China Launches Spaceship To The Tune Of 'America The Beautiful'

[Purveyor]

BEIJING – Any attempt to compose a serious reflection Friday morning on the significance of China's successful launch of the Tiangong-1 module into space last night were dashed this morning when we started reviewing coverage of the launch.

As the Guardian first discovered – and we missed over the din of breathless Chinese coverage of the launch on CNN and the BBC–amidst the video distributed by state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) was a computer animation ostensibly created by the Chinese space agency showing the rocket soaring up into the heavens. Later, the Tiangong (which in English translates roughly to “Heavenly Palace”) module is shown linking up with the Shenzhou crew capsule – all accompanied to patriotic music...

But not quite patriotic in the way you’d expect

The music selected to accompany China’s great national feat was none other than… “America the Beautiful.”

MORE...

http://behindthewall.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/30/8053854-china-launches-spaceship-to-the-tune-of-america-the-beautiful

[dipsydoodle]

1. Ho ho ho

:rofl:

[eppur_se_muova]

2. I'm surprised it wasn't "Home on the Range" ...

Apparently, Chinese respond very differently from what Westerners expect to Western music ...

HOTR has been performed as a virtuo piece on the pipa, and as slow dance music in Chinese nightclubs. At least one visiting American VIP has been welcomed by the Chinese Army band playing HOTR. Apparently they just like the melody. I think it's mostly pentatonic, like traditional Chinese music.

If people don't understand the words, and have no cultural connection to the music, it's hard to predict what effect the music will have on them.

[Diclotican]

3. Purveyor

Purveyor

Wel, at least they have the ability to let a nice song when they wanted to show off their new ability.. America the beatiful IS a nice song... Even tho it might not be as patriotic as the chinese think it was.. When this inpact the higher up in the Chinese leadership, maybe some longer down the latter end up somewhere they dosen't want to be.. Or it can just slide as a mishap? You really never know whit the chinese...

Diclotican