View source for Cui Jian

{{Short description|Chinese singer-songwriter (born 1961)}}
{{family name hatnote|[[Cui (surname)|Cui]]|lang=Chinese}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Cui Jian
| image              = Cui Jian 02.02.1993 I 10 crop.jpg
| alt                = 
| caption            = Cui in 1993
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1961|8|2}}
| birth_place        = [[Beijing]], China
| occupation         = {{hlist|Singer-songwriter|musician}}
| years_active       = 1984–present
| height_cm          = 172
| children=1<ref name="nytsf" />
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Cui Jian|Full list]]
| website            = {{URL|www.cuijian.com}}
| module            = {{infobox musical artist
| embed      = yes
| alias      = Old Cui ({{lang-zh|c=老崔|p=Lǎo Cuī|labels=no}})
| origin     = China
| genre      = {{flatlist|
* [[Rock music|Rock]]
* [[Folk music|folk]]
* [[hip-hop]]
* [[Electronic music|electronic]]
* [[avant-garde music|avant-garde]]
* [[experimental music|experimental]]
}}
| instrument = {{flatlist|
* Vocals
* guitar
* trumpet
* synthesizer
* [[Programming (music)|programming]]
* [[Digital audio workstation|DAW]]
}}
| label      = {{flatlist|
*East West
*Jingwen
*Coden
*[[UFO Record|UFO]]
*[[EMI]]
*[[Tencent Music|TME]]
*[[Sony Music]]
*[[Universal Music Group|Universal Music]]
}}
| past_member_of    = [[#Early career|Seven-Player Band]]
}}
| module2             = {{Infobox Chinese | child = yes
| c = 崔健
| p = Cuī Jiàn
| mi = {{IPA|cmn|tsʰwéɪ tɕjɛ̂n|}}
<!-- Korean -->
| cnhangul = 최건
| cnrr = Choe Geon
| cnmr = Ch'oe Kŏn
}}
}}

'''Cui Jian''' or '''Choi Geon''' ({{lang-zh|c=崔健}}; {{Korean|hangul=최건}}; born 2 August 1961) is a Chinese singer-songwriter and musician. Dubbed the "[[Honorific nicknames in popular music|Godfather of Chinese Rock]]", Cui is often deemed the most influential rock musician in China.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref>{{cite magazine|publisher=Hebei Art Research Institute|author=Zhang Youdai|language=zh-cn|magazine=Popular Songs|title=是榜样 但不是标准|date=January 2001|issue=1|page=9|location=[[Hebei]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite new|language=zh-cn|author=Jiang Xiaoyu|publisher=[[China Xinhua Airlines]]|work=Xinhua Airlines|date=December 3, 2002|url=https://m.cj.sina.cn/page/aHR0cDovL2ZpbmFuY2Uuc2luYS5jb20uY24vcm9sbC8yMDAyMTIwMy8xMzE2Mjg1NjE2LnNodG1s?from=redirect|title=摇摇滚滚的崔健永远年轻？(附图)}}</ref><ref>{{cite thesis|title=文化视阈中的中国流行音乐研究|language=zh-cn|author=Zhou Xiaoyan|date=June 2013|degree=PhD|publisher=[[Soochow University (Suzhou)|Soochow University]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=[[:zh:精品购物指南|Shopping Guide]]|language=zh-cn|date=January 15, 2008|url=https://ent.sina.cn/review/media/2008-01-15/detail-icesifvx9469090.d.html|title=那些听崔健的岁月 阳光下的梦|author=Wang Jing}}</ref><ref name="huangguiyu" /><ref name="newschina">{{cite web|url=http://www.newschinamag.com/newschina/articleDetail.do?article_id=1187&section_id=4&magazine_id=12|title=Rolling 30|date=December 28, 2016|work=[[China Newsweek|NEWS CHINA]]}}</ref><ref name="npr" />}} His music draws influences from [[Chinese traditional music]], [[hip-hop]], [[jazz]], [[Electronic music|electronic]], and [[Avant-garde music|avant-garde]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Sam C. Mac|url=https://inreviewonline.com/2019/09/02/retro-cui-jian/|title=Cui Jian: The World That's Changing Longs to Never Change|website=Inreviewonline.com|date=September 2, 2019}}</ref> while his lyrics often delve into political, social, and philosophical themes. Recognized for his [[Counterculture|countercultural]] importance,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/china-censorship-lady-gaga-unbanned-672288/|title=China Censorship: Lady Gaga Unbanned, Rock Legend Cui Jian Shuns Official Favor|date=January 19, 2014|author=Clifford Coonan|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> Cui is seen as a [[cultural icon]] whose works have significantly shaped rock music both domestically and across Asia.<ref name="fcjtsh">{{cite magazine|author=Yi Wu|doi=10.54254/2753-7080/5/2024031|title=Rock and China: From Cui Jian to Second Hand Rose|date=March 2024|magazine=Advances in Humanities Research|pages=17–21|volume=5 |issue=1}}</ref>

Born into an [[Koreans in China|ethnic Korean]] family with parents who were both artists, Cui began his musical career in 1981. In 1986, Cui performed his song "[[Nothing to My Name]]" at Beijing's [[Workers' Gymnasium]], which is considered a seminal moment in the history of [[Chinese rock]]. Standing out in the Chinese music scene when [[Patriotism|patriotic]] [[ballad]]s and [[Cantopop]] were popular,<ref name="beijingdj" /> he started to gather a [[cult following]] on China's university campuses,<ref name="cultf">{{cite magazine|pages=21–22|magazine=[[City Weekend]]|title=In the Name of the Father|author=Jo Lusby|date=June 2002|issue=10}}</ref> credited with pioneering the country's alternative music.<ref>{{cite thesis|title=Populärmusik i Kina under 1900-talet fram till idag|language=sv|date=2013|author=Joakim Fritz|degree=MSc|publisher=[[Lund University]]|url=https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/3994061/file/3994062.pdf}}</ref> This was followed by ''[[Rock 'n' Roll on the New Long March]]'' (1989), China's first original rock album, which remains one of the most successful and best-selling albums in the nation's history.<ref>{{cite web|language=es|work=[[20 minutos]]|url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/514356/0/cui/jian/rock/|title=Cui Jian, el pionero del rock en China, actuará por primera vez en España|date=October 9, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/11/03/in-xis-china-everything-old-is-new-again-xi-jinping-long-march-reappropriation-loyalty/|title=In Xi’s China, Everything Old Is New Again|work=[[Foreign Policy]]|date=November 3, 2016|author1=Julian Gewirtz|author2=Jeffrey Wasserstrom}}</ref> Despite his popularity among the Chinese youth, he was subject to [[Music censorship|censorship]] by both the Chinese and Taiwanese governments. Siding with demonstrating students during the [[1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre|1989 Tiananmen protests]], Cui was banned from playing major venues in Beijing for a decade.

Cui's subsequent albums ''[[Solution (Cui Jian album)|Solution]]'' (1991) and ''[[Balls Under the Red Flag]]'' (1994) received critical acclaim, the latter of which is regarded by some as his ''[[magnum opus]]''. He explored [[Electronics in rock music|electronic rock music]] on the albums ''[[The Power of the Powerless (album)|The Power of the Powerless]]'' (1998) and ''[[Show You Colour]]'' (2005). In 2002, he initiated the Live Vocals Movement against [[Lip sync|lip-synching]] at live and televised performances. Following his participation in producing several films, including the [[musical film]] ''[[Blue Sky Bones]]'' (2013), his album ''[[Frozen Light]]'' (2015) was regarded as his musical comeback. In 2022, the album ''[[A Flying Dog]]'' (2021) earned him the [[Golden Melody Award for Best Male Mandarin Singer]], the top music award in the [[Sinophone|Chinese-speaking world]].<ref name="tianxia" />

British think tank [[Chatham House]] named him one of the most powerful and influential individuals in China in the 21st century. Cui has sold more than 10 million records throughout East Asia.<ref name="stagefg">{{cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/chinese-rock-star-striking-a-chord-3135405.php|title=Chinese rock star striking a chord|author=Monica Valencia|work=[[SFGate]]|date=August 18, 1995}}</ref> However, the vast majority of his CDs sold in China were [[Bootleg recording|bootlegged]]. Including these, the total number of his record sales amounts to approximately 100 million copies.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[United Press International|UPI]]|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/11/13/Chinese-rocker-prepares-legal-action-against-copyright-pirates/8908721630800/|title=Chinese rocker prepares legal action against copyright pirates|date=November 13, 1992}}</ref><ref name="thetimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/asia-travel/china/satisfaction-at-last-for-protest-rocker-banned-by-beijing-r8h69pw2q98|author=Oliver August|date=March 7, 2003|work=[[The Times]]|title=Satisfaction at last for protest rocker banned by Beijing}}</ref> He has given more than 1,000 concerts around the world,<ref>{{cite web|author=Bae Moon-gyu|url=https://www.khan.co.kr/article/201205132119545#c2b|title=최건 음악인생 다큐 영화, 올여름 중국 전역서 상영된다|language=ko|work=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]]|date=May 13, 2012}}</ref> and received an [[MTV Video Music Award for International Viewer's Choice|MTV International Viewer's Choice Award]].<ref name="stagefg" />

==Early life and education==
Cui Jian is a third-generation [[Korean Chinese|ethnic Korean]] whose grandfather migrated to China during the [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese occupation]] and established the family.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[The Chosun Ilbo]]|language=ko|url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/1997/07/06/1997070670141.html|title=[인터뷰] "나의 뿌리 한국음악 배우러 왔죠" 조선족3세 최건|date=July 6, 1997}}</ref> He grew up in a musical family in Beijing. His father, Cui Xiongji, who died in 2006,<ref>{{cite web|title=崔健痛失慈父选择坚强|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hqylss/2006-08/22/content_670842.htm|date=August 22, 2006|language=zh-cn|work=[[China Daily]]}}</ref> was a professional trumpet player, and his mother, Zhang Shunhua, who birth in [[Busan]], [[South Korea]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/x/p/2005-11-13/1012895245.html?from=wap|title=图文：第二届亚洲音乐节发布会--崔健|language=zh-cn|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina Entertainment]]|date=November 13, 2005}}</ref> was a member of the [[China National Ethnic Song and Dance Ensemble]].<ref name="zjw">{{cite book|title=崔健：在一无所有中呐喊|isbn=9787303019618|author=Zhao Jianwei|language=zh-cn|publisher=[[Beijing Normal University]] Publisher|date=September 1992}}</ref>{{Rp|page=106}} He lived with his parents and younger brother Cui Dong in an old two-bedroom apartment within a apartment building near [[Yonghe Temple]].<ref name="cwr" /> Cui Xiongji conducted strict nationalist education, but he rebelled against such education from childhood.<ref>{{cite web|language=ko|url=https://h21.hani.co.kr/arti/culture/culture_general/4600.html|title=천안문에 꽂은 록의 깃발|date=March 6, 2002|work=[[The Hankyoreh]]|author=Lee Hyeong-seop}}</ref> Cui Jian spent his childhood at an air force boarding kindergarten due to his parents' demanding work schedules. Their limited proficiency in Chinese contributed to his stutter. Cui Xiongji described the young Cui Jian as possessing "an intense intellectual curiosity about incomprehensible subjects, often engaging in solitary observation and contemplation".<ref name="zjw" />{{Rp|page=106}} Cui Dong said that when Cui Jian was young, his essays were particularly strong, his other academic performance was also quite good, and he was a good student.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/s/m/2002-08-24/115897154.html?from=wap|title=专访：弟弟崔东眼中的崔健--好学生凶哥哥(附图)|author=Chen Rong|language=zh-cn|date=August 24, 2002|work=[[Information Times]]}}</ref>

