Pitching it just right

"The show was great, but I felt as if I was not in China," said Shanghai music critic Sun Mengjin, who was among the few Chinese present in the audience that night. "This concert was meaningless for Chinese rock fans."

Liang said the success of a Western pop concert in China depended on many factors, including a suitable time, venue, appropriate ticket prices and a social climate of openness to foreign cultures. According to him, the most successful concert by a Western group in Beijing was by the Swedish group Roxette in 1995.

"When Roxette came, their music was very popular in China because of the dissemination of their CDs and their song in the film Pretty Woman," said Liang. "Their concert was a very interactive one, as the Chinese audience kept singing along with them."

Liang points out that in recent years most concerts of Western pop music in China were given by established musicians, for presenters were afraid young Western artists were not influential enough to guarantee the takings.

Rock legend Eric Clapton stages his first live concert in Shanghai on January 20. File photo

Some of the established Western pop stars who have performed in China in recent years include Deep Purple, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton.

Jiang Hong, chief editor of the New Century Weekly and a music critic who is better known as Ping Ke on the Internet, agreed with Liang's views on the current performance scene.

"I would like to see more shows of new bands, but what we can see in China now are always Western musicians who have passed their golden period," said Jiang. "We often go to these concerts in a nostalgic mood, for we have been listening to their music for many years and this might be the only chance to see them live, but we also need shows of new bands or singers so that we can enjoy the music of this age."

Still, Jiang said he would travel to Shanghai for Waters' concert on February 12, for Waters is a very important figure in the history of rock music. At the same time, he hopes that the annual Beijing Pop Festival and Beijing Midi Music Festival will bring more new bands to Chinese audiences.

Jiang said Beijing and Shanghai cannot be considered cosmopolitan cities in terms of music performances, and he usually grabs the limited opportunities to enjoy live music shows.

"I keep going to live shows because they keep thrilling and exciting me," said Jiang. "Listening to CDs is a one-way process, but a live show is an instant two-way exchange that involves not only sound but also a visual and physical experience. In terms of the quality of live shows, we have much to learn from the West."

Fortunately, more Western pop groups and singers are planning to perform in China. According to Sun, China concerts for Linkin Park, Coldplay, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Bon Jovi, Paul McCartney and Sting are all under negotiation.

"At Eric Clapton's concert in Shanghai on January 20, at least 40 percent of the audience were Chinese, and I'm expecting to see more Chinese at Roger Waters' concert," said Sun.

(China Daily 02/07/2007 page18)