Do Chinese youth like indie music?

[Earthkanu]

Hi there!

This is a question that I've made for myself so many times. I don't really know if the chinese youth listen this kind of music or if it is easy to get it of somewhere there in China. I know that in Hong Kong or Shanghai there are some 'alternative' groups but I've heard that the general taste of chinese is well, the music for entertainment ( I don't know how to say it).

All the Chinese I've met here in Europe, usually like Britney Spears ( and all her copies),the american commercial music, or Bisbal, raeggetton, and when I put them my music their faces were really funny, but most of them ,after the discovery, started to enjoy indie music.

With indie, I mean alternative rock/pop and electronic, groups like The Postal service, The killers, Adam Green, Roisin Murphy, Yelle, Artic Monkeys, Standard, The Moldy Peaches, and so on( the list is big ,this is just an example)

Well, it's just curiosity! ^^

Thanks smiling smiley

Edited July 27, 2009 at 11:28 AM by roddy

[Manoz]

I'm quite interested too, as I'll be spending the next year in China.

What is the live music/band scene like in China at the moment?

[gato]

The Indie rock scene is pretty weak in China overall. Most locals prefer pop as you already know. Alternative music is literally "alternative" in China, as opposed to being almost mainstream in Europe and North America.

That said, there are a few good live venues where indie music is played. D22 in Beijing (near Tsinghua) and Yuyingtang (育音堂) in Shanghai are the best known ones. Most of these places are pretty expat-heavy, though.

See this thread

http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/2-favourite-chinese-musician1079&highlight=live

chinese punk, rock, indie, noise brought to you by D22!

Edited July 27, 2009 at 03:02 PM by gato

[Scoobyqueen]

I have been wondering the same. Anyway, you didn’t include La Roux. They are not only talented but would fit in nicely in China with all the synth stuff going on.

[msittig]

> Do Chinese youth like indie music?

Also, it's hard to talk about "Chinese youth" as a single homogeneous group. That'd be like asking if American youth liked indie music (answer: some (hipsters, mainstream) do, some (emo/goth/metal/mainstream) don't). Beijing is very different from Shanghai, is very different from Changsha, is very different from Urumqi, is very different from Shiyan, etc. Even within, say, Beijing, Qinghua and Beida students are very different from young domestic immigrants, are very different from students at more ordinary universities, are very different from...

Beyond that, I know little about what music is popular here in China.

信春哥,得永生

[renzhe]

Don't forget that the music from the west that trickles into China tends to be the most famous and popular (and therefore, often the crappiest) stuff. It's not like you can walk into a record store in Beijing and find the Slint anthology and early Birthday Party or whatnot. Well, maybe you can, but it will be a very underground store.

There is a lively underground scene in some bigger cities, like gato mentioned. I've been to Yuyintang and D22, and they were awesome, though expat-heavy, like he said. But there is indie music if you're interested in finding it. Nobody's heard of most of these bands, but some of them are really good.

So, if you're looking for some nice gigs and like-minded individuals, you'll find them in bigger (well, biggest) cities if you look carefully. If you're looking into discussing the evolution of Sonic Youth music with random people on the street, forget it.

[Senzhi]

I've got all albums of Sonic Youth, and tried to introduce them to my students as part of a topic on cultural differences/tastes among ... well ... youth.

Since then, some of my students are no longer willing to invite me to KTV ...

I even had one student asking me if I worshipped the devil ...

In Chengdu, on the other hand, I've seen some local alternative bands playing ... but indeed, sadly, so many foreigners that it was hard to believe I was in China (except for the performers).

Pictures of the band: http://www.ipernity.com/doc/senzhi/706839/in/album/29634 and http://www.ipernity.com/doc/senzhi/706775/in/album/29634?from=706839&at=1190126514

[renzhe]

Well, I hope you started with "Goo" and not "Confusion Is Sex"

Since then, some of my students are no longer willing to invite me to KTV ...

That's a great tip. I hate Karaoke

[meowypurr]

also Mao in Beijing (near Drum tower) has good shows

My friend's friend in Beijing is really into rock and punk. every time I see him he always asks me what bands Iike, have I heard of this band, etc. I've been to 3 rock concerts in Beijing and they seem pretty good. There are lots of Chinese youth there. But it's certainly not mainstream.

[tooironic]

I have no idea how to answer your question, except that I know a) Björk has played shows in China B) the Chinese "youth" as it were seem to have very random interests in alt music (e.g. quite a few love Aussie indie Tamas Wells - who even toured China recently - even though he's virtually unknown here c) as a rule of thumb, most of 'em love Coldplay. (Who are about as alt rock as Nickelback if we're honest...)

