American blues-rock guitarist and singer Eric Clapton made his debut performance in mainland China on January 20 night, becoming the latest in a growing line of international artists to play in the country s commercial center.
Clapton mdash; famous for hits such as Tears in Heaven and Change the World mdash; played to a nearly-full 8,500-seat Shanghai Grand Stage, where the Rolling Stones also performed their first China gig in April last year.
The enthusiastic, mostly-expatriate crowd clapped and sang along with the favourites and stamped its feet for an encore.
Shanghai s Chinese residents made up a small minority of the audience, and though some were disappointed Clapton did not play some of his trademark hits like Tears in Heaven, others were just happy to be there for his concert.
Because I have always liked Eric Clapton, I have been listening to his songs since I was 12 years old. But I have never been to his concert, so when I heard he was coming to Shanghai, I had very much liked to come to attend, said 25-year-old Deng Yanbin.
I like him [Eric Clapton] very much, so this is indeed a rare chance to come see him, since it is his first concert in mainland China, said 25-year-old Huang Shiyu.
Clapton is the latest in a growing list of famous musicians to play in Shanghai. Black Eyed Peas and Elton John also recently performed in the city.
While the number of bands heading to Shanghai underpins its growing reputation as a performance venue as well as China s financial capital, the country s authorities still ultimately pull the strings on what is permissible in the rapidly-changing nation.
Shanghai is trying hard to reclaim its reputation as Paris of the East and is rising fast as Asia s newest financial centre. Separated from stodgier Beijing by nearly 900 miles, it also sees itself at the cutting edge of Chinese music, boasting a slew of racy clubs and edgy bands in a land where syrupy love ballads still rule the airwaves.
China s censors had previously told the Rolling Stones it could not perform some of the band s more sexually explicit songs, and authorities have also cancelled permission for a concert by rap artist Jay-Z, citing indecent lyrics.
News RSS