Cui Jian followed his father to start playing the trumpet at the age of fourteen. He joined the [[Beijing Symphony Orchestra]] in 1981, at the age of twenty,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Davis|first=Edward L.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2rLBvrlKI7QC|title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2009|isbn=978-0-415-77716-2|location=London|pages=118}}</ref> became a professional trumpet player of the Beijing Aihe Orchestra.<ref>{{Cite web |title=辉煌时刻；1986年5月9日崔健宣告了中国摇滚乐的诞生_小号 |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/www.sohu.com/a/498256625_121124390 |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=www.sohu.com}}</ref> Yang Leqiang, a former member of Seven-Player Band, recalled that during symphony orchestra rehearsals at the time, while others wore crisp suits, Cui showed up in [[slim-fit pants]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Han Xuan|url=https://wap.bjd.com.cn/news/2021/08/03/142839.shtml|title=中国摇滚第一人崔健都60岁了！看上去爱怼人，其实很羞涩|language=zh-cn|work=[[Beijing Daily]]|date=August 3, 2021}}</ref> Cui first heard rock and roll in the early 1980s when professional musician friends smuggled cassette tapes in from Hong Kong and [[Bangkok]].<ref name="wc" /> He spent this period listening to [[Simon & Garfunkel]], [[Bob Dylan]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[the Beatles]] and the [[Talking Heads]]. He learned to play guitar and began writing music, which he played in cafés and dormitories.<ref name="wwb">{{cite web|author=Rachel DeWoskin|date=January 13, 2010|url=https://wordswithoutborders.org/read/article/2010-01/power-of-the-powerless/|title=Power of the Powerless|work=[[Words Without Borders]]}}</ref> He bought his first guitar for 20 yuan and learned to play it from a Mongolian worker, surpassing him within a couple of weeks.<ref name="qnmd">{{cite web|url=https://www.corriere.it/la-lettura/contenuti-del-giorno/2025/06/11/cui-jian-icona-rock-cinese-e3409ce6-468e-11f0-928b-115b2e408612.shtml|title=Cui Jian, icona del rock cinese|author=Sergio Basso|work=[[Corriere della Sera]]|date=June 11, 2025|language=it}}</ref> During that era, playing guitar was deemed "hooligan" and "[[Bourgeoisie|bourgeois]]" behavior. In 1983, when Cui Jian went to [[Handan]] for a performance with his troupe, he played guitar one evening. He recalled "the audience was instantly stunned, and one girl immediately burst into tears". That same year, he wrote his first song "I Love My Guitar".<ref name="gmn">{{cite web|url=https://www.gmw.cn/01wzb/2000-02/20/GB/2000%5E1722%5E0%5EWZ1-2027.htm|title=崔健：摇滚十三年|work=[[Guangming Daily]]|language=zh-cn|date=February 20, 2000}}</ref> Zhou Yaping, former [[timpani]]st of the orchestra, recalled that Cui could accurately imitate the singing styles of English-language vocalists, or artists like [[Liu Wen-cheng]], which was quite rare at the time.<ref name="ttwz" />

==Career==
===Early career===
In 1984, Cui released his first album ''Contemporary European and American Pop Jazz Disco''.<ref>{{cite web|date=May 10, 2016|url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/643865.html|title=30年前，摇滚首次登上正式舞台，他用刀子一样嗓音吓坏了所有人|work=[[Jiemian News]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref> Inspired by Simon & Garfunkel and [[John Denver]],<ref name="zgpnz">{{cite web|author=Jamie Merrill|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-s-rock-rebel-cui-jian-gets-the-party-startled-9069621.html|title=China's rock rebel Cui Jian gets the Party startled|work=[[The Independent]]|date=January 19, 2014}}</ref> at the same year Cui formed his first band, Seven-Player Band (七合板, literally "Seven-Player Board," a double entendre reference to the seven-member band) with six other classically trained musicians, including the saxophonist/[[suona]] player [[Liu Yuan (musician)|Liu Yuan]]. The seminal band was heavily influenced by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Talking Heads. The band played Western pop music in small restaurants and bars in Beijing and was the first of its kind in China.<ref>{{Cite web |last=网易 |date=2023-12-28 |title=崔健，和他的"知交"们 |url=https://www.163.com/dy/article/IN101OLP05561KL9.html |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=www.163.com}}</ref> They performed their own works—mostly soft rock and love songs—in local hotels and bars. With his band, Cui released his first cassette ''[[Returning Wanderer]]'' that same year. The album featured commercial, pop-oriented love songs but also showcased songs with [[Progressive rock|progressive]] and [[folk-rock]] influences, which were fresh and innovative in China at the time.<ref name="wc">{{cite web|author=Scott Savitt|url=https://www.thewirechina.com/2024/02/11/cui-jian-on-the-power-of-rock-n-roll/|title=Cui Jian on the Power of Rock 'N' Roll|work=[[The Wire China]]|date=February 11, 2024}}</ref>

In 1985, the band released another album titled "With Seven-Player Band", which featured a combination of Western [[pop-rock]] as well as new original songs.<ref name="wc" /> That June, under pressure from the authorities, the Seven-Player Band was forced to disband.<ref name="cwr" /> Soon afterwards, Cui wrote his first rock song "It's Not That I Don't Understand",<ref name="zjw" />{{Rp|page=106}} regarded as the earliest ancestor of Chinese [[rap rock]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Zhang Yi|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1729930|title=嘻哈音乐在中国：刚刚上路，却未老先衰|date=July 12, 2017|language=zh-cn|work=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The paper]]}}</ref> Over the next two years, Cui wrote thirteen songs. In late 1985, the cafeteria of the [[Beijing Film Academy]] hosted a music performance where Cui performed his original song "Rock 'n' Roll on the New Long March". Midway through the set, several [[CBS]] journalists arrived to film "China's rock 'n' roll". Yang Leqiang, member of Seven-Player Band, rushed the stage, hoisted Cui onto his shoulders, and students, including future rock musician [[He Yong (rock musician)|He Yong]], chanted, "His name is Cui Jian!"<ref name="cwr" /> He later participated in the "Peacock Cup" vocal competition, with judges including [[Wang Kun (singer)|Wang Kun]] and [[Li Shuangjiang]], but was eliminated in the preliminary round due to his singing style being deemed unacceptable at the time.<ref>{{cite web|author=Li Yi|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/yneidi/2008-12-26/detail-icesifvx8599369.d.html?from=wap|title=黄小茂：崔健在内地 就是"独一份儿"(图)|work=[[Oriental Morning Post]]|language=zh-cn|date=December 26, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ent.ifeng.com/fcd/special/fulin/news/detail_2013_11/13/31216084_0.shtml|title=付林：崔健曾参加歌唱比赛 评委李双江不识摇滚乐|language=zh-cn|work=[[Phoenix Television|Ifeng.com]]|date=November 13, 2013}}</ref>

===1986–1988: The popularity of "Nothing to My Name" and collaboration with ADO===
====Filling the World with Love and "Nothing to My Name"====
{{Listen|filename=YiWuSuoYou sample.ogg|title="Nothing to My Name"|description=Sample of "Nothing to My Name". Cultural scholar Jonathan Matusitz maintains that the song symbolizes China's rebellious youth and delineates "the birth of 
[[Postmodern music|postmodernism]] in [[C-pop|Chinese pop music]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|doi=10.1080/03007766.2011.567916|title=The Cultural Politics of Introducing Popular Music into China's Music Education|date=July 2012|magazine=Popular Music & Society|author1=Wai-Chung Ho|author2=Wing-Wah Law|url=https://hub.hku.hk/bitstream/10722/175532/1/Content.pdf|issue=3|volume=35}}</ref>}}

In early 1986, coinciding with the [[International Year of Peace]], Chinese musician [[Guo Feng (musician)|Guo Feng]] organized the recording of the charity song "Filling the World with Love" and planed to hold a concert of the same name convening 100 popular singers in Chinese Mainland to change the stereotypes of popular music.<ref name="piaofang4">{{cite web|work=[[China Newsweek]]|url=http://www.zgxwzk.chinanews.com.cn/2/2016-12-12/3292.shtml|title=摇滚30年，不再坚定但依旧愤怒|language=zh-cn|author=Zhou Fengting|date=December 12, 2016}}</ref><ref name="cuijtj" /> Prompted by this recording, cultural authorities made their first exception for popular music by permitting the organization of the concert.<ref>{{cite thesis|title=改革开放三十年流行音乐发展与价值观变迁|language=zh-cn|date=June 2010|author=Zhang Jiawei|degree=MSc|publisher=[[Beijing Jiaotong University]]}}</ref> At the recommendation of popular singer Wang Di, Cui Jian participated in the concert and applied for a solo segment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/641103.html|language=zh-cn|title=被记住的不该只有崔健——也说摇滚三十年|date=May 8, 2016|work=[[Jiemian News]]}}</ref> With the permission of Wang Kun, Cui was able to sing his song "[[Nothing to My Name]]" at the concert.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[China News Service]]|language=zh-cn|author=Zhang Daozheng|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/yl/2015/01-29/7017414.shtml|title=崔健忆王昆:她是把中国摇滚乐推到台前的重要人物|date=January 29, 2015}}</ref> The concert took place at Beijing [[Workers' Gymnasium]] on May 9. That evening, the venue was packed to capacity, with "everyone wondering what was going to happen".<ref>{{cite web|date=May 10, 2016|language=zh-cn|url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/643865.html|title=30年前，摇滚首次登上正式舞台，他用刀子一样嗓音吓坏了所有人|work=[[Jiemian News]]}}</ref>

