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Kenny G Stirs Controversy With Visit to Hong Kong Protest Kenny G Stirs Controversy With Visit to Hong Kong Protest
(35 minutes later)
BEIJING — It seemed innocuous enough on the surface: The smooth-jazz musician Kenny G paid a surprise visit to a Hong Kong protest site on Wednesday, posing for photos with residents who are demanding the right to free elections.BEIJING — It seemed innocuous enough on the surface: The smooth-jazz musician Kenny G paid a surprise visit to a Hong Kong protest site on Wednesday, posing for photos with residents who are demanding the right to free elections.
He tweeted the news that he was at the demonstration, along with a smiling photo showing a protest banner in the background, and wrote, “I wish everyone a peaceful and positive conclusion to this situation.”He tweeted the news that he was at the demonstration, along with a smiling photo showing a protest banner in the background, and wrote, “I wish everyone a peaceful and positive conclusion to this situation.”
But little is that simple here.But little is that simple here.
Kenny G is an icon in China, and his visit stirred up controversy and conspiracy theories on both sides of the political divide.Kenny G is an icon in China, and his visit stirred up controversy and conspiracy theories on both sides of the political divide.
In one of the more inexplicable mysteries of Chinese culture, his 1989 saxophone ballad “Going Home” has for decades oozed from speakers across Chinese public spaces at closing time, triggering rapid exits by the masses. The song has no lyrics, yet somehow, when it is played in a mall, Chinese shoppers know what to do. They go home.In one of the more inexplicable mysteries of Chinese culture, his 1989 saxophone ballad “Going Home” has for decades oozed from speakers across Chinese public spaces at closing time, triggering rapid exits by the masses. The song has no lyrics, yet somehow, when it is played in a mall, Chinese shoppers know what to do. They go home.
So after weeks of accusations in China’s state media that foreign forces were behind the protests, the sight of the popular American musician openly fraternizing with protesters prompted a stern warning from the Chinese government.So after weeks of accusations in China’s state media that foreign forces were behind the protests, the sight of the popular American musician openly fraternizing with protesters prompted a stern warning from the Chinese government.
“Kenny G’s musical works are widely popular in China, but China’s position on the illegal Occupy Central activities in Hong Kong is very clear,” the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily news briefing on Wednesday. “We hope that foreign governments and individuals speak and act cautiously and not support Occupy Central and other illegal activities in any form.” “Kenny G’s musical works are widely popular in China, but China’s position on the illegal Occupy Central activities in Hong Kong is very clear,” a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, said at a daily news briefing on Wednesday. “We hope that foreign governments and individuals speak and act cautiously and not support Occupy Central and other illegal activities in any form.”
The musician played four concerts in China last month, though whether he will be allowed to return remains to be seen. A number of high-profile foreign musical acts have taken the stage in China recently, including Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and Mariah Carey, but the authorities have bridled at foreign artists taking a public stance that opposes the will of Beijing. In 2008, the Icelandic singer Bjork yelled “Tibet! Tibet!” during a song about independence at a concert in Shanghai. The outburst prompted government restrictions on which foreign singers could perform in China, and the government has requested set lists in advance. The musician played four concerts in China last month, though whether he will be allowed to return remains to be seen. A number of high-profile foreign musical acts have taken the stage in China recently, including Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and Mariah Carey, but the authorities have bridled at foreign artists’ taking a public stance that opposes the will of Beijing. In 2008, the Icelandic singer Bjork yelled “Tibet! Tibet!” during a song about independence at a concert in Shanghai. The outburst prompted government restrictions on which foreign singers could perform in China, and the government has requested set lists in advance.
But an opposing theory that surfaced last week on Twitter said that Beijing might send Kenny G to Hong Kong to play “Going Home,” and that the protesters, who have occupied sections of Hong Kong’s business districts for weeks, would finally disperse.But an opposing theory that surfaced last week on Twitter said that Beijing might send Kenny G to Hong Kong to play “Going Home,” and that the protesters, who have occupied sections of Hong Kong’s business districts for weeks, would finally disperse.
So when he appeared at the protest on Wednesday, many assumed it could not have been coincidence. So when he appeared at the protest on Wednesday, many assumed that it could not have been coincidence.
“'Going Home’ conspiracy ACTIVATED,” tweeted Kristie Lu Stout, the Hong Kong-based CNN anchor. “ 'Going Home’ conspiracy activated,” tweeted Kristie Lu Stout, a Hong Kong-based CNN anchor.
Harlem Lo, 39, a longtime Kenny G listener who has camped out in a tent for several weeks by the government headquarters, dismissed the idea.Harlem Lo, 39, a longtime Kenny G listener who has camped out in a tent for several weeks by the government headquarters, dismissed the idea.
“We didn’t leave when the police used tear gas on us,” he said. “Why would a single Kenny G. tune shake our determination?” “We didn’t leave when the police used tear gas on us,” he said. “Why would a single Kenny G tune shake our determination?”