Summer solstice day, summer solstice, the longest day in the northern hemisphere. For summer fans, of course, it's worth celebrating with music, so there's Summer Solstice Music Day. In 2020, the Summer Solstice Music Day regrettably "absent" under the epidemic that swept the world. In 2021, the Summer Solstice Music Day is in full swing and is back! Fourteen years after landing in China, this musical celebration that originated in France has blossomed everywhere in China, perfectly integrated into the summer scenery of the north and south of the river. The 14th Summer Music Day will be held from May 27 to June 30, and the ambassadors of this summer music festival are musician Zang Hongfei and outstanding actor Huang Jue. Fans, are you ready?
Group photo of guests
When it comes to the summer solstice festival, as early as 1982, at the suggestion of the then French Minister of Culture, Jacques Long, the idea of holding a large-scale folk free concert on the day of the arrival of summer was born and landed. If you want to summarize the focus of the Summer Solstice Music Day, it is: public space, free, all music "no difference in the level of performance of high and low". From classical music to rap, from traditional folk music to rock, world music, jazz, pop or electronic, no summer solstice music can not be accepted.
This universal model of playing music and listening to music became a hit in France and quickly became popular all over the world. In less than a decade, the stage for Summer Solstice Music Day has reached eighty-five countries around the world.
In France, summer solstice music days are more likely to encourage amateur music lovers to spontaneously perform on the streets or in public spaces. A large number of professional and non-professional musicians have provided the general public with extremely rich and varied concerts.
In China, since its landing for more than a decade, the Summer Solstice Music Day has been organized by the French Embassy and Consulates in China, and the cycle often lasts for several days, held in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Shenyang, Shunde, Ningbo, Kunming and other cities, providing an excellent opportunity for the new musical forces of the two countries to show their talents and understand the public.
Live performance at the opening ceremony
Fans familiar with the Summer Solstice Music Day know that this is a stage for Chinese and French artists to share and communicate. Although international contacts are still limited, and artists in France cannot come to China, let's not forget that many excellent French artists are actually all around us. Together with local Chinese musicians, they will embark on a musical journey to the summer solstice in 2021. It is guaranteed that this year's event will not be as exciting as in previous years, and various musical styles will take turns on stage: hip-hop, electronic, pop, jazz, rap, metal, reggae, groove, soul, R&B... More than 150 free performances will be held in 10 cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenyang, Kunming, Wuhan, Shunde, Lijiang and Changsha.
France was represented by Zhang Si'an, Boris Background and Pierre Prada. Zhang Si'an and his band will bring audiences a special sound of indie rock and Chinese folk music fusion, DJ Boris Background will carry the banner of French wind music, and pianist Pierre Prada will deliver unforgettable jazz moments.
Huang Jue played DJing at the opening ceremony
The Sino-French duo Jane Confused perfectly interprets avant-garde pop music on the stage of summer solstice music day. Talented Chinese bands and musicians such as Cati2, National Football Team, Backlash, Li Xiaoyun, Fake Sven and Ma Bang will also shine in this musical feast.
The Digital Music Project is the highlight of this Year's Summer Solstice Music Day, where audiences have the opportunity to discover the glamour of French rappers such as George Ka, Lean Chihiro and James Baker through a "whiteboard" program dedicated to promoting rap. Three rappers will gather in Paris to record live, one track at the bottom, no editing or retouching, restoring the singer's most authentic singing state.
Zang Hongfei performed live at the opening ceremony
The interactive games "Dance Full Force" and "Megalithic Pillar" will bring relaxing gameplay moments to the audience on the big screens of each music scene during the transition of the performance. The 2021 Summer Solstice Music Day also has a new highlight: the exclusive Mini Program for Summer Solstice Music Day!
As a cultural icon with an international reputation, Summer Solstice Music Day also influences music trends. Whether in France or China, it naturally promotes the democratization of cultural and artistic dissemination, making June a time for different music and music fans to meet, adding a musical charm to the otherwise pleasant summer day.
Editor/Yajing Wang