Bjork surprised her Chinese fans by shouting “Tibet! Tibet!” after her song “Declare Independence”. The audience did not react but was uncomfortable with this and left quicker than usual.
Updated: The Chinese Cultural Ministry has declared that they will “impose stricter rules on singers and pop stars” claiming that Bjork broke Chinese law — as if they are not infamous for being heavy-handed already.
29 Comments
I’m surprised they would have let her sing a song titled “Declare Independence” in the first place. They probably won’t make that mistake again.
A celebrity using her elevated profile to promote a cause that’s actually worthwhile? Makes for a refreshing change …
This is the crazy bitch who suckered punched a Malaysian(?) journalist at the airport.
There’s a time and place for everything. If the Chinese government graciously allows her to make money by holding concerts there, the bitch should follow protocol. If China bothers her so much, dont fucking go there.
I guess the government apparently doesn’t know much about bjork. Consider that just days before while in Japan during the tour she had been shouting her support of an independent Kosovo at two concerts. Also a few months ago she was agitating for the independence of the Faroe Islands from Denmark.
Bjork thinks she’s an older Sinead O’Connor
It’s one thing to try to educate people through protest… it’s another to preach where you’re not wanted.
Makes me want to kick the ass of the next “Christian” that knocks on my door.
…it’s also another thing to keep quiet when you know that the Chinese government orders its soldiers to shoot at will on Tibetan pilgrims.
http://en.epochtimes.com/news/6-10-31/47636.html
#4 Bjork is not a Christian. And you have Christians confused with Jehova’s Witnesses probably. It is getting played out on the internet with all the bashing of the Chrisitans. Even non Chrisitans are getting tired of the fad.
Bjork’s outburst was almost as classy as the White House slipping a press pass to that Epoch Times reporter who screamed at Hu Jintao on the White House lawn.
“…it’s also another thing to keep quiet when you know that the Chinese government orders its soldiers to shoot at will on Tibetan pilgrims.”
It almost always comes down to the “awareness” excuse for assholes like Bjork. What makes you think I wanna hear about Tibet when I paid to watch a concert? I didnt wanna hear actors spewing their anti-war message at last year’s Academy Awards even when I agree with them. And I probably dont wanna hear hippies protesting about Tibet at a concert when I AGREE WITH THEM.
People like Bjork will agree to boycotting the Olympics. If you dont see how politics just shouldnt mix with some events, you’re hopelessly lost.
If China wants to play International power with the big boys, they have to learn to take what comes with it.
****
It took guts to do what Bjork did.
I’m astonished at the trashing of Bjork here. Good for her, I say. Tibet’s a taboo subject in China: they shouldn’t be allowed to silence everyone so easily.
nytom, many stupid young people don’t care to keep up with politics.
in China, money is more important than…everything.
everyone’s Chinese. It’s an official PRChina govt campaign.
hwang sa? Human rights issue in deporting North Koreans back to North Korea? Selling organs of executed criminals?
No problem. More Yuan, two wongs make a white in China.
Bjork was reaching out to young, stupid, selfish people. At least they heard of the issue. They just chose to ignore it. Bjork is a hero.
Jewel, Sheryl Crow, Dixie Chicks do the same. Bjork is no different.
Stupid people tend to listen to liberals who pass off political messages. Actors, movie stars, etc.
In this case, it is a very, very good thing.
Jing, don’t spy for China. You live in the US.
just like in any country, there is an over supply of stupid, young, selfish people in China.
I said nothing wrong. I am proud of what I believe. I know so in my heart.
we need Brave Koreans to condemn the PRChinese govt for returning North Korean escapers back to North Korea.
this needs to be organized, and no better time than the Beijing Olympics.
in fact, Perfect time.
wjk, you never cease to amaze me with your disjointed, chillingly nonsensical jumps of thought. If my mind worked like that I’d probably shoot myself out of frustration. I can totally imagine you writing a web site similar to http://www.timecube.com about how goldfish are related to global warming. It would almost make sense.
Can you try to organize your thoughts into coherent paragraphs in the future? For all our sakes?
Yeah, “NY Tom” is right. How dare that “bitch” Bjork interrupt the concert to make a blatant protest against the Chinese Communist Party, I mean if people are dying because of evil and someone points that out, that would really make it very difficult to enjoy the music.
If Bjork wanted to help the Tibetians who are being subjugated by any means possible, she should have simply played some cool music and held her breathe, waiting for the average Chinese citizen to develop the courage to openly confront their leadership; the same people who have no problem using violence to gain what they want. Just look at what the NY Philharmonic did while in Pyongyang, playing “Arirang”. I am quite sure that, after that, North Koreans must be dying to visit New York and take in the sights and completely immerse themselves in the wonderful cultural experience that awaits them there.
