Björk's Big Time Censor-ality

International News, By Joal, 29th July, 2008

Remember Björk’s controversial encore in China in March this year, when she bought up the touchy issue of Tibet’s independence – or lack thereof?

With only ten days to go until the opening of the Beijing Olympics, officials have banned any foreign artist who threatens China’s national sovereignty, and some suspect it’s all because of Björk.

Known for her dynamic performances, unique vocal style and interesting dress sense – it wasn’t what she was wearing that got the Chinese Ministry of Culture talking, but her support for the free Tibet movement.

Chanting “Tibet! Tibet! Tibet!” at the end of her concert in Shanghai prompted games organisers to introduce ‘severe restrictions’ on performers likely to disrupt the trouble-free image China is attempting to push.

Drawing mixed responses from the crowd at the time, many Chinese bloggers responded with angry posts online, and audience members reportedly fell silent, hurriedly leaving the stadium the star performed in.

“If she shouted ‘Bush go to hell’ in the United States, she might have earned some applause, but imagine what would have happened to her if she had shouted ‘long live Osama Bin Laden’? She pressed her finger on a very sensitive Chinese subject,” said an audience member, quoted by the Global Times.

Commentators suspected the singer’s comments would motivate the Chinese government to crack-down on appearances by foreign performers, and following a statement on its website last week, it looks like they have.

“Any artistic group or individual who have ever engaged in activities which threaten our national sovereignty will not be allowed in.”

Performers who “threaten national unity,” “whip up ethnic hatred,” “violate religious policy or cultural norms” or “advocate obscenity or feudalism and superstition,” will also be banned, reported Reuters.

A statement on Björk’s website shortly after her show read, “I am not a politician. This song [performed as an encore] was written more with the personal in mind but the fact that it has translated to its broadest meaning, the struggle of a suppressed nation, gives me much pleasure.

“I would like to wish all individuals and nations good luck in their battle for independence.”

Not one to shy away from the topic of state independence, one of the Icelandic star’s filmclips sees her holding the Greenland and Faroe Island’s flags, areas controlled by Denmark. When she performed the song in Australia she dedicated it to our indigenous people. And a song at a recent concert in Japan was dedicated to Kosovo, a disputed state in the Balkan region.