Zhejiang Province bans 37 songs in KTV

Key | April 21st, 2011

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Recently netizens of Wenzhou noticed a yellow sign appeared in the local KTV (karaoke clubs). The sign listed 37 songs that are now banned from playing at these places by the provincial authority. The 37 prohibited songs included popular titles like Su Rui’s “qian shou” 牵手 (Hold hands), Richie Ren’s Xiaoxue (snow) and Bobby Chen’s One night in Beijing.

The sign says “Prohibited songs announcement, according to regulation of the Provincial Department of Culture, the following 37 songs are banned from playing, sorry for the inconvenience…” Reporter interviewed Wenzhou culture law enforcement unit, they admitted the news were true but refused to explain the reason of the ban.

Su Rui’s “qian shou” 牵手 (Hold hands),

Richie Ren’s Xiaoxue (snow)

Bobby Chen’s One night in Beijing

Tags: ban, Censorship, Freedom, Karaoke, KTV, Law, song, Zhejiang

13 Comments | Leave a comment | Comment feed

Curren$y says:

2011/04/21 at 1:18 am

This is news to me. People go to Ktvs to sing? I was under the impression that people went there to pick up hookers and beat up women. Chinese society is finally moving forward.

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James Barnes says:

2011/04/21 at 1:37 am

‘One Night In Beijing’ banned?! There goes my entire repertoire.

@Curren$y: yes, there are lots of normal KTV chains for normal people who just want to have a drink and a sing-song with their friends and colleagues.

Banning fairly innocuous songs appears to be a sign of a society moving backwards.

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- Crystal says:
  
  2011/04/21 at 2:00 am
  
  James, @Curren$y knows that.
  He is a troll – don’t pay attention at him.
  
  Reply
Laoshi says:

2011/04/21 at 3:49 am

This is China for you.

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aflame says:

2011/04/21 at 4:41 am

So what’s wrong with these songs? Inharmonious lyrics?

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photo_la says:

2011/04/21 at 8:35 am

One night in Beijing banned! That’s pretty crazy. I hope the Beastie Boys selections are still up 😀

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jw says:

2011/04/21 at 9:23 am

makes me wonder if there is something like that in English radio stations for Gary Glitter songs?
be it self censorship from your editor or external from you local mayor, it’s still censorship!!

Come on! Come on..

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Chloe says:

2011/04/21 at 11:18 am

have you noticed? all these artists are from taiwan….
and there’s one song “wo ai tai mei” – “I love Taiwanese Girls”
WTF is wrong with Zhejiang. Jeez.

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- ChasL says:
  
  2011/04/21 at 11:42 pm
  
  Good observation. This lends credence to the speculation that this might be licensing related.
  
  Reply
melwalker says:

2011/04/21 at 9:27 pm

this is a fake report.
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2011-04-21/093822332447.shtml

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- ChasL says:
  
  2011/04/21 at 11:34 pm
  
  Mel is right:
  
  http://ent.sina.com.cn/y/2011-04-21/07513287945.shtml
  
  “执法处姚处长表示：浙江省文化厅从没有发过这样的有关“37首违禁歌曲”的文件，他们正在追查错误消息的来源。”
  
  “executive director Yao said: Zhejiang Cultural Administration did not issue anything relating to the 37 banned songs, they are looking into source of the misinformation.”
  
  Reply
  - Key says:
    
    2011/04/22 at 1:10 am
    
    Thanks for the update!
    
    Reply
no one in particular says:

2011/05/03 at 5:12 pm

…Could be worse…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Way_killings

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