Red song club denies rumor of singing ban
- Source: Global Times
- [09:08 April 18 2011]
- Comments
"Red song club" members gather to sing in Jingshan Park Sunday. Photo: Xu Tianran/GT
By Xu Tianran
Members of a troupe that sings traditional revolutionary tunes vehemently dismissed overseas reports that their club will be banned for being too Maoist as rumor.
Citing the subject's sensitivity, a Beijing police spokesperson refused to comment on the rumors.
According to media and blog reports, as well as Maoist websites, several revolutionary singing clubs, commonly known as "red song clubs," started organizing regular gatherings in 2009.
Now every Sunday morning, several hundred people, some dressed in revolution-era clothing, gather in Jingshan Park to sing red songs.
An overseas Chinese-language website alleged on April 11 that police told the Jingshan Park group's organizer that they should avoid songs that are "too red," or too Maoist. The report also quoted an anonymous source predicting such clubs may be banned in coming weeks.
"We are a red song club, and we only sing red songs. What else would we sing?" one of the singing club's organizers told the Global Times Sunday morning.
The woman, who wore a Cultural Revolution-era military uniform, denied the report and continued to decorate the singing venue with Mao posters, where they also sell brochures promoting Maoist thought for 20 yuan ($3.06) apiece.
"Who said we couldn't sing songs that are too red? We'll forget the past if we don't sing red songs!" an elderly man said while gesticulating angrily.
"Whoever said such a thing is a traitor, bring him here!" another middle-aged woman shouted.
Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau spokesman Zi Xiangdong said he was not aware of the situation and refused to comment on the foreign media report, explaining that the matter was "too sensitive" to discuss.
