Dong Wenhua

b. 1962, Dalian

Popular singer

Dong Wenhua is one of China’s most distinguished singers of the last decade and a half, famous for her lyrical patriotic and propaganda songs, the best known of which include ‘Spring Story’ (Chuntian de gushi), a song praising Deng Xiaoping and his economic reforms, and ‘The Great Wall is Long’ (Changcheng chang), a song eulogizing the Great Wall and promoting patriotism.

Dong Wenhua is a member of the Song and Dance Troupe of the General Political Department of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (Zhongguo renmin jiefangjun zongzhengbu gewutuan) and a representative of a large group of singers who are closely associated with the Party-state and the army. Conforming to the orthodox official aesthetics of professionalism, discipline and solemnity, her performance style is highly choreographed and disciplined. She appears frequently in officially organized live and televised events all over the country, often in army uniform, and typically sings in the orthodox ‘national/folksinging style’ (minzu/ minge changfa), a mixture of Chinese folk and Western bel canto singing that requires formal training.

Dong Wenhua has won many prizes since the mid 1980s, among which are included first prize for best MTV, awarded by China Music TV (Zhongguo yinyue dianshi), which she has won several times since this prize was first awarded in 1993. Her popularity in China, especially among those whose exposure to popular music is limited to CCTV (Chinese Central Television), reflects the success of the state in maintaining a central position in contemporary popular culture.

NIMROD BARANOVITCH