Two minutes before taking the stage, Cui felt his suit was "utterly stifling," so he switched to the [[Changshan|dagua]] belonging to the father of Wang Di.<ref>{{cite web|author=Yin Luona|url=http://www.people.com.cn/24hour/n/2012/1118/c25408-19614131.html|title=崔健越摇滚.越平和|date=November 18, 2012|website=[[People's Daily Online]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref> Because of Cui's disheveled hair, cold look, and his apparel, which were different from the previous "gorgeously dressed" singers with "graceful singing", the audience became chaotic.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=学乖了的中国摇滚|language=zh-cn|pages=22–23|date=2000|issue=6|author=Xue Shan|magazine=Great Stage|publisher=Hebei Art Research Institute|location=[[Hebei]]}}</ref> However, the moment his "hoarse voice" rang out, the audience fell silent immediately.<ref name="cuijtj">{{cite web|url=https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_12590418|title=35年前的今天，一场演唱会影响了一代人！|date=May 9, 2021|language=zh-cn|work=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The paper]]}}</ref> Then came applause and whistles, followed by continuous cheers.<ref name="byt" /> Keyboard player Liang Heping recalled that his hair "stood straight on end".<ref name="hanmaodou" /> After the concert, the young people sang his verses and played [[air guitar]] on the streets.<ref>{{cite news|language=de|title=China-Kracher|newspaper=[[Der Tagesspiegel]]|author=Tanja Buntrock|date=July 16, 2001}}</ref><ref name="sbs" /> Official personnel present displayed attitudes diametrically opposed to those of the young audience. An "old revolutionary," after watching Cui's performance, exclaimed angrily, "Now even [[cow demons and snake spirits]] are allowed to take the stage!"<ref name="ngssch" /> a member of Beijing’s Municipal Party Committee said, "How can a young person sing about having nothing to his name? That’s ridiculous! He has [[socialism]]!"<ref name="sbs" /> Wang Kun recalled:<ref name="frs">{{cite thesis|author=Yingxue Huang|title=Yaogun, l'histoire de la musique rock Made in China : création, évolution et perspectives de la musique rock en Chine contemporaine (1980-2011)|url=http://www.theses.fr/2012LYO30056|publisher=[[Jean Moulin University Lyon 3]]|date=September 7, 2012|language=fr|degree=PhD}}</ref>
{{blockquote|Some old [[comrade]]s from [[Yan'an]] left in the concert. Why? I think they were afraid to take responsibility. They asked me: how is it possible, how can such ugly things make a public show? They did not dare to judge, since they had seen that the audience was so enthusiastic, (they chose to leave) without signing me. Another old comrade, who died now, said to me: Wang Kun! Why did you allow that? What do these songs look like?}}

The sampling inspiration for "Nothing to My Name" draws from [[Northwestern China]]'s "[[Xintianyou]]" folk music. Cui Jian incorporated traditional instruments like the [[suona]], [[guzheng]], [[Dizi (instrument)|dizi]], and [[Xiao (flute)|xiao]], while blending elements and rhythms from [[Punk rock|punk]], [[jazz]], [[Afro-pop]], and [[rapping|rap]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_14883836|title=崔健消失，是年轻人的悲哀|date=October 14, 2021|language=zh-cn|work=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The paper]]}}</ref> Professor of East Asian Studies Nimrod Baranovitch wrote that the song features a hybrid of [[folklore]] with strong, fast and modern [[disco]] and rock beats.<ref>{{cite book|last=Baranovitch|first=Nimrod|page=19|date=August 1, 2003|isbn=9780520234505|title=China's New Voices: Popular Music, Ethnicity, Gender, and Politics, 1978-1997|publisher=[[University of California Press]]|language=de}}</ref> Stefan Simons wrote for ''[[Der Spiegel]]'' that Cui's loud, aggressive tones blasted against "oily party" arias and "schmaltzy" pop music from [[Gangtai|Hong Kong and Taiwan]], making the song the anthem of the alternative music and youth scene.<ref>{{cite web|language=de|date=July 20, 2001|url=https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/musik/cui-jian-in-hamburg-lauter-kleine-freiheitsstatuen-a-146201.html|author=Stefan Simons|title=Lauter kleine Freiheitsstatuen|work=[[Der Spiegel]]}}</ref> The song is about a failed love affair, but widely read as a metaphor for the growing estrangement of Chinese youth from the political climate of China.<ref name="jdk" /> Compared with the first-person plural pronoun "we" in [[revolutionary song]]s, the word "I" appears in 28 times out of the song's 42 lines and becomes a liberating call for self-expression.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 13, 2018|work=[[Shanghai Daily]]|author=David Li|title=Enter the founding father of Chinese rock music|url=https://www.shine.cn/feature/entertainment/1809132030/}}</ref> [[BBC]] correspondent Henry Knight described the song as "[[individualism]], experimentation and [[Counterculture|non-conformity]]".<ref>{{cite web|author=Henry Knight|url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20150602-how-to-be-a-rock-star-in-beijing|title=Inside Beijing's underground rock scene|date=June 2, 2015|work=[[BBC]]}}</ref> Hong Kong news website ''[[HK01]]'' stated that this love song accurately and profoundly depicts the confusion experienced by China's younger generation amid the collapse of social values at the time, as well as their reflections on self-identity amidst dual material and spiritual hardships.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hk01.com/%E6%B7%B1%E5%BA%A6%E5%A0%B1%E9%81%93/763752/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E6%90%96%E6%BB%BE%E4%B9%8B%E7%88%B6%E5%B4%94%E5%81%A5-%E5%A6%82%E4%BD%95%E6%88%90%E7%82%BA%E4%B8%80%E4%BB%A3%E4%BA%BA%E7%9A%84%E7%AC%A6%E8%99%9F?itm_source=universal_search&itm_campaign=hk01&itm_content=articles&itm_medium=web|title=中國搖滾之父崔健  如何成為一代人的符號|work=[[HK01]]|language=zh-hant|date=April 27, 2022}}</ref>

His performance has been seen as the moment heralding the birth of Chinese rock 'n' roll,<ref name="id" /> marking a new era in Cui Jian's music career, as he uses this unique rock method to summon a new generation of young people.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Guo  |first=Weiqi |date=2019-05-31 |title=中学语文古典诗歌教学中"以乐写哀"手法例析 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.32629/er.v2i5.1829 |journal=教育研究 |volume=2 |issue=5 |doi=10.32629/er.v2i5.1829 |issn=2630-4686|doi-access=free |language=zh-cn}}</ref> It has been compared to [[The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show|The Beatles on ''The Ed Sullivan Show'']].<ref>{{cite web|work=[[CVLT Nation]]|title=Chinese Rock and Heavy Metal Kick Ass!|url=https://cvltnation.com/chinese-rock/|date=August 19, 2016|author=Robyn Perry}}</ref> {{ill|Parangalan|zh|胡德夫}}, known as the Father of Taiwanese Folk Songs, thought "the younger generation in mainland China can now write their own songs" after hearing "Nothing to My Name".<ref>{{cite web|author=Han Yuting|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_23594038|title="台湾民谣之父"胡德夫：用音乐力量促进两岸民间交流|date=June 24, 2023|work=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The Paper]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref> The song peaked at number one on the {{ill|Chinese Pop Chart|zh|中文歌曲龍虎榜}},<ref>{{cite web |title=香港電台網站 : 第二台｜中文歌曲龍虎榜 |url=https://www.rthk.hk/radio/radio2/programme/chinesepopchart |publisher=[[RTHK]] |language=zh-hant |archive-date=November 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123082524/https://www.rthk.hk/radio/radio2/programme/chinesepopchart }}</ref> and remains one of the most influential songs in the history of China.<ref>{{cite thesis|title=Song of Youth: Youth Narratives and Representations of Young People in Contemporary Chinese Literature, Film, and Popular Culture|author=Ying Liu|url=https://escholarship.org/content/qt1vq8b988/qt1vq8b988.pdf|date=2016|degree=PhD|publisher=[[University of California, Irvine]]}}</ref>

====Follow-up development====
Two months after the concert, "Nothing to My Name" CDs and cassettes hit the market. Cui became China's rock icon.<ref>{{cite web|author=Zhao Xi|url=https://tech.ifeng.com/c/8FGaekNQ33F|title=时代与我们，谁更需要崔健？|website=[[Phoenix Television|Ifeng.com]]|date=April 16, 2022|language=zh-cn}}</ref> He was considered the only singer in mainland China at the time who could write lyrics, compose music, and perform his own songs, all by himself.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=June 15, 1988|issue=7|magazine=[[:zh:遠見雜誌|Global Views Monthly]]|language=zh-tw|title=一無所有－流行歌王崔健|url=https://www.gvm.com.tw/article/882|author=Ch'iao An}}</ref> Following the fashion style of Cui - long hair, jeans and boots - Chinese young fans cheered wildly and danced in the aisles when he performed this song.<ref>{{cite web|author=Chen Nan|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2019-09/30/content_37513277.htm|title=Everything to their names|date=September 30, 2019|work=[[China Daily]]}}</ref> [[Peking University]] established the "Peking University Cui Jian Backup Group", the first [[fan club]] in mainland China.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_25227955|title=我们为什么仍然需要摇滚乐？|date=November 9, 2023|language=zh-cn|work=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The paper]]}}</ref> American sinologist [[Orville Schell]] said that "listening to Cui Jian's music after all the disco bands in the country is equivalent to listening to [[Johann Sebastian Bach|Bach]] after [[Barry Manilow]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|pages=80–100|language=de|url=https://edoc.hu-berlin.de/bitstreams/cc0c9973-0b04-489e-b1c7-099ffb368a4b/download|magazine=PopScriptum 3 – World Music|date=1995|title=ROCKMUSIK IN DER VR CHINA|author=Andreas Steen|doi=10.18452/20234|publisher=[[Humboldt University of Berlin]]|format=pdf}}</ref> Under the strong endorsement of writer-musician [[Liu Sola]] and scholar {{ill|Li Tuo|zh|李陀}}, Cui and his song "Nothing to My Name" quickly captured the attention of China's cultural circles, with the "Cui Jian phenomenon" becoming a fiercely debated topic in academia.<ref name="byt" /> From this time on, Chinese rock music transitioned from its initially controversial and less recognized "underground era" to a "mainstream era" with substantial youth support.<ref name="knhn" /> On July 16, 1988, ''[[People's Daily]]'' published a lengthy 1500-word commentary on Cui, which explains Cui's popularity and analyses his immense appeal to students, teachers, workers, and private entrepreneurs. This was the first time a rock singer was featured in China's mainstream media.<ref>{{cite thesis|title=Chinas Jugendkultur Gründe und Ursachen für den Erfolg der Rockmusik in China|last=Chen|first=Han Guo|url=https://libdoc.fh-zwickau.de/opus4/files/8541/BA.pdf|date=2013|publisher=[[Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau]]|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=추이졘(崔健) 록음악에 대한 ‘다위안문화(大院文化)’의 영향과 한국에서 추이졘이 수용되는 방식의 문제|doi=10.26586/chls.2020..98.008|date=2020|language=ko|issue=98|pages=163–190|magazine=Journal of Chinese Language and Literature|author=Ahn Young-eun}}</ref> Outside of China, Cui enjoyed international acclaim after a television appearance at the [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Olympics in Seoul]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Ben Forrest|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/cui-jian-china-first-rock-star/|title=Cui Jian: China's trailblazing first rock star|website=[[Far Out (website)|Far Out]]|date=February 5, 2024}}</ref>
[[File:Cui Jian 02.02.1993 I 03 crop.jpg|thumb|185px|left|Former [[ADO (band)|ADO]] members Eddie (left) and [[Liu Yuan (musician)|Liu Yuan]] (right) respectively served long-term as the lead guitarist and wind instrumentalist in Cui's backing band; the latter died in 2024.]]
Cui participated in a series of benefit concerts for the restoration of Beijing's [[Marco Polo Bridge]] after the 100-Singer Concert of Year of International Peace.<ref name="jamesmann" /> In 1987, the Party launched an ideological campaign against "[[bourgeois liberalization]]".<ref name="sbs" /> Cui was banned from performing for a year after a Beijing performance on 14 January enraged one Party official,<ref name="jdk">{{cite magazine|author=Jeroen de Kloet|publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]]|title=Authenticating Geographies and Temporalities:Representations of Chinese Rock in China|magazine=Visual Anthropology|volume=18|pages=229–255|date=2005|doi=10.1080/08949460590914877}}</ref> forcing him to perform underground during this period.<ref name="rstp" /> It is generally agreed that this was because he covered "[[Nanniwan]]" in a rock style on that day.<ref name="zjw" />{{Rp|page=130}} American journalist [[James Mann (writer)|James Mann]] reported that Cui was resisted by old officials.<ref name="jamesmann">{{cite web|author=James Mann|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-03-29-mn-1267-story.html|title=Rock Band No Big Hit With Chinese Officials|date=March 29, 1987|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> Some musicians with government background, such as {{ill|Chen Zhiang|zh|陈志昂}}, criticized Cui, even insinuating that he was an "instigator of riots".<ref name="tujinmei">{{cite thesis|author=Tu Jinmei|language=zh-cn|date=April 2008|title=论当代中国摇滚乐反叛性的缺失|degree=MSc|publisher=[[:zh:中国艺术研究院|Chinese National Academy of Arts]]}}</ref> Thus, Cui was forced to withdraw from the Beijing Symphony Orchestra.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 27, 2016|author=Guo Yanbing|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/yneidi/2016-09-27/detail-ifxwevmf2376442.d.html?from=wap|title=崔健：如果要怀旧 我早就写出20张作品了|work=[[The Beijing News]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref> Steven Schwankert, a [[Sinophile]] scholar, said that when Cui left the philharmonic, there was no real opportunity to make a living without the government lifeline of an apartment and a paycheck.<ref>{{cite web|author=Steven Harris|date=September 3, 1999|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1999/0903/p20s1.html|title=From China, a 'rebel rocker'}}</ref> Cui began playing regularly with a band, [[ADO (band)|ADO]]. With ADO, Cui managed to support himself by playing at private parties for foreigners, in restaurants, bars, small hotels and the after-hours club at Beijing [[Maxim's]] restaurant.<ref name="lsjsb">{{cite web|date=November 15, 1992|author=Orville Schell|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-15-tm-660-story.html|title=Shake, Rattle, Roll : In Post Tian An Men China, Cui Jian and a Rock and Roll Underground Keep on Playing for Change|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> Cui made a guest appearance in the 1987 TV series ''Football Revelation'', which depicts the [[1985 China v Hong Kong football match|19 May Incident]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Jin Shan|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1551149|title=巩俐崔健差点掺合中国足球，《红高粱》女主角险些泡汤|date=October 19, 2016|work=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The Paper]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref> In January 1988, Cui successfully staged his debut solo concert with ADO at Beijing's [[Forbidden City Concert Hall|Zhongshan Music Hall]].<ref>{{cite web|work=[[china.org.cn]]|date=September 13, 2010|url=http://big5.china.com.cn/gate/big5/art.china.cn/music/2010-09/13/content_3713056.htm|title=中國搖滾教父崔健：有了他就不再"一無所有"|language=zh-hant}}</ref>

