If karaoke was an Olympics sport, guess who’d win the gold?

By Yeoh Siew Hoon

So what now that the Beijing Olympics is over?

Well, the questions have already begun. Will it really change China or was it just for these two weeks? Is this the rise of the new China? Is the new China to be feared or engaged?

There are plenty of comments out there. In his column in the Tribune, “Beyond gold medals”, Nicholas D Kristof believes the West should “get used to it” – dealing with a new China that will “leave a similar outsize footprint in the arts, in business, in science, in education”.

“Now the world is reverting to its normal state – a powerful Asia – and we Westerners will have to adjust. Just as many Americans know their red wines and easily distinguish a Manet from a Monet, our children will become connoisseurs of pu-er tea and will know the difference between guanxi and GuangXi, the Qin and Qing.

“When angry, they may even insult each other as ‘turtle’s eggs’.”

Columnist Dave Barry had his own share of cultural immersion. He went to a Beijing rock concert called “Youth Party of China”.

“There were four bands in the show: Guai Li, Scoff, Casino Demon and Candy Monster,” he wrote. “When we arrived Guai Li was onstage, performing in a cloud of smoke. I would describe their musical genre as deafening.”

See, even amid the cultural differences, some things are the same.

Led Zepellin’s Jimmy Page and X-Factor’s Leona Lewis performing “Whole Lotta Love” during the eight-minute segment put on by London during the closing ceremony must have been pretty deafening too, live.

I am not sure though that Ms Lewis, who was not born while Mr Page was firing his Zepellin on all cylinders in the 70s’ fully embraced the song but then that’s just a biased Asian opinion of a Western legend.

There were some Western opinions expressed about the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony at a panel discussion during the Global Brand Forum as well.

Asked about the quality of movies coming out of China in the past several years, film producer Spike Lee said, “Forget about movies, look at the opening ceremony. (Steven) Spielberg couldn’t have done that.”

He said the Olympics had opened up the world’s eyes to China. “Before it was mainly about Tibet and human rights. If you look at it though, China has always had a huge impact on the world – gunpowder, paper, spaghetti. It’s been there from the beginning.”

Al Golin of GolinHarris said there was a great opportunity now with the huge interest in China and that the West had always perceived China as too rigid. “I wish they could lighten up a little bit and have a sense of humour.”

To which Spike pipped in, “The Americans or the Chinese?”

Not to be put off, Golin reiterated, “The opening ceremony was fabulous but I wish they’d lighten it up, had a little more fun with it. A little humour would go a long way.”

A Chinese marketer later whispered in my ear. “Thing is, we Chinese don’t share jokes when we don’t know each other. We get to know each other first, then we joke. I mean, have you seen us in karaoke?”

Games – and why shouldn’t they if synchronised swimming can be included – China would sweep all the gold medals as well.

Catch up with Yeoh Siew Hoon every week at The Transit Cafe – www.thetransitcafe.com