At it's heart, Rock N' Roll is the music of rebellion; a breaking away from societal norms. Coming from a background such as that, it is easy to see why the genre became popular in China following the end of the Cultural Revolution. Cui Jian is an excellent student of this tradition as well.
The lyrics of his songs, while open to a degree of interpretation, provide for an excellent social commentary, and capture with remarkable clarity the mood of at the time. Take for instance his song “Balls Under the Red Flag.” The song aptly demonstrates the mood of the nation following the Tian'anmen Square Massacre with its lyrics “The red flag’s still aflutter, but there’s no fixed direction/ The revolution still continues but the old codgers still have all the power/ Money flutters in the air. We have no ideals,” which reflects the nations uncertain mood at the time. His lyrics also keep to the rock tradition of rebellion, as the government is none to fond of that song in particular, and tend to ban its playing; it tends to get played anyway.
Musically, he isn't as loud or frenetic as some of the more well known bands in the United States. His style is more of a blend of rock, jazz, and classical oriental music. For instance, his hit “Nothing to My Name” features the heavy use of a flute, and another of his songs, “A Piece of Red Cloth,” features a trumpet, giving it a very heavy jazz feeling. His blending of multiple styles, and willingness to experiment, creates a very unique sound, that is quite enjoyable to listen to.
While the lack of English vocals might be off putting to Western listeners, Cui Jian's music is still very much worth listening to. Even if you can't understand what he is saying, the songs are still good none the less, and very enjoyable to hear.
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