Chinese Democracy (song)

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The movie Kundun was on [television] about the Dalai Lama. I was getting ready to leave...and it was the end of the movie. And the Dalai Lama is about to cross over the border, to you know, be in exile for the rest of his life from his own country. And he looks back at the men who helped him, and you know he's escaped the Chinese government. And he looks back at them and he waves and they wave at him. And then they show a scene where he looks back at them again and he sees every one of them dead. Because he knew they would be killed, and they knew that in helping him they would be killed. And you know the emotion in this next song, that's all that's about. It's not like an intelligent song. It doesn't have the answer to anything. And it's not necessarily pro or con about China. It's just that right now China symbolizes one of the strongest, yet most oppressive countries and governments in the world. And we [Americans] are fortunate to live in a free country. And so in thinking about that it just kinda upset me, and we wrote this little song called "Chinese Democracy." [4]

Reception

The song has received a mostly positive reception from critics. It was played over 4 million times on Myspace in one day. Spin Magazine noted that with "a thick, muscular four-chord riff and that Axl banshee wail, only the most stubbornly jaded will manage to suppress the goosebump reflex", but criticized it for being "hook-free". [5]

The Los Angeles Times, on the other hand, described Axl as "the most ambitious hard rocker of the late 20th century" and though also noting that "the chorus is just an extension of the verses" and that the song therefore "doesn't behave the way radio-friendly singles usually do", still stated that "the refrain sticks after several listens". Ultimately, the Los Angeles Times concluded that the song "brings back a passionate weirdness that the hard rock airwaves have lacked", also comparing it to David Bowie's "I'm Afraid of Americans", noting that "Both songs have a suffocated quality, as if their makers are pushing through smoke to express these thoughts. It's the sound of florid, romantic rockers aiming for something cold and modern". [6]

Popwatch noted that not "even the greatest GNR song ever conceived could possibly be worth so sustained a buildup" and echoed the sentiment that the chorus of the song "feels like the buildup to a great refrain, but turns out to really be the refrain", [7] while MenStyle.com suggested that, judging amongst the leaked songs, "Chinese Democracy" was a curious choice for lead single, suggesting that "Madagascar" or "There Was a Time" would have been superior. [8]

A review on the site Zimbio argued that "no matter how I wanted to hate this song, I can't", describing the tune as "better than some songs on Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II " and declared that "if you can put your bias aside, you will find this song isn't bad" and that "it does make me excited to hear the rest of the album". [9]

The then former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash reacted positively to the song upon release, saying "That sounds cool. It's good to hear [Axl Rose's] voice again, y'know". [10]

The song was the official theme of WWE's Armageddon 2008 pay-per-view. [11]

Live performances

"Chinese Democracy" has been played live at most Guns N' Roses shows since the first Chinese Democracy Tour in 2001. With each tour, the performances drastically changed, gaining more background structure and guitar parts, along with a second solo akin to the album version. From 2009 to 2014, the song was used exclusively as the show opener. The song continues to be played even after the pre-Chinese Democracy members, Slash and Duff McKagan, have rejoined. [12]

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes. [13]

Guns N' Roses

Additional credits

Charts

"Chinese Democracy"
Chinese Democracy (song).jpg
artwork of the UK vinyl single release
Single by Guns N' Roses
from the album Chinese Democracy
B-side "Shackler's Revenge"
ReleasedNovember 17, 2008
Recorded1998–2007
Genre
Length4:43
Label Geffen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Axl Rose
  • Caram Costanzo
Guns N' Roses singles chronology
"Sympathy for the Devil"
(1994)
"Chinese Democracy"
(2008)
"Shadow of Your Love"
(2018)
Audio sample
"Chinese Democracy"
Chart (2008)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA Charts) [14] 54
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [15] 26
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [16] 27
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) [17] 32
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [18] 10
Canada Rock ( Billboard ) [19] 4
Denmark (Tracklisten) [20] 23
Euro Digital Song Sales ( Billboard ) [21] 18
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [22] 3
Germany (Official German Charts) [23] 38
Ireland (IRMA) [24] 32
Italy (FIMI) [25] 7
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [26] 15
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [27] 27
Norway (VG-lista) [28] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [29] 3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [30] 11
UK Singles (OCC) [31] 27
US Billboard Hot 100 [32] 34
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [33] 24
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [34] 5

Certifications

Certifications for "Chinese Democracy"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [35] Gold30,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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References

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  8. "The GQ Eye: GQ". Men.style.com. October 13, 2009. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
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