Why was China's Space Station launch accompanied by "America the Beautiful"?

Came across this on The Guardian website.

I did a search on ATS and found no mention of it. If it is a double thread please correct, mods.

The launch of China's new Space Station module was televised with an odd choice of music;
"America The Beautiful"

Could this be
a/ Propaganda
b/ An insult to the USA
c/ A tribute to the USA
d/ A mistake


I personally wouldn't be surprised if this is a symbolic appreciation of the two super powers closer relations.

Thoughts?

Maybe it was just a slip up.. They might have liked the sound of the music and decided to use it unaware of what the song actually was..
I don't know but knowing the Chinese it wouldn't surprise me.. Bet there are some faces that are as red as their flag this morning..

Someones off to be reeducated.

I love it when someone screws up a propaganda moment. Makes for precious comedy.

reply to post by Misterlondon

As the article points out, there have been c*ck ups like this before.

And I guess it's not impossible that there are subversive elements within Chinese culture being mischievous. Maybe even US agents!

Perhaps a montage to what was and what will be.(U.S. moving out of space, China moving in?)
Veiled in sarcasm of course.

Originally posted by BruceWayne
Could this be
a/ Propaganda
b/ An insult to the USA
c/ A tribute to the USA
d/ A mistake

The closest one on that list is c but that's not exactly right, it's "please keep sending us all your money, don't stop, this song is for you"

But when we run out of money to send them, no more tributes.

Actually we may be out of money already, but some people just haven't realized it yet!

What's our trade deficit with China now?

It will be interesting to watch the interaction between the ISS and the Chinese SS in the future.

The reason I said it might be a tribute to future cooperation is because I felt there was an emphasis put on the video where we see a docking manoeuvre.

This is pure speculation of course, and granted there is no hint that the CSS is docking with the ISS, but it's just a bit of a gut feeling.

reply to post by BruceWayne


The song my country tis of thee is a rip off of the British National anthem....

The Star Spangeled Banner is set to the tune of an old English drinking song...

Ray Charles did his own version of America the Beautiful.....

If China wants to use it more power to em. I really dont think there are any intentions behind its use, other than using it.

reply to post by Xcathdra

Thanks for the heads up on where the songs came from.

I have no problem with China using the song on such a prestigious occasion, just found it out of place.
Undeniably the world has moved on a lot in recent times but I doubt this would have happened during Mao's tenure for example.

reply to post by BruceWayne


Perhaps it was....sarcasm. I find it very odd they would play an American song.

Originally posted by Xcathdra
reply to post by BruceWayne

 

I really dont think there are any intentions behind its use, other than using it.

Thank you! Yes, one of the possible reasons is "they thought it sounded good". Hopefully thats a reason that has merit That seems like the most plausible explanation.

There is all kinds of effort going into NLP (neuro-linguistics programming) trying to get people thinking a certain way with different songs and ques, but people can forget that the most common way people chose music is none other than "I like the way it sounds" and certainly Chinese media outlets are not exempt from such reasons even if they can have all kinds of symbolic motivations.

D)

It is not the first time CCTV has embarrassed its paymasters.

In January this year, internet users spotted that footage in a report on an air force training exercise in a national newscast was taken from the Hollywood blockbuster "Top Gun", about an elite American training academy.

www.telegraph.co.uk...

I came across some interesting information on the song and possible signifiance to China.

Wiki

When President Nixon made his famous trip to China in 1972, the Chinese played America the Beautiful. Today China entered a more permanent status in terms of space flight and exploration. When Nixon visited China, it was a new begining for them. Maybe, by launching their space lab, they are once again viewing this as a new begining for China?

Also -

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion'd stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.

America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country lov'd,
And mercy more than life.

America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.

The verses to the song can easily be changed around a bit to conform to Chinese beliefs / views. It talks about Patriotism, which is universal regardless of political ideology, nationality etc.


Then again, it could be just a mistake.

reply to post by BruceWayne

I am reminded of President Jimmy Carter telling the press that "Imaginary Lover" was a favorite song of his.

China does seem naive at times about such things...

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