Chongqing expands 'red' campaign with 36 songs
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However, officials in Chongqing insist that learning "red songs" is not compulsory for citizens, and have advised people to update their understanding of the term.
"Some appear to have misunderstood the message in our campaign. It's not that everyone is required to sing and love the songs. What we are seeking is a wider participation," Xu Chao, a senior local official in charge of promoting "red" singing, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
"It would be unrealistic for everybody to sing all 36 songs," he added.
"'Red' doesn't only represent revolution, communism or socialism. It also includes elements that represent happiness, harmony, being positive and healthy. The term is actually quite inclusive," Xu said.
Xu said the move would serve as new forms of entertainment for citizens and therefore has little to do with political propaganda.
Jiang Shuai, a graduate student at Southwest University in Chongqing, said singing the songs helps her cultivate taste and morals.
"I prefer those songs to pop music, as they always give me confidence and power when I hear or sing them," Jiang told the Global Times. "It's absolutely voluntary to join the singing activities, but the majority of the enthusiasts are seniors."
Yu Xiaosu, a 25-year-old Chongqing resident, told the Global Times that some of the revolutionary songs are well written and inspirational.
"But too much public exposure of the songs on TV and in other media may have a negative effect on their artistic appreciation," Yu said.
Cui Zhiyuan, a professor at Tsinghua University's School of Public Policy and Management, told the 21st Century Business Herald that singing "red songs" in Chongqing is one method the ruling party is using to search for the right social value system amid various conflicts arising as a result of social transformation.
"Chongqing is exploring and finding ways to let the public share the advantages of socialism, and 'red' singing is one of them," Cui said, adding that with 70 to 80 percent of its population made up of rural residents, the municipality is basically a microcosm of China.
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