Knock-knock-knockin' on China's Door
The rock band Guns 'n Roses perform at a 2003 concert in California. (Photo by Lucy Nicholson/Getty Images)
The 1980s rock band Guns n' Roses launched their eagerly-awaited album Chinese Democracy yesterday, 15 years after they first recorded it. Not surprisingly, the Chinese are not amused.
A leading Communist Party newspaper called the album an attack on the nation. The Global Times quoted Chinese netizens who said the album was part of a plot to control the world using "democracy" as a buzzword.
Prior to the release, the running joke was that there would be democracy in China before GNR released their album. Jokes aside, there hasn't been a lot of discussion on why the band named the album as such.
One of the band's public relations people told me that singer Axl Rose briefly explained the reasoning behind the title in an 1999 MTV interview with Kurt Loder. Here's an excerpt:
Kurt Loder: You're going to call this album "Chinese Democracy." What is the meaning of that, since there is no Chinese democracy, of course?"
Axl Rose: Well, there's a lot of Chinese democracy movements, and it's something that there's a lot of talk about, and it's something that will be nice to see. It could also just be like an ironic statement. I don't know, I just like the sound of it.
There are reports that China has blocked the album online and it's unlikely it will be sold legally in China. In response, the band has an online poll asking people to vote on whether the album should be banned in China.
While I'm all in favor of a good argument and political debate, alienating a government and the people who believe in it, hardly seems a path to constructive discourse. But then, discourse probably wasn't on Rose's mind when picked the title because he liked "the sound of it."
Here is part of the lyrics from their title song:
You think you got it all locked up inside
And if you beat 'em enough they'll die
...When your great wall rocks blame yourself
While their arms reach up for your help
And you're out of time
Instead of reaching a potential audience of 1.3 billion people, not to mention paying customers, GNR opted for estrangement with China. Wait, isn't that one of their songs? Maybe the band could learn from their lyrics in "Estranged":
With all the changing seasons of my life
Maybe I'll get it right next time
Comments
The people of China are far too smart to even give thought to these stupid drug infested human losers. This album is a piece of garbage that isn’t worth even discussing. I love China and it’s people for that very reason and many more.
The People who listen to guns and roses are for the most part unable to form their own opinions. It’s a shame that some people feel the need to tell ohers how to live when they themselves should be ashamed of their own lives. I won’t be listening to such trash and don’t associate with those who do
How stupid can you be? OK, so you don’t want to sell any albums to 1.3 billion people, that’s not smart, but that’s your choice.
But to try to use this as a political commentary, to make a statement, GNR has failed miserably. It makes us Americans look like a bunch of idiots, like GNR.
I used to kind of like them, but this is just a stupid PR backfire. Way to go guys, make us look more insensitive as ever!!
He just created a name that he thought was cool sounding. It is offensive on the surface, but when people realize that Guns and Roses are not a political group then I believe that it won’t be as offensive. I guess the most offensive part of this is the level of not knowing (ignorance) as far as the world is concearned. I’m saying that GNR aren’t politically concious and the name of the album and message of their songs are two different things. It’s not like Ivy League scholars are the inspirational brains behind the music.
I just listened to the song. It will sell only a few copies. Nothing to worry about.
Yes I agreee, Axl Rose is not exactly a political scnience genius. I’m surprised he can still function on stage. Yet despite the talent death knoll of GNR as a band…I actually kind of like the title of the album, though the music sucks by rock and roll standards of any kind. Why should Chinese Democracy be a dirty phrase? Also, I don’t think mainstream Chinese have ever heard of GNR, nor would they have cared had it not been blocked by the CCP. The CCP should really unblock it and use it as another PR tool, as a backfire weapon. The music is so bad, everyone will ridicule the album. Oh wait, Chinese have no taste in popular music…okay leave it blocked, CCP.