Chinese Pop Music: What You Need to Know

If you’re a fan of pop music, then you’ve probably heard of Chinese pop music. But what is it, really? In this blog post, we’ll give you a crash course on Chinese pop music, from its history to its biggest stars.

Introduction

No matter where you go in the world, you’re bound to hear pop music. This genre has transcended cultures and continents, and China is no exception. In recent years, Chinese pop music has become increasingly popular, both in China and abroad.

If you’re interest in giving Chinese pop music a try, there are a few things you should know. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the basics of Chinese pop music, including its history, key artists, and popular songs. By the end, you’ll have everything you need to get started on your journey into this fascinating musical world.

History

Chinese pop music, also known as C-pop, is a genre of popular music that is sung in the Chinese language. The genre developed in the early 21st century and is influenced by a variety of musical genres, including Mandopop, Cantopop, and Western pop music. C-pop is usually produced by Chinese record labels and is popular in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and among Chinese diaspora communities around the world.

Early beginnings (1900s-1940s)

China’s pop music industry got its start in the 1920s, when the country was under Western influence. Early Chinese pop music was heavily influenced by jazz and blues, and was popular among the country’s youth. But it wasn’t until the late 1930s that Chinese pop music really came into its own, with the advent of Shanghai-style shidaiqu.

Shidaiqu is a genre of popular music that emerged in China’s Shanghainese communities in the 1930s. The style is a fusion of Western and Eastern musical influences, and was born out of a need for new, modern music that could appeal to China’s rapidly changing society. Shidaiqu became immensely popular in Shanghai and other major cities, and its popularity spread throughout China in the years that followed.

Some of the most famous shidaiqu singers of the time include Zhou Xuan, Li Jinhui, and Liu Huan. Zhou Xuan was one of the first shidaiqu singers to achieve nationwide fame, and her career spanned more than two decades. Her most famous songs include “Walking in the Moonlight” (1937) and “Goodbye My Love” (1939). Li Jinhui is considered to be the father of shidaiqu, and was instrumental in its development in the 1930s. His songs “Rose, Rose, I Love You” (1930) and “Shanghai at Night” (1932) are considered classics of the genre. Liu Huan is a more contemporary shidaiqu singer, but his song “Moonlight over Suzhou” (1992) is considered one of the most iconic songs of the genre.

The rise of Mandarin pop (1940s-1960s)

The rise of Mandarin pop (1940s-1960s)

The 1940s and 1950s saw the rise of Mandarin pop music in China. This type of music was typically sung in Mandarin, the dominant Chinese language at the time, and was influenced by both Western and Chinese music traditions. Artists such as Zhou Xuan, Yao Lee, and Li Jinhui were some of the most popular performers of this genre.

During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), Mandarin pop music fell out of favor due to its association with the previous capitalist regime. However, it experienced a resurgence in the 1980s as part of the reforms that were taking place in China at that time. Once again, artists like Yao Lee and Li Jinhui became popular, as well as newer performers such as Liu Huan and Na Ying.

The 1990s saw a new wave of Mandarin pop stars, including Jay Chou, Coco Lee, and Stefanie Sun. This was also a period when Cantonese pop music began to gain popularity in China. By the end of the decade, Mandarin pop had become one of the most popular genres in the country.

The golden age of Cantopop (1970s-1980s)

The golden age of Cantopop is often considered to be the 1970s and 1980s. This was a time when the genre was truly thriving, with many talented artists and bands emerging onto the scene. Some of the most well-known Cantopop artists from this era include Anita Mui, Leslie Cheung, Alan Tam, Danny Chan, and Sam Hui. Cantopop from this era is often characterized by its use of synthesizers and electric guitars, as well as its focus on romantic ballads and love songs.

The decline of Cantopop (1990s-present)

In the 1990s, Cantopop began to decline in popularity, due in part to the rise of other music genres such as Mandopop and international music. The late 1990s saw a renewed interest in Cantopop, with a number of successful artistes such as Aaron Kwok, Jacky Cheung, Alan Tam, Sandy Lam and Anita Mui. However, Cantopop’s popularity again dwindled in the new millennium. By the 2010s, most of the established Cantopop artistes had retired or started to focus on other projects (such as films and television dramas). New generation of Cantopop singers such as Eason Chan, William Chan and Justin Lo have not been able to achieve the same level of success as their predecessors.

Characteristics

Chinese pop music, or Chinee pop, is a catch-all term for pop music sung in Mandarin. (It can also refer to Cantopop, or music sung in the Cantonese dialect.) The term “Mandopop” is sometimes used interchangeably with “Chinese pop music.” Chinee pop emerged in the 1920s, and Mandarin-language pop music became popular in Taiwan and Mainland China in the 1960s.

Lyrics

Most Chinese pop songs are produced in Mandarin Chinese, which is the standard form of Chinese used in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore. Occasionally, other varieties of Chinese will be used in songs, such as Cantonese or Hokkien. In addition, some songs may include lines in English or other languages.

The lyrics of Chinese pop songs are often about love and relationships, but they can also cover a wide range of other topics as well. Some songs may be patriotic or have political messages, while others may be more light-hearted and fun. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of rap songs being released in China, which often tackle social issues such as unemployment or housing costs.

Music

Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form in the United States and United Kingdom during the mid-1950s. Popular music is a broad genre of commercial music, produced for mass media entertainment. While pop music is often seen as just the singles charts, it actually includes subgenres and related styles such as power pop, Electronic dance music (EDM), and Stadium rock.

Popularity

Chinese pop music, or C-pop, is extremely popular not only in China, but also in other parts of Asia, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It is also gaining popularity in other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, and Europe.

C-pop has a wide range of genres, from ballads to rock to hip hop. However, the one characteristic that all C-pop songs have in common is that they are sung in Mandarin Chinese.

C-pop first became popular in the 1920s and 1930s with the advent of Cantopop in Hong Kong and Mandopop in Taiwan. Cantopop is a mix of Cantonese and English lyrics set to pop music tunes, while Mandopop is Mandarin pop music. The two genres were heavily influenced by Western pop music.

In recent years, C-pop has been increasingly influenced by Korean pop music (K-pop) and Japanese pop music (J-pop). K-pop is characterized by its catchy tunes and polished performances, while J-pop is known for its quirkier style.

C-pop artists are often signed to record labels that are owned by major corporations. The three biggest record labels in China are Huayi Brothers Media Group, Alibaba Music Group (AMG), and Tencent Music Entertainment (TME). AMG is a subsidiary of Alibaba Group Holding Limited, while TME is a subsidiary of Tencent Holdings Limited.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve enjoyed this introduction to Chinese pop music. This is just a taste of the vibrant and ever-changing world of C-pop. With so many talented artists out there, it’s impossible to cover everything in one article. But we hope this has give you a good starting point to explore more on your own.

So turn up the volume, and enjoy!