Chinese rocker Cui Jian performs at the 2007 Beijing Pop Music Festival in Chaoyang Park, Beijing, China, on Sunday, September 9, 2007.

Chinese rock'n'roll star Cui Jian took the surprising step of singing his first English song "Outside Girl" at the annual Beijing Pop Music Festival on Sunday night.

"This is the first time I sing a song in English and I dedicated this to woman athletes at next year's Olympics," the Beijing-born multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and vocalist told the crowds at Chaoyang Park before the song.

But the new song didn't win him as much audience reaction as other better-known ones.

"It's a bit hard to follow the English lyrics," said one rock fan Ma Jun, adding that Cui is most famous for his poetic and socially conscious lyrics.

"It shows his intention of entering into the international stage, as there are so many western bands around," Ma said.

The two-day music carnival brought to the Chinese capital some big-name western acts, such as Grammy-winning Nine Inch Nails and rap legends Public Enemy.

Public Enemy's front man Chuck D paid tribute to China by wearing the jersey of NBA hero Yao Ming on Saturday's performance, while Britpop group Suede got audience's chorus as they delivered "Everything Will Flow".

(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2007)