I liked the BBC commentary on "celebrity first lady Peng Liyuan".
Inside China, the simplest questions about Ms Peng's musical career elicit vague answers from those in the Chinese music industry. "It's hard to comment on her music, given the complication of her current situation," admits He Li, director of the China Folk Song Music Board.
"People who like her songs are mostly born in an era when there was little variety of art forms and broadcasting channels, only radio probably," she said.
"There was not much entertainment then. If you played her music today, not as many people would like it," Peng said.
"Probably 90% of Peng Liyuan's songs are complimenting the Communist Party, and the rest celebrates our wonderful life," explains music critic Qi Youyi, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"We don't want to comment on her too much. If you say she's the best, others will gossip. If you say she's not good, some may object. It's hard to say anything." Though her name remains well-recognized, "her music is mostly appreciated by people over the age of 40," says He Li.
One Summer at my Grandparents cabin around 1968 or so I listened to "Radio Beijing" on the shortwave radio during the Cultural Revolution. Criticism of "capitalists and their running dog lackies" and songs which sounded to my ears like someone strangling a cat. Quite unlike the music on "Radio Nederlands", broadcast from Hilversum Holland with relay station in the Dutch Antilles. |