===1989–1990: ''Rock 'N' Roll on the New Long March'', Tiananmen Square Incident and banned from performing===
{{quote box|width=25em|quote=In this recording, Cui Jian not only expanded the lyrical and policical boundaries of Chinese pop/rock, he also experimented stylistically with a variety of musical influences. The title cut contains some rhythmic references to [[reggae]]; there are several places where an interest in [[North American]] [[country music]] is both rhythmically and melodically apparent; and rhythm and [[blues]]-style saxophone solos permeate the work. All in all, this recording stands as the most important work yet released within the realm of Chinese popular music.|source=– [[Reebee Garofalo]], 1999<ref name="bookrg1" />{{Rp|page=123}}}}
In February 1989, Cui and the ADO band released China's first original rock album ''[[Rock 'N' Roll on the New Long March]]'', which was also China's first album recorded using [[Electronic musical instrument|electric instruments]] like [[Bass guitar|electric bass]], [[Electric guitar|guitars]], and [[Electronic drum|drums]]. Taiwanese music critic {{ill|Ma Shih-fang|zh|馬世芳}} described the album as "a knife that sliced Chinese music history into 'before Cui Jian' and 'after Cui Jian'".<ref name="ttwz">{{cite web|author=Ji Yi|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina]]|language=zh-cn|url=https://top.sina.cn/zx/2016-09-20/tnews-ifxvyqwa3578528.d.html|title=崔健"一无所有" 三十年|date=September 20, 2016}}</ref><ref name="ligy" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lifeweek.com.cn/article/77479|title=31首歌|work=[[Sanlian Lifeweek]]|date=August 12, 2019|language=zh-cn}}</ref> Cui himself characterized the album's style as "rock with a touch of [[world music]]" and [[pop-rock]].<ref name="mgz" /><ref name="zgxwzk" /> The album broke sales records and became the biggest selling album in China’s history at the time.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[The Beijinger]]|date=April 13, 2022|url=https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2022/04/13/rock-out-online-friday-chinas-godfather-rock-cui-jian|title=Rock Out Online This Friday with China's 'Godfather of Rock', Cui Jian|author=Vincent R. Vinci}}</ref> It was also certified double platinum in Taiwan and platinum in Hong Kong,<ref name="cjyscj">{{cite web|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hqylss/2006-03/09/content_530245.htm|title=崔健艺术成就|work=[[China Daily]]|date=March 9, 2006|language=zh-cn}}</ref><ref name="knhn" /> and listed in ''The 200 Best Taiwanese Popular Music Albums'', a compilation jointly published by {{ill|China Times Publishing|zh|時報文化}} and the {{ill|China Musicians Exchange Association|zh|中華音樂人交流協會}}.<ref>{{cite web|author=Li Ji|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/yl/kong/news/2009/02-09/1555575.shtml|title=中国摇滚教父崔健《一无所有》入选台湾最佳专辑|date=February 9, 2009|language=zh-cn|work=[[China News Service]]}}</ref> This album is considered to have sparked the golden age of Chinese rock.<ref>{{cite web|date=May 30, 2022|url=http://finance.ce.cn/stock/gsgdbd/202205/30/t20220530_37691446.shtml|title=不爱鲜肉爱老炮！豪掷千万请崔健罗大佑开唱，这位幕后金主想收割的不止70后|work=[[Economic Daily]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref>

In early 1989, Cui performed at the "[[Printemps de Bourges]]" International Rock Festival in [[Paris]], France, and was received by former French Prime Minister [[Jacques Chirac]].<ref name="fce" /> He also represented mainland China respectively in London at the Salem Music Awards Show in March.<ref name="smas">{{cite thesis|author=Sitong Li|title=Underground Rock Music in Inland Chinese Cities: An Ethnographic Study of the Music andIdeology of the Developing Zhengzhou Rock Music Scene, 2000-2023|date=2023|publisher=[[University of Alberta]]|degree=MSc}}</ref><ref name="fce" /> In the same month, Cui held the Rock 'N' Roll on the New Long March Concert at the [[Beijing Exhibition Center|Beijing Exhibition Hall]], attracting an audience of two thousand. During intermission, upon overhearing someone remark, "Isn't this just a bunch of hoodlums?" Cui took the microphone and addressed the crowd: "Someone just called us a bunch of hoodlums. If that person doesn't feel ashamed, then we take this as a great honor!" The venue erupted with cheers and thunderous applause.<ref name="cwr">{{cite web|author=Feng Xiang|title=崔健和他的年代|url=https://www.chinawriter.com.cn/wxpl/2013/2013-01-22/152598.html|date=January 22, 2013|language=zh-cn|website=[[China Writers Association|chinawriter.com.cn]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.21jingji.com/article/20220416/herald/fba8b6c7e317826c4d4bb8f16ad9059d.html|title=崔健："我没那么较劲了"|work=[[21st Century Business Herald]]|date=April 16, 2022|language=zh-cn}}</ref> [[EMI]] wanted to release a live video album of this concert, but Cui was dissatisfied with the filming and editing approach, feeling that "this is packaging me as a pop star". The collaboration, worth a million [[Hong Kong dollars]], ultimately fell apart.<ref>{{cite web|author=Lun Bing|url=https://epaper.ynet.com/html/2015-05/25/content_134617.htm|title=这次我真的离开了你们这些乐坛大腕儿|work=[[Beijing Youth Daily]]|date=May 25, 2015|language=zh-cn}}</ref>

Cui reached the apex of his popularity during the [[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989]], when "Nothing to My Name" became an anthem to pro-democracy demonstrators.<ref>{{cite web|author=Mark Macdonald|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/27/in-chinese-rock-the-times-they-arent-a-changin/|title=Freedom Rock? Not In China|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> Wu Wenjian, a witness to the 1989 Tiananmen protest, recalled that on the square at that time, the most commonly sung song by college students was "Nothing to My Name".<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Deutsche Welle]]|url=https://www.dw.com/zh/%E5%B4%94%E5%81%A5%E6%8B%92%E7%BB%9D%E6%8E%A5%E5%8F%97%E5%AE%A1%E6%9F%A5%E4%B8%8E%E6%98%A5%E6%99%9A%E8%AF%B4%E5%86%8D%E8%A7%81/a-17365937|title=崔健与春晚说再见|language=zh-hans|date=January 16, 2014}}</ref> Cui was affirmed by [[Wu'er Kaixi]], one of the prominent leaders of the movement, as highly influential among young Chinese of the time.<ref name="book64">{{Cite book|title=China off center : mapping the margins of the middle kingdom|last=BLUM|first=SUSAN|date=2002|publisher=University of Hawai'i Press|others=Blum, Susan Debra,, Jensen, Lionel M.|isbn=0585464022|location=Honolulu|pages=[https://archive.org/details/chinaoffcenterma0000unse/page/291 291]|oclc=52763644|url=https://archive.org/details/chinaoffcenterma0000unse/page/291}}</ref> On May 19,<ref>{{cite thesis|title=中國搖滾樂文本意義之流變(1986~2011)|language=zh-hant|date=June 2012|author=Wu Ke-ming|degree=MSc|publisher=[[Nanhua University]]|url=https://nhuir.nhu.edu.tw/ir/retrieve/21671/100NHU05375003-001.pdf}}</ref> Cui walked onto the makeshift stage at Tiananmen Square to give a performance for [[Tiananmen hunger strikes|students on hunger strike]].<ref name="was64">{{cite web|author=Max Fisher|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/06/04/this-is-the-song-of-tiananmen-blindfold-my-eyes-and-cover-the-sky/|title=This is the song of Tiananmen: 'Blindfold my eyes and cover the sky'|date=June 4, 2013|work=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/Xinwen/7-02092014115947.html|title=崔健：只要毛像还挂天安门 时代就没有改变|work=[[Radio Free Asia]]|date=February 9, 2014|language=zh-hans}}</ref> The crowds at Tiananmen were thrilled to receive him, and Cui later described it "felt like a big party". Although he was "really clear about standing on the students' side", he heard someone asking him to "get out of the square" because the students were very weak.<ref name="was64" /> He impromptu performanced songs including "Start Over" and "Piece of Red Cloth" and received a warm welcome.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/kejiaowen/hc-04152022101657.html|title=崔健线上演唱会爆棚 他还是从前的他？|work=[[Radio Free Asia]]|date=April 15, 2022|language=zh-hans}}</ref> Despite the students' lack of energy, Cui "made them pretty crazy".<ref>{{cite web|date=August 25, 2010|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-11067241|title=Chinese rock legend sings on|work=[[BBC]]|author=Michael Bristow}}</ref> The following government crackdown forced many rock musicians, Cui included, into hiding in the [[Provinces of China|other provinces]]. Sanctions proved relatively temporary, and Cui was able to return to Beijing shortly afterward.<ref name="book64" /> There has been no further sanctions targeting him.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[United Press International|UPI]]|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/11/26/A-Chinese-business-executive-sporting-a-cashmere-sweater-and/4513628059600/|title=A Chinese business executive sporting a cashmere sweater and...|date=November 26, 1989|author=Ruth Youngblood}}</ref> Chinese rock music faced criticism by the authorities due to the movement. At an official music symposium convened in 1990, it was asserted that ''Rock 'N' Roll on the New Long March'' bore "practically no difference" from "Western Beatles-style '[[protest song]]s or [[Music and politics|political songs]]'".<ref name="rockta64">{{cite thesis|title=20世纪80年代中国摇滚乐研究|language=zh-cn|degree=MSc|date=May 20, 2014|author=Sun Huihui|publisher=[[Shandong Normal University]]}}</ref> The Minister of Culture, [[Wang Meng (author)|Wang Meng]], who had praised Cui's qualities and encouraged independent creation, resigned after the massacre.<ref name="pierrehaski" />

