Not that it matters, but I think the song was spot on. Still, you have to wonder what Reagan's advisers were thinking?

That's what Fox is saying? That's really odd. I just heard Lang Lang interviewed on PBS about two hours ago and he swears he never knew what the song was about. He said he wanted nothing to do with politics, that he is just a pianist. He sounded very sincere.

Posted on his Facebook page a little after 2 p.m. today:

I was deeply honored to have been invited to perform at the White House recently. The two pieces I played were, one, Maurice Ravel's "Ma mere l'Oye" (Mother Goose) for four hands, the other, a Chinese piece called "My Motherland". I selected this song because it has been a favorite of mine since I was a child. It was selected for no other reason but for the beauty of its melody.

I am, first and foremost, an artist. As such, I play music to bring people together.

America and China are my two homes. I am most grateful to the United States for providing me with such wonderful opportunities, both in my musical studies and for furthering my career. I couldn't be who I am today without those two countries.

My mission is to bridge cultures together through the beauty and inspiration of music.

Lang Lang

If he said so on PBS and his site, then I believe him. If you read his book you will see that (as I said before) he's very genuine and a bit child-like naive in certain matters. All I saw from FOX was the below:

http://nation.foxnews.com/china-state-dinner/2011/01/23/did-pianist-lang-lang-dis-white-house

That's just stating what's been said about the song, and not that Lang Lang did it on purpose knowing or to provoke. Only FOX News provokes...

I agree with you, but they were surely aware. What they were thinking (and they were of course correct) was that people wouldn't pay attention to the lyrics - just BORN IN THE USA - WOO HOO!

AlexB

the media always try to fabricate news so it sells and they get better ratings. Sometimes you just never know what really is and what isnt. this might be one of those cases but either way, im sure lang lang loves the piano just the same.

Peyton and Agilita - the report I saw was on Megan Kelly's show "America Live" around 2:30 pm and I'm fairly sure that he was reported to have made his statements that they reported while still in China before he came to the US to play at the White House - I think that's what they said - if so, he could be saying one thing there (to please the bureaucrats or under pressure from them) and just the opposite here for our public consumption - right now I can't find anything more on it.

On stand by about this...

JF

You are definitely correct about this, but not in the way you would like to think - the song was basically about a man's bad experience in the Viet Nam War under Democrats Kennedy and our old buddy Johnson as Presidents - by Reagan's time the song was old hat and stale and irrelavent and so the lyrics weren't worth paying attention to much anymore - the only part that was still applicable and viable was the anthem like title - which could have been used by any party for any thing, but was wisely picked up by Reagan supporters and changed to mean something positive, much to the lasting chagrin of his opponents.

Most of us who were born in the USA are proud of it and will be more than glad to sing that anthem

JF

Or...gosh...they could be making it up!

John,
We are all well aware of your partisan position. There is no point in reminding us of it every chance you can. The fact is Richard Nixon was also President during much of Vietnam, and there's nothing in the lyrics that indicates which part of the war Springstein was singing about. I really wish the mods would close this thread, and any others you use to push your politics. They are not appropriate on this forum.

+1

Not really every chance I can get - there have been a lot of "chances" in this thread that I've ignored - when I have responded it was only to clear up partisan misconceptions inserted into the thread by others...although they haven't expressed any gratitude for my doing so, I'm almost certain that they really appreciate my doing so



bluekeys - I almost always enjoy your posts, but...

My intention here was to discuss the Lang interview - not "push my politics" - other posters here have turned this thread into an unjustified and irrelavent attack on FOX News and brought politics into it - I've tried my best to avoid all that (as any sensible mod could easily see) - but some of those attacks are just too rediculous to pass up and not shoot down - it was just too tempting and too easy! But even so, I've been very polite and considerate in all my responses (as any reading back through the thread will readily demostate).

You wish the mods would close this thread down? That's not nice or helpful or congenial - in fact, it's almost dictatorial. They probably will - eventually - but not because of anything I've posted here...

I am slightly curious why you object to my few so-called "political" responses when you express no objection to the many others posted here...it seems you have no problem if you agree with those views, but as soon as you disagree you call for a "close down" of the thread. Some - but not me - would call this almost being hypocritical, which would certainly be unfair and unkind since I'm sure you didn't intend to give that impression.

All I've tried to do was stick to talk about Lang...it's a tough job here, but someone has just got to do it.

JF

Peyton, you rascal! Somehow I knew you were going to say that Well, yes, they could - there's always that small chance, although it very doubtful - in this day and age News organization generally don't "make things up" - it's too easy to call them on it with all the various media available to check on things like this - that may just be wishful thinking on your part More likely is the possibility that Lang was just trying to do a CYA in his interview with PBS and on facebook. And there is also the possibilty that the remarks attributed to Lang when he was still in China might have been made on his behalf by others...

JF

I think you need to do some self examination, John. You are by far the most politically outspoken person on this forum. There are only one or two others whose partisan affiliation I can even guess. There are lots of places you can go to talk about politics, either in love-fests with the like-minded or shouting matches with your opponents. This isn't one of them.

