China Expat is a cultural and literary forum for expatriates interested in China and has been published by Asia Briefing Ltd since 2001. The sites resident China culture writers have included such expatriate luminaries as 
Cui Jian, The Grandfather of Chinese Rock
Cui Jian is a Beijing legend and the country’s most loved rock singer, as well as being a skilled trumpet player, guitarist, and composer. Starting off with an almost Bob Dylan like simplicity with voice, guitar and mouthorgan, he has continued to explore new musical styles with each album he produces. By far, his compositions are the most complex on the Chinese music scene, and most recently have a strong Jazz flavor.
Today he is known as the grandfather of Chinese rock and roll. Despite this title, many people are unaware of who he is. One reason for his relative lack of fame may have to do with an official government dislike of the type of music that Cui Jian plays, and the fact that his most famous song became the anthem for the pro-democracy movement in China that came to a boiling point during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. Prior to this, in 1986 he gained some international fame with his song “I Have Nothing.” This is the song that became the youth anthem of the late 1980s China. He would often perform the song at concerts with a red cloth wrapped around his eyes – symbolizising the majority of people of his generation having been raised with a socialist idealism that merely masks the widespread government corruption and favoritism that dominated China daily life at the time.
“I Have Nothing” is a hauntingly sad, and plaintive song that begins with a slow tempo and ends with hard rock energy. This song is a China classic, and one that most Chinese will recall. The song articulates the general sense of frustration Chinese had at the time with lyrics like:
I am giving you my aspirations
And my freedom too.
But you always laugh at me
Because I have nothing
Cui Jian spent time in prison after the Tiananmen incident, further mythologizing his status amongst Chinese youth. Nowadays however both he and the government have mellowed out, and he now performs regularly.
Here’re some clips well worth watching of him :
“Fake Monk” taken recently at the Concert for Earthquake Relief in Beijing three weeks ago : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXbC2f1BV_Y
“I Have Nothing” Cui Jian with MLTR: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh4Xt3a-Pyc
Cui Jian Remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su63hbpYCTk
Cui Jian Website (with full discography, concert dates and downloads: www.cuijian.com
Related posts:
- Cui Jian: Profile of a Rock Legend
- Ancient Chinese Strategy for Modern Chinese Life
- Chinese People Love John Denver
- Chinese People Love John Denver
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Cui Jian (born August 2, 1961) is a Beijing-based Korean Chinese singer-songwriter, trumpeter and guitarist.
“Chinese shaking and rolling music” or “Chinese rock and roll music”) is a genre of music and lifestyle. Its instrumentation is typically modern and may be with or without traditional Chinese musical instruments.
1961: Cui Jian, born on August 2 into an ethnically Korean family, is immediately surrounded by an environment of music and dance. His father is a professional trumpet player and his mother a member of a Korean minority dance troupe.
1975: Begins learning trumpet at age 14.
he is really a good player of chinese rock…i am just involved into when he rocks….i love it.
OpticalMigrane
In the early 1980s, Chinese pop culture was heavily influenced by the West due to economic reforms initiated by Chinese leader Deng Xiao Ping. Cui began listening to Western rock and roll brought into the country by tourists and foreign students. Inspired by Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel, he learned the guitar and began performing in public. In 1984, he formed the band Seven Ply Board with six other classically-trained musicians and the group played at restaurants and hotels across the capital.
Thanks for giving us a reason to write.
Until I read this article I never really considered Chinese Rock Music. Thanks for broadening my horizons.
I have a DVD for his concerts and all of them are big hits indeed. Cheers!
Looks like the author has massive erudition in the subject matter. Thanks you for the news.instant payday loan
A legendary job ,men.Thanks for great share.
Hi, thanks for sharing , a great sort of information.
Chinese rock reached a peak of creativity and popularity between 1990 and 1993. Dozens of rock bands were established and rock music was performed on a regular basis. cash advances
The audience, mostly Chinese and Chinese American, is emotional and electric, as groups are when they know they are making history.
reborn baby
Thanks for sharing about Cui Jian.A person with eminent qualities.
regards,
sam – Tax relief
it seems he has lot of potential.he has good future ahead.
regards,
Salon – Loan modification
Great work mate,i wish you good luck in your future.
regards,
Dave – Los Angeles DUI Lawyer
He is genuis when it comes to music ,i once attended his live concert,it was amazing.
It seems he is someone different from rest of the musicians.
as groups are when they know they are making history.
When Cui Jian, holding his guitar, finally shows up 40 minutes late with his eight-piece band, the audience is totally captured by his presence.
I see that in the early 1980s, Chinese pop culture was heavily influenced by the West due to economic reforms initiated by Chinese leader Deng Xiao Ping. Cui began listening to Western rock and roll brought into the country by tourists and foreign students and how.
I have never heard of him before today. After hearing his music – he now has one more fan. Thanks for the introduction.
He sounds like a really good rock player. It sound great. Thanks for sharing.
Wow nice music….I became fan of you… really the youth need you guy.. keep up, we expecting more from you
Thanks
This is very interesting. I will definitely look into this. After I think about it..the Chinese love American rock. This is really cool!
This has actually encouraged me to listen to the chinese Rock.. would give it a try sometime
Cavernous stadiums packed to the brim with glow-stick-waving fans of some androgyne warbling tepid mando-pop is one of the modern mysteries of China.
“a skilled trumpet player, guitarist, and composer” – irritates me when I can only play a triangle. Saw Cui Jian last visit to Hong Kong – great sounds
Cui Jian is a legend for sure, one of the great bands of the 80′s.