In early 1990, Cui started his first rock tour entitled the "New Long March", to raise money for the [[1990 Asian Games]]. Because of his admiration for Cui Jian, [[Zhang Baifa]], Vice Mayor of Beijing, approved the tour.<ref name="book64"/><ref name="cwr" /> This was the largest-scale rock tour in mainland China at the time.<ref>{{cite web|author=Zhai Yi|language=zh-cn|url=https://yule.sohu.com/19/29/earticle164062919.shtml|title=谈"为某楼盘献唱" 崔健:我觉得商演没什么(图)|date=February 7, 2002|work=[[:zh:每日新报|Morning Post]]}}</ref> In [[Chengdu]], Cui performed his song "Last Shot".<ref name="nyls" /> The song was written in 1987, when Cui was inspired by the [[Sino-Vietnamese War]].<ref name="hkfp">{{cite web|author=Elson Tong|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2016/06/04/the-last-gunshot-the-musical-legacy-of-the-1989-tiananmen-massacre/|title=The Last Gunshot: The musical legacy of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre|date=June 4, 2016|work=[[Hong Kong Free Press]]}}</ref> After the performance concluded, he said, "We hope the gunfire heard last year was the last shot." The audience erupted in cheers.<ref name="nyls" /><ref>{{cite web|author=Li Chih-ming|url=https://opinion.udn.com/opinion/story/12369/3814696|title=那些被遺忘的，還有歌聲讓我們記住——追憶六四歌曲傷痕史|language=zh-tw|work=[[United Daily News]]|date=May 21, 2019}}</ref> Midway through the tour, the government terminated the performance and cancelled the remainder of the tour. Chinese photographer Xiao Quan stated that Cui's performance was reported as excessively incendiary, "clearly an attempt to incite revolution".<ref name="cwr" /> David R. Schweisberg from [[United Press International|UPI]] observed that Cui's performances routinely incite young Chinese to flash the [[V sign#Victory sign|V-for-victory sign]], the emblem of Tiananmen Square Incident.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[United Press International|UPI]]|author=David R. Schweisberg|date=June 2, 1990|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/06/02/On-the-walk-up-third-floor-of-a-dilapidated-building/4092644299200/|title=On the walk-up third floor of a dilapidated building...}}</ref> Other possible causes include the crowds were getting too large and unruly.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 10, 2005|url=https://www.scmp.com/article/496083/free-radical|title=THE FREE RADICAL|author=Jon Campbell|work=[[South China Morning Post]]}}</ref> As a result, for much of the 1990s, he was unofficially banned from performing in Beijing and carefully monitored when he gave concerts elsewhere.<ref name="nyd" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=O'Dell |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfL_T8VhKFsC |title=Inseparable, the Memoirs of an American and the Story of Chinese Punk Rock |date=2014-05-12 |publisher=David O'Dell |isbn=978-1-257-88003-4 |pages=28 |language=en}}</ref> Chinese music-lovers at that time considered seeing one of Cui's underground shows at venues around Beijing as a "badge of honor".<ref>{{cite web|author=Steven Schwankert|url=https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2016/05/23/godfather-rock-cui-jian-hold-30-year-retrospective-concert-september-30|title='Godfather of Rock' Cui Jian to Hold 30-Year Retrospective Concert, Sep 30|date=May 23, 2016|work=[[The Beijinger]]}}</ref> ''[[The Korea Economic Daily]]'' reported that although under strict control, tens of thousands of the audience gathers every time at Cui's performance venue.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[The Korea Economic Daily]]|language=ko|date=September 5, 1996|title=[방송가] 중국 록가수 조선족 최건의 음악/삶 조명..KBS1TV|url=https://www.hankyung.com/article/1996090401781}}</ref>

After recording ''Rock 'N' Roll on the New Long March'', Cui ceased working with Ado.<ref name="zjw" />{{Rp|page=154}} He formed his own band featuring Japanese guitarist Masaaki Amari, bassist Liu Junli, drummer Ma He, and keyboardist Wang Yong.<ref name="infjmgy">{{cite web|date=January 17, 2013|url=https://www.infzm.com/wap/#/content/85283?source=131|title=【他，崔健】"一种是平均主义，一种是崔健模式" ——崔健恩怨篇|author=Feng Xiang|language=zh-cn|work=[[Southern Weekly]]}}</ref>

===1991–1993: ''Solution'' and charity performances===
{{Listen|filename=Like A Knife Cui Jian.ogg|title="Like A Knife"|pos=right|description=Sample of "Like A Knife" from ''Solution'' (1991). Toshihiro Yuge, a professor at [[Ehime University]], believed the song lampoons the [[gerontocracy]] in China.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=崔健歌集(抄)|language=ja|author=Toshihiro Yuge|publisher=[[Ehime University]]|date=November 10, 1992|url=https://ehime-u.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/2182/files/AN00024957_1992_25-179.pdf|volume=25|pages=179–200|magazine=Ehime Daigaku Hōbun Gakubu ronshū}}</ref>}}
In February 1991, Cui released his album ''[[Solution (Cui Jian album)|Solution]]'' in mainland China, sparking intense public resonance.<ref name="ganadian">{{cite web|title=崔健：讓藝術照亮理性生活|url=http://big5.china.com.cn/fangtan/2017-05/09/content_40775525.htm|website=[[china.org.cn]]|language=zh-hant|date=May 9, 2017}}</ref> Almost all of the lyrics of "Last Shot" in the album were removed because of the censorship.<ref name="hkfp" /> The recording achieves a rougher, faster sound using a more [[distorted guitar]] [[timbre]] and quicker [[tempo]]s, while the vocal deliver is rougher, less melodic, and more rhythmic, creating a more spontaneous feel.<ref name="bookrg1" />{{Rp|page=127}} Cui called the album featuring [[punk rock]].<ref name="mgz" /> Kevin Platt of ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'' thought Cui began producing [[pop-punk]] songs after the Tiananmen Square massacre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1998/0626/062698.feat.feat.2.html|author=Kevin Platt|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|title=Gloom Gives Way to Bloom, In Chinese Arts Scene|date=June 26, 1998}}</ref> Chinese music critic {{ill|Ding Taisheng|zh|丁太升}} thought that Cui had already consciously articulated the work concept of "liberating rhythm while abolishing melody" in ''Solution''.<ref name="haibaigd">{{cite web|date=November 11, 2016|url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/953491.html|title=曾经开辟中国摇滚根据地的崔健，如今真的老了吗？|work=[[Jiemian News]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref>

Due to the underdeveloped [[professionalism]] in China's rock scene at the time, tensions over Cui's [[employment]]-based management led to his band's breakup shortly after releasing ''Solution''. Cui subsequently formed a new lineup consisting mostly of Ado members alongside keyboardist [[Zang Tianshuo]].<ref name="infjmgy" /> In 1991, he had a conflict in Hong Kong with Taiwanese singer-songwriter [[Hou Dejian|Hou Te-chien]]. Later, he remarked that the "conflict" between him and Hou had been greatly exaggerated by the media.<ref>{{cite book|page=133|title=In the Red: On Contemporary Chinese Culture|author=Geremie Barmé|date=April 15, 1999|isbn=9780231106146|publisher=[[Columbia University Press]]}}</ref> In 1992, Australian [[Sinology|sinologist]] [[Geremie Barmé]] wrote that over the previous two years, as Cui was approaching middle-age, younger rockers had come to think it was time for him to "roll over" and make room, even calling to "exterminate Cui Jian".<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Human Rights Tribune|title=Official Bad Boys or True Rebels?|author=Geremie Barmé|volume=3|issue=4|date=1992|pages=17–20}}</ref> [[Zhang Ju (musician)|Zhang Ju]] of [[Tang Dynasty (band)|Tang Dynasty]] stated, "If we are going to overthrow 
something, it will be Cui Jian's monopoly on the word "[[Superstar]]'".<ref name="pmzjtd" />{{Rp|page=462}} As reported by UPI, Cui has also been attacked by more traditional musicians and people, and state-run media.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[United Press International|UPI]]|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/11/26/Chinese-rock-star-to-sue-for-libel-and-illegal-pirating/4498722754000/|title=Chinese rock star to sue for libel and illegal pirating|date=November 26, 1992|author=John Leicester}}</ref>

