Alanis Does Have Lovely Lady Lumps
This is one of the strangest videos you’ll ever see. It’s Alanis Morissette singing a poignant version of “My Humps” by the Black Eyed Peas. She’s dressed like a standard video whore and actually looks kind of good that way. My favorite part is when, over some very somber piano, Alanis […]
Ziggy Marley Makes Melody in Shanghai
It was either China’s worst nightmare or the censorship officials just don’t care anymore. A “Legalize It” flag with a marijuana leaf was unfurled minutes before showtime and was waved by front-row fans from start until finish. Various types of smoke rose to the ceiling, visible to the crowd when it hit the spotlight beams. […]
Monday night at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five became the first hip-hop act to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Before I begin I’d like to congratulate Flash and say that I loved your work on the Chris Rock Show. […]
Emo and the Forbidden City Collide
In November I wrote about a band called 30 Seconds to Mars who shot the first ever music video filmed exclusively in mainland China. Well, nearly 4 months after the video for “From Yesterday” premiered on MTV2, the song has reached #5 on the Billboard Modern Rock Chart and is everywhere on U.S. radio […]
Roots, Dreck, Reggae for Spring Concerts
According to a Shanghaiist post Thursday titled, “Holy Shit! The Roots Are Coming to Shanghai!, China West Entertainment announced in an email that Philadelphia-based hip-hop group The Roots will play an April 16th show at Shanghai’s Yun Feng Theater. I’m not sure if this warrants a “holy shit!” but I guess it’s pretty cool. […]
Roger Waters to Perform in Shanghai
Eric Clapton one month, Roger Waters the next. Not too shabby. If only the marketing for these shows matched the talent of the performers. This show, for some reason, is like a big secret. It’s Pink Floyd’s singer for god’s sake, publicize the concert a little bit. Roger Waters is […]
Eric Clapton Plays the Mainland
On Saturday, at the Grand Stage in the Xujiahui district of Shanghai, Eric Clapton played his first ever show in mainland China. Shanghai, a city longing for authentic rock and roll and thirsting for more Western-style shows was acquainted with both Saturday evening. Shanghai got a chance to give a long, […]
The Toast of Chicago’s Chinatown
It’s rare that on my morning newsfeed I find the phrases “Chinese love song” and “African-American” within a single sentence. This morning I did. This man to your left is Eddie Rogers II, an African-American in Chicago who sings Chinese love songs with a perfect Mandarin accent. The Chicago Sun-Times suggests he […]
Wednesday night in Manhattan, rap star Busta Rhymes was arrested for getting a bit too “fired up” outside an N.Y.C. building December 26th. Rhymes was booked on misdemeanor assault charges. According to an AP article early Thursday morning, Rhymes’ lawyer, Scott Leemon declined to comment. And they actually printed the words “Rhymes’ lawyer” […]
China Cracks Down on ‘Network Music’
The guys over at China’s Ministry of Culture issued new guidelines Tuesday tightening control of music downloads. As the Ministry called it, “network music” was a USD$350 million industry last year and until now, has been an unregulated business in China. Network music includes any music downloaded from or played on the music […]