Music:

Slow, romantic, love songs largely dominate the Chinese music landscape. These songs litter music stores and TV channels. Rock music is minimal but does exist and there is a sizeable influence of Korean love and ‘R&B’ music. As for foreign music, Western chart-topping artists can be found in high street shops alongside a sizeable collection of light music (classical, pipe organ or acoustic guitar CDs are very popular). Most Chinese are unfamiliar with world famous artists such as the Rolling Stones, Robbie Williams, The Beatles or Queen, yet you’ll be able to hear their music in TV commercials. It is Celine Dion, the Righteous Brothers and other romantic, slow songs that they really like. Shops, karaoke bars and even street cleaning vehicles cheerfully blare out their hits over and over again. On the disco scene funky, boppy tunes, often mixed with experimental Russian tracks, are sounded out at exceedingly high decibels.