Rapping London firefighter Stephen-remell Coleman is again using his musical talents to get across important fire safety messages – this time to the Asian community
Stephen – who in his free time performs as a rap artist under the name Controversy - joined forces with the Brigade to release Got Mine Got Yours?, a professionally produced video that aimed its message about how smoke alarms save lives at a young urban audience. It was a massive success and received national media coverage and over 85,000 hits on Youtube.
Now Streatham resident Stephen – a firefighter on Wimbledon Fire Station’s Red Watch - has teamed up with another multi-talented London Fire Brigade colleague, Harvey Sahota, to remix the track for a whole new audience. By day, Harvey is a fire community safety officer but produces Asian music in his spare time.
The new Got Mine Got Yours? (Asian Streets Mix) is laden with Indian instruments such as dholaks (small drums) and dhols (big drums) tumbi and dulcimers. The track starts with Stephen saying ‘Hello’ in three different Asian languages – Punjabi, Urdu and Hindi - and features Asian vocal chants.’
The accompanying video, shot on the streets of Southall – the heart of one of the UK's largest Asian communities - and at Southall Fire Station, features Punjabi Bhangra dancers, and members of the public singing along to the song’s chorus. Firefighters and community safety officers are also shown working with the community.
The Lyrics warn people not to be complacent about fire and include:
“What’s the harm in putting up a smoke alarm?
Like a lucky charm watching over pops and moms,
Bros and sis, it’s peace of mind knowing this
That a little (beep beep) can save you and the kids”
There are thousands of accidental fires and around 50 fire deaths every year in London. Many fires, and the injuries and damage they cause, could have been avoided if people were more aware of the risks. London Fire Brigade is hoping that the ‘Got Mine Got Yours? (Asian Streets Mix’ will raise awareness in the Asian community of simple measures that could save lives.
Stephen said: “As well as fighting fires, it is part of London Fire Brigade’s job to prevent them from occurring in the first place. And this means getting our fire safety message across to all of London’s different communities. The track got a great response last year and if more people are prompted to fit a smoke alarm after hearing this new version that means they are potentially saving themselves and their families from serious injury or worse.”
Harvey, who lives in Ilford, added: “As I work in the Fire Community Safety team and meet people from different backgrounds and communities on varying projects, I had a vision of adapting the original track and its very clear message about fire safety to suit the musical tastes of the Asian community. Asian bhangra music, is immensely popular and using it is a good way of showing how the Brigade is tailoring the way it gets its fire safety messages across to different communities.”
Got Mine Got Yours? (Asian Streets Mix) promotes smoke alarm ownership and the Brigade’s free home fire safety visits. Londoners can call a freephone number and arrange for a visit from local firefighters, who will chat to them about fire risks and fit free smoke alarms if they are needed. Call 08000 28 44 28 to arrange a visit.
View the NEW Got Mine Got Yours? (Asian Streets Mix) at: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PRho_zzMfhs
You can also view the original at: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wt6hNqzOviw
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