Using a public forum to protest the killing of innocent people and the now clever repression of Tibetans might have an impact upon China, causing protests and riots. This is quite likely as well because it is well known that the average Chinese citizen places great value upon social justice and freedom. Heavens, if the average Chinese were to rise up and demand change, it might jeopardize American business as well. Imagine if one could no longer go to Walmart and buy cheap underwear or Halloween decorations. The additional cost of these precious commodities would force many good Americans to go without, causing untold suffering and that just would not be right.
Besides, Bjork isn’t really American, is she. I mean what could someone from Iceland know about freedom? She probably only knows about trying to stay warm and milking penguins for sustenance. She probably sang about “independence” because her manager told her she could make more fans in China and fans equal money. The average Chinese is now so rich that everyone wants them as their patron and knowing how much Chinese love freedom, it is only natural that Bjork sang about what would appeal to them the most: being free to make more money, which in turn would make her rich. It is all perfectly logical and clever.
Although I’ve always considered her a be-yotch since leaving a Sugar Cubes Whiskey-A-Go-Go gig in ‘89 very early in a hissy fit due to some unspecified problem with the audience, at least the message this time was correct. Now, can she say Dokdo is Japanese next time she plays here?
Yes, it must be startling with all the money flowing into China, the new-found affluence and the desire to discover what western culture is all about. They listen to the music and find themselves moved to it a bit. Hey, let’s go see it live!
Suddenly they realize that the artist isn’t just a mannequin with someones hairy arm shoved up their backside spewing pleasant accolades to China’s views of the world from their hollow heads.
@16 Maybe he was talking about how we go to a concert to hear the music, not to hear music and watch the performer interrupt it with a display of self-importance.
Sure, Tibetans may be in a shit situation, but Bjork isn’t going to make a difference. What does she expect, the youth to rise up because some freak from Iceland who makes videos of girls with tentacles spewing out of her breasts told them too? Maybe she could inspire another Tiananmen Square protest, that last one went over well for the protesters and their freedom movement.
That being said, if Bono, who spends a great deal of his time and life working hard for poor people, wants to interrupt the concert I paid $80 to see, I’ll give him a pass, but unless Bjork is spending her personal time and money trying to constructively make a difference in Tibet, she should just sing her songs, do her dance, and go home.
Bjork is obviously a mac user.
All you artists, when we need you we’ll pull you out of the closet, wind you up and you do that artist thang. Nothing else! Then we’ll just stick you back in the closet where you belong.
You don’t like what she’s spewing, form your own protest. Turn down the dial or don’t spend the jack to see her show. Then you can stay in lollipop land where nobody says a word contrary to what the big scowling heads want.
If you go to a Bjork concert and complain about her going Bjorky you are obviously ill-prepared. Her music is laced with stuff that makes you want to go, “Huh?”. Those who are aquianted with her know that she likes to catch you a little off guard. Some performances are designed to make the audience uncomfortable. It’s part of what they are striving for. If it’s not your thing then it’s not your thing. If you feel strongly enough about it you might even tell your friends to stay away. That’s well within your rights.
Don’t expect her to quit being Bjork cause you told her to. It would be like going to a brothel and coming out complaining that you just didn’t feel loved.
That white women should feel blessed that China lets her sing in China!
How dare they talk about Tibet which is just another province, even though it has its own history and language.
#10,
I was going to make the same comment.
They are the ones who wanted to host the Olympics.
Indecently, can somebody give me an argument why to “Free Tibet!”? The cause puzzles me.
Sure I can understand a call for religious freedom and human rights in Tibet, however to “Free!” it seems like hyperbole. Not to mention the simple fact that the presumptive leaders of a “Free Tibet!” are a wild card for their own treatment of religious freedom and human rights.
One of the most priest-ridden countries in the history of the world! Then the Chicoms on top of that! Oh the humanities!
Yes, indeed “NYmingching”, how about those uppity, “bitch” white women being allowed to sing in China. Bjork should be grateful for not being killed or imprisoned for her actions while being a guest of the Communist Chinese Party. A guest should be held responsible for causing embarrassment to their host, especially when it makes their host look like amoral, cold-blooded killers. Such is simply bad manners.
I’d like to get me some free Tibet. Where’s the line?
This is so odd; RJ’s website is so against the Philharmonic playing in NK, now Bjork making a stand in China…what’s the deal?
I think what happened to the people who attended that concert was the same thing that happened when the Nork’s who practiced with the Philharmonic said nothing and promptly left the room…cognitive dissonance.
Now, can she say Dokdo is Japanese next time she plays here?” –Wedge
Thanks, Wedge. I laughed so much that I broke into a coughing fit.
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