Support NeoGAF

[Escape Goat]

Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Backstreet Boys and plenty of Mandarin and Cantonese pop songs in between... It could easily pass as a radio playlist in China, except this is the latest blacklist issued by the Chinese government.

In a notice posted on its homepage, the ministry of culture has ordered all websites – including personal ones – to remove 100 “unapproved or unregistered” music tracks by September 15, or face punishment.

“Certain websites have been allowing users to play, listen to and download the listed songs,” the ministry declared. “Such actions have disturbed the online music market order and endangered national cultural safety.”

While songs performed by Chinese-language singers from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia dominate the roster, works of Western and Japanese stars make the list an eclectic mix.

Top-selling Gaga leads the pack with more banned tracks than any other listed artist. Six songs from her last album “Born This Way” ran afoul with the authorities: “The Edge of Glory,” “Hair,” “Marry the Night,” “Americano,” “Judas” and “Bloody Mary.” The title track itself was already banned in a previous sweep.

Perry has two songs – “E.T.” and “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” – condemned, with Beyoncé's “Run the World (Girls)” and Britney Spears' “Burning Up” rounding up the diva section.

Other Western titles include songs by British band Take That and Canadian rockers Simple Plan.

Then there is “I Want It That Way,” a 12-year-old hit by Backstreet Boys.

The latest blacklist marks the third time the ministry has clamped down on foreign songs since it began regulating music on the Internet two years ago. Earlier casualties included songs by Avril Lavigne, Eminem, Kylie Minogue and Christina Aguilera.

The ministry requires all imported digital tracks to be translated into Chinese and filed with the government for approval before online distribution. It said in 2009 that such rules were aimed at addressing the issues of “poor taste and vulgar content.”

While Gaga’s “Judas” deals with religion - a sensitive topic in China – and Perry’s “Last Friday Night” mentions drunken three-way sex, most songs on the latest list are benign Chinese love ballads, and many Western choices are hardly racy.

The seemingly random selection has baffled – or even enraged – singers and fans across China.

“My songs don’t talk about politics or religion – how are they able to endanger national cultural safety?” Hins Cheung – a Hong Kong singer who has three of his songs blacklisted – complained on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter.

“This ban is really over the top,” echoed Jesslon Liu, a college student and devout Gaga fan. “But the authorities have never liked Gaga’s songs or style for ideological reasons.”

Liu added that Gaga fans in China don’t expect to see their idol hold concerts, which also require the cultural ministry’s blessing, in the mainland anytime soon.

Amid the public backlash, officials have tried to frame their decision in the context of protecting intellectual property rights.

“Our targets this time are online music products that we have not registered or reviewed,” the cultural ministry said in a written statement to CNN. “They don’t necessarily contain illegal content.”

All legality aside, the ministry’s new blacklist has inadvertently put a spotlight on some old pop songs, with many Chinese netizens sarcastically thanking the government for its recommendations.

“The most ridiculous pick has got to be Backstreet Boy’s ‘I Want It That Way’ from 1999,” a user named “KeyboardChan” said on Weibo.

“I have been singing it at karaoke for 12 years – have I been a cultural terrorist for that long? Now I really want to sing this line from the song: Tell me why – ain’t nothing but a mistake.”

CNN’s Haolan Hong contributed to this report.

Boldly leading its citizens into the 21st century!


PS - In before people praise China for banning bad music

 

[Davidion]

Culturally damaging? Wait till they hear Skrillex.

 

[Phonomezer]

LUCKY CHINA.

 

[Granger Danger]

This has gone too far. It's time we nuke China.

 

[Chinner]

i guess china has taste afterall.

 

[Monocle]

Must suck to live in a country that treats you like a child.

 

[lightless_shado]

i guess china has taste afterall.

I assume they would if they could make even you taste delicious

That's right. went there. Waddle at me bro

 

[Utako]

We must not let this nation become a superpower. It must not happen.

 

[Radec]

Cause I want it that way..

 

[Souljiro]

Cultural safety yeah right.

