From 1986 - original mainland music starts to find its way

The younger generation started to look for new forms of expression in the mid and late-80s. Groups of young musicians started to produce and perform pop music. This was the first golden era of mainland pop music, with the emergence of various genres.

According to the renowned music critic Hao Fang, it seemed that everything developed in a rush in the 10 years after Cultural Revolution. However, too-rapid development brought new worries and some sense of loss to that generation, which had to rebuild its values.

Law Dai Yau

At this time, Law Dai Yau came onto the scene. His songs, like Days Of My Past (audio) and Story About Life, reflecting people's desires and confusion in the process of growing up, and passing judgment on values, attracted particular interest.

A huge gathering of pop stars also took place in 1986. Mainland singers – inspired by We Are The World, a song recorded by Western superstars for African famine victims – wrote and recorded a classic charity song Let The World Be Filled With Love (audio) and then held an unprecedented all-star charity concert. At the concert, Cui Jian declared that his time had arrived, while "Northwest Wind" music began to emerge.

Cui Jian's album Nothing To My Name

Cui Jian, honored as the "godfather" of Chinese mainland rock 'n' roll, sang his all-time classic Nothing To My Name (audio), crying out the true feelings of his generation and in the process declaring the birth of mainland rock music.

Since then the popularity of rock music in China has spread rapidly. "For me it is OK to make nothing of what you sing, because your call alone can make me feel good." Such was the sentiment of people of the time. "This is what is behind our passion for rock music."

A group of excellent rock singers appeared, like Tangchao Band, Black Panther Band, He Yong and Zhang Chu. Several classic rock songs, such as Rock On New Route Of Long March, Back to Tang Dynasty In Dream, Sister and God Bless Those Who Have Enough to Eat achieved overnight success.