Just because there is a tangential connection with piano doesn't make every topic appropriate. It's hard to believe you honestly thought a thread based on a Fox News story wasn't going to descend into partisan sniping.

In any case, I'll let you have the last word, and let the mods decide whether this kind of thread is appropriate. I for one come to PW to discuss playing the piano and have no further interest in pursuing this.

Frank,

My problem with your quote "While watching FOX news just a few minutes ago they came on with a report about Lang and his performance at the White House - it's seems he is admitting that the song is indeed an anti-American propoganda song, and that he knew it and deliberately played it to make a statement that "China is a country to be reconded with" is that it takes here-say and makes it fact...a done deal....the way it went down. That statement totally ignores the actual things he is saying and would lead one, that say only watches Fox news, to believe he is actually admitting to the terrible deed. (Note you say "he is admitting".) Quite frankly I owe no allegiance to Lang Lang (your statement to me "that may just be wishful thinking on your part" implies I do) and would be quite willing to accept the "fact" that he played the piece intentionaly to poke a stick into Americas eye, (I would be sorry to hear it as he seems to be a very sincere, heartfelt musician) but the facts thus far say the opposite.

I was - as they say - hoping for the best, but expecting the worst.

I didn't praise FOX News - in any way or form. I simply reported that the interview took place on it. Others (as I listed in my post somewhere above) chose to inject media/political criticism here in this thread - for which I'm not responsible in any way.

But, thanks for your polite and reasonable reply. Looking forward to corresponding with you in other threads/other times.

JF

Peyton - I was only kidding about your "wishful thinking" - and I too would be more than willing and happy to admit that he didn't know about the song's theme and didn't play it to provoke...if and when all the facts are made available.

As I said I'm in a holding pattern waiting for more.

Apparently they haven't been able to arrive at any definite conclusion about all this in the Lang thread over in the PC forum either.

JF

JF ---------

I think the natives are getting restless. It's interesting how you are able to calmly respond to some of the left leaning folks here. The negative atmosphere here I'm sure has to be George Bush's fault.

What I like about Piano World is the lack of political BS in the forums. Shall we keep it that way?

If someone wishes to wrestle politically on the Web, it's not hard to find a place to do that. It's nice to have a refuge from all that. Much like playing piano gets us away from what divides and takes us to what unites.

After reading some of these last few posts, I now stand by what I originally said.

It seems the original post was made under the guise of "clever humor", but really it was an another anti-Lang post, anti-China, and posted to provoke some sort of anti-Lang Lang and/or political response. I don't for one second believe the OP is interested in learning about Lang Lang or China, he made many incorrect assumptions along the way (which is why I correctly used the word "ignorant" initially), and manged to insult with or w/o intent - I don't know, but it's besides the point.

I'm no longer interested in getting into further exchanges with clever word-play. I don't think anything said by the OP is sincere to be quite honest, and so it's a waste of time. If the OP wants to present facts and is sincere, fine. He can read Lang's book, etc. Google China and firewalls, etc. But I don't find that to be the case. As such, I think this thread should be closed. It's way off topic and disingenuous.

Alex

I've received several reports on this thread. I'm trying hard to keep it open. As I said in the similar ongoing thread in PC, I do think an artists choice of repertoire to make a political statement is a relevant topic for discussion on this forum but rants about China, etc., are not nor is this a place to argue the merits of Fox news reporting.

Let's keep the discussion centered on piano related matters please.

It's been shown time and time again that the discussion of politics on the forums leads to nothing but trouble. All it serves to do is cause hard feelings.

Conversation about a performer should be less about his/her political viewpoints and more about his/her skills, performances, etc.

alexb -

I agree.

Greg - you've got a hard job :\

Cathy

@alexb, @jotur - I also agree.

I've stopped posting on PW because of the political baiting (in which, I'm ashamed to say, I have allowed myself become ensnared on a few occasions).

I'm afraid this place just isn't what it used to be, at least for me.

Thanks for the moral support btcomm - I've been trying my best, but it hasn't been easy - but, there are left leaning folks here?




I'm trying my best Gary..but cooperation is a little hard to come by...




Most people give other people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to being sincere - apparently you have some special power that allows you to see otherwise...this is uncomfortably close to character assasination - but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on that.



Hey Greg! Nice of you to come in.

I've been trying to do just that here - please reread the thread if you need or want a refresher - but the distractions are increasing in number (if not necessarily in reasonableness).

If some of the otherwise nice, but emotionally charged posters here can't find a way to be a little less personal and a little more constructive I may just ask you to close down this thread myself! But maybe not - that would be unjustified (not to mention making them too happy!)

I keep thinking of what Lang said himself about his biggest fans, which is that they're great, but some of them don't have much of a sense of humor.

Well, I think he said that, but if he didn't he should have!

JF

Yes John, it's everyone else's fault. You've been a perfect gentleman.

It seems to be my day for closing threads that are ostensibly about Lang Lang's performance at the White House.