Jason Jung
Appearances
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
I think it's fair to say, on any given Friday or Saturday or Sunday night, whether you're in Seoul, Manila, Tokyo, or Hanoi, there will be a drunk man or woman singing. belting out Mount Mama at any given moment. If you travel across Asia, this song is pretty much ubiquitous and you'll find it wherever you go.
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
In 2009, there were two sociologists named Grant Blank and Heidi Rupke who published a paper on the musical preferences of Chinese college students. So they went to various classrooms throughout Western China, and this would have been the early 21st century. So if you think about American songs that were popular at the time, you're probably thinking...
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
I don't know, Kelly Clarkson had just won American Idol. Maybe you bought her debut album. Or if you're hip, maybe you like The Strokes or Britney Spears. But after asking these Chinese students what their favorite American song was, the answer was overwhelmingly Country Roads by John Denver.
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
And what they found was that a lot of students had learned the song while they were learning English in high school or in middle school. And Grant Blank and Heidi Ruppke concluded that this song was also a powerful cultural symbol for these students and were associated with their ideation of America.
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
So for historical context, U.S.-China relations under Mao Zedong during the 50s through the 70s were essentially unilaterally hostile. The US was fighting the Cold War against the evil commies.
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
And much of Mao's domestic policy was predicated on the idea that the US was this bad imperialist enemy. So it wasn't until after Mao's death in 1976 when his successor, Deng Xiaoping, ushered in a new era of political detente. And this shift culminated in 1979 when he became the first Chinese head of state to visit the US under President Jimmy Carter.
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
If you look at the reception of Deng's trip to Washington, there were protesters from the right who were upset that Jimmy Carter was holding hands with the communists from the east. About 400 noisy demonstrators were on hand at Deng's hotel.
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
And there were also accounts of protesters from the left who thought Deng's now a capitalist pawn and were betraying Mao's socialist vision. But it was within this context that Deng Xiaoping came to America to visit Jimmy Carter. And as is customary when a head of state comes to visit, The entire spread, the full spread, was laid out for Deng and the Chinese delegation.
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
This included a night of festivities at the Kennedy Center where Shirley MacLaine performed, the Joffrey Ballet were there, as were the Harlem Globetrotters, obviously, and John Denver.
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
If there's anything in the world that transcends politics or borders, it's probably trick shots and folksy singer-songwriters. So this trip left an impression on Deng because a few years later, he invited John Denver to be one of the first touring artists from America to visit China.
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
Asia's relationship with America throughout the 20th century, probably the most visible legacy of American influence were army bases. And wherever there were army bases, there was radio.
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
So for millions of listeners in Japan, Korea, or the Philippines or Vietnam, countries where American military presence were very much real, their first introduction to American pop culture would have been through Armed Forces Radio.
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
If you think about the type of music that was popular during the 70s and 80s, you're probably thinking the sensuality of Marvin Gaye. Or the vibrant costumes of Elton John. Or the anti-war politics of CCR. But obviously, the suits at Armed Forces Radio weren't going to allow obscenity or vulgarity of any form to broadcast across the airwaves.
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
So if you've ever watched the movie... Good morning, Vietnam! It's like how Robin Williams' character was constantly getting in trouble for getting funky with it.
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
So the music that did ultimately clear the airwaves were easy listening, soft rock, or Dolly Parton, or John Denver.
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
100%. I mean, I don't know anyone in my age cohort who loves John Denver. And I think it's hard to evaluate really omnipresent fixtures in pop culture objectively, if that's even possible. But this song is really beautiful. Having listened to it for the first time in a while, this song is... about wanting to go back home, which is something that I think anyone can relate to.
Today, Explained
Almost Heaven
They're not wrong. Yeah. That's the crazy thing about the song. I think that's a perfect description. It makes me nostalgic for a place I've never been. I've never been in West Virginia. I don't plan on visiting West Virginia anytime soon, but for some reason, I can see it.