 

[iamshadowlark]

Must suck to live in a country that treats you like a child.

.

 

[Medalion]

This is a ban I can get behind

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

We must not let this nation become a superpower. It must not happen.

"Let"? Like we really have any control over the matter.

 

[HotHamWater]

planeintosunset.jpg

Spoiler

That's not banned, is it?

 

[plasticpassion]

What's next?

 

[Zenith]

Such actions have disturbed the online music market order

it's like a parody of some Ayn Rand book.

 

[Steelrain]

Imnotevenmad.jpg

 

[Utako]

"Let"? Like we really have any control over the matter.

You think it just happens?

 

[G-Fex]

banned romance

 

[markatisu]

Aren't they about a decade late in banning the Backstreet Boys? What's next are they going to ban Menudo?

 

[Moofers]

China has the right idea. Let's do them one better by scrapping mainstream radio altogether and starting new. See ya later, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, etc.

 

[CF_Fighter]

At least the still have N*Sync

 

[Medalion]

China am Nsync fans confirmed

 

[lightless_shado]

We must not let this nation become a superpower. It must not happen.

explain to me how "stopping" a nation from becoming powerful would work

 

[AbsoluteZero]

Where's the plane flying into chinese sunset when I need it?

 

[Medalion]

explain to me how "stopping" a nation from becoming powerful would work

Declare war on them before they are too powerful to really become unstoppable

 

[The Technomancer]

Must suck to live in a country that treats you like a child.

I really don't have a problem with another country taking over "global power" status from the US.
But situations like this are why I don't want it to be China.

 

[Souldriver]

But at least they are letting Katy Perry come though

China am Katy Perry and Nsync fans confirmed

Katy Perry is also banned.

 

[Esch]

good taste, chinese bros.

 

[JJDinomite]

For once, China does something right.

 

[Granger Danger]

Katy Perry is also banned.

She has far racier songs than the two they banned, though.

 

[MidnightScott]

I guess they must heavily edit TV shows like Desperate Housewives then lol.

 

[glaurung]

It is a scientific fact that all music that came after 1999 is pretty much whack.

China still gets Queen and Creedence, so they're all set.

 

[Enosh]

how are the immigration policies to get into china? sounds like a great place to live

 

[Souldriver]

It is a scientific fact that all music that came after 1999 is pretty much whack.

China still gets Queen and Creedence, so they're all set.

If only does damn children would stay off your lawn!

 

[miksar]

Do Chinese listen to hip hop/metal? Are those genres completely banned already?

 

[Stealth Editor]

She has far racier songs than the two they banned, though.

I dont think it's a sexual thing. More of a popular american cultural act thing

 

[Medalion]

Have they banned Nickelback yet?

If so, there will be a sudden rush for foreigners coming into China

 

[Blablurn]

ridicuuuuuloooous

i fell in love with this country but news likes this... it almost funny.

 

[Bisnic]

They should ban *insert GAF favorite music* just for the lulz.

 

[Gaborn]

China trying to learn from Czechoslovakia but I don't think Lady Gaga or BSB are anywhere close to Plastic People of the Universe.

 

[Jintor]

I Want It That Way is, like, the asian male karaoke song.

 

[Escape Goat]

I Want It That Way is, like, the asian male karaoke song.

We need to listen to William Hung's CD to know for sure.

 

[thecheese]

I Want It That Way is, like, the asian male karaoke song.

:lol Couldn't be more true...

 

[Complex Shadow]

lucky

 

[lightless_shado]

Declare war on them before they are too powerful to really become unstoppable

So how would you convince people to actually vote for declaring war on a nation that hasn't attacked anyone or any of your foreign assets?

and assuming you're successful, you've become a belligerent in the eyes of people living there. Innocent civilians will die, and for what? because they haven't hurt anyone but they might and that's good enough reason! ? :lol

 

[SpecX]

Where's the plane flying into chinese sunset when I need it?

First thing I thought of as well. Well done China.

 

[Jburton]

Excellent work China!

If only other countries would follow suit and ban this crap.

A cultural threat indeed!