Russian favorites Brazzaville kick off first China folk-rock tour
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Brazzaville band members on stage. |
Many foreign musicians attract Chinese fans after they produce a hit or two and get some attention at home. For folk-rock band Brazzaville, formed in Los Angeles, though, it's more a case of getting their attention abroad, as this band seem to be more popular in other countries than they are at home.
Founded in 1997 by former Beck saxophonist (and now Brazzaville's lead singer) David Brown, the band's membership seems to fluctuate whenever they travel – indeed, in 2009, the band officially split to allow Brown to pursue a solo career. But now they're back together and starting a new China tour, their first, kicking off in Beijing's One Club tonight.
Deng dedication
In terms of coming to China, Brown said it's a special privilege.
"I would just like to say that I feel like the luckiest guy in the world. I get to travel to all kinds of interesting places, playing my songs with no other goal than to make people feel better and forget their troubles for a while," he told the Global Times in an e-mail interview from Barcelona. "I look forward to meeting the people of China."
He and his longtime guitar player, Kenny Lyon, were invited by independent label Pocket Records to perform in 12 Chinese cities until June 4, with stops in Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
Songs will come from their nine albums since 1998, Brown said, including the latest, Jetlag Poetry, which was released this year.
Songs such as "Deng Xiaoping" – the first track on 1998 album 2002, released by South China Sea – suggest an interest, or at least knowledge, of China. They have certainly intrigued Chinese listeners but Brown was quick to quash the idea, saying it's a connection he has never given serious thought to.
Brown explained that the song has little to do with the former leader of China.
"It's one of the first songs I ever wrote and is about the death of my grandfather and the moment when my father and I poured his ashes into Horseshoe Bay in Vancouver and they made a long white column that stretched to the sea floor," he said.
"I decided to frame that moment with some more global and historical references," he said.
But why use Deng's name?
"I had been reading about Deng Xiaoping and what a brilliant man he was, so I decided to use his name in the song. Also, it's such an amazingly beautiful word to say... Xiaoping," he added.
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