CHINA: MANDARIN CHINESE MUSICIAN ZHENG JUN IS SUCCESS IN POP WORLD

(19 May 1997) Mandarin/Nat In China's growing music market - Western and Cantonese pop music rule. But one Mandarin Chinese musician, Zheng Jun, is proving to be a hit with his style of home-grown rock and roll. So far, young Chinese are responding positively -- at least the five hundred thousand people have purchased his new record in the five months since its release. Unlike his predecessors in China's developing rock scene, Zheng sings not about politics and social change - but about personal development. Zheng Jun is, in many ways, typical of twenty-something urban Chinese. But there's one big difference -- this man is fast becoming a star. His album, \"The Third Eye,\" has now sold more than half-a-million copies in China. It's a feat achieved by few artists in China's growing music market - a market major international record labels are keen to get into. At a performance for journalists and members of the recording industry in Beijing, Zheng show cased the music that landed him a contract with Polygram Records two years ago. He is one of the few mainland rock musicians to sign with an international recording company. When asked why he has succeeded in securing an overseas contract when even better- known and older Chinese rock musicians like Cui Jian have failed, Zheng says the answer lies with today's youth. He claims the post-Tiananmen-Square generation of the nineties is less concerned about social issues than the eighties rock generation. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) \"Those guys (like Cui Jian) are more aggressive and socially aware, whereas I don't really care much about the state of society or the future, I just focus on my own life, what I can do. I think that is a characteristic of China's youth today, and I think that's why they buy the record.\" SUPER CAPTION: Zheng Jun, Chinese rock musician The most distinctive feature of Zheng's music is his incorporation of Chinese ethnic music and traditional instruments with rock. Music from China's 56 ethnic minority groups is both popular and officially promoted by the government. Many of today's Chinese rock musicians got their start in ethnic music orchestras. Zheng's music is considered \"western\" by most Chinese - but with a \"Chinese flavour\" because he uses the Chinese zither, ethnic minority vocalists, traditional flutes, and a Tibetan soloist. Zheng's work has attracted the attention of other Chinese musicians, including AI Jing, a folk singer who signed with Sony Music Japan. \"Return to Lhasa\" is the best example of Zheng's use of the music that he's listened to since his childhood. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) \"I listened to ethnic music when I was small, and continued listening to it as I grew up. I didn't hear rock music until I was over 20. So ethnic music is very important to me and its influence is very great.\" SUPER CAPTION: Zheng Jun, Chinese rock musician Zheng's tangible prize for his commercial success is a gold record -- a rare award in a market where there are no teeny-bop heroes and no overnight sensations. As the first single from \"The Third Eye\" -- \"There is an End to Everything\" -- climbs up radio charts around China, Zheng Jun may soon be back for an encore. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/e00013bc157378d72adf13914262a708

Added 16 Sept 2026