In July 1991, Cui traveled to Hong Kong to participate in the [[benefit concert]], which aimed to raise money for the [[Eastern China flood of 1991|1991 Huadong floods]] relief efforts.<ref name="cjyscj" /> The authorities rejected Cui's application to organize a charity performance in September.<ref>{{cite web|language=de|work=[[Die Tageszeitung]]|url=https://taz.de/Rock-des-Neuen-Langen-Marsches/!1684419/|title=Rock des Neuen Langen Marsches|author=Renata Pisu|date=February 3, 1992}}</ref> Since July 1992, authorities have let Cui stage several small shows in Beijing, and also permitted him to undertake a Japanese tour.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[United Press International|UPI]]|author=David R. Schweisberg|date=September 25, 1992|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/09/25/Lack-of-sponsors-forces-Chinese-rock-star-to-scrap-US-Canadian-tour/1176717393600/|title=Lack of sponsors forces Chinese rock star to scrap U.S., Canadian tour}}</ref> ''[[Hankook Ilbo]]'' reported that during his [[Tokyo]] performances in March 1992, over 50,000 fans gathered and enthused wildly.<ref>{{cite web|author=Yoo Dong-hee|work=[[Hankook Ilbo]]|url=https://hankookilbo.com/News/Read/199406250022063406|title=최건/조선족　출신　중국의　록스타(세계의 사람들)|language=ko|date=June 25, 1994}}</ref> In late 1992, Cui was granted permission to hold a three-day large-scale concert at the [[Beijing Exhibition Center]].<ref name="cwr" /> The government permitted it due to his charity gesture, and all proceeds went to the {{ill|China Cancer Foundation|zh|中国癌症基金会}}.<ref>{{cite web|author=David Holley|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-12-30-ca-2419-story.html|title=China's Top Rocker Free to Rock Again : Politics: The lifting of Beijing's nearly three-year ban on concerts by Cui Jian is seen as a milestone.|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 30, 1992}}</ref> After this, Cui could no longer obtain approval for large-scale
performances in Beijing and was barred from appearing on television.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/888837.html|title=三十年过去了，我们究竟喜欢什么样的崔健？|language=zh-cn|date=October 9, 2016|work=[[Jiemian News]]|author=Qi Pengli}}</ref>
{{multiple image
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| footer            =  Cui Jian performing in Germany on February 2, 1993
| image2            = Cui Jian 02.02.1993 I 09 crop.jpg
| image1            = Cui Jian 02.02.1993 I 08 crop.jpg
}}
Cui scored and was cast in the 1993 film ''[[Beijing Bastards]]''.<ref name="bjzzzz" /> That same year, he performed in Germany and Switzerland with Chinese rock bands such as Tang Dynasty and [[Cobra (Chinese band)|Cobra]]. Chinese media dubbed this year the "Year of Rock".<ref name="elct" />

===1994–1996: ''Balls Under the Red Flag'' and international tour ===
''[[Balls Under the Red Flag]]'' was released in August 1994 but it was soon banned by the authorities, due to its explicit reference to various social issues. Both ''Solution'' and ''Balls Under the Red Flag''  were re-released in 2005.<ref name="datehdwn" /><ref name="id" /> Cui characterized the album as [[jazz punk]].<ref name="mgz">{{cite web|author=Li Dongran|url=https://www.lifeweek.com.cn/article/22314?from=information|title=崔健："我深知自己不止于此"|work=[[Sanlian Lifeweek]]|date=August 20, 2012|language=zh-cn}}</ref> Critics have noted that starting with this album, he has incorporated elements of [[hard rock]] and [[hardcore rap]].<ref name="hrhcr" /> ''[[Hong Kong Inmedia]]'' noted that the album continues the approach from ''Solution'' that emphasizing rhythm and arrangements, and experiments with Chinese-style rapping, while infusing heavy doses of traditional folk instrumentation.<ref name="dlmt1">{{cite web|url=https://www.inmediahk.net/%E5%B4%94%E5%81%A5%EF%BC%9A%E7%B4%85%E6%97%97%E4%B8%8B%E7%9C%9F%E6%AD%A3%E7%9A%84%E3%80%8C%E8%9B%8B%E3%80%8D|date=January 2, 2016|language=zh-hant|title=崔健：紅旗下真正的「蛋」|work=[[Hong Kong Inmedia]]}}</ref> Chinese scholar Kang Ning believed that starting with the album, Cui began rejecting audience expectations, prioritizing the music's own expressive power and embracing rock's "inherent sociological significance" that "conveying social culture and the realities of marginalized communities".<ref name="knhn">{{cite magazine|title=由崔健的摇滚浅析中国摇滚的主题性|magazine=Music Space|date=2013|issue=8|author=Kang Ning|publisher=[[:zh:贵州省文学艺术界联合会|Guizhou Federation of Literary and Art Circles]]|language=zh-cn|page=102}}</ref>

The album sank as both a commercial and a critical failure upon its release,<ref>{{cite thesis|title=Cut-out: Music, Profanity, and Subcultural Politics in 1990s China|author=Zhongwei Li|url=http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/4039/1/Li__Cut-out-music-profanity-China.pdf|date=September 2019|degree=PhD|publisher=[[London School of Economics]]}}</ref> despite ''[[New York Times]]'' journalist Seth Faison estimated the album sold one million copies before removing from the shelves of music stores.<ref name="nytsf">{{cite web|author=Seth Faison|work=[[New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/19/arts/a-rock-star-china-allows-to-shine.html|title=A Rock Star China Allows to Shine|date=August 19, 1995}}</ref> At that time, the rise of China's commodity economy hit political ideology and intellectual culture, leading the audience to political apathy; while Cui directly attacked in the album mainstream political ideology.<ref name="mdyjl" /> In response, Cui said the album is not about politics but "more about the society we live in".<ref name="nytsf" /> Over time, the album gained acclaim. In 2000, ''{{ill|Shopping Guide|zh|精品购物指南}}'' listed the album and ''Solution'' among "China's Top 10 Classic Rock Albums".<ref>{{cite web|author=Wang Xiaofeng|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/pop/old/8302.html?from=wap|title=细数中国摇滚十大经典唱片|language=zh-cn|work=Shopping Guide|date=March 31, 2000}}</ref> Matthew Corbin Clark of [[PBS]] said in 2003 that ''Balls Under the Red Flag'' is many considered Cui's best record up to that time and a masterwork of the genre he created.<ref name="pbs" /> Ma Shih-fang described the album as "flawless on every level, from lyrics, composition, arrangement, performance, vocals, recording, to echo with that particular era".<ref>{{cite web|date=August 28, 2018|url=https://www.thenewslens.com/article/102669|title=馬世芳Ｘ陳德政：當音樂仍是危險的，談我們的「地下搖滾」年代|work=[[The News Lens]]|language=zh-tw}}</ref> {{ill|Hashizume Daizaburo|ja|橋爪大三郎}}, one of the most renowned Japanese scholars in contemporary Chinese cultural studies, wrote that "the attitude of young Chinese audiences towards this informative album will be an excellent indicator of China's future".<ref name="frs" /> The ''[[Aju Business Daily|Aju Daily]]'' wrote:<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Aju Business Daily|Aju Daily]]|url=https://www.ajudaily.com/view/20110929000067|date=September 29, 2011|language=zh-hans|title=崔健：一代人的心灵嘶吼与挣扎记忆}}</ref>

{{blockquote|When rock music finally entered the era of grand fusion, when [[Sampler (musical instrument)|samplers]] and [[Groove (music)|groove]] rhythms finally obtained the same right to speak as guitars, people finally discovered the colossal significance of the foresight and exploration displayed by this trailblazer as early as 1996 {{sic}}. As for the dismissiveness toward ''Balls Under the Red Flag'', it had long since shattered like soap bubbles, vanishing without a trace.}}

To promote the release of his album, Cui toured four cities in Japan, generating significant responses from local media and audiences. The same year, he performed at [[Bumbershoot]] in [[Seattle]], U.S.<ref name="elct">{{cite thesis|title=浅析崔健个人音乐发展历程|language=zh-cn|date=April 2010|author=Sun Ying|degree=MSc|publisher=[[Henan University]]}}</ref> He also founded Beijing East West Music & Art Production Co., Ltd., and served as its chairman.<ref>{{cite news|title=崔健的固收与宣泄|language=zh-cn|date=July 21, 2000|newspaper=China Acting News|publisher=[[Ministry of Culture (China)|Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China]]}}</ref> In August 1995, Cui launched his first U.S. tour, performing six solo concerts in [[Boston]], [[San Francisco]], and [[New York City|New York]]. This marked the first time a mainland Chinese singer had staged a personal concert tour in the United States.<ref name="nytsf" /><ref name="xhw" /><ref name="ctxwb" /> In 1996, Cui released a [[greatest hits album|greatest hits]] [[compilation album]], ''Best of Cui Jian:1986-1996''.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 4, 2018|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2407738|title=霹雳舞与摇滚乐的青春记忆|work=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The Paper]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref>

He was still being suppressed by the Chinese government. China's first [[Hard Rock Cafe]] rejected his performance to avoid angering the government. He criticized them for "kissing the government's butt".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19940515/1910668/beijing-hard-rocks-for-hard-liners----bb-king-entertains-others-left-with-blues|date=May 15, 1994|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|title=Beijing Hard Rock's For Hard-Liners -- B.B. King Entertains; Others Left With Blues|author=John Leicester}}</ref> When he performed in [[Shenzhen]] in 1995, local officials reportedly were particularly wary of him and forbade him from singing his song "Balls Under the Red Flag", but he performed it anyway.<ref name="pbs" /> Chinese music critic Zhang Xiaozhou wrote that in the early 1990s, the leadership of a radio station explicitly instructed staff to "avoid playing certain Cui Jian songs", while a radio station in an [[Autonomous regions of China|autonomous region]] had refrained from airing any of his works prior to 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theinitium.com/article/20180110-culture-chinesehiphop|title=張曉舟：在中國，嘻哈連獻媚的機會都沒了|date=February 7, 2018|language=zh-hant|author=Zhang Xiaozhou|work=[[Initium Media]]}}</ref> According to [[Reuters]], the Chinese government passed a law in September 1997 that forbids private establishments to make money from music performances that do not have official approval to strike a blow at "subversives" such as Cui Jian.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.economist.com/moreover/1997/09/04/chinas-new-cultural-revolution|title=China's new cultural revolution|work=[[The Economist]]|date=September 4, 1997}}</ref>

In 1996, Cui feuded with poet {{ill|Yi Sha|zh|伊沙}} and rock musician [[Zhang Chu (singer)|Zhang Chu]] after accusing Yi of ghostwriting lyrics for Zhang and penning excessively flattering reviews of Zhang's music. Eventually, in 1998, Yi publicly severed ties with Zhang due to dissatisfaction over his attitude during the conflict, triggering an uproar in China's cultural and rock scenes.<ref>{{cite web|language=zh-hant|url=http://big5.china.com.cn/gate/big5/art.china.cn/music/2011-01/12/content_3955249.htm|title=張楚和昔日朋友伊沙和好 曾經絕交十二年|date=January 12, 2011|website=[[china.org.cn]]|author=Wu Chenggui}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=他和窦唯齐名，比朴树更忧郁，如今孤独对他来说不再可耻|url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/872599.html|work=[[Jiemian News]]|language=zh-cn|date=September 27, 2016}}</ref>

