Through the 1980s, the vast majority of people in China had never heard western music, save for John Denver, the Carpenters, and a few other artists included on the hand-picked list of songs sanctioned by the Communist Party. But in the late 90s, a mysterious man named Professor Ye made a discovery at a plastic recycling center in Heping.
In episode 1 of Mixtape, we talk to Chinese historians, music critics, and the musicians who took the damaged plastic scraps of western music, changed the musical landscape of China, and reimagined rock and roll in ways we never could’ve imagined.
Mixtape is reported, produced, scored and sound designed by Simon Adler with original music throughout by Simon. Invaluable reporting and production assistance was provided by Eli Cohen. Additional reporting by Noriko Ishigaki, Rebecca Kanthor and our amazing anonymous Chinese reporter.
Special Thanks: to Paul de Gay, Juliette Kristensen, Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow,Nick Lyons, Michael Bull, Jiro Ishikawa, Hayley Zhao, Megan Smalley and Deanne Totto.
This episode would not have happened without each and every one of them.
Support Radiolab by becoming a member today at Radiolab.org/donate.
The Internet Dilemma
Right to be Forgotten
Little Black Holes Everywhere
The Right Stuff
The Fellowship of the Tree Rings
Man Against Horse
The Cataclysm Sentence
Americanish
Beware the Sand Striker
Eye in the Sky
The Seagulls
On the Edge
Family People
The War on Our Shore
Ologies: Dark Matters
The Golden Rule
Corpse Demon
Abortion Pills, Take Two
The Library of Alexandra
The Good Samaritan
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
This American Life
Planet Money
99% Invisible
Freakonomics Radio
The Indicator from Planet Money