Chinese Rock Musicians “Just Not That Interested in Politics”

One of the most common questions we get about China’s alternative music scene is whether bands get in trouble with the government for their music.  While the presumption in the West may be that alternative music and its lyrics are often political, in recent years, Chinese musicians have typically stayed far away from any sensitive topics.

A recent AFP article points to rock bands such as Car Sick Cars, who are leading members of the new generation of rockers yet are careful to avoid politics.  This is a contrast with Chinese rock of the mid-80s lead by Cui Jian, who composed one of the anthems for student protests in 1989.  As a result, Cui was effectively banned from performing in the 1990s.

The AFP interviews Shen Lihui (沈黎辉), head of China’s biggest indie label Modern Sky, who explains that the post-80s generation “is just not that interested in politics…People in the ’80s grew up in the 1970s, and they had a lot of restrictions, so politics were important for them. But now, young people just don’t have so many restrictions.”

AFP: Chinese rockers enjoy revival — without the politics