===1997–2001: "Get Over That Day" and ''The Power of the Powerless''===
[[file:2022崔健长沙 (3).jpg|thumb|258px|Cui performing "Get Over That Day" in 2022]]
In 1997, Cui released hit single "Get Over That Day".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bjweekend/2006-04/21/content_573181.htm|title=Cui Jian biography|work=[[China Daily]]|date=April 21, 2006}}</ref> The song is about someone hearing he is getting a new sister who is smart, sexy and wealthy, and wondering if he will fall in love with her, indicating the [[handover of Hong Kong]].<ref name="thetimes" /><ref>{{cite web|date=May 17, 2016|url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/652313.html|title=六年前，曾有一场中国摇滚的集体谢幕|work=[[Jiemian News]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref> The song is also believed to foresaw the [[Hong Kong–Mainland China conflict]].<ref name="dlmt2" /> In the same year, Cui served as the producer for [[Zi Yue (band)|Zi Yue Band]]'s debut album ''The First Volume''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Wang Xiaofeng|url=http://old.lifeweek.com.cn//2002/1010/1424.shtml|title=子曰:一点正经没有|work=[[Sanlian Lifeweek]]|date=October 10, 2002|language=zh-cn}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://yue.ifeng.com/a/20150630/39746918_0.shtml#p=1|title=子曰秋野签约树音乐：崔健、谢天笑是武摇 我是文摇|website=[[Phoenix Television|Ifeng.com]]|date=June 30, 2015|language=zh-cn}}</ref>

In April 1998, Cui released the album ''[[The Power of the Powerless (album)|The Power of the Powerless]]'' and later held a large-scale performance in [[Shijiazhuang]].<ref name="datehdwn">{{cite news|title=崔健"聚变"长沙|date=August 15, 2000|language=zh-cn|author1=Sheng Weishan|author2=Xiao Xin|author3=Zhao Yushan|newspaper=[[:zh:三湘都市报|Sanxiang City News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=[[The Beijing News]]|url=https://m.bjnews.com.cn/detail/155143583214258.html|title=中国摇滚三十年|language=zh-cn|date=August 20, 2010}}</ref> The album's style was considered avant-garde at the time in China, featuring [[Electronics in rock music|digital rock]] with incorporated elements of [[electronic rock]]. Cui utilized the expressive semantics and aesthetics of rap music to depict the changing society in China during the late 20th century.<ref name="knhn" /> Chinese scholar Wang Zhenyu stated that in this album, rhythm takes priority, with the melody pared down to a few simple, sustained notes forming a string-based backdrop, electronic elements are heightened, containing strong [[Experimental music|experimental]] qualities.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=四面触歌──崔健·《无能的力量》|magazine=Oriental Art|date=1998|issue=4|author=Wang Zhenyu|publisher=Henan Provincial Institute of Culture and Arts|language=zh-cn|pages=54–56}}</ref> Its sales surpassed 200,000 copies in a month.<ref>{{cite web|language=ko|work=[[Munhwa Ilbo]]|url=https://www.munhwa.com/article/10119097|title=조선족 가수 崔健 다시 선풍적 인기|date=June 6, 1998|author=Hong Chundao}}</ref>

Starting July 31, 1999, Cui Jian embarked on his second U. S.-wide tour, with "igniting a wave of Chinese rock fervor at every stop".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=崔健——摇滚美利坚|language=zh-cn|date=1999|issue=9|page=29|magazine=Digital Entertainment|publisher=Liaoning Information Center|location=[[Liaoning]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Li Wei|title=摇滚之父崔健：感谢你还记得我|language=zh-cn|date=January 7, 2002|newspaper=New Evening Post|location=[[Harbin]]}}</ref> On 8 September 2000, Cui and his band performed at the [[Ministry of Culture and Tourism (China)|Ministry of Culture]]-sponsored "Oppose Piracy, Support Copyright" concert held at [[Workers' Stadium (1959)|Workers' Stadium]] in Beijing.<ref name="rstp">{{Cite thesis |title=Red Sonic Trajectories - Popular Music and Youth in China |last=de Kloet |first=Jeroen |date=2001-05-30 |access-date=2024-04-05 |publisher=Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR) |url=https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/3703741/19330_UBA002000519_11.pdf |isbn=9789090148021 }}</ref> Cui was featured in a live music special on [[Hunan Television|Hunan TV]] that year, which was the first time in 10 years he had received nationwide television coverage.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Berliner China-Hefte|date=October 2000|pages=40–64|title=Sound, Protest and Business. Modern Sky Co. and the New Ideology of Chinese Rock|author=Andreas Steen|url=http://www.china-rock.de/rock.pdf|issue=19}}</ref> He was also invited to attend the [[2000 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name="ganadian" /> On December 12, the Netherlands honoured him with the [[Prince Claus Fund|Prince Claus Award]],<ref>{{cite web|work=[[:zh:洛阳日报|Luoyang Daily]]|language=zh-cn|date=October 19, 2011|url=https://lyrb.lyd.com.cn/html/2011-10/19/content_785546.htm|title=崔健 奔跑在中国摇滚的 新长征路上}}</ref> making him the first Chinese musician to win the award.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/470906.html|title=帕尔哈提获荷兰克劳斯亲王奖|language=zh-cn|work=[[Jiemian News]]|date=December 11, 2015}}</ref> Later, he announced a European tour in the following January.<ref>{{cite news|author=Gao Wenning|title=崔健近来"动静"不小|language=zh-cn|date=December 13, 2000|newspaper=[[:zh:北京晨报|Beijing Morning Post]]}}</ref>

Cui was cast in the 2001 film ''[[Roots and Branches (film)|Roots and Branches]]''. and scored [[Jiang Wen]]'s film ''[[Devils on the Doorstep]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title="摇滚乐大师"崔健出演电影 《我的兄弟姐妹》广州上映|newspaper=[[Nanfang Daily]]|language=zh-cn|author=Fang Zheng|date=May 30, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/y/o/2005-09-15/0921841014.html?from=wap|title=崔健北京个唱嘉宾确定 姜文王小帅田震来捧场|language=zh-cn|author=Ding Bo|work=[[:zh:竞报|TheFirst]]|date=September 15, 2005}}</ref> In February 2001, He collaborated with Cao Chengyuan, artistic director of the Hong Kong [[City Contemporary Dance Company]] and Beijing Modern Dance Company, on the [[Experimental theatre|experimental]] [[stage play]] ''Show You Colour'', which premiered in Hong Kong. The play depicts China's different generations of revolution, [[pragmatism]] and the [[Information Age|Digital Age]]. He was also invited to attend the [[Grammy Awards]] ceremony of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/2000-12-05/26/59692.html|date=December 5, 2000|language=zh-cn|title=图文：崔健要"给你一点儿颜色"|work=[[China News Service]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Sanlian Lifeweek]]|language=zh-cn|date=2001|title=《给你一点颜色》Q&A|author=Shi Wu|pages=102–103|issue=3}}</ref><ref name="aswkyzzk" /><ref name="dlmt2">{{cite web|url=https://www.inmediahk.net/%E6%96%87%E8%97%9D/%E5%B4%94%E5%81%A5%E7%A9%B6%E7%AB%9F%E5%88%BA%E7%97%9B%E4%BA%86%E8%AA%B0%EF%BC%9F%E5%88%BA%E7%97%9B%E4%BA%86%E4%BB%80%E9%BA%BC%EF%BC%9F|date=December 4, 2015|language=zh-hant|title=崔健究竟刺痛了誰？刺痛了什麼？|work=[[Hong Kong Inmedia]]}}</ref> In October, the book ''Free Style'', co-authored by Cui and philosopher [[Zhou Guoping]], was released.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Sun Yiwei|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/p/i/2004-03-15/1012331807.html?from=wap|title=与哲学家周国平谈摇滚：崔健与摇滚是两回事|language=zh-cn|date=March 15, 2004|magazine=Oriental Outlook|publisher=[[Xinhua News Agency]]}}</ref> The revised and expanded edition of this book, released in October 2012, had all its royalties donated to the Heping Life Foundation to fund the treatment and recovery of the musician Liang Heping.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://epaper.gmw.cn/zhdsb/html/2012-09/26/nw.D110000zhdsb_20120926_3-02.htm|author=Shu Jinyu|date=September 26, 2012|language=zh-cn|title=崔健周国平为公益捐赠版税 合著《自由风格》增补修订版10月面世|newspaper=[[:zh:中華讀書報|China Reading Weekly]]}}</ref>

===2002–2005: Live Vocals Movement===
{{quote box
| quote =The "Live Vocals Movement" has transcended the scope of protecting citizens' economic rights; it implicitly carries the awakening of citizens' awareness of personal rights. We call for ultimately establishing in the form of legislation to grant more fairness and opportunities to conscientious and capable artists.
| source = — "Live Vocals Movement Proclamation"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://zqb.cyol.com/content/2003-08/09/content_712236.htm|title=崔健乐坛打假再添一把火 "真唱运动"拿起法律武器|language=zh-cn|author=Wu Xiaodong|date=August 9, 2003|work=[[China Youth Daily]]}}</ref>
| align = right
| width = 30%
| border = 1px
| fontsize = 90%
}}
Cui has long criticized Chinese musicians for the common practice of lip-synching at live shows.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/mtv-motorola-get-china-concerts-142666/|title=MTV, Motorola get into China concerts|author=Jonathan Landreth|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=July 11, 2007}}</ref> As early as March 1999, Cui Jian teamed up with [[Tian Zhen]], [[Han Lei]], and others in Beijing to launch a signature campaign opposing lip-syncing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.2008.sina.com.cn/richtalk/news/movie/9903/032401.html?from=wap|author=Du Enhu|title=崔健领头反对假唱|language=zh-cn|date=March 24, 1999|work=[[West China City Daily]]}}</ref> He called it the music industry's third greatest enemy in China alongside the system and piracy, describing it as "falling", "a malignant tumour", "a nest of crime", "[[The Emperor's New Clothes#Idiom|the Emperor's New Clothes]]", and "an aggression against music and art".<ref>{{cite web|work=[[China News Service]]|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/2002-12-09/26/251598.html|date=December 9, 2002|title=崔健：现场演出五成假唱 中国音乐四面楚歌（图）|language=zh-cn}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=[[Sanlian Lifeweek]]|language=zh-cn|url=http://old.lifeweek.com.cn//2002/1230/4339.shtml|title=崔健:打假归来|date=December 30, 2002|author=Wang Xiaofeng}}</ref> He also criticized the performances at the [[2001 Summer Universiade]]'s opening and closing ceremonies as a disgrace for Chinese musicians, because "their performances were entirely lip-synced, and even the lip-syncing production was extremely poor".<ref>{{cite web|work=[[China News Service]]|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/2002-08-09/26/210703.html|date=August 9, 2002|title=崔健要做乐坛"王海" 妙语点评"那英老假唱"|language=zh-cn|author=Li Hongyu}}</ref> On August 1, 2002, he revealed to the ''[[Beijing Youth Daily]]'' that he would launch the "Live Vocals Movement" to combat the widespread practice of lip-syncing.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Hang Cheng|author2=Lu Beifeng|url=https://ent.sina.com.cn/p/i/2002-08-02/083493973.html?from=wap|title=崔健面对假唱泛滥忍无可忍发起真唱运动(附图)|language=zh-cn|work=[[Beijing Youth Daily]]|date=August 2, 2002}}</ref> On August 7 at 4:00 PM, Cui held the "Live Vocals Signature Campaign" at CD Bar. After reading aloud the "Live Vocals Movement Proclamation" co-drafted by him and others, over 200 people signed their names on a red cloth pledging to perform live.<ref name="jxsdyxszj">{{cite web|website=[[china.org.cn]]|url=https://3g.china.com/act/ent/11042509/20241122/47633089.html|title=摇滚四十年，继续撒点野！崔健2024-2025巡演即将开启|date=November 22, 2024|language=zh-cn}}</ref> Among them, Taiwanese musician [[Lo Ta-yu]] raised his hand in [[salute]] to Cui to show support.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Hang Cheng|author2=Lu Beifeng|url=https://ent.sina.com.cn/p/i/2002-08-08/072794772.html?from=wap|title=崔健发起真唱运动 罗大佑专程赶来表示支持(图)|language=zh-cn|work=[[Beijing Youth Daily]]|date=August 8, 2002}}</ref> Afterwards, he began promoting the movement through a nationwide tour.<ref name="nanzhouj" />

