This guy has guts. And I like him for a bunch of reasons.
For those who don’t know, Hong Laowai (means “Red Foreigner”) has been a bit of an internet celeb over the past year. He stands in front of a webcam, and belts out the most ridiculous old communist propaganda tunes. But you can see he’s having a good time with it, and a lot of it is tongue-in-cheek.
Unlike Dashan, I like Hong Laowai because he knows he’s being ridiculous. Today I found Hong Laowai again in the headliner spot on youku, and it’s not the first time. He’s finally taken his act to China. Not only that, but he has the stones to march down through the middle of Shanghai wearing this green commie get-up, and belt out a few tunes.
Awesome stuff.
p.s. I predicted this
More: Shanghaiist: An Afternoon with Hong Laowai
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June 22, 2008
10:04 pm
I read that Shanghaiist article a couple days ago and it’s a bit perturbing to read he actually buys into it. I mean, I guess it sorta legitimizes his shtick, but his excuse for it - that recent events have galvanized sides (pro/anti China) - is bunk. If you’re going to pick a side and bring attention to that national identity, it can’t help things that you’re promoting the thoughts and ideas of a mad man.
Someone’s eventually going to get red guard on his ass when they figure out he’s just doing it for the ladies.
June 23, 2008
3:49 am
What is so interesting about a shameless attention seeker who has no apparent talents other than okay Chinese and a bad singing voice?
June 23, 2008
4:03 pm
That guy has nerves. Seems to me that it is mostly younger people who laugh? I’m wondering what some elders who have seen those guys with red armlets are thinking (and how they remember them in action). He shouldn’t do that.
June 23, 2008
7:23 pm
Is he a Communist Steven Colbert?
June 23, 2008
7:57 pm
I don’t buy it, all seems a bit disrespectful to be honest.
June 24, 2008
9:13 pm
And if some Chinese guy marched through Paris in a Nazi uniform?
This guy is a dick, and the best thing that could happen is if a bunch of sane laowai take him aside for a good “talking too”.
June 27, 2008
5:39 am
Maybe a programme of cultural re-education is needed.
July 5, 2008
9:00 am
Fantastic! If my spoken/sung Chinese was up to it I’d be out there too. Very funny!
July 12, 2008
9:05 am
To me it’s always been refreshing that the Cultural Revolution, and its song, dance, and clothing styles have become one element of Chinese history which people can look back and laugh on a bit. The point not being that laughing at in event which negatively affected so many people should trivialize the events themselves, but rather it is one small example of Chinese self-reflection in which events of the past were so ridiculous that it is now socially acceptable to mock them. In that regard, I think hong lao wai is F-ing hilarious, and like the author says, he knows he’s being ridiculous. So in honor of Hong Lao Wai…毛主席万岁！