Chinese rocker Cui Jian
performs at the 2007 Beijing Pop Music Festival in Chaoyang Park,
Beijing, China, on Sunday, September 9, 2007.
Chinese rock'n'roll star Cui Jian took the surprising step of
singing his first English song "Outside Girl" at the annual Beijing
Pop Music Festival on Sunday night.
"This is the first time I sing a song in English and I dedicated
this to woman athletes at next year's Olympics," the Beijing-born
multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and vocalist told the crowds at
Chaoyang Park before the song.
But the new song didn't win him as much audience reaction as
other better-known ones.
"It's a bit hard to follow the English lyrics," said one rock
fan Ma Jun, adding that Cui is most famous for his poetic and
socially conscious lyrics.
"It shows his intention of entering into the international
stage, as there are so many western bands around," Ma said.
The two-day music carnival brought to the Chinese capital some
big-name western acts, such as Grammy-winning Nine Inch Nails and
rap legends Public Enemy.
Public Enemy's front man Chuck D paid tribute to China by
wearing the jersey of NBA hero Yao Ming on Saturday's performance,
while Britpop group Suede got audience's chorus as they delivered
"Everything Will Flow".
(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2007)
