Yo yo everyone, I just came across this very clever and well-produced video which has become somewhat of a YouTube sensation (at least among expats in China).
The video is a play on the Jay-Z/Alicia Keys song and video, Empire State of Mind. While many people not familiar with China and Beijing will not be likely to appreciate the Chinese terms and cultural references thrown in among the mostly English-language rap lyrics, those of us in China tend to find it very amusing and an accurate portrayal of modern big city China. One of my favorite lyrics is this line form the chorus in which just two words are changed:
"In Beijing, commie jungle where dreams are made of, there's nothing you can do."
Another of my favorite parts of the video shows the most popular summer male fashion trend in China - the rolled up shirt, showcasing the midriffs of Chinese men of all shapes and ages (who said Chinese weren't exhibitionists).
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| You can see guys doing this all over China |
From what I've gathered online, it seems the video was made by photographer/videographer Mark Griffith and stars Andrew Dougherty (playing the Jay-Z rapper role) and Princess Fortier (in the Alicia Keys singing role). The video features scenes of popular Beijing sites including The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, Bird's Nest Stadium, the Great Wall and even Zhongnanhai (home of the Chinese Communist government).
While most of the parody seems to be in good-natured fun, there is some serious criticism of current social problems in China such as the plight of migrant workers who come to Beijing and other cities from the Chinese countryside in search of higher paying jobs while leaving their children behind to be cared for by grandparents.
For more about the making of this video, see Mark Griffith's blog.
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