2009 Jul 08 Keep up the Blossom: An Interview with Second Hand Rose
A tall guy dressed like a woman (or to use the technical term ‘transvestite’) singing local comic folk, accompanied by high-pitched suona and electric guitar, while using the F word and C word a lot – it doesn’t matter if they are annoying to you or getting you excited, they’ve always been the one-and-only in Beijing’s music scene during the last 9 years. With band member changes and the times they are a-changing, this band just won’t go away, whether you like it or not.
With two albums out and being recognized for mixing rock music and a song-and-dance duet known as “Er Ren Zhuan” (二人转) in Northeast China, where lead singer Liang Long comes from, alternative rock band Second Hand Rose, or Ershou Meigui (二手玫瑰) in Chinese, will be celebrating its 9-year anniversary this Friday with an EP release called Lovers (Qing’er, 情儿).
Before the show starts, guitarist Yao Lan shared some insights with tbj.
the Beijinger: Describe your definition of Er Ren Zhuan.
Yao Lan: Amuse you with truths.
tbj: Describe your definition of rock music.
YL: Music with truths, distorted guitar, and AC/DC.
tbj: What makes you combines the two?
YL: Our lead singer Liang Long started the band, mostly because he came from the Northeast.
tbj: Both in social surroundings and your life experiences, what have changed from since your first album in 2003? How have these changes been reflected in your music?
YL: I think the real changes happen within your heart, and sometimes it depends on what the public wants. If they want more, we are willing to offer more. But sometimes we won’t forget to entertain ourselves while making them happy.
tbj: What about the bands now in Beijing? Any particular favorite?
YL: I’ve been listening to some of them, and I like them all.
tbj: Have any of you involved with other projects?
YL: We’ve been involved with many things really, but the one thing worth mentioning is that Liang Long’s own photography has been used as our new EP cover!
tbj: Do you all have day jobs?
YL: Only music.
tbj: Comparing to when the band started, how has it changed in terms of solely surviving on music?
YL: I’ve got a wife...
According to CCTV, Er Ren Zhuan sounds like this:
According to what it is, it sounds like this:
According to Xiao Shenyang (小沈阳), an Er Ren Zhuan performer who also happens to be one of the most popular stand-up comedians in China right now, it also comes in English…(For more about Xiao Shenyang, click here to see Steven Lin’s post on Youku Buzz):
According to Second Hand Rose, it rocks like this:
tbj: Why choose to have a male lead singer presenting a feminine image?
YL: I would rather say it’s a cross-gender image. Liang Long is still a man, you know. But you can see it as a man’s singing songs while a woman’s telling stories.
tbj: As a band has always been singing in Chinese, do you think the “English or Chinese” question really matter?
YL: I don’t mind put in a few English, but don’t make the whole song with it! I personally feel more connected with the Chinese language.
tbj: Are you planning a third album? Any change in genre?
YL: We’ve been keeping recording new tracks, and will release an album when we feel it’s the right time. We’re making changes all the time. For instance, in this new EP, Liang Long made some breakthroughs in the lyrics of “Unofficial History” (Ye Shi, 野史) with some storytelling. Also, in “Lovers”, he allows me to sing, which is a pretty big risk for him to take.
tbj: In 2008, Second Hand Rose started a compilation recording called You in a Red Chamber, I Journey West (Ni zai Honglou, Wo zai Xiyou, 你在红楼 我在西游) consisted of renditions of theme songs from Journey to the West (aka Xi You Ji, 西游记) and Dream of the Red Chamber (Hong Lou Meng, 红楼梦), two CCTV hit dramas based on two classic Chinese novels. How did that come about?
YL: Liang Long heard Wan Xiaoli singing “Nv’er Qing” (女儿情), a soundtrack from Journey To The West, he liked it a lot and started the project. I felt strongly connected to this project because Journey To The West is also part of my childhood memories. For more information, please buy the CD and see the sleeve notes.
tbj: They made a play based on this record, can you tell us something about it?
YL: Many friends told me it was superb, and they’ve seen it many times. Me, not so much, I’m not only saying this to this particular play, but theaters in general.
tbj: What’s the connection between music and theater? What’s the biggest difference?
YL: They both have strong live charisma. But theater is constrained by language barriers, whereas music is more universal.
Listen to You in a Red Chamber, I Journey West here.
tbj: Personal emotion and social reality, which is more important in your music?
YL: They are equally important in different songs.
tbj: Where else have you guys performed besides China? How’s that like?
YL: We’ve performed in the US, Russia, Japan, Netherlands and South Korea. The only difference is Chinese people can understand our lyrics and foreigners can’t.
tbj: How differently do the foreign spectators react to your music comparing to Chinese crowds?
YL: Based on what I heard, some people got really annoyed by our music, and some people liked it a lot. As long as it stimulates your nerve, that’s fine with us! The most feedback we’ve got from laowais are “amazing”, some of them can almost sing along with us!
Second Hand Rose releases their Lovers EP on July 10 at Yugong Yishan (RMB 80, RMB 50 for advance ticket, 9pm), followed by a tour across the country. Check out their first album Second Hand Rose (Ershou Meigui, 二手玫瑰) here and second album Entertainment Industry Jianghu (Yule Jianghu, 娱乐江湖) here.
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