Fade Away (Che Fu song)
"Fade Away" is a single released by New Zealand hip-hop artist Che Fu, taken from his 2001 sophomore album Navigator. The single entered the charts at number 15 on 13 July 2001, and charted for 22 weeks, peaking at number 2 for 3 weeks. It also reached number 9 on the end-of-year charts.
"Fade Away" was accompanied with a music video and was the debut of Fu's band The Krates, which he formed primarily for studio work and live performances. The single was a commercial and critical success, winning both Best Music Video and Single of the Year at the 2002 NZ Music Awards.
Background and release
Fu wrote the song about his close friend, Eruera Mita. Fu and Mita had both become fathers around the same time, and bonded over the transition into parenthood. The song draws on themes of undying friendship, inspired when Mita moved away."Fade Away" was the first single from Navigator, Fu's second solo album. It was recorded at Revolver Studios and engineered by Neil Baldock, who Fu credits for instilling him with confidence during the process. It also marked the debut of The Krates, an eight-piece band Fu assembled for live performances.
In 2021, Hemi Kelly helped translate the song into te reo Māori, and Fu performed it as a waiata of remembrance in honour of both Mita and his mother Miriama Rauhihi-Ness, who had both subsequently died. The song, "E Kore E Motu", was the subject of season 1, episode 6, of Waiata Anthems by TVNZ.