Guns N’ Roses take on democracy in China
25 November 2008, 08:23AM
It's not likely that Chinese fans of Guns N' Roses will be able to legally purchase the band's latest album, despite waiting 17 years for its release. The title of the album and track 1 is 'Chinese Democracy' and Chinese authorities are not impressed.
Reports indicate that the album's official website chinesedemocracy.com was inaccessible in China this week and internet portal Baidu.com blocked music related searches for 'democracy'.
One of the lyrics is; "When all I got is precious time more than you got to fool the nation When all I got is precious time" indicating that the band do think that power of the people will over ride the power of Chinese leadership.
The video clip for the song shows very militarised images of China, tanks, troops, guns and of course the 1989 Tiananmen Square tank photograph. The latter being reason alone for the clip to be banned in China, the 1989 Crackdown is still not spoken about and China's youth are not officially told of this tragic piece of their nation's very recent history.
Listen to the song and watch the clip.
Bloggers across the world have been having their say, on what they think of the album, how long it took, it's title, whether China should care, why they shouldn't care, in support of present China, in opposition to present Chinese leadership and all topics in between! The internet does of course allow bloggers inside China to have their say, censorship certainly makes it much harder for the bloggers to view the video clip, read the lyrics in Chinese or purchase the album - however the dialogue is there.
So whether you like or loathe the song, the band or the title of the album - let the conversation continue!
China is unable to completely control popular culture.
Read the song lyrics.
Warning, other parts of this web page contain language that may offend.
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Sophie Peer
5 December 2008, 02:55PM
If you’re an idealist Richard, tar me with the same brush!
I also believe that there are a growing number of people within China who are finding ways to question and challenge and who will peacefully work towards human rights change in their country. From here, we can add weight to their voices and use our own freedoms to stand up to other Governments who continue to let the Chinese Government operate without calling them to account on human rights abuses.
Richard Szabo
2 December 2008, 09:25PM
China’s biggest sore point, however, was the reference to the state’s arbitrary detention and relentless thumping of exercisers practicing Falun Gong, a banned and suppressed spiritual practice resembling tai chi or yoga, based on truth, compassion and tolerance. “You [i.e. the Chinese leadership] think you got it all locked up inside, and if you beat them all up they’ll die,” the lyrics read.
Despite this, it seems that more Chinese are mustering the courage to openly criticise bungles and corruption at the hands of their own government officials. A couple of bloggers urged others to be more “open-minded” and conceded that both the Chinese government and its people are “indeed imperfect.”
Perhaps I am a bit of an idealist in how I try hard not to lose hope that people will be able to overcome their touchy side, admit people have faults and, in turn, become more accepting of others.
Richard Szabo
2 December 2008, 09:24PM
But let’s not forget the true intention behind the song was not to be hostile in the slightest. Anyone who has seen the music video and knows their history is likely to say that it blends footage of the Iraqi war, Tiananmen Square protests and some Falun Gong exercisers, to give hope that one day there may be a true democracy in China with more personal freedoms.
Why is the Chinese leadership so touchy about this song then? Part of the answer lies in the 17-year delay in the song’s release. Nowadays few young Chinese deeply understand both sides of the highly propagandised 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre events. Many of them also feel uncertain over the potential success of a Chinese democracy, even though many will admit they felt intrigued and even a bit excited about the US presidential debate.
Richard Szabo
2 December 2008, 09:23PM
Fatso. Skinny legs. Four-eyes. Touchy words can be best left unsaid or sometimes very amusing to bring up. In any case everybody has a deep inner flame that is like a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode.
Today if you asked China’s ruling Communist Party what its most touchy word is, it would probably reply “Chinese Democracy” - the title of Guns N’ Roses’ long-awaited and controversial new album.
Days after its release Chinese state-run media published articles, accusing the band of “viciously attacking” China. Chinese bloggers responded to these articles with highly nationalistic overtones, similar to that seen when protests shrouded the Beijing Olympic Torch relay. Comments such as “bull,” “despicable” and “American trash” could be seen. Some even went so far as to criticise Westerners for their obsession with “sex, drugs, and violence.”
Sophie Peer
27 November 2008, 09:54AM
Thanks!
Pedant
25 November 2008, 10:06AM
Missing apostrophe at first line: “Its not likely ...”
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