographers, along with collaborations with local fashion designers, resulting in music videos that stand as artistic statements. Such productions proved that the local video and music-making scenes are mature and well-equipped to take on a bigger stage, especially in translating our multicultural identity. Inspired by this annual showcase, the team at GRAZIA curated our standout favourites. In no particular order, here are our Top 8 songs for the Year of the Horse.
“Horseh” by 3P
Musicality ★★★☆☆
Costume ★★★☆☆
Choreography ★★★★☆
Virality ★★★★★
Production ★★★★⯪
A short explanation for those who didn’t quite get the title: Horseh in Hokkien means “all is well”, a witty wordplay on the year of the horse. The video greets us with a familiar face, Nancy Sit, a renowned Hong Kong actress many of us grew up watching, alongside our local artists 3P. Riding that nostalgia wave, the production earns a solid 4.5 out of 5 from our team. Great effort is evident in the wardrobe, musicality, and choreography. Despite visuals that might make your toes curl, this song is a true earworm, with a catchy chorus that will follow you. If you catch us repeating the jingles at random hours and places, no, you didn’t.
“That’s Ma Way” by Jestinna, Christinna, and Perry Kuan
Musicality ★★★☆☆
Costume ★★★☆☆
Choreography ★★★★☆
Virality ★★★★☆
Production ★★★★★
Yet another wordplay: horse in Mandarin is “ma”, which sounds very much like pronouncing “my”. The Kuan siblings have always been ones to watch when it comes to Chinese New Year releases, so it came as no surprise when our team agreed that this music video hits a home run. The choreography is one to write home about, and overall, it’s a memorable song that will be stuck in your heads for days in the best possible way.
“The Most Heartwarming Times” by 988
Musicality ★★★☆☆
Costume ★★★★★
Choreography ☆☆☆☆☆
Virality ★☆☆☆☆
Production ★★★★★
This track was a dark horse that had our eyes glued to the screen. Shot in a nostalgia-filled restaurant any KL dweller will instantly recognise, the MV, unlike many others, has no choreography but flaunts impeccable videography. Like a short musical film, the song gradually unravels alongside a heartwarming storyline and well-written lyrics. The cast wore costumes that fit the mood, and every bit of the creation takes us down memory lane. While the team agreed that the song lacks virality, it was, as one of the judges concludes, “a feel-good song”.
“All right! Kudada” by Astro Malaysia
Musicality ★★★☆☆
Costume ★★⯪☆☆
Choreography ★★★☆☆
Virality ★★☆☆☆
Production ★★★★☆
When we talk about large-scale production, this track is what we mean. It “stood out with the sheer amount of participants,” one of our judges noted. With an incredible 4.4 million YouTube views at the time of writing, this is a joyous song where the more truly is the merrier. While the choreography is simpler than its peers, it’s something everyone, including those with two left feet, can easily join.
“Money Mari Mari” by Jestinna, Christinna, and Perry Kuan
Musicality ★★★★☆
Costume ★★★★★
Choreography ★★★★☆
Virality ★★★★☆
Production ★★★★★
Another hit from the sibling trio, this is what the judges agreed serves as “a song for manifestation”. With its catchy tune, it’s easily one of the most viral. The scenes shot in Jaya Grocer stick with its vibrant visuals and colours—thumbs up for the production crew. The effort on the costume didn’t go unnoticed, especially with Christinna, a trendsetter herself, helming the styling. (Yes, we did not skip the end credits.)
“Cheers to Good Luck!” by Changyong, Shusen, Jeryl Lee, Blink, Jack Gohr, Zhen Ning, and Victoria
Musicality ★★★★☆
Costume ★★★★★
Choreography ★★★☆☆
Virality ★★★★☆
Production ★★★★★
That long list of names signifies another great production, and it didn’t disappoint. Scenes were shot professionally—almost like a Stephen Chow movie, especially with those mahjong scenes—and the cinematography hit the nail on the head. “Makes me want to buy that Hennessy!” as one of our judges exclaimed. With Jeryl Lee belting out the bridge, the track’s musicality takes home a solid 4 out of 5.
“Gongxi Kemeriahan” by Priscilla Abby and Aisha Retno
Musicality ★★★⯪☆
Costume ★★★★☆
Choreography ★☆☆☆☆
Virality ★★☆☆☆
Production ★★★☆☆
You read that right—this song features two singers and crews of different practices, backgrounds and mother tongues in one frame. It’s an exemplary example of how this genre unites the nation. The videography and camera work are one for the books, with costumes that fit very well against backgrounds adorned with neon lights that look futuristic. This is a fresh take on this tradition.
“Good Fortune is Coming Your Way” by 1119
Musicality ★★★★★
Costume ★★★★☆
Choreography ★★★☆☆
Virality ★★★☆☆
Production ★★★★☆
Granted, “modernised” Chinese New Year songs are refreshing, but if you need something that feels more retro, this track by 1119 needs to be on your list. The nostalgic tune is complemented by production choices that sit well with us, including filming in a house with a new village (Kampung Baru) atmosphere—where many Malaysian Chinese grew up—and also dance moves that will get your body moving.
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