Chinese government newspaper Global Times on Monday released a glowing tribute to pop star Taylor Swift, thanking her for scheduling a “convenient and accessible” concert in Singapore and recognizing her as “an inspiration to so many.” He quoted a fan declaring,
Swift chose the luxury city-state of Singapore as her only Elas Tour destination in the region. This means Chinese fans will have to travel abroad to meet her. She is scheduled to perform in Japan until March 9th.
of Global Times Used her visit to Singapore as an opportunity to praise the singer and at the same time promote the recent agreement between the Chinese government and Singapore that allows reciprocal visa-free travel, allowing Chinese passport holders to travel to Singapore with minimal documentation. I made it possible.
Swift has long been one of America’s most popular figures in communist China, a result of his engagement in friendly visits and helping promote pro-regime businesses such as Alibaba. Swift debuted in Alibaba’s China market in 2019, contributing to sales promotions related to the shopping holiday Singles’ Day.
Chinese state media refer to Give Swift the Chinese nickname “Meimei”. In December, after the release of Swift, Elas tour concert film, Global Times Similarly, he gushed about Swift’s “unique charm” and urged Chinese artists to emulate her use of concert films to promote their careers.
The Chinese government also praised Swift’s comments about former President Donald Trump, calling her “true queenSwift’s political opinions are influential among her fans. A poll released in January showed 18% of U.S. voters were “more likely” or “much more likely” to vote for a candidate supported by Swift.
Swift has not rejected praise from the Chinese government at the time of this report, despite China being one of the world’s most prolific human rights abusers and an active perpetrator of genocide. Nor does it condemn China’s genocide of Uyghurs and other Turkic ethnic groups in East Turkestan. These include a campaign of ethnic cleansing in Tibet, widespread repression of nearly all religions, and violent persecution of suspected political dissidents.
Rather than blaming Swift for not scheduling a tour in China, Global Times was praised She said she chose Singapore because it is “convenient and easily accessible for Chinese fans.” A state newspaper exclaimed that her absence did not stop “the love and enthusiasm of Chinese fans”.
of Global Times He quoted a die-hard fan who said he cried at a Taylor Swift concert, thanked her for being a “gateway to learning English” and showed off Taylor Swift’s handmade tools. One fan thanked Swift’s fans for her “unwavering support.” Another called her similar to her “talented friends from her generation.”
In addition to an uncritical look at Swift’s tour and its impact on Chinese youth, Global Times The country used this opportunity to promote a “visa-free” agreement with Singapore.two neighboring countries announced The January agreement allows citizens to travel “without a visa for stays of up to 30 days to engage in activities such as tourism, family visits, business or other private errands.” The visa-free agreement specifically does not apply to people engaged in activities linked to the Chinese Communist Party, such as journalism.
A Taylor Swift fan is said to have said: Global Times The visa-free arrangement made their visit to Singapore “similar to a domestic trip”.
Taylor Swift performs at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia on February 23, 2024. (Don Arnold/TAS24/TAS Copyright Management via Getty Images)
The media also reiterated its call for Chinese musicians to consider filming their concerts and releasing films such as: Elas tour They produced films to expand their influence. The Chinese Communist Party tightly monitors and regulates the music industry, forcing musicians to make political statements favorable to the party, such as the parade of Chinese rappers enthusiastically supporting police brutality in Hong Kong in 2019. Because an artist’s success can be easily manipulated for profit. dictatorship.
In December, Elas tour The movie was first released in China, Global Times praised the quality of the film, in sharp contrast to the general disdain of American film releases in national newspapers.
“Despite being shorter than the average duration of a real concert, which is 3.5 hours, the film perfectly captures the essence of a live performance.” Global Times examination. “Taylor Swift’s unique appeal makes the success of the Elas Tour difficult to replicate.”
China Dailyanother government propaganda newspaper, repeated On Sunday, he called on Chinese artists to emulate Swift, saying, “With the focus of young, internet-savvy people who grew up on social media now shifting to social media, we hope to bring their blockbuster concerts to the big screen in the coming years.” There is a demand in this country for that.” This is my personal experience with music. ”
“When watching concert footage, audiences can enjoy the experience without worrying about geographic distance, financial constraints, or health-related issues.” China Daily was suggested, has stated that Swift’s concert films have been an inspiration for similar works. “Additionally, you can enjoy the comfort of enjoying a snack or drink, singing along, or taking a selfie with the convenience of unobstructed seating with an unobstructed view of your favorite artists.”
