The Audacity of Rock: Part 13

Euro-centric gaze and obsession with the far east.

A form of racial fascination that seems out of place in this day in age. Weird.

"China Girl" by David Bowie (1983--popular release)

David Bowie singing about his "little" Chinese lover in the weirdest terms possible. Example lyric: I stumble into town just like a sacred cow/Visions of swastikas in my head...??? I think someone's getting off on interracial love. Weirdly.

And probably because I view Ziggy Stardust as asexual, this video is even more disturbing than it needs to be.

David Bowie |MTV Music

"Rich Girl" by Gwen Stefani (2005)

Not only is Gwen "I used to be in a legit band" Stefani bastardizing a great song from a great musical, this video features her 4-person Asian entourage, the Harajuku Girls. They're like little dolls to be displayed in the background of the blonde-haired star. Weird, weird, creepy.

Gwen Stefani |MTV Music

"Walking on a Dream" by Empire of the Sun (2008)

This one is less disturbing since it just uses the setting of Shanghai and has Chinese inspired costuming/make-up for the band members. But shirtless-open-jacket guy is super creepy and therefore makes it just as awful.

Empire of the Sun |MTV Music

Questions to ponder:
1. WTF?


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