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Fade Away (Che Fu song)

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"Fade Away"
Single by Che Fu
from the album Navigator
Released2001
StudioRevolver Studios
Length4:06
LabelSony Music
Songwriter(s)Che Fu
Producer(s)Che Fu
Che Fu singles chronology
"Waka"
(1999) 		"Fade Away"
(2001) 		"Random"
(2001)

"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.[1] It also reached number 9 on the end-of-year charts.[2]

"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

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Fu wrote the song about his close friend, Eruera (Bobby) Mita.[3][4] 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.[3][5]

"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.[3] It also marked the debut of The Krates, an eight-piece band Fu assembled for live performances.[6][7]

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.[8][4] The song, "E Kore E Motu", was the subject of season 1, episode 6, of Waiata Anthems by TVNZ.[9][10][4]

Music video

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The music video for "Fade Away" was directed by Matthew Metcalfe and Greg Rewai,[11][6] and filmed at the NZ Warbirds Association hangar at Ardmore Airport.[6][12] It is set in World War II, depicting band members in military uniform, intending to reflect the lyrical meaning of loyalty and friendship.[5] In addition to Che Fu and The Krates, the video also features P-Money and former Supergroove drummer Paul Russell,[5] as well as Eruera Mita in the opening shots.[4]

Reception

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The single entered the charts at number 15 on 13 July 2001, and charted for 22 weeks, peaking at number 2 for 3 weeks.[1] Both the single and album were a commercial success, with Navigator going triple platinum.[13]

Critical reception

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"Fade Away" received positive reviews by critics. Russell Baillie of The New Zealand Herald praised the album and described "Fade Away" as "gently rocking Stevie Wonder-ish reggae-soul", while also complimenting the "rich harmonies" on a live performance of the single.[14][15] In his book 100 Essential Albums, Nick Bollinger described the single as "passionate and personal" and praised the album overall.[16][17]

Accolades

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At the 2002 NZ Music Awards, "Fade Away" won Single of the Year, and the music video won Best Music Video.[11] The album, Navigator, also won Best Album.

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Che Fu - Fade Away". charts.nz. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Che Fu". Official Aotearoa Music Charts. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Che-Fu: Return of the Navigator - Part 1". Radio New Zealand. 9 January 2023. Archived from the original on 20 April 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d "Fade Away/E Kore E Motu | Music Video". NZ On Screen. Archived from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "Fade Away | Music Video". NZ On Screen. Archived from the original on 16 March 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  6. ^ a b c "Celebrating 25 Years of 'Fade Away'". New Zealand Music Commission. 26 May 2025. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Che Fu". Muzic.NZ. 26 July 2024. Archived from the original on 23 April 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Che Fu - Fade Away / E Kore E Motu". DigitalNZ. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Waiata Anthems – Che Fu - Fade Away / E Kore E Motu". TVNZ. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  10. ^ McConnell, Glenn (4 September 2021). "Six60, Stan Walker, Anna Coddington and many others release new music in te reo". Stuff. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  11. ^ a b "2002 winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  12. ^ "Che Fu "Fade Away"". 5000 Ways to Love You. Archived from the original on 13 June 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  13. ^ Shute, Gareth (26 October 2018) [26 May 2013]. "Che Fu". AudioCulture. Archived from the original on 23 May 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  14. ^ Baillie, Russell (21 September 2001). "Che Fu: Navigator". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  15. ^ Baillie, Russell (16 December 2001). "Che Fu & the Krates at the St James". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Essential New Zealand Albums: Che Fu". Radio New Zealand. 23 March 2013. Archived from the original on 16 May 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  17. ^ Bollinger, Nick (2009). 100 essential New Zealand albums. Wellington, N.Z: Awa Press. ISBN 978-0-9582750-3-3.
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