Chinese Democracy (song)
“Possibly the finest thing that ever thinged apart from the other thing.”
“I didn't even know what I was doing. And that's how it should be, not like you kids nowadays with your Lead Zeppelins and your Deaf Leopards and your Two Packs.”
“Mine's better.”
Chinese Democracy, also known as Mao Z. Donge, is a 1958 rock song by Chuck Berry what's so famous that it's a shock you haven't heard of it, you idiot. It chronicles the rise to power of Mao Zedong, the original Chinese dictator, and the events that surrounded said rise to power...something about the Chinese and a revolution. I dunno, who cares any more. Anyway, whether it's only a song, or perhaps something more, it goes a little something like this:
Lyrics[編集 | ソースを編集 ]
| “ |
Deep down in Southern China close to Vietnam Go Mao go go go He would something something something, something some Go Mao go go go Then one day Mao he had a big tomb |
” |
At about this point, the audience were generally beginning to take offence, boo, and throw things, and so Chuck Berry would excuse himself and leave. That was actually how he died, by not noticing he was playing in Chinatown and failing to notice the people running towards him holding weapons...exactly how he failed to notice them is anyone's guess.
Controversy[編集 | ソースを編集 ]
In recent years, Chinese Democracy has become more famous as the title of Axl and friends' will-they-or-won't-they album, widely regarded as a sign of the forthcoming apocalypse. While Chuck Berry did attempt to take legal action, it was found that:
“Well, copyright from them days didn't really count, I'm afraid.”
Thus, at some point in the 1990s, Axl Rose retroactively claimed copyright of the name Chinese Democracy and sued Chuck Berry for having breached said copyright for 40 years, claiming $2 million billion in compensation. It was then found that:
“Fuck off Axl. Just fuck off. You managed to alienate a bunch of smackheads who would make Ewan McGregor wince. Anyone who can do that doesn't deserve that kind of money, now get out of my living room.”
...and that Chuck Berry didn't have that kind of money anyway.
Axl later asked Chuck for persimmons to do a cover version for Chinese Democracy, whereupon Chuck promptly indecently assaulted him and went about his business. So, it was back in the dock for both of them, at which point, the judge having finally had enough, beat Axl into a coma with his weird little hammer.
Cover versions[編集 | ソースを編集 ]
- Purely to irritate Axl McPopular, Slash plays a hard rock version of Chinese Democracy outside his house every night. He's been doing that for five years now. Every night, on the dot, "Go Mao go go go!" Millions of people have filmed it and stuck it on youtube, thinking the video is one-of-a-kind; as a result, TuYoube have taken to banning people indiscriminately, as the likelihood is that they will, at some point, post one of the videos.
- Angus Young of AC/DC is a self-declared fan of the song. Often, during concerts, right in the middle of songs, he will beat the other band members into submission, then play his version, which is seven minutes long and involves drum solos. TubeYou have banned that, too.
- Motorhead covered it one time. Lemmy got none of the words right at all.