CHINA TOPIX

03/29/2024 11:57:30 am

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Is The U.S. Ready For The Chopstick Brothers?

Is it time to mention the quirky Chinese duo the Chopstick Brothers in the same sentence with Jennifer Lopez, Iggy Azalea, Lady Gaga, One Direction, Taylor Swift, Mary J. Blige, and "more?"

Music lovers are going to find out Sunday, Nov. 23 when the Chopstick Brothers are scheduled to perform along with the likes of Jenny from the block, Iggy, Gaga, the directional boys, Swift and Blige at the 42nd American Music Awards, at Los Angeles' Nokia Theater.

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Fans vote for the awards, the world's largest fan-voted awards show. While Chopstick Brothers Xiao Yang and Wang Taili weren't in the running, they'll be on an American stage for the first time with U.S. TV viewers seeing them live. Will it lead to a break-out U.S. presence? Stay tuned.

The Chopstick Brothers have achieved musical notoriety in China with Little Apple, a catchy, bouncy, fresh tune with bright lyrics. The music video that debuted last summer and became an instant viral hit, presents the guys in crazy settings.

The Little Apple music video has been played more than 820 million times on Chinese video streaming and music sites. It was a giant hit on Youku Tudou with 165 million views. The song even has been used as background music in a People's Liberation Army recruiting video.

The boys can be seen running naked through the Garden of Eden. They dress like old school aristocrats on a beach. Catch them on the video as village sweethearts braving the Korean War.

The Sunday performance is a big deal for Chinese pop music. This is the first time a Chinese viral sensation has been showcased on a global music stage. It may represent a dramatic breakthrough of state-backed soft power music as part of an effort to popularize Chinese culture and music worldwide and soften the world view of China's image.

While Little Apple was viewed as a novelty song much like the Korean Psy's Gangnam Style, Chinese music aficionados were hoping it would lead to more exposure for the state-sanction soft power sound worldwide and greater global opportunities for Chinese pop stars.

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