Hurd Banned in China - Mongolian Rock in a World Context

During the last half of the 20th century rock music became an inseparable part of the vast beloved culture in the English speaking world. Lyrics like " I hope I die before I get old" from Pete Townshend's: My Generation, "Then you great start swimmin or you'll sink like a stone" from Bob Dylan's: The Times They are a Changin" and "Old man take a look at yourself I'm a lot like you were" from Neil Young's classic: Old Man, became part of the stockroom of beloved culture that flowed through the minds of a large whole of habitancy both young and old.

But if we look to the origin of this pop music we find that it's beginning was characterized by a rebellious sentiment that has permeated the musical genre since it first began. In fact a cursory reveal of the history of the term rock n' roll reveals that it was first used by American musicians while the early part of the 20th century. It was quite frankly an unabashed reference to the act of sexual intercourse. This term no doubt raised more than just a few eyebrows.

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Elvis Presley for example, the infamous American icon, was categorically the focus of principal controversy.

In the late 1950's American television networks refused to film the singer from below the waist. It was argued that his tendency to sway his seductive hips in rhythm to the tune made him more than just a small risque. This story became an integral part of Americana, things typical of American culture or civilization.

Ironically at the dawn of the 21st century we find that the rock phenomenon is, for great or worse, in the guise of dissimilar names, playing itself out in dissimilar lands and various cultures over the globe. And in many respects the risks and dangers are even greater. In the wide open spaces of Mongolia for example, seemingly far removed from the trappings of western culture, the rock n' roll controversy continues. The quintessential Mongolian rock band Hurd was banned from performing in Inner Mongolia, China. The conjecture any way is not sexual but political.

Hurd, the Mongolian wonder-band, has among it's many talents the splendid capability to join Mongolian modern culture into a brief four small song. And the youth of Mongolia love it. They are provided with a new opportunity to celebrate their own way of life that is suitable perhaps only for them. For this they should be commended. And perhaps this phenomenon is not so difficult to understand, as the Mongolian habitancy are a proud hardworking resilient bunch. And they are situated between two major world powers, Russia and China.

This categorically exacerbates their acute awareness of history. For Mongolian's about eight hundred years ago controlled a vast territory that stretched from Southeast Asia to Europe face 13.8 million quadrilateral miles or 35 million quadrilateral kilometers. But today it is perhaps reasonable to stop that young Mongolian's are just attempting to make their modest mark on an ever changing modern world. perhaps the whole rock n' roll thing is merely an practice in Mongolian self assertion.

However the significance of this self assertion may not be fully understood for years. And categorically more than a few American social critics have argued against the evils of rock n' roll for some decades. They have held it responsible for everything from an escalating disjunction rate, truancy, and youthful masturbation the most heinous crimes.

With this in mind it is more than a small ironic and slightly comic that the notorious Rolling Stones, the British rock band were granted permission to play in China. With just a few restrictions they were given the green light by the government, provided they would omit a few songs from their play-list. Just a few years ago this would have been unheard of. But today the Chinese government may see these gray-haired weather-beaten old men just as a small means to improve their ever growing economy. They are no longer examples of spiritual pollution and must no longer be purged from the minds of the great proletarian youth.

So we must ask ourselves why is the communist government afraid of Hurd. Speculators have indicated that the Chinese government is perhaps worried about age-old ethnic tensions between Mongolians and Chinese. And as Mongolia is molding itself into a very impressive young democracy perhaps the risk of a pan-Mongolian united front from over the border and into China's Inner Mongolia is more than it can take.

But if we sweep politics aside and focus upon the merits of the music, it is quite difficult not to admire this young group of musicians. With a unique capability to ply their way into the hearts of Mongolia's youth, we can only hope that they will continue to find a creative outlet for their music. If anything, the international concentration spurred by their latest round of publicity may be a sign of good things to come. We can therefore at least in all sincerity wish them the best of luck. In the spirit of rock n' roll' "C' mon baby let the good times roll".

Hurd Banned in China - Mongolian Rock in a World Context

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