If you haven’t heard of Hanggai, you must not live in Beijing. One of the city’s — and country’s — most popular bands, it specializes in Mongolian folk music but is by no means constrained by that style. Singer Ilchi, an ethnic Mongolian, has established himself as perhaps the most famous “throat singer” in the... Read more »
After four years, Leona Lewis returned to Beijing to perform at the Bird’s Nest on Saturday as part of something called the BMW Olympic Joy Festival. The last time this singer-songwriter was in the city, she was sharing the spotlight with Jimmy Page (and David Beckham) at the 2008 Olympics closing ceremony — I think... Read more »
As described by videographer Ryan Emond: Moments in China is a collection of vivid moments I experienced while traveling around China last month. The piece flows from Hong Kong to Beijing, and visits Guilin, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Some moments are more significant than others, but I have a personal connection with each. They’re vivid indeed. Enjoy.
The Rolling Stones played at Shanghai Grand Stadium on April 8, 2006, and its official YouTube page just released a video of them performing "Gimme Shelter" there. No fading away for BJC -- we'll be back with you shortly.
Zhou Guangren 周广仁 is probably China's most famous musician you've never heard of, the country's first pianist to win an international prize. Born in Hannover, Germany, in 1928, her Chinese parents eventually settled in Shanghai, where she attended a German school before withdrawing in the early-40s due to its fascist, pro-Hitler teachings. Her dad was adamantly opposed to her piano training, believing she was too smart to make a career out of music, but she persisted, and after the war was convinced to stay in China to teach at the Central Academy.
The story of Sidney Rittenberg, one of Mao Zedong's "true believers" who joined the Chinese Communist Revolution instead of returning to his native Charleston, South Carolina after World War II, is about to be told as never before. Mark McDonald, writing for the International Herald Tribune's Rendezvous blog, turns our attention to the documentary The Revolutionary, completed last year, which tells of Rittenberg's 34 years in the People's Republic of China.
At one point in this preview, 100-year-old Aussie Dorothy DeLow is interviewed in English by someone who sounds Chinese. "Why are you participating in this competition?" comes the question. DeLow grunts. “You're so old!" the questioner adds.
Without missing a beat, Dot replies, "I'm not that old."
Today (by which I mean Friday) marks the official premiere of director Yung Chang's documentary China Heavyweight in New York. Far be it from me to tell you New Yorkers how to spend your Friday evening, but this movie looks like it's worth your time. (There are two more showings today at IFC Center, at 7:25 pm and 9:40 pm.) It's by the same company that made Last Train Home (though not the same director), a film that I've seen no fewer than four times while writing a 40-page amanuensis
Mongolian garage rockers Mohanik are in Beijing tomorrow, specifically Temple Bar on Gulou East Street, for a fundraising show called Rock Naadam to promote cultural exchange between China and Outer Mongolia through music. Mohanik will be joined by Shanghai bands Banana Monkey and Scary Magic, and DJ Bo, also from Shanghai. The show is free, but organizers kindly suggest a 50 yuan donation. Expect it to start around 10 pm.
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