The state of China's music scene

I don't know that it is actual censorship, because the same is true in Taiwan and Hong Kong (arguably less-censored places). Maybe it's because that music just isn't mainstream. I mean, I know it begs the question, sort of, but punk music isn't really on the radio in the States, either, right? You have to know where to go to get it. Not sure.

pulosm, Your right on the mark. Popular radio in the States has become very homogenized. The more creative/diverse stuff, in my opinion, has to be "dug up". Musically, internet radio stations offer a lot more options, sometimes within the same station. KEXP out of Seattle is a good example, if you will allow me to shamelessly plug my personal favorite. I also wonder if rebellious music, like punk or other forms of rock, have a more uphill battle in China due to cultural nuances. Those of you living in China obviously know far more about this than I, but haven't "rock and roll" values like individualism, excess and extroversion generally been frowned upon in Chinese culture, or am I way off base?

Kyle, I think Anne and Joachim, CPod's German bloggers are more up to date on this stuff than I am as the links I'm about to mention are from their blog. You might be interested in visiting Rock in China, a website about rock music in the Middle Kingdom. Unfortunately it's pretty heavy on the youtube videos, so I don't know if you can see too much of it from China. Another link worth checking out is Beijing Bubbles. It's the site of a documentary about punk rock bands in Beijing. Scottyb, you seem to be on to something when you say that rock's values of individualism and non-conformity may have something to do with it, one of the musician's interviewed there says "I can keep being an outsider. I think that's my life, I don't want to be a part of society." This movie looks really interesting, especially since it portrays a side of Chinese life which doesn't make it into the usual "rising power with plenty of poor people" documentaries and news programmes, but i haven't been able to get my hands on it.

Generally, if you want to find Chinese music mp3 go to baidu.com. You will be able to find lots of music there if you search for e.g. Chinese godfather of rock 崔健 Cui Jian, or veteran rockers Tang Dynasty 唐朝. You might also like 二手玫瑰 Second Hand Rose who fuse Chinese classical music with rock. Cui Jian has his own site, too: www.cuijian.com. I quite like dragonradio.hk which features alternative asian music and can be subscribed to on itunes.

I love the band that Aric used to play on The Saturday Show, Cold Fairyland. I bought their CDs. They're exceptional... kinda pink floyd/dead can dance/bjork sort of way.

Christian, The real punk-rock or grunge "music" was never mainstream anywhere in the world and, in mainland China, I haven't seen any transition between the soft Beijing Rock and the boom of DJ electronic music. At the borderline of the mainstream Pop-Rock you could only find this sort of song : Actually, that's from Taiwan but it could have been from everywhere else in the world. Btw, you could note the strange use of the term ABC at the beginning of the song. That's disconcerting from someone born in Taiwan !

For rock, I recommend 二手玫瑰 (Secondhand Roses). For poppy punk, there's 花儿乐队 (Flowers). Not very original, but at least not "my-heart-is-broken-but-I-will-survive" either. There are lots of live rock shows in Shanghai, and more in Beijing (where punk is also popular).

Great recommendations here. Nice to finally hear some things I can relate to a little better.

KMK, you're absolutely right :) Kyle, do share your own discoveries with us when you've wandered deeper into the Chinese music scene. Being in China you're better placed than those of us who are really far away.

It looks like Second Hand Rose will be performing in New York on Friday November 9, 2007 at the 2007 ASIAN CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR (http://www.acafny.com/). Will anyone attend their show?