[gougou]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124831869681774897.htmlThis article gives a good introduction to (some aspects of) Beijing's current music scene. I found it through the China Music Radar, which is probably the best English language blog about music in China, so do check that one out as well.

Overall, I agree with renzhe. There's definitely a group that will enjoy independent music - even a sizeable one, if in Beijing or Shanghai, but overall exposure has been pretty low (even though something like The Killers obviously is pretty mainstream, you'll hear it played in many of the Top-40-playing bars). And there's hope: international acts performing in Beijing have been drawing more and more Chinese audience members, and more and more indie bands are coming. Radio Department is playing today, for example, and we'll be seeing Handsome Furs soon.

To see what's going on currently, the City Weekend live music section might come in handy, or Douban groups such as 北京live if you speak Chinese.

I know a) Björk has played shows in China

And never will again...

[zhen_shuai]

There's Neocha (http://www.neocha.com/) which has band pages like Facebook or Myspace. You'll need to be able to read some Chinese to find your way around, but it shouldn't be too hard with a browser plugin like Chinese-perakun.

It was co-founded by a expat living in Shanghai and a Chinese DJ, I believe. So a lot of the bands and artists on there seem to be from Shanghai. But since anyone can join there are bands from all over, too.

They also just launched a music player:

http://www.neocha.com/-/web/next/index.jsp

The other place to check out is Dragon Radio (http://www.dragonradio.hk/). You have to hunt for it, but they often feature indie music from mainland China and Taiwan.

Finally there is the Rock in China wiki, which has info in English on many alternative bands in China, and podcasts also.

Some bands I like (mixing older and newer, well known and not known):

崔健 （http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cui_Jian

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzQ2MDk2NDg=.html)

新裤子 (http://wiki.rockinchina.com/index.php?title=New_Pants

)

伍佰 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Bai

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncdF_ynTp2c&hl=zh-TW)

沼泽 (http://www.neocha.com/theswamp)

花伦 (http://www.neocha.com/britsky)

montoffee (http://www.neocha.com/KAKAXI/)

asiaeyes （http://www.neocha.com/asiaeyes/)

Is there a specific style of music you are looking for?

[Lilika]

hi~ I'm a Chinese girl，but my English is terrible bad，I like indie music for many years.My favorite band is The Doors，I love Jim Morrison and his poetry。I like COWBOY JUNKIES 、BOB DYLAN 、Tom Waits、Black Box Recorder、Moby……the ONLY Chinese I like is 陈珊妮,there's some URL for you,if you are interested in her。

http://61.137.191.80/FF/44/FFD5838DFBB8B936D8AAC871810EBECE266C9144.mp3

http://music.kaixin001.com/pic/music/7/19/72236.mp3

[Wàijiāoɡuān]

"If you're looking into discussing the evolution of Sonic Youth music with random people on the street, forget it. "

HAHAHAHAHAHA, good one ;)

[renzhe]

Wow, a guy from Zagreb learning Chinese and discussing Sonic Youth?

Is somebody impersonating me?

[Wàijiāoɡuān]

heh, that's just a coincidence ;) i love SY, it's true

[zhuhao]

Other blogs not mentioned here are the boys at Kungfuology, who cover Shanghai REALLY well. Beijing has a few of its own - Beijing Daze, Beijing Noise, and Beijing Gig Blog (that would be mine) are good but don't post as frequently as Andy & Jake. China Music Radar, as mentioned, is great, and run (unofficially) by a guy that works at Split Works, a promotions company in Beijing and Shanghai, which makes it easy for them to have a national and industry slant. Check them out, but I think the best thing to do is learn a few music words and click through Douban. Douban easily shows you there's a market for indie music in China, though it's not the biggest or most refined. MIDI and Strawberry music festivals both pulled huge crowds even from outside Beijing, but the underground music scene still has a LONG way to go. Remember to check out the discussion and articles sections of Rock in China, as they're always intelligent and thought-provoking.

[gougou]

Beijing Gig Blog (that would be mine)

No kidding, you're behind Beijing Gig Guide??? That site rocks! I've been recommending it ever since I stumbled across it! Keep up the good work!

[zhuhao]

No kidding, you're behind Beijing Gig Guide??? That site rocks! I've been recommending it ever since I stumbled across it! Keep up the good work!

Yep, it's all me! All of it, including the crappy Google Translate descriptions ;) I saw a need when I got here a year ago and had to fill it. I still feel inadequate looking at the magazine listings (they have it all), and there's so much more I'd like to add (venues mostly, Mako and Tiny Salt and The One), but I do what I can to help introduce people to the scene. Glad you like it!

[renzhe]

I've stumbled upon that blog too. Here's a plus for you.