Chinese history and Chinese cuisine are two of the most common things one associate with China when they think of China. C-pop and gangtai are two popular styles of Chinese music. The idea that Chinese rock & roll is the dominant genre in Chinese music is strange, if not outlandish. Cui Jian’s analysis of popular music during the Reform Era (31), made rock and rolling mainstream in the 1980s. But it lost its popularity quickly during the 1990s. This article will explore the evolution of Chinese rock & roll ideologies through historical count and personal experiences.
Beijing is the birthplace of Chinese rock & roll. Foreign influence is the main reason for rock and roll’s rise. Rock and roll was “performed mainly in small nightclubs…patronized by foreigners (31).” This in turn influenced Cui Jian. He was one of the most prominent Chinese rock and roller musicians in the 1980s. His music is distinctive for being unique, bold and rebellious (32). This is significant because Cuijians rise coincided closely with the disapproval of the government. Cuijians music, concerts, ideas and songs strongly correlate with 1989 Tiananmen Plaza incident (34). Zhang Guangtian, a music critic, claims that rock music gave young Chinese an ethos of rebellion and empowerment. Cui Jian’s views were embraced by many Chinese. This is why the rapid decline and disappearance of rock and roller music is so shocking. Cuijians’ role in Chinese music was often questioned by teachers. Since 1993, stricter regulations were put in place for rock and roller concerts. China’s biggest media outlet, television (43), was also prohibited from broadcasting rock and roll music. Because the government was able to divert attention from young people, protest and rebellion were not as strong as in 1989 (45). This remarkable change is because it shows how the government, against which youth in China were protesting, was able indirectly to change people’s opinions by restricting rock and rolling. Cuijan’s efforts are still visible today.
C-pop music was demolished in China, which saw the rise of gangtai. Gangtai was an easier way for record companies to sell gangtai records in China (45). Karaoke is the desire to sing music with a moderate, consistent tempo, clear melodies, predictable lyrics…the antithesis of rock (46). Many Chinese youth today prefer singing karaoke over rock and roll clubs or concerts. Baidu sites often feature gangtai music as the most popular. This can be explained by the government’s restriction on rock media outlets. Because there weren’t enough media outlets, rock and roll had a harder time reaching an audience. This allowed other genres and music to become popular and made rock and roller obsolete.
It’s fascinating to look at the history of Chinese rock & roll. Within a short time, China’s young people changed their views from protesting the government to being more comfortable with the government. Rock and roll is almost non-existent according to my observations. Gangtai has seized control of Chinese popular culture through media outlets, karaoke and karaoke. In the end, Chinese pop music fell silent due to changes in ideology.
