Nothing To My Name Cui Jian Analysis

Cui Jian, otherwise known as “The Father of Chinese Rock,” had a large amount of influence in the Rock’N’Roll scene in China. Rock’n’roll in China was pretty nonexistent prior to the release of “Nothing to My Name” in 1989. He played a big role in empowering the youth in China with this new genre of music, as well as empowering himself on this journey for a new identity. Much of Cui Jian’s music, like any other artist, is a reflection of how he felt with the government trying to dictate what music and media were released to the public, including his frustrations with his life and self-expression; and two songs that embodied his struggles are “No More Disguises” and “A Piece of Red Cloth.”

Prior to Cui Jian bringing rock’n’roll to China, “the

Lolo’s album cover depicts himself not smiling, posing, or doing anything, in contrast to the typical happy looking cover. He gives off “the challenging look of someone who refuses to let others turn him into an object… and to be a subject who speaks his own voice” (Baranovitch, 87). This also relates to Cui Jian’s search for a new identity and how he used costumes, music videos, and his live performances as a method of deeper self-expression. For example, the “look” of the rock’n’roll for men during the time period was “long hair, spiky punk hair-styles, torn jeans, t-shirts, studded leather jewelry, and sunglasses” (Jones,

Jian begins the song stating that he has “no money and no place,” which is most likely where Cui Jian was before and in the beginning of his journey in making rock’n’roll music. Cui Jian also sings about showing his true self with “I only have my past,” and then the confliction with wanting and not wanting to live and exist. Since rock’n’roll music was not being made in China, when Cui Jian began producing music he probably was not making any money and he definitely did not have a place because he was the founder of the genre. However, on a more positive note, Cui Jian sings, “Now my freedom belongs to the universe. Now my courage belongs to me.” This could be in reference to owning everything he is doing with his life and with his music. He gained the courage to continue pursuing his musical career in rock’n’roll due to the positive reaction from the