Art VS Commercialism

"Reality is like a stone. The spirit is like an egg. The stone is hard, but the egg is life," sung Cui Jian.

Since the end of the 1990s, mainland Chinese rock music has been severely threatened by commercially-run pop music from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

In the struggle between the ideal of the independent art and the reality of the commercial world, many rockers chose to submit to the real world, or at least tried to find a balance between the two. They are seen by insiders as traitors to the spirit of independent rock.

While hardcore rock youths hastily dived underground, to pursue artistic independence. Among them are distinctively different groups of cynical punks, obscure metal fans, and dark music lovers. But this separates rock music even further from the masses and mainstream ideology.

Whether admits it or not, Chinese rock music has to step out of its tiny self and serve a wider audience in order to survive. The key is to find a balance between commercialism and art. But how can the two really co-exist harmoniously?

 Rock as the Chinese Rock!

Rock music has been destined to brand itself with Chinese characteristics since its first import to China in the early 1980s. Popular rock bands skillfully integrate Chinese music instruments like bamboo flutes, gongs, zithers, and Chinese mandolins, or folk art like Xiangsheng (comic dialogue) and Errenzhuan (a song-and-dance duet), or even Chinese operas, with electronic guitars, drums, and bass. Rock songs boasting the essence of Chinese values also abound.

When in China, rock as the Chinese rock. It's an experience you're gonna remember.

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