True story: Zhou Yunpeng gets so much respect he can show up at an event like the Strawberry Festival and render a crowd of thousands to near-silence (May 2). And as one of China's most beloved folk singers, Zhou is guaranteed to repeat this feat tonight at Jianghu Bar.

But this time, you're gonna learn a thing or two as he presents a century of Chinese melody, playing his versions of the most influential and important songs according to Zhou.

"This last century China has seen so many changes, and it's reflected in the music," Zhou said. "Every decade was different, and this is my way to outline these changes."

And modern history is clearly illustrated through obvious changes in musical style; grouped by decade, Zhou will strum through pre-war Shanghai with the pop-influenced "Always Smiling" ("Yongyuan de Weixiao") by famed songwriter Chen Gexing (China's answer to Gershwin), and contrast with Revolutionary era-songs like the Kazakh folk tune "Zainayaoyuande Defang" accredited to Wang Luobin.

Taiwan's emergence in the 70s is covered with covers of Deng Lijun and the folk song "Beautiful Island" by activist Li Shuangze, while Beijing rock roars in the 80s with the emergence of Cui Jian with "Huafang Guniang."

Zhou promises to end with a few selections of his own catalog, arriving in a new millennium where according to him folk is experiencing even greater changes.

"Folk is stepping towards the mainstream, yet not fully accepted because the styles are really diverse," he explains, citing Xiao He and Wan Xiaoli as examples. "But it's still a music of the people; you come because we're often singing what you're thinking," said Zhou, his ballad about selling yourself in order to "Buy a Home" a perfect example.

"Because we're recording the thoughts and details of the age," he added.

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