HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!
Are you ready for some Chinese Rock?
© Madeline Bocaro, 2020. No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without permission of the copyright owner.
The first piano song that most of us are taught is a waltz for duet called ‘Chopsticks’. The melody is played in two-part harmony. The actual name of the song is ‘The Celebrated Chop Waltz’. It was composed in 1877 by a 16-year old female British composer under a male pseudonym.
Learn to play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMHEoD_0R5Y
Here is Ella Fitzgerald singing ‘On A Slow Boat to China’ written by Frank Loesser. The song has become a standard recorded by countless artists.
I’d love to get you / On a slow boat to China
All to myself alone / Get you and keep you / In my arms ever more
Leave all your lovers / Weepin’ on a far-away shore
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui_JwKRkxbY
Here is a live 1990 version by Stan Getz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4WSEmHujBo
2020 Year of the Rat
‘China My China’ appears on Brian Eno’s second China-obsessed pop album Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy (1974). The cryptic lyrics bear obscure Chinese references based on a series of postcards depicting a Chinese revolutionary opera titled Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy.
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76qPMv1tCfI
‘Chinese Rocks’ was released by Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers as a single (the B-side was ‘Born To Lose’) and on their 1977 debut album L.A.M.F. (Like a Motherfucker). The title is a street term for super-potent Vietnamese heroin. On The Heartbreakers’ album, the song is credited to Thunders/Jerry Nolan/Richard Hell and Dee Dee Ramone. The song was actually written by Dee Dee and also appears on the Ramones’ 1980 album End of the Century as ‘Chinese Rock’. On the Heartbreakers’ version Johnny sings, “Hey, is Dee Dee home?” On the Ramones version, the lyrics sung by Joey are changed to, “Hey, Is Arty home?” (referring to pal Arturo Vega, designer of the Ramones logo). Johnny Thunders and Dee Dee Ramone were notorious drug buddies.
Heartbreakers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xiWjpjRl1Q
Ramones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57nPAqBPGPE
Blondie’s 1977 debut album includes ‘Kung Fu Girls’ – a Farfisa-fest whirled up by Jimmy Destri – about a prostitute who beats and robs her johns.
She took him to the secret door / He was kissing the floor
Don’t know much more
There is an array of unusual girls on this album which opens with the single ‘X-Offender’ about a prostitute who seduces her arresting officer (she will perpetrate love with him). ‘Rip Her to Shreds’ is a vicious female rant against her trashy rival – which Debbie sings in the biting style of the Shangri-Las’ Mary Weiss.‘ “Red eyeshadow, green mascara – Yech – she’s too much!”
‘Kung Fu Girls’ – Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qFNtaFs2u0
‘China Girl’ first appeared on Iggy Pop’s album The Idiot in 1977. A toy piano adds sweetness to Iggy’s brooding version of the tune, written by Bowie with the original title ‘Borderline’. The delicate China girl talks the aggressive American singer down from his escalating demented visions of world domination and destruction with a whispering, ‘Shhhhhhhh.’ Iggy is a mess without her. (Kuelan was actually Vietnamese).
“‘China Girl’ has a beautiful obligato melody at the end echoed by gypsy guitars. Bowie wrote that on guitar then he’d want somebody better to play his idea – his thought and somebody else’s fingers. That melody progression is lovely.”
– Iggy, SiriusXM Volume – September 2019
Listen – Iggy Pop : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BBAEUOOFKQ
See my story about Iggy’s album The Idiot
https://madelinex.com/2016/05/12/idiot-proof-iggys-no-fool/
In 1983, David Bowie released ‘China Girl’ as a single, and on his album Let’s Dance – adding an Asian-inspired guitar line, transforming Iggy’s moody version into a bouncy pop song. The popular video with a nude beach scene, shot in New Zealand features Geeling Ching with whom Bowie had a short-term affair.
