Cui Jian

Cui Jian or Choi Geon (; ; born 2 August 1961) is a Chinese singer-songwriter and musician. Dubbed the "Godfather of Chinese Rock", Cui is widely deemed the most influential rock musician in China.}} His experimental approach draws influences from Chinese traditional music, hip-hop, jazz, electronic, and avant-garde, as well as his lyrics often delve into political, social, and philosophical themes. Recognized for his countercultural importance, Cui is seen as a cultural icon whose works have significantly shaped rock music both domestically and across Asia.

Born into an ethnic Korean family with parents who were both artists, Cui began his musical career in 1981. In 1986, Cui performed his song "Nothing to My Name" at Beijing's Workers' Gymnasium, which is considered a seminal moment in the history of Chinese rock. Standing out in the Chinese music scene when patriotic ballads and Cantopop were popular, he started to gather a cult following on China's university campuses, credited with pioneering the country's alternative music. This was followed by ''Rock 'n' Roll on the New Long March'' (1989), China's first original rock album, which remains one of the most successful and best-selling albums in the nation's history. Cui had faced censorship and limitations on his performances, particularly after his public support for the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests; these restrictions were finally lifted in the 21st century.

Cui's subsequent albums ''Solution'' (1991) and ''Balls Under the Red Flag'' (1994) received critical acclaim, the latter of which is regarded by some as his ''magnum opus''. He explored electronic rock music on the albums ''The Power of the Powerless'' (1998) and ''Show You Colour'' (2005). In 2002, he initiated the Live Vocals Movement against lip-synching at live and televised performances. Following his participation in producing several films, including the musical film ''Blue Sky Bones'' (2013), his album ''Frozen Light'' (2015) was regarded as his musical comeback. In 2022, the album ''A Flying Dog'' (2021) earned him the Golden Melody Award for Best Male Mandarin Singer, the top music award in the Chinese-speaking world.

Cui has verifiably sold 12 million records; if pirated copies are included, the total could reach 100 million. ''Billboard'' called him "the lone voice of originality in Chinese music". His international acclaim is always tied to his role in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, which frequently downplays his musical achievements. Provided by Wikipedia