Monthly Press Review – 11 (December 2024)

The rock and jazz saxophonist Liu Yuan 刘元 dies a 64
Liu Yuan, China’s most important jazz and rock and roll saxophonist, passed away on December 2 at 64. An article by Sixth Tone remembers the life of Liu Yuan, who co-funded with Cui Jian the band ADO, and introduced jazz music in China. Another article by the Global Times also mentions that his father was a famous suona player. Liu Yuan also helped organize the Beijing rock circle in the 1990s, when he opened the CD Cafe, which represented a safe haven for the underground music community, before opening a jazz bar, East Shore Live Cafe, in Houhai in the 2000s.

Review of Hong Kong’s Clockenflap
The biggest outdoor music festival in Hong Kong finished its three days extravaganza on December 1st. Lot of newspapers reviewed this year’s concerts, as The Independent, but the journalist apparently saw only the Western and Japanese acts – same as Rolling Stone Australia and Rolling Stone UK (the articles are centered around Jack White, Air, Central Cee and Creepy Nuts), HKFP took photos of the festival, while a journalist at SCMP talks about sexual harassment against the DJ Sim0ne by rude expat teenagers, a heavy police presence, and several musicians disrespecting Hong Kong: St Vincent saying xiexie in Mandarin Chinese instead of Cantonese, or the singer of Canadian band Mother Mother mixing up Hong Kong and Japan. Apparently nobody from the press saw Hiperson’s incredible performance and the guitarist trying to speak Cantonese with the audience.

The first Zhuang music kit for Counter Strike
If you don’t understand the above sentence, you’re already too old. Basically, it’s the first time a music kit (an in-game purchase that allows you to play music while playing the online FPS game Counter Strike 2) in Zhuang language was dropped on Counter Strike (the first Mandarin Chinese one was dropped in 2022, combining Shaanxi opera and rock music). It’s called “Ay Hey”, according to Eurasia Times (in French)
Steven Liu, godfather of Chinese pop music, died at 83
The Taiwanese veteran composer and lyricist Steven Liu 劉家昌 died at 83, according to Focus Taiwan. He is known for composing many hit songs, as “獨上西樓” (On the West Tower Alone) by Teresa Teng.

An interview with Deca Joins
After their Clockenflap performance, Tatler Asia interviews the Taiwanese indie-rock band Deca Joins. According to the interview, they were pretty interested in eating roast goose and getting something sweet at Bakehouse in Hong Kong. Who could blame them?

Homeless Scholars represents Singapore at Asia Pacific Music Festival 2024
An article by Bandwagon about the Singapore Mandarin language indie band Homeless Scholars 流浪學者 participating to the Asia Pacific Music Festival 2024 in Hong Kong on December.

David Bowie in Hong Kong – 41 years ago
The Post remembers Bowie “record breaking” concert’s in Hong Kong 41 years ago in December 1983 – he will play one more show in Hong Kong in 2004. It will be the closest he will get to achieve his main ambition – performing in China. The article also recounts that buying tickets to Bowie’s show was epic – as it was also the first day ticket of Teresa Teng’s concert in Hong Kong.

Why “Below the Lion Rock” is an enduring hit in Hong Kong
An article by SCMP on “Below the Lion Rock”, the hit song composed by Joseph Koo Ka-fai with lyrics by James Wong, which kickstarted the popularization of Cantopop. The song was written for a RTHK TV show in 1979, and represents the enduring fighting and resilient spirit of the Hong Kong people to this day.
Why Beyond’s song “Glorious Years” is so loved in Hong Kong
Another article in the SCMP, this time on “Glorious Years” 光輝歲月, a song released in 1991 by the Hong Kong legendary rock band Beyond. The song was originally written after the liberation of Nelson Mandela in South Africa after 27 years in prison (the age of the singer Wong Ka-kui when he wrote the song). The song talks about freedom and the future, which instantly resonated with Hong Kong and Chinese youth, as it is very popular on the Mainland too. It was sang during many Hong Kong protests. For more information on Beyond’s influence in China, see my own article in the last Sinophone Studies reader.
Marf Yau to open for Coldplay
Every month we have a new article on this damn Coldplay concert in April at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong. We now know who will open for the British band: Marf Yau of the Cantopop girl band Collar.

China’s first suona PhD
According to the Global Times, Liu Wenwen, the first Chinese suona PhD, is now taking the Chinese instrument worldwide. She plans to blend suona with jazz and rock. Wait until she discovers Lin Sheng-xiang.

A new music studio in Hong Kong
A RadiiChina article on 22Systm, a new music studio located in Sheung Wan, created by two French artists and promoters and a Hong Kong entrepreneur. The affordable studio was made to foster a new music community in Hong Kong.
Why Taiwan pop-culture is not more popular in China?
A SCMP article on the declining popularity of Taiwan pop culture after the death of Taiwanese writer Chiung Yao. The article talks about the reasons behind Teresa Teng (Deng Lijun) popularity in China, and why Taiwanese cultural indigenization movement has led to a growing cultural separation between the two sides of the strait.
Symphonic Distribution Signs Taiwanese Label Kafka By The Sea
After Universal signing with Modern Sky, the American digital music distribution company Symphonic Distribution signs with the Taiwanese indie label Kafka By The Sea, to distribute Taiwanese artists globally, according to Record of the Day.
East China Normal University exhibition celebrates exchanges with Macao
A very official article by The China Daily on the exhibition by the East China Normal University in Shanghai in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to China. At the ceremony, a choir comprising students from Macao and Shanghai sang Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies by Hong Kong rock band Beyond. Irony is not dead.

A rock competition in Shijiazhuang
An interesting article in the Swiss-German newspaper Tages-Anzeiger about a rock and roll competition in Shijiazhuang (Rock-Home-Town!) and the fact that the bands have to submit their lyrics to the censors in advance.

OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
Nathanel Amar (2 janvier 2025). Monthly Press Review – 11 (December 2024). Scream For Life. Consulté le 18 février 2025 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/1303u