Watch: ‘China Girl’ David Bowie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YC3sTbAPcU
The beautiful and delicate sailing song ‘China’ sung by Mick Ronson appears on the 2-CD reissue of Ian Hunter’s 1981 album Short Back n’ Sides – on the bonus disc. It was produced by Mick Ronson and Mick Jones (The Clash) as was Hunter’s entire album.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoND7kUiiB0
‘Slowcar to China’ is on Gary Numan’s 1981 album Dance. Ironically, the song is not very danceable at all with its’ slow robo-ambience. Of course he would take a slow CAR rather in a slow boat to China, in light of his biggest hit, ‘Cars’.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzz2Ki21E-8
‘China’ by Red Rockers from New Orleans was a new wave hit in 1983 – from their album Good as Gold.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eoqz6GfjTM
Composer Ryuichi Sakamoto collaborated with David Byrne to compose the spectacular score for Bertolucci’s film The Last Emperor. The soundtrack won an Academy Award in 1987. The entire work is gorgeous but my favorite piece is Sakamoto’s ‘Rain’.
Sakamoto Live performance of ‘Rain’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tKfYwc4zxA
Soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_NRcS0wdlw
The opera Nixon in China is based on President Nixon’s visit to China in 1972. The work premiered in 1987 to mixed reviews. It has since been recorded and also presented live in Europe and in America in 2011 at The Metropolitan Opera. The score is reminiscent of the style of Phillip Glass, and is also Wagnerian in parts.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qTaeF9x8wk
Queen have a song called ‘Chinese Torture’ on their 1989 album The Miracle. It is a brief instrumental showcase of Brian May’s guitar work.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqnrblzlToA
The band China Drum released a heavy punk cover version of the Kate Bush classic ‘Wuthering Heights’ in 1995. Fans of the original song might find this a bit brutal, but I love punk covers. I think that punk arrangements lend an uplifting joy to any song. I love Joey Ramone’s version of ‘What a Wonderful World’. I especially like punk versions of TV show theme songs, like ‘Gigantor’ by The Dickies and the punk version of Popeye the Sailor Man’. Hey – I even liked Chipmunk Punk!
Listen: https://youtu.be/OBviQXfuu3c
The lovely ‘China Bird’ is on Patti Smith’s 2000 album Gung Ho. It was co-written by Oliver Ray. The album title is a Chinese phrase meaning “work together” – a morale building slogan frequently quoted by U.S. Marines during World War II.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAoa4-24umA
‘Boat to China’ – a nice instrumental by Tangerine Dream which appears on 2008 CD The Anthology Decades – The Space Years Volume One. Also, Great Wall of China is their soundtrack album of 2000.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELz0ZWxJhGE
‘Red China Blues’ recorded in 1972 appears on Miles Davis’1974 album Get It Up.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuKhccJi_GI
‘Hong Kong Garden’ by Siouxsie & The Banshees appears on their 1978 album The Scream. It has lovely oriental styled melodies and percussion. The lyrics succinctly summarize the essence of China in a simple punk rock song named for a Chinese restaurant.
Harmful elements in the air / Cymbals crashing everywhere / Reap the fields of rice and reeds / While the population feeds / Junk floats on polluted water / An old custom to sell your daughter / Would you like number 23 Leave your yens on the counter please / Hong Kong garden /Tourists swarm to see your face / Confucius has a puzzling grace /Disoriented you enter in / Unleashing scent of wild jasmine / Slanted eyes meet a new sunrise A race of bodies small in size /Chicken Chow Mein and Chop Suey /Hong Kong garden takeaway Hong Kong garden…
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp8bClJgRII
Sparks’ song ‘Tsui Hark’ on their 1994 album Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins is narrated/sung by the Hong Kong film director/producer himself, introducing himself and listing his film credentials over a steady disco beat.
I’m Tsui Hark, I’m a film director
I’ve made several films…
My first film was
The Butterfly Murders
Shanghai Blues
Peking Opera Blues
Swordsman, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Chinese Ghost Story, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Once Upon a Time In China, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
And several other films
Listen: https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=sparks+tsui+hark&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
‘I’ve Got That Tune’ is by the band Chinese Man released in 2006. They are actually a French trip-hop/reggae group comprised of three Caucasian guys. This is a version of the 1932 song ‘Hummin’ to Myself’ by Washboard Rhythm Kings (a group of varying jazz musicians). This very cool old-fashioned track is manipulated by Chinese Man with a cool beat and some scratching. This tune was used by Mercedes-Benz in an ad. The Chinese Man band mascot has worldwide disciples spreading the zen spirit with their music around the world. The song was also covered by Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks.
