The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #120176   Message #2611480
Posted By: Bonnie Shaljean
15-Apr-09 - 03:32 AM
Thread Name: Origins: The Ballad of Mao Zedong
Subject: RE: Origins: Do anybody know about this strange so
I've never heard this song either, and agree with the others - and those lyrics, even as a translation, do not sound like western pop material. Some producer or other would have made them more "commercial" if they were trying to aim it at US or European audiences. (I had to read the words twice, because the first time around I interpreted them as being ironic, especially "If you have anything against this opinion I think you'd better go." But if it was sung in 50s China they were probably intended to be taken seriously. Or else. (Anyone who hasn't read Jung Chang's Wild Swans, do.)

Interesting post, KurtPing - I hope someone comes along who can fill in the blanks.