2011 Dec 05 Rock Heroes of the Year - Midi Awards' Nominations Reveal
The third annual Midi Awards will be held at Tango on December 10. (Keep an eye on the site and our newsletter for ticket giveaways). It's no doubt one of the biggest events of the year in China's rock scene. The committee for the Midi Awards revealed the nominations a few days ago. While this year's list has some of the same names as last year's, it is probably a little more interesting. It is starting to show a slight hint of PR workings, but also has a lot of affection towards avant-garde works. Folk music has started to mark its territory - this year marks the first award for "Folk Musician of the Year," while metal bands still remain the big brothers.
Zuoxiao Zuzhou's four nominations make him the favorite of this year, alongside Longshendao. Midi's events' regulars like Miserable Faith and Yaksa are, of course, all considered. Omnipotent Youth Society has become a real hit ever since they released their debut album last year, and their song "Kill That Shijiazhuanger" made it into the nominations for "Song of the Year" for a second time. Read on to see who the Chinese music people love and click on the links to see if you agree.
Album of the Year
(I'm surprized that Xiao He's Fool's Ballad wasn't nominated. If we have to nominate one folk album, it shouldn't be Like A Grass. My choice: Kolengke)
Tai Chi Reggae (拥抱) by Longshendao 龙神道
Kolengke（影子）by Mamer & IZ 马木尔与IZ乐队
Like A Grass (像草一样) by Su Yang 苏阳
Trip to the Temple Fair II (庙会之旅II) by Zuoxiao Zuzhou 左小祖咒
Song of the Year
(A hundred people would have a different idea about this one. My choice: "My Son's Called Qian Yunhui")
"Zheng Qianhua" (郑钱花) by Chuanzi 川子 (see video below)
"Fool's Heart Chasing the Dream" (追梦赤子心) by Gala
"Time" (时光) by Caffein 咖啡因
"Slowly Fly" (慢慢飞) by Longshendao 龙神道
"Kill That Shijiazhuanger" (杀死那个石家庄人) by Omnipotent Youth Society 万能青年旅店
"Save" (拯救) by Zhou Yunshan 周云山
"My Son's Called Qian Yunhui" (我的儿子叫钱云会) by Zuoxiao Zuzhou 左小祖咒
Rock Band of the Year
(All great groups, very hard to make a choice, I'd go between Hanggai and Omnipotent Youth Society, and add Mamer & IZ to the list.)
Second Hand Rose 二手玫瑰
Gala
Hanggai 杭盖
Longshendao 龙神道
Omnipotent Youth Society 万能青年旅店
Yaksa 夜叉
Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
(We learned from this nomination that singing is very different from "vocal performance." If you've heard Li Nan's shriek and Zuoxiao Zuzhou's mumbling, you'd know what I'm talking about.)
Hao Yun 郝云
Li Nan 李难 from Voodoo Kungfu 零壹乐队
Liang Long 梁龙 from Second Hand Rose 二手玫瑰
Ma Tiao 马条
Zhou Yunshan 周云山
Zuoxiao Zuzhou 左小祖咒 (see video below)
Best Female Rock Vocal Performance
(So... there are still not many rock girls in Beijing)
Helen Feng 冯海宁 from Free The Birds
Jiang Xin 姜昕
Kangmao 抗猫 from Subs
Sayu from Caffein 咖啡因
Yingzi 樱子 from Fall In Sex 秋天的虫子
Hard Rock Band of the Year
(Go Juxiezuo!)
Juxiezuo 巨蟹座 (formerly known as Junxiesuo)
Twisted Machine 扭曲机器
Velvet Road 丝绒公路
Miserable Faith 痛仰
Yaksa 夜叉
Metal Band of the Year
(There are apparently too many metal bands in Beijing, so we need two awards for them. But what's the point of nominating the same bands twice? )
Juxiezuo 巨蟹座
Voodoo Kungfu 零壹乐队
Yaksa 夜叉
Suffocated 窒息
Best Rock Instrumental Performance
(The trumpet would represent Omnipotent Youth Society better than the guitar)
Dong Yaqian 董亚千 - singer/ Guitarist of Omnipotent Youth Society 万能青年旅店
Han Tian 韩天 - bassist of Yaksa 夜叉
Ji Yuan 纪元 - guitarist of Air Carnival 空中狂欢节
Kou Zhengyu 寇征宇 - guitarist of Suffocated 窒息 and Spring Autumn 春秋
Li Yanliang 李延亮
Best Live Performance
(Definitely Hanggai.)
Reflector 反光镜
Hanggai 杭盖
Voodoo Kungfu 零壹乐队
Miserable Faith 痛仰
Best New Artist
(The nomination should probably be best debut album)
Longshendao 龙神道
Dark Haze 霾晦乐队
Shuangzi & Ci 爽子与瓷乐队
Steely Heart
Folk Musician of the Year
(Xiao He?)
Chuanzi 川子
Hao Yun 郝云
Ma Tiao 马条
Su Yang 苏阳
Best Album Art
(Who cares?)
Pet Conspiracy by Pet Conspiracy
Ting Tai Lou Ge (亭台楼阁) by Dead J
Namo (南无) by Namo 南无
Trip to the Temple Fair II (庙会之旅II) by Zuoxiao Zuzhou 左小祖咒
Midi Awards
(December 10) Performance lineup includes: Longshendao, Steely Heart, Luo Qi, Hao Yun, Juxiezuo, Liquid Oxygen Can and CMCB. Tickets available here. RMB 180, RMB 100 (advance). 3-10pm. Tango
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BJBomber
Re: Rock Heroes of the Year - Midi Awards' Nominations ...
Am I missing something or aren't Maybe Mars bands midi-cool?