The party is suffocating the pop scene

Our China Perspective column is written by authors from the People's Republic. Today's article looks at two viral hits from China's otherwise short-lived pop scene. Expressions of opinion are strictly censored in China, and that also applies to song lyrics. Nevertheless, artists still occasionally manage to strike a chord. Pop singer Ren picks up on a sense of hopelessness and helplessness in a new song.

Last updated: 24. July 2025