Chinese Democracy Banned by Peoples’ Republic
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Guns N’ Roses get no Welcome to the Jungle of Chinese Politics.
Guns N’ Roses may be loved throughout the western world for bringing us the musical magic of epic hits Sweet Child o’ Mine and November Rain but one place where lead singer Axl Rose and band mates are not fervently adored right now are the Peoples’ Republic of China.
Fans have been waiting for Chinese Democracy for 15 years, it’s Guns N’ Roses first new release for 17 years. In America, Chinese Democracy was welcomed like a long lost brother with open arms as the record sold 261,000 copies in its opening week.
However, in China the album received no hero’s welcome. Instead Chinese Democracy got 1.4 billion doors collectively slammed into its face as the Chinese government blanket banned the album.
The Chinese media seized on Guns N’ Roses saying that Chinese Democracy was “venomously attacking China,” and the album, “turns its spear point on China”. As BBC correspondent James Reynolds flippantly wrote: “If the Chinese Communist Party is looking for a house band to play at one of its next study sessions, Guns N’ Roses latest album probably won’t be on the list.”
The controversy has been caused because of some of the lyrics used in the title song. Chinese Democracy sends a pretty blunt message describing the Falun Gong movement as an “evil cult” and has dire predictions, “if your Great Wall rocks blame yourself”.
Nothing but harmless lyrics you might say? However in a country that is struggling to maintain an iron grip on what its population can watch, listen to and read, it’s little wonder the album has been met with outrage.
Before America gets all high and mighty though about oppression of media, its worth remembering that this was a country that banned the showing of Harry Potter in cinemas in many of the bible belt states because it preached witchcraft and sorcery against God’s Word.
Maybe the world’s two competing super powers are not so different after all?