{{blockquote|I felt obliged to call people's attention to the poor working environment of Chinese musicians. In China, genuine singing is hardly heard in concerts, gala spectaculars and TV shows.<ref>{{cite web|website=[[china.org.cn]]|url=http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2009-12/29/content_19150177.htm|title=Cui Jian rocks again in Beijing|date=December 29, 2009}}</ref>}}

The "Live Vocals Movement" has sparked controversy within the music industry, as exemplified by Chinese singer [[Na Ying]]'s famous remark that the movement "is damaging to the entire pop music industry".<ref>{{cite web|language=zh-hant|work=[[:zh:新華澳報|Jornal San Wa Ou]]|url=https://www.waou.com.mo/2019/02/21/%E8%8F%AF%E8%AA%9E%E6%B5%81%E8%A1%8C%E6%A8%82%E5%A3%87%E7%9A%84%E5%81%87%E5%94%B1%E7%B0%A1%E5%8F%B2/|title=華語流行樂壇的假唱簡史|date=February 21, 2019}}</ref> On January 13, 2003, the Ministry of Culture declared its opposition to lip-syncing. Cui stated the "Live Vocals Movement" had "achieved a phased victory".<ref>{{cite web|author1=Yang Wenjie|author2=Hang Cheng|url=https://ent.sina.com.cn/p/i/2003-01-16/0750126053.html?from=wap|title=崔健"真唱运动"得到文化部关注 备受鼓舞(图)|language=zh-cn|work=[[Beijing Youth Daily]]|date=January 16, 2003}}</ref> On August 1, 2005, Cui Jian announced that the "Live Vocals Movement" had "victoriously concluded", as the newly enacted national "Regulations on Administration of Commercial Performances" explicitly prohibited lip-syncing.<ref>{{cite web|author=Liu Xiaobo|language=zh-cn|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/y/o/2005-08-01/2258798174.html?from=wap|title=草原摇滚节落幕 崔健宣布"真唱运动"胜利结束|date=August 1, 2005|work=[[:zh:内蒙古晨报|Inner Mongolia Morning Post]]}}</ref> At the 2010 [[Top Chinese Music Awards]] 10th Anniversary Ceremony, the Live Vocals Movement was listed among the "Top Ten Music Events of the Decade", and Cui was included in the "Most Influential Music Figures".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/yneidi/2010-04-11/detail-icesifvx6954565.d.html?from=wap|title=音乐风云榜十年盛典完全获奖名单|language=zh-cn|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina Entertainment]]|date=April 11, 2010}}</ref>

In August 2002, Cui participated in organizing the [[Lijiang]] Snow Mountain Music Festival, known as the "Chinese [[Woodstock]]", attracting at least 10,000 fans. Zhang Hongping, vice commissioner of the Lijiang regional government, expressed thanks to Cui.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/chinas-woodstock-attracts-thousands-20020820-gduicu.html|title="China's Woodstock" attracts thousands|date=August 20, 2002|work=[[The Age]]}}</ref> In early 2003, Cui was authorized to open for [[the Rolling Stones]]' concert in Beijing.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/culture/59891.htm |website=[[china.org.cn]] |title=Stones Roll in for Historic Tour|date=March 27, 2003}}</ref> Due to the [[SARS]] outbreak, however, the concert was cancelled.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[The Globe and Mail]]|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/sars-stops-stones-rolling-into-china/article25281991/|title=SARS stops Stones rolling into China|date=March 29, 2003}}</ref> In February and March 2004, Cui was invited to be the guest singer in [[Udo Lindenberg]]'s touring musical ''Atlantic Affairs'' in Shanghai and Beijing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-02/19/content_307373.htm|title='Atlantic Affairs' to rock China's musical boat|work=[[China Daily]]|date=February 19, 2004}}</ref> In March, when Cui opened for [[Deep Purple]] on their mainland tour, it was his first official performance in Beijing in more than a decade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/culture/92045.htm|title=Cui Jian, Deep Purple Rock Beijing|website=[[china.org.cn]]|date=April 3, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=January 9, 2014|title=Rocker Cui Jian to Perform on CCTV Spring Festival Gala|url=https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2014/01/09/rocker-cui-jian-perform-cctv-spring-festival-gala|author=Steven Schwankert|work=[[The Beijinger]]}}</ref> He received the World Peace Music Award in San Francisco, from the [[United Nations]] on September 26.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.qingdaonews.com/content/2004-10/14/content_3760126.htm|title=数年没发唱片活跃依旧 崔健连获两大奖|author1=Li Zhiming|author2=Wang Hao|date=October 14, 2004|language=zh-cn|work=[[:zh:青岛新闻|Qingdao News]]}}</ref> On August 24, 2005, Cui was allowed to headline a concert entitled "Dream in the Sunshine" at Beijing's [[Capital Indoor Stadium]], which was his first concert in Beijing for 12 years.<ref>{{cite web|date=August 24, 2005|title=Cui Jian: Real, Live and Coming to Beijing|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-08/24/content_471784.htm|work=[[China Daily]]}}</ref><ref name="zgpnz" />

===2005–2014: ''Show You Colour'' and other fields of activities===
{{Listen
| filename    =Village Attacks City Cui Jian.ogg
| title       ="Village Attacks City"
| description =A sample of "Village Attacks City" (from ''Show You Colour''). [[Jon Pareles]] described it as merged [[funk]] with the hurtling [[double-time]] of [[Drum and bass|drum-and-bass]] and the circling synthesizer notes of [[trance music]].<ref>{{cite web|date=March 16, 2002|title=IN PERFORMANCE: POP; A Chinese Rocker With Ideals Intact Despite Prosperity|author=Jon Pareles|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/16/arts/in-performance-pop-a-chinese-rocker-with-ideals-intact-despite-prosperity.html|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
}}
On March 23, 2005, Cui released the album ''[[Show You Colour]]''.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[The Beijing News]]|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/x/2005-03-09/0851672606.html?from=wap|title=新专辑3月上市 崔健有望同台竞技音速青年(图)|date=March 9, 2005|language=zh-cn}}</ref> He stated that this album is "more diverse, more independent, more cohesive... containing pop, rock, electronic, and hip-hop music",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/x/2005-03-12/0150675019.html?from=wap|title=《给你一点颜色》月底出 崔健：一般听众受不了|language=zh-cn|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina Entertainment]]|date=March 12, 2005}}</ref> attempting the "[[maximalism]]" of music.<ref>{{cite web|author=Zeng Suichun|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/y/o/2005-03-30/1046689699.html?from=wap|title=崔健《给你一点颜色》上市 演出农村包围城市|work=[[Southern Metropolis Daily]]|language=zh-cn|date=March 30, 2005}}</ref> ''[[China Daily]]'' described it as distinguished from "all of Cui's previous albums, and probably from any other rock album in China".<ref name="prmsyc">{{cite web|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-04/07/content_432142.htm|title=China's rock father Cui Jian tunes colour music|work=[[China Daily]]|date=April 7, 2005}}</ref> Chinese scholar Ma Shang wrote that the album continues the musical style of ''The Power of the Powerless'', incorporating genres including folk, hip-hop, [[funk]], [[big beat]], [[drum and bass]], and [[digital hardcore]], and is described as a "[[concept album]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=该是给点颜色的时候了——浅评崔健及《给你一点颜色》|magazine=Art Criticism|date=2005|issue=7|author=Ma Shang|publisher=[[:zh:中国艺术研究院|Chinese National Academy of Arts]]|language=zh-cn|pages=48–51|doi=10.16364/j.cnki.cn11-4907/j.2005.07.01}}</ref> The album was well-received by media and critics.<ref name="frs" /> The ''[[Beijing Star Daily]]'' gave this album a score of 95/100, stating that the album signifies Cui's "official transition from a great rock singer to a great musician".<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Beijing Star Daily]]|date=April 9, 2005|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/x/2005-04-09/0107698102.html?from=wap|title=崔健《给你一点颜色》 摇滚歌手转正做音乐家|language=zh-cn}}</ref> Cui won Best Rock Singer at the 6th [[Top Chinese Music Awards]] for the album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/yneidi/2006-04-02/detail-iavxeafr9152707.d.html|title=第六届百事音乐风云榜颁奖典礼完全获奖名单|language=zh-cn|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina Entertainment]]|date=April 2, 2006}}</ref>

You You, Cui Jian's manager, said that the problems of his performance permits sometimes being refused by local authorities had "gradually gone with time".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2014/01/07/chinese-rocker-cui-jian-who-sided-with-1989-protesters-invited-to-sing-on-state-broadcaster/|title=Chinese rocker Cui Jian, who sided with 1989 protesters, invited to sing on state television|date=January 7, 2014|work=[[CityNews]]|author=Louise Watt}}</ref> Cui did finally play with [[The Rolling Stones' first concert in China|the Rolling Stones at the Shanghai Grand Stage]] on 8 April 2006, singing and playing "[[Wild Horses (Rolling Stones song)|Wild Horses]]".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06069/668419.stm |work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |title=Rolling Stones tests China's waters |access-date=10 April 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pollstar.com/news/viewphoto.pl?PhotoID=ROLSTO&Mode=Thumb |work=[[Pollstar]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195736/http://www.pollstar.com/news/viewphoto.pl?PhotoID=ROLSTO&Mode=Thumb |archive-date=2007-09-27 |title=The Rolling Stones Concert Hotwire |access-date=10 April 2007}}</ref> He performed his first English song "Outside Girl" and played with [[Public Enemy]] at the 2007 [[Beijing Pop Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|website=[[china.org.cn]]|url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/popfestival/223822.htm|title=Rocker Cui Jian Sings His First English Song|date=September 10, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Freeman |first=Will |date=2007-01-27 |title=Want To Crack China? Get Sponsored. Insiders Say Ticket Revenue Alone Isn't Enough |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hBIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA13 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |via=[[Google Books]] |page=13 |accessdate=2023-10-01 }}</ref><ref name="zgpnz" /> Cui performed at the [