A new era dawns

The night was almost over as thousands of fans waved their hands in the air while joining Cui Jian in a sing-along with his classic Rock'n'roll on the New Long March.

The rocker quietly said: "Will you please sit down and sing in a low voice? But don't squat.

"The Chinese rock scene has been squatting and singing in a low voice for years," Cui explained.

The crowd fell quiet. The 46-year-old rocker stood still. Then he screamed.

"Now it is time to be free."

Cui's words received a feverish response, which echoed around the Beijing Workers' Gymnasium on Saturday night.

This was a special occasion: his first solo concert - Night of an Era - in Beijing in more than 20 years. The godfather of Chinese rock'n'roll was back, and most importantly, a "new era of Chinese rock" was being ushered into the mainstream.

No one sat down during the two-hour concert and no one wanted to leave after Cui said, "I love you all."

It was at the Workers' Gymnasium in 1986 when Cui sang his classic Nothing to My Name in public for the first time. The song put him on the map and was a driving force behind the emergence of Chinese rock music.

"Beijing is the hometown of Chinese rock'n'roll and the Workers' Gymnasium is the hometown of Nothing to My Name," he said.

The Workers' Gymnasium turned into a huge karaoke hall because everybody knew his songs, especially the powerful Like a Knife and the following Fake Monk.

"I once said that Western rock music is a flood; Chinese rock music is a knife. I believed that enthusiasm would eventually turn Chinese rock'n'roll into a flood," he said, in his trademark white cap, which had a red star on the front.

This concert brought new elements from the musician. It Is Not that I Don't See combined rock music with dancing choreographed by Cui.

The audience was also treated to Blue Bones, a song that Cui had not performed in public.

He explained that the color blue stands for wisdom and freedom, like the blue sky. He expressed his hope that everyone would have more wisdom and more freedom in 2008.

Cui's friend Jiang Wen, director of The Sun Also Rises, attended the concert to celebrate his birthday. Jiang received a special present from Cui, a song for him and his daughter, called Dream under the Sunshine.

Many in the audience who were in their 30s and 40s gave their warmest response while singing with Cui.

"I cannot believe what I am seeing and listening to," said a 36-year-old woman, surnamed Su.

"He is exactly the same as 20 years ago, the same place, the same voice, and the same passion. It is like a dream with Cui and all his classic songs."

There were many young listeners, born in the 1980s and even 1990s. They applauded just as loudly, or even louder.

Despite the youthful passion, Cui's Night of an Era concert only underscored the fact that China has a long way to go to the top if it wants to rock and roll.

No Chinese young band could fill a 10,000-seat venue this big. Only the 46-year-old rocker.

(China Daily 01/08/2008 page19)