Random Things in Shanghai

Well, the Rolling Stones are here in Shanghai tonight. They were featured on the cover of the Shanghai Daily, a local English newspaper, and I saw them in random expatriate magazines. I also saw a big billboard along the highway. I also heard rumours about it about a month or so before as I got calls to see if anyone was willing to sponsor. I guess you can't say I've fully integrated into society of the last five years. Although I do notice the things that are going on around me, I sometimes feel that it is at a very surface level. I don't watch Chinese TV, a great source of info because the programming is TERRIBLE. And I still don't have many local friends because I'd just rather speak in English with people who get it, than spend so much thought and energy speaking Chinese to those who don't.



But before I go on, this post was supposed to be a short one about entertainment in Shanghai. Yes, TV programming is shyte, but there's also a lot of other options, and big names coming to Shanghai. Aside from the Stones, tonight, DJ Tiesto is also rockin' in Shanghai. He'll be at Babyface, sponsored by Chivas. Too crazy for me, so I've opted out. On Thursday, I saw DJ Whoo Kid spin at a club called Bon Bon. From my previous post, you'll have seen that Lion King is set to do a stint here as well. Of all the random people, James Brown was here a couple weeks ago. I wasn't at the concert, but heard it was amazing. And of course you got all the other noteables, including Yoyo Ma, Diana Krall, Laura Fygi...

I'm regretting that I didn't buy tickets fot the Stones though. Never really thought about it until today, but those guys would really put on a good performance. Don't know how the promoter's will make money on this one though. 8,500 seating is apparently one of the smallest concerts they've done, and how ironic it is done in the world's most populous countries. I guess the majority of locals wouldn't even know who the Stones Rolling are anyway.