Just when you thought it was safe to poke around the Chinese internet, the Chinese Communist Party releases a new “rap” video promoting Party Secretary Xi (“Big Daddy Xi”) and all the wonderful things he has done this past year.
The Wall Street Journal wrote about the video on their China Real Time Report blog:
The rap propaganda – dare we say, rap-aganda? – is the Communist Party’s latest experiment in modernizing its message. In October, the state-run Xinhua News Agency released a jaunty theme song to promote the 13th five-year plan, complete with a psychedelic music video featuring cartoon characters and a robot with a pile of poop on its head.
The new messaging effort appears to have delighted some of China’s netizens. On Weibo, one commenter wrote, “Compared with the previous outdated propaganda, this is way easier to listen to.” Another wrote, “I can sing it too: Smog! smog! smog!”
One critic wrote: “Easier said – or sung – than done. Only if the central government has the real intention and the local government had the power to carry it out will the people benefit.”
And in case you want to know what is being sung, here’s the rough translation from WSJ:
Take a look at the deepening-reform group in the year 2015
Building the economy, creating wealth, optimizing services
They streamline administration and delegate power to the lower levels, so please do trust the government
Don’t let the hand reach out when it’s not supposed to — let the market speak.
They’re determined to fight against corruption. They especially target ferocious tigers
They’re strict in governing the party and ruling the nation according to law, which makes people rejoice.
Carrying out the “three stricts and three steadies” and allowing supervision by the masses
Reining in officials who take bribes
The deepening-reform group is two years old now and has been achieved a lot during the past two years.
Educational reform, medical reform and household registry reform. Reform! Reform! Reform! Reform!
Acting for the convenience and benefit of the people, giving them an easier life. Taking targeted measures in poverty alleviation and trying not to fall behind
(Xi Jinping’s voice:) To turn the people’s expectations into our actions.
The deepening-reform group is two years old now and has achieved a lot during the past two years.
Price reform, tax reform and state-owned-enterprise reform. Reform! Reform! Reform! Reform!
Streamlining administration and delegating power to the lower levels, releasing vitality. Supporting reform and upgrading the economy.
(Xi Jinping’s voice:) An arrow will never return once it’s shot.
The deepening-reform group is two years old now and has achieved a lot during the past two years.
Flies, tigers and large foxes. Capture! Capture! Capture! Capture!
To be strict in governing the party, we must first conduct ourselves honorably. And we will surely win judicial reform.
(Xi Jinping’s voice:) Punish every corrupt official and fight every corrupt phenomenon.
The deepening-reform group is two years old now and has achieved a lot during the past two years.
Managing the water, managing the air, managing the land. Manage! Manage! Manage! Manage!
Clear waters and green hills are our golden mountains. What “One Belt, One Road” adheres to is:
(Xi Jinping’s voice:) The principle of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.
To promote the progress of Asia and Europe in what’s called “One Belt, One Road”。
Free trade, openness, laws and finance, they are all helping each other.
Establishing the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and accelerating infrastructure construction.
And finally the yuan was included in the SDR (Special Drawing Rights basket, an international reserve asset).
Facing the smog, they hate it so much.
To determine to protect the ecology requires a bow at full draw.
Suspend those who should be suspended. Halt those who should be halted.
Clear waters and green mountains are a necessary step forward into the new journal.
The deepening-reform group is two years old now and has achieved a lot during the past two years.
Educational reform, medical reform and household registry reform. Reform! Reform! Reform! Reform!
Acting for the convenience and benefit of the people, giving them an easier life. Taking measures in poverty alleviation and trying not to fall behind.
(Xi Jinping’s voice:) To turn the people’s expectation into reality.
The deepening-reform group is two years old now and has achieved a lot during the past two years.
Price reform, tax reform and state-owned enterprise reform. Reform! Reform! Reform! Reform!
Streamlining administration and delegating power to the lower levels, releasing vitality. Supporting reform and upgrading the economy.
(Xi Jinping’s voice:) Victory belongs to the man of valor at the key moment of reform.
The deepening-reform group is two years old now and has achieved a lot during the past two years.
Flies, tigers and large foxes. Capture! Capture! Capture! Capture!
To be strict in governing the party, we must first conduct ourselves honorably. And we will surely win judicial reform.
(Xi Jinping’s voice:) To highly lift the sharp sword against corruption.
The deepening-reform group is two years old now and has achieved a lot during the past two years.
Managing the water, managing the air, managing the land. Manage! Manage! Manage! Manage!
Clear waters and green hills are our golden mountains. What “One Belt, One Road” adheres to is:
(Xi Jinping’s voice:) Openness and tolerance instead of closing up.
No mention of the …cough, cough….SMOG!
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