If everyone who visited Beijing could produce a video like this one from Peter Laermans, the rest of us would be grateful. Sit back and see if you recognize, in these images, any of this wonderful city of ours. The song, of course, is Caliban’s Dream by Underworld. Youku video for those in China after the... Read more »
We see a lot of “My Beijing/China Trip” videos on YouTube, but most of them are made by people who don’t even try to make them watchable. Here’s one person who did try — with fantastic results. Alex Lop on Vimeo: I spent 9 days in China visiting Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. This is... 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.
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jason Mraz played in Beijing on June 12 as part of his Tour is a Four-Letter Word, marking his first time in China. Without any opening, he and his band played an hour, then did an encore. That's a lesson here that big-name foreign musical acts would do well to heed: respect the crowd, and they'll respect you. Those inside Workers' Gymnasium seemed to love Mraz, often chanting, "Jason! Jason!" Thanks to Youku user xiaozhunanhai, the full concert is embedded after the jump, in surprisingly high definition.
You know what could have made this video by Nice Peter better? No human babies. MORE PANDAS. The only thing better than more pandas... more baby pandas. The stretching cat was a fine touch, he can stay. But PANDAS is definitely the takeaway message here.
Looking for Chinese music? The Sound Stage, hosted by Jonathan Alpart on China Radio International, may be your answer. Calling itself "your all-access pass to Chinese new music," it seeks to promote the latest in contemporary Chinese music every week. The above is a sample -- episode two.
Two years ago, musician Cholo Hermosa, one of the founders of a new Manila-based band called Yolanda Moon, visited Beijing with a company and family, and he shot lots of videos to, as he puts it, "have a first-person aspect of my trip to remember how I felt when I visited." It was only recently, however, that he was able to pull all the footage together and use it for the YM song "Path."
Jason Chu, from New York City to Beijing, is leaving in three weeks for Los Angeles, and he claims on his website that it's for good (but not without a party -- "You are ALL INVITED to 'Goodbye, Beijing.' – a farewell concert, EP release party, and video premiere coming 4/21 in Beijing’s 798 Art District"). He released the above video on Sunday as a preview. Check it out. Youku video for those in China after the jump, as well as lyrics.
Sometimes it takes being followed on Twitter to find a hidden gem. The above video, produced by Lebogang Rasethaba and Gabriel Clermont, came to my attention after Clermont followed @beijingcream. It's sweet.