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Music websites have until Sept. 15 to “self-correct” and delete the songs for sale and download. The Chinese ministry said violators would be punished, but did not outline the penalties they would face.
Chinese government labels some songs “too vulgar”
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China has banned songs before, most notably during the Communist Revolution in 1950. |
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This is not the first time Chinese officials have blacklisted songs. Most of the banned songs are from Taiwan, an island country that broke away from mainland China during the Communist Revolution in 1950. Some are from Hong Kong, a much more Westernized city in China. Only a few are from Western artists.
Among the Western tracks are six songs by Lady Gaga, including “Born This Way,” “Edge of Glory” and “Judas,” making her the artist with the most blacklisted songs. Beyonce’s “Run the World (Girls),” Britney Spears’ “Burning Up” and Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night” are also banned.
It is unclear how the officials chose the 100 titles on this particular blacklist. Some of the songs include lyrics that may seem inappropriate, like Perry's “Last Friday Night,” which mentions streaking in a park, drinking and sex.
China believes it protects young people from the Internet
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China wants to protect its young people from 'poor taste and vulgar content' on the Internet. |
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The blacklist is part of a pledge that China’s culture ministry made two years ago to protect the country's youth from "poor taste and vulgar content" on the Internet, as well as deal with copyright violations. Websites such as YouTube, Flickr and Wikipedia are also heavily restricted.
Since the creation of the Internet, China has attempted to monitor and control how its citizens use it. The Chinese government carefully screens the content of imported entertainment content for political messages or commentary that opposes its official line.
Technology known as "the Great Firewall" blocks websites dealing with sensitive issues like democracy, while tens of thousands of government monitors and citizen volunteers regularly check through blogs, chat forums and emails to identify dissenters.
China’s virtual community consists of 485 million Internet users. The vast majority of these Web users use Internet cafes where they must supply personal information in order to sign on.
The government's rules on what is permissible online are vague and leave many media outlets confused. News should be "healthy" and "in the public interest," while audio or video content must not damage "China's culture or traditions." And nothing can challenge the Communist Party.
China’s long history of censoring songs with political content
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Foreign music has been on China's censorship radar since the Icelandic singer Bjork referred to Tibet during a 2008 concert in Shanghai. |
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Foreign music has been under special scrutiny in China after Icelandic singer Bjork shouted "Tibet!" during a 2008 concert in the city of Shanghai after performing a song titled "Declare Independence." Other artists have also recently been silenced by China for their political statements. Last May, a rapper who sung a Mongolian hip-hop protest song was arrested, and last year Tibetan singer Tashi Dhondup was imprisoned for 10 months after being accused of recording an album of “subversive music.” |
I think we've been witnessing violence for years, whether in reality through the media or through video games, and I don't think that's a first-hand effect.
