布衣 on CNN

[rob07]

I saw a feature CNN did on the indie music scene in Beijing the other day. They were keen to find some trace of rebellion against the Communist Party.

One band that they interviewed quite a bit was 布衣, and they asked them about the name of the band. They suggested that maybe it was chosen in sympathy with the millions of oppressed peasants who were so poor that they had to wear cotton clothes. For some reason 布衣 were reluctant to declare open rebellion against the state (on CNN no less) and basically replied that it just meant cotton clothes, just that, bugger off.

Anyone know this band? Is 布衣 a pun on 不一 or 不依 maybe?

[gato]

Video of the CNN report:

http://ent.sina.com.cn/y/2009-03-16/16482422716.shtml

or

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2009/03/17/talk.asia.a.beijing.bands.cnn

Found through douban:

http://www.douban.com/group/topic/5724116/

[aljensen]

Are you serious? Did they even ask that question - it doesn't even make sense. What are people supposed to wear - wool? silk?

Anyways, mainstream media depictions of subcultures are always laughable. Remember after Columbine, when suddenly "goths" were to blame - because nothing says "serial killer" like wearing dark clothing and listening to Joy Division.

[roddy]

That does sound a bit laughable. They should have had 新裤子 on to explain how everyone has a new wardrobe now thanks to sound economic management.

[Outofin]

I know this band and quite like them. I mentioned them here. I feel their style is like classic rock. Nothing fancy and even sounds old, like the 70s or 80s. But, classic.

If Michael Petties appeared in the program you watched, I watched the same one. Yes, that was quite lame the CNN hostess tried so hard to find some political significance in the music program.

[skylee]

Is 布衣 a pun on 不一 or 不依 maybe?

why, 布衣 simply means the common people (who unlike the nobles/upper class who wear expensive/silk clothes). Zhuge Liang described himself, "臣本布衣 ..."

[.Miko]

布衣 is word from classical Chinese, which means the common people (compared with the bureaucrats and the emperor) and still has the particular meaning nowadays. When people refer to cotton clothes, they're not likely to use this word.

I guess 布衣 simply wanna state their position by this name, the same as what the All-American Rejects and the Killers did. A kind statement might help them be accepted easier by the masses. BTW, IMO, A band, especially a rock band, will probably not make up its name as an admiration to the government because the members of it are really the supporters of the gov. That's why they didn't name themselves as 新裤子.

And well, i do agree with Outofin that CNN was trying to find some political significance in the music program. That's what they usually do. I will surely be surprised if they don't.

[rob07]

Thanks for this, so CNN did know what they were talking about!