Live TV show promotes international exchange of ethnic music

A recently concluded live music TV show provided viewers with a new window into the diverse ethnic cultures and music in China and around the world.

The third and final episode of Music in Joy was broadcast on Friday night. Six pairs of Chinese singers and two sets of international singers — from Brazil and Greece — gave performances.

Some of the Chinese singers were from the Tibetan, Uygur, Tujia and Zhuang ethnic groups. The singers also exchanged gifts representing their unique cultures.

The show, which aired on Hunan Satellite TV and Mango TV, was overseen by the National Ethnic Affairs Commission and the National Radio and Television Administration.

Hunan Satellite TV said Music in Joy ranked No 1 among all shows aired by provincial TV stations during the 8 pm to 10 pm time slot for all three episodes. Hashtags about the show garnered 3.8 billion views on social media platforms, the TV station said.

Veteran Chinese singer Aduo, from the Tujia ethnic group, performed with Tibetan rapper Badeng Dunzhu.

Aduo said more singers and musicians from various ethnic groups have been performing in recent years, and their performances in their distinct ethnic languages have been accepted and loved by more people.

"The show has brought singers from different ethnic groups and countries together, so we can have direct communication and close exchanges," she said. "I believe it is a good way to promote Chinese culture to the world."

She said the public's interest in ethnic music is not consistent, which requires ethnic musicians to continue to explore and work hard, so their future will be bright.

Greek vocalist Erini Tornesaki performed the traditional Greek song Apo Xeno Topo on Friday's show.

She said the song is very important to her, her family and all Greek people. It's a very popular song that exists in different languages as well, she added.

"The same melody exists in different countries, which for me, gives the meaning that music travels and it belongs to the people," she said. "So, it connects people. So, for me, being here, singing this symbolic song connects with people from all over the world."

More young people are showing interest in learning about their history, she said. As the world continues to open up, people are expanding their acceptance of different genres of music and becoming more open to listening to different languages and different sounds in songs.

"What I really liked about this particular show is that they highlight the cultural diversity in China and also invite people from all over the world," she said.

"It was incredible to hear songs from the different regions and the different styles that you hear in China. So it is also educational for the whole world."

Brazilian singer Alexia Evellyn sang a Mandarin song in a duet with Chinese singer Sa Dingding.

Evellyn performed in all three of the show's episodes. Over the past few weeks, she has traveled to Zhangjiajie and Yueyang in Hunan province and to Kunming, Yunnan province. She said China is beautiful and that she will treasure the memory of her visit to the country forever.

"I'm a very emotional person," she said. "In all the episodes, I could not contain myself, so I always cried, because I'm really in love with Chinese music, especially the traditional music, and the artists here are so amazing.

"What I love most about music is that it's capable of expressing the inexpressible. I don't have to understand everything someone says to be in love with their music."