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In a somewhat hilarious and sad piece of news, China has just issued a list of songs they deem as a threat to their national cultural security. The bulk of the list consists of Chinese and Taiwanese artists, but a few American acts slipped in as well, including Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Beyoncé, Owl City and plenty others. The goal? To protect the youth from poor taste and vulgar content.
This is the third list of songs the Chinese government has banned since it started regulating the internet content two years, but it’s the first chance we’ve had to get a good look at the full list.
The banning goes across the entire internet, from stores to personal websites. It’s unclear exactly what the penalty is going to be, but its clear they’ll be cracking down on any site that sells or distributes content on this list. It’s not just the fact the Chinese Ministry disagrees with the content, it’s also because according to ministry guidelines, all music needs to be cleared and translated into Chinese before it can be sold.
While Lady Gaga and Katy Perry aren’t particularly surprising (by China’s terms), considering they talk about threesomes, there are a few oddballs on the list. Owl City, for instance, doesn’t really fit the mold, unless China just hates AutoTune and little boys whining about heart strings. Simple Plan doesn’t either, but the most ridiculous is probably the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want it That Way.”
Now, we’re not going to say this song doesn’t negatively affect our own cultural sensitivity, but there doesn’t really seem to be anything inherently offensive. Our only guess is they might be offended by the line, “Now I can see that we’re falling apart/From the way that it used to me,” but that’s a huge, stretch implying someone might be insinuating a post-Mao China is falling apart. Or not, maybe they just saw the name Backstreet Boys and pictures and bunch of guys in leather with whips standing in alley-ways. Click through for the full list.
The list of songs banned
(Google Translated version)
Woke up – Yoga Lin
Good night – Yoga Lin
Souvenir – Yoga Lin
Run the World (Girls) Beyonce Knowles
Epiphyllum – Khalil
Love wins Strategy – Khalil
No mushroom friends – Khalil
One million kinds of kisses – Rachel Liang
Sister friend – Rachel Liang
My dearest – Mei
You look at me – Mei
There are like tears – Mei
Honey And The Bee – Owl City
The Real World – Owl City
Plant Life – Owl City
You Suck At Love – Simple Plan
Can’t keep my hands off you – Simple Plan
loser of the year – Simple Plan
Freaking me out – Simple Plan
the flood – Take That
love love – Take That
when we were young – Take That
pretty things – Take That
ET (feat. Kanye West) – Katy Perry
Last Friday Night (TGIF) (Album Version) – Katy Perry
You – Hsiao
Human cloning – Hsiao
Rhapsody – Hsiao
How to say I do not love you – Hsiao
You can only miss – Hsiao
With forest – Pak-ho
Black – Pak-ho
Today should be very happy – Pak-ho
Smiley Face – Pak-ho
Uptight – Natalie Walker
Mars – Natalie Walker
Cool Kids – Natalie Walker
Good thing – Jue Yan
Thank you for your inspiration – Jue Yan
Not the case is not alone – Jue Yan
Burning Up (Madonna Cover, Nick Remix) – Britney Spears
Sing Forever – Ken Hirai
Dayki – Ken Hirai
CANDY – Ken Hirai
R & B – Ken Hirai
Taipei rainy Sunday – Michael Wong
How are you – Michael Wong
Gently dancing – New Treasure Island Sport Band
He is a Shanghai girl – New Treasure Island Sport Band
Money Song – New Treasure Island Sport Band
Aunt beat – New Treasure Island Sport Band
Go! Go! – New Treasure Island Sport Band
もうonce – Wood linen storage
INTRO – Linzi Xi
Face – Linzi Xi
I am sorry – Linzi Xi
Chinese Girl – Linzi Xi
Vista – Ivana
End – Ivana
Anne Frank – Ivana
Miss address – Ivana
Yiyi – Ella Koon
I Want It That Way – Backstreet Boys
The Edge of Glory – Lady GaGa
Hair – Lady GaGa
Marry The Night – Lady GaGa
Americano – Lady GaGa
Judas – Lady GaGa
Bloody Mary – Lady GaGa
Love language of words – Dong Qian business
Ranging from the – Dong Qian business
Been in love – Andy Hui
Forget Forget – Andy Hui
Never had such a love – Andy Hui
Sorry That I Loved You – Nian Dong
Lyrics – Nian Dong
Happy end – Nian Dong
Happiness is a small matter – Nian Dong
Dawn – Doll
I know you I Favorites – Doll
This is not silly – Doll
Some people care about you – Doll
Yilaomailao – Doll
Love stone eggs – Kary Ng
I am silly woman – Kary Ng
Selfless – Kary Ng
Glimmer – Yida Huang
Broken Heart – Yida Huang
Flashback – Yida Huang
Keep – Yida Huang
Feat – Hins Cheung
PS. I Love You – Hins Cheung
Deadline – Hins Cheung
Can understand the pain – Spray Brothers
Treasures – Spray Brothers
I’m ok – Spray Brothers
Mobei your broken heart – We Li-an
You say I’m handsome -We Li-an
For love – Wei Li-an
Cloudy sunflower – Wei Li-an
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