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Note: John was part of this Jan and Dean tour of China - being the first rock group to ever play China.
A groundswell of public support for democracy broke out in Communist China last week, inspired by – of all things – a Jan and Dean concert.
In case you don’t remember Jan Berry and Dean Torrence, who broke onto the rock ‘n roll scene in the early 1960s, you might remember some of their hits: “Surf City,” “Dean Man’s Curve,” “Little Old Lady from Pasadena,” and “Old Ladies Seldom Power Shift.”
Not exactly anthems of revolution.
But it probably wasn’t Jan and Dean’s mindless Southern California beach lyrics that incited thousands of Chinese students to peacefully take to the streets in search of democracy, unless “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” means something subversive in Chinese. Apparently, it all started after police clubbed a student or two who jumped up onto the stage to dance.
Outraged because the cops bopped a kid who just wanted to boogie, the students staged demonstrations that continued through much of the week. They weren’t denouncing police brutality, however, they were calling for better housing, lower prices and higher salaries. The banners they carried said: “Tell the Truth,” “Implement Democracy,” “Protect Human Rights.”
What happened at the concert, it seems was just a catylist for some deep-seated resentments the young people had about Chinese life. The clubbing was a symbolic of the repressiveness of Communism upon the very notion of freedom.
It’s a very encouraging sign.
If something as innocuous as Jan and Dean’s harmonies can set off demonstrations against the government, think what The Rolling Stones, The Jefferson Airplane or Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young might accomplish.
I wonder what the people in this country who are worried about the influence of rock-and-roll music make of this.
It’s pretty clear that the Chinese students weren’t marching to the revolutionary lyrics of satanic slave-masters, they were simply responding to the music. They were feeling good, for a minute, in a gloomy society. Then some goons with clubs broke up the party.
Neither do many American kids become slavering morons after listening to rock and roll – regardless of the lyrics. Most of them are just listening to the music.
So what’s the music saying?
The very essence of rock music is freedom and the Chinese kids got the message. They weren’t asking for anything excessive, just a chance to enjoy life and have some hope for a better one.
From what the government controlled press allows them to know of the outside world, they life America. They like the notion of a free society in which there’s a realistic chance to earn a decent living, travel freely and enjoy rock music without being busted.
When they demanded democracy, it’s unlikely they understood exactly what it was. One student was quoted as saying “Democracy is whatever benefits the people.”
While some right-wing sophists in this country would scoff at that, it’s basically correct. It’s what the people of the Philippines wanted when they overthrew Marcos. It’s what people all over the world are demanding today. The Chinese student said they knew about the peaceful revolutions there.
They don’t want communism, or any other form of tyranny, imposed on them.
Unlike the violent Maoist Cultural Revolution of 1966-76, the latest demonstrations in China began with the people – not the leadership. For China, this is a remarkable development.
Here’s an idea to consider: While some of our more paranoid citizens are looking for ways to exterminate all communists, having long ago given up any hope of ever learning to co-exist with them, why don’t we export more rock-and-roll music to communist countries?
Think of it, we can speed up the ongoing self-destruction of communism and make a profit at the same time – without having fired a shot. Maybe Col. North could broker the deal.
At the very least, we could airlift into Red China, the Soviet Union and Nicaragua cases of free rock-and-roll records, or beam it in on the Voice of America. It’s more cost-effective than the nuclear buildup.
Who know, Jan and Dean may have provided the formula for world peace.
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