Chinese officials are not amused about the new album released November 24, 2008 by American rock band Guns N’ Roses. The album, which began recording in 1994, is called “Chinese Democracy” and is described by one Chinese listener as attempting to “grasp and control the world using democracy as a pawn.”
What struck me as interesting is wondering if the title of the album was decided on back in 1994. There was certainly more things to criticize about China in 1994 than there is today, or am I wearing rose colored glasses as an expat living in China?
I haven’t heard any of the tracks on the album and don’t know anything about the content. I just know Chinese officials are pissed. It’s rock ‘n roll’s job to stir things up a bit so all of this seems to go with the territory. Nice to see GNR getting some publicity again.
China has opened a lot to the West in recent years and there are some growing pains with that. Don’t expect China to become “Americanized” – it is an extremely different culture and way of thinking. More than just outward appearances. This is interesting to see from overseas, and my first reaction is to stick up for China a bit. Is that why they call us expats, short for “ex-patriots”?
Read the full article on CNN:
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/24/china.guns.roses.ap/index.html