Monthly Press Review 19 – September/October/November 2025
Taiwan pop culture struggles to stay seen
An article on Singapore’s Straits Times on the relevance of Taiwan pop music today, after being Asia’s trendsetters for decades. Another article, published in Business Today, mentions the historical influence of Taiwan pop music in Malaysia, and its relative downfall today.
The Chinese Dama doing bars
An article in Lifted on Lil Lady aka Gui Xiang, a 60 years old dama from Jiangsu who became a rap sensation on Douyin (Tik-Tok).
Taiwan continues to try to copy The Big Band
After a failed reality TV series on indie rock band, Taiwan tries again to emulate the success of China’s The Big Band 乐队的夏天 with this new show, “Bandstival” (樂團祭). Bandwagon writes an article on the first episode, which can be streamed on YouTube.
Mozart l’Opéra Rock rocks China
A video by CGTN on the success of the French musical “Mozart l’Opéra Rock” in China, and the celebrity of the two singers, Melissa Mars and Noémie Garcia.
Remembering Deng Lijun (Teresa Teng)
A news video by Formosa News Network on the 30th year anniversary of Teresa Teng’s passing. The SCMP also published a photo album commemorating Deng’s untimely death. An article by the Japanese NHK also mentions the memorial concert in Taipei for Teresa Teng.
A music documentary by Lou Ye on Re-TROS!
When legendary Chinese director Lou Ye (whose last movie An Unfinished Film was banned in China) meets legendary indie-rock band Re-TROS, it creates a music documentary. RadiiChina published an article on the documentary, Before the Applause, that is supposed to premiere at the 2025 FIRST Fantastic Film Festival. The documentary follows the band between 2023 and 2025, and is supposed to be immersive.

SKAI ISYOURGOD in The Economist
The surprise success of the Guangdong rapper SKAI ISYOURGOD made its way to The Economist, who published an article on the Cantonese prodigy.
Taiwan music in China
Apparently if you sing the same songs you can claim another territory, according to an opinion piece published by the dean of the School of Foreign Languages at Sanda University in Shanghai in the China Daily.
The Rap of China is 10
Happy birthday to the reality TV-show that changed everything for Chinese hip-hop: The Rap of China is 10, and this year will feature a “battle of the gods”, according to Lifted.

A PolyGram vinyl exhibition in Beijing
According to China.org, a vinyl exhibition was organized by PolyGram in Beijing. PolyGram was founded in Hong Kong in 1970, and produced a good amount of Cantopop and Mandopop albums throughout the years. The exhibition showcases more than 500 rare PolyGram vinyl records, including LPs and EPs by seven iconic Cantopop stars — Sam Hui, Jacky Cheung, Eason Chan, Alan Tam, Leslie Cheung, Teresa Teng, and Faye Wong.

A nightclub closes, a live venue opens in Hong Kong
An article by HKFP on the closure of SLAP, an electro nightclub that closed in Mongkok, just a year after its opening. Another article in the HKFP mentions the opening of TIDES, a mid-sized live venue managed by Live Nation in Hung Hom.
Bloodz Boi: The humble godfather of Chinese underground rap
An article in Dazed on Bloodz Boi, the Beijing-born rapper that chose to stay underground.
A new Beyond documentary that only tells part of the story
An SCMP article on a new documentary about Wong Ka-kui, the singer of the Hong Kong cantorock band Beyond, titled Because of You – Ka Kui, packed with never-before-seen footage and intimate revelations from those who knew Wong.

A Chinese song remixing Taiwan politician Wang Shih-chien
Chinese Internet musician Wang Bo recently remixed Taiwanese legislator Wang Shih-chien’s remarks back in 2017, “Calm and composed, handling things with ease; hurried and frantic, stumbling and crawling” to satirize Taipei’s municipal administration, according to VOCO News. A very reasonable article by the China Daily comments that the song describe the “lies” of the DPP. The song is called “No Wit”, or 沒出息 and has been very popular on Douyin and YouTube.
The story of Lamma Fun Day
An SCMP article on the story of Lamma Fun Day, a annual art and music festival in Hong Kong’s hippiest island.
PG-One
An article on Kbizoom on why the Chinese rapper PG-One has been cancelled since 2018 (it involves infidelity and the Communist Youth League, the best combo).

The history of Taiwan Hip-Hop
A bilingual article on Ysolife on the history of Taiwan hip-hop since the 1980s. Don’t miss out the feat between MC Hot Dog and Dwagie!
Experimental Hong Kong musician Nerve
An article in the SCMP on the experimental Hong Kong musician Nerve, who recalls his childhood and his musical inspirations.

Chinese indie rock band singer dies after theater seat accident
A sad news from The Standard, the lead singer of Chinese indie band Ordinary Rock Band has died after her chest was crushed by an electric theater seat during work.
Karen Mok released a new vinyl album
An article on Tatler Asia about singer-actor Karen Mok who released a new vinyl album. Mok also remembers her “uncle” Leslie Cheung.

Shenzhen’s Oil Club
An article on the Macao News about Oil Club in Shenzhen who celebrates its 8 year anniversary, and still fuels the underground club scene of the city.

My Little Airport’s new single
The Hong Kong antifolk heroes My Little Airport is back with a new single, “死亡賦格駱駝” (Death Fugue Camel) according to Ear Milk.
OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
Nathanel Amar (8 décembre 2025). Monthly Press Review 19 – September/October/November 2025. Scream For Life. Consulté le 24 janvier 2026 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/15amx


