China to crack down on singers after Bjork outburst

03/07/2008 12:00 PM, Reuters


China will tighten its controls over foreign singers and other performers after Icelandic singer Bjork shouted "Tibet! Tibet!" at a Shanghai concert last weekend, the Ministry of Culture said on Friday.

Bjork chanted the name of the Chinese-ruled Himalayan region after performing her song "Declare Independence," which she has used in the past to promote independence movements in other places such as Kosovo.

The performance "not only broke Chinese laws and regulations and hurt the feelings of Chinese people, but also went against the professional code of an artist," the ministry said in a statement quoted by the official Xinhua news agency.


"Any attempt to separate Tibet from China will definitely be opposed by the Chinese people and all righteous men across the world."

The ministry said it would investigate the concert and handle the matter according to the law. It did not elaborate.

Bjork said on her Web site that her references to independence were more personal than political, but she added:

"The fact that it has translated to its broadest meaning, the struggle of a suppressed nation, gives me much pleasure. I would like to wish all individuals and nations good luck in their battle for independence."

The Free Tibet Campaign, a British-based organization which calls for an end to China's rule of Tibet, issued a statement saying it was delighted by Bjork's performance.

"She's shown more courage than politicians like (British Prime Minister) Gordon Brown and (British Foreign Secretary) David Miliband, whose public silence on these issues during recent trips to China is a source of shame for the British people," the campaign said.

So she won't be going back to China any time soon.

i'd hardly call her onstage comments an "outburst" - if it were bono, the headline would be calling it a "political statement".

Anxiety said:

But they left out the fact that she was bashing the concert promoter's head on the ground as she shouted "Tibet!"

NDRU said:

i wish they had televised professional wrestling in iceland!

This is so being blown out of proportion.

GangstaFam said:

it truly is.

Anxiety said:

Sad thing is, we're probably the only 2 that would actually defend her here. We usually are.

GangstaFam said:

oh, there are a couple of others, but yeah. it's easier to make fun of the crazy bjitch than it is to defend the passionate artist.

Go Bjork, go!

Anxiety said:

loves it!

I would love to have seen the crowd's immediate reaction.

Madonna covered one of her songs...

Wait...there's a conection...see my avatar!!

The Chinese!!! The made me do it!! AAAHHAHAHA!!
[Edited 3/7/08 17:58pm]

Lammastide said:

I've read that they (being faithful to the asian tradition) remained quiet, but as soon as the concert was finished they literally RAN to the exit doors in tense anger

GangstaFam said:

you're so not righteous men!

NDRU said:

Yeah? Who is?

Anxiety said:

She's kind of taken Sinead's place as that "crazy chick" that will elicit silly responses from people.

I always felt that nobody would have cared if a Marilyn Manson tore up a picture of the pope, but if Sinead or Bjork did it, it would make headlines. And in Sinead's case, it would nearly end her career.
[Edited 3/7/08 18:18pm]

NDRU said:

well, until you find the righteous one - COMPUTER POO!

GangstaFam said:

The dedicated oppressors of Tibet!

"Any attempt to separate Tibet from China will definitely be opposed by the Chinese people and all righteous men across the world."
[Edited 3/7/08 18:59pm]

i think it was a brave thing to do.

GangstaFam said:

well ~ at least 3 of us. Just one of countless reasons I love her so much.

JoeTyler said:

Wow.

Another country down on her Piss Asia Off world tour. Love it

its on youtube..

[Edited 3/8/08 9:33am]

Lammastide said:

I think THAT would have said alot. On either side of the arugement, and therefore a good gaugue for people on the outsid to look into the eyes of others: eyes don't lie.

At the end of the day, what do we all REALLY know about the foreign policies of different nations other than what we have heard on tv sound bytes and concert chants? That's why I always believe It's important to do the research and make an authentic decision for yourself before we go to champion one side or the other as it feel appropriate to us.

For example, I think Robert Mugabe is the biggest assholes on the face of the earth, but no one pays attention to his atrocties...they're FAR beyond anything the likes of a Saddam Hussein has done, yet his actions have been largely ignored. I wouldn't feel that way if I didn't do reasearch on his country's backstory vs. the pity pleas he tries to put out via the general media which they then feed to us...

...at the end of the day...I'm just saying I would like to observe or at least speak to an avergage Chinese citizen to gague the disaster that has become Tibet and ssk their thoughts. If we can't at least do THAT then I feel that we therefore have no right to criticize, particularly if we constantly take money from them on loan, otherwise cut all ties.

I thought it was a great protest. The Chinese are fascists when it comes to occupying another country and destroying it's heritage.

I love Björk for daring to speak out.

Bjork you're so brave!

Good for her!

Tibet!!!