Teresa Teng was one of the famous pop singers in China. She was famous in China and also widely known as romantic ballad and folk song singer. She was also widely recognized as famous singer in Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan and other East Asia countries. Teresa Teng was able to interact with audiences easily because of her soft, and attractive voice touched emotions and memories of people – folk songs made people to remind memories of youth and romantic ballad touched people’s heart to recall the memories of their past lover, friends, and so on.
Even though she was very famous internationally, her song was banned in China by Chinese government (communist) because of her supports towards democracy. In her song ‘When will you return’, the lyric tells that she is badly wanting someone to come back to her again. The lyric seems to express emotions of a brokenhearted woman but somehow it can be related to the Chinese people wishing nationalist party to come back. Chinese government prohibited her songs because her song was considered as betrayal of nation.
After her song was prohibited from Chinese government, she performed in Paris for Tiananmen student uprising, also in Hong Kong for student gathering for anti-communism movement. There, she sang a song called ‘my home is on the other side of the mountain’ in order to support democratic of China. From the title of the song, I assumed that home refers democracy where people can relax and express their freedom of thoughts and speech. But it's hard to reach because of a huge barrier which is mountain symbolic figure that represent communist party. She wanted to perform in China again after banned by governments but she could not sing a song in the stage in China because of the sudden death. Her songs were very western influences that had impacts on the society. Her voice made people to move forward and actively participate to attempt to transform Chinese society.
Ai jing, chinese pop singer, songwriter, and painter from Shenyang. Her most famous song is "My 1997". This is an western style acoustic music. Unlike Cui Jian, her song does not contain a lot of symbolic meaning but very straightforward. She uses lyrics like "My boyfriend is in Hong Kong, He can come to Shenyang, I cannot go to Hong Kong, Hurry and get here 1997, then i can go to Hong Kong". There is no hidden political meanings or symbols like Cui Jian's or Teresa Teng's song. It's simple way of expressing her willingness about Hong Kong's return to China. After several years, she released a new song "My 1997 and 2007". In the new song, she used the same lyrics and similar melodies of previous song "My 1997" but rewrote the song by transforming it to more like western styles. The song "My 1997 and 2007" described the changes of Chinese society during ten years.
Do you think that Ai Jing's song is a product of Chinese nationalism?
ReplyDeleteWell, there wouldn't be another reason for her to write that song if it was not for her nationalism, love for China and desire for the return of Hong Kong to China. As Jihae said, her lyrics are very straightforward. They do not need of an interpretation as with Cui Jian's lyrics. Her popularity can be explained by how she expresses the joy millions of people felt with Hong Kong being part of China again. She described a reality, that might be pretty for some people and ugly for others but it was the true of what was happening at that time.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think Ai Jing's songs ring of Chinese nationalism and this need call to unite Hong Kong as part of China. I think Ai Jing is very brave from singing such straightforward songs known full well the consequences that she will face with the CCP. In the most simple and honest way she got her message across and received a very supportive and heartfelt response. I think she really embraces all aspects of China in her songs.
ReplyDeleteWhat consequences will she face for singing this song? I don't understand how this is an insult or controversial in any way. I agree, this song is absolutely a product of Chinese nationalism. I thought it was really fun how Ai Jing re-made the song 10 years later. So much has changed within those 10 years, and I enjoyed how she pointed out what's still the same and what's different now.
ReplyDeleteHer songs are very direct and straightforward without any dreamy lyrics like Cui Jian. It can be transformated into different periods and that's why she had a remake a decade later.
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