Watch their cool video starring Betty Boop! – Chinese Man: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqjeNSNuNPM&feature=youtu.be
Listen: Washboard Rhythm Kings Hummin’ to myself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6q5TY0v9rY
Boots of Chinese Plastic’ is a song by The Pretenders on their 2008 album Break Up the Concrete. The search for divinity, (which is all around us) is paralleled with materialism in this world. The title must be a riff on Dylan’s ‘Boots of Spanish Leather.’
WATCH: https://youtu.be/FQnf4qRRu_U
The gorgeous ‘China Shoes’ appears on the highly underrated album Panic of Girls by Blondie (2011). Debbie Harry told Lady Gaga in an August 2011 Harper’s Bazaar interview;
“I try to put a core of real sensitivity and make the words childish to just say simply, ‘This person is going away, and I’m missing them very much. I’m not going to recover unless they come back soon, and I’m leaving this note in the back of a book because I know you’re going to read it when you are traveling.’”
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk5JIBz0Z2U
‘Chinese Walk’ by Amanda Lear is a really cool electro-disco tune with a stunning video. Lyrics by Amanda illustrate China’s immense population growth and world influence. It was the first single from her 2011 album I Don’t Like Disco. Amanda previously had a hit with ‘Queen of Chinatown’ in 1970.
Watch the beautiful video ‘Chinese Walk’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SPw4Nm8GJc
‘Queen of Chinatown’ DISCO Germany: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SPw4Nm8GJc
See my story about Amanda on the cover of Roxy Music’s album:
https://madelinex.com/2018/03/23/excerpt-from-roxy-ladies-the-roxy-music-album-cover-girls/
MORE FUN!
Vintage Chinese JELL-O commercial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkgYU3w-0aA
1970s Calgon Commercial: Ancient Chinese Secret
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzixL7Ef-bI
The Last Empress of China
Empress Dowager Cixi 慈禧太后
My story about the last emperor of China’s cousin Eastern Jewel (Yoshiko Kawashima). She is fascinating!
EASTERN JEWEL PRINCESS, SPY, REBEL, TRAITOR, GENDER BENDER
Kawashima became a well-known and popular figure in Manchukuo, making appearances on radio broadcasts and even issuing a record of her songs.
Excerpt from my story: Yoshiko appeared rebellious and regal at once, always dressed to kill – whether sporting a tiara or a cigar, but she was not just a fashion icon. She used her courageous image and her weapons fearlessly, living the life of a rebel to the fullest – in promiscuity, intrigue and scandal. Although Yoshiko frequently dressed as a man, her greatest weapons were those she possessed as a woman – charm and beauty…. Yoshiko had a special affinity for the daring glamour of men’s clothing. She loved stylish, immaculately fitting military uniforms and pilot gear, and wore them proudly. She had a flair for tilting her cap perfectly, or positioning her sword just right, as a stunning lethal accessory. She was decorated with various rank insignia, fur trimmed collars, shiny polished leather boots, jodphurs, riding caps, military caps, trench coats, capes and tuxedoes. Yoshiko posed for numerous photographs in these outfits, which she autographed like a pop star… At the end, frail and tired, facing a death sentence Yoshiko remained defiant although she was only a haunting ghostlike waif. In a film about her life, Yoshiko is brilliantly portrayed by the late Anita Mui (the Madonna of Asia).
See more in my Playlist category
https://madelinex.com/category/playlists/
AND:
About A Song
https://madelinex.com/category/about-a-song/
Main Menu:
Related:
Eat to the Beat
https://madelinex.com/2019/06/25/eat-to-the-beat/
Orange Sunshine
https://madelinex.com/2019/05/29/orange-hangover/
© Madeline Bocaro 2020. No part of the materials available through madelinex.com may be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable form, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Madeline Bocaro. Any other reproduction in any form without the permission of Madeline Bocaro is prohibited. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without prior written permission of Madeline Bocaro.
One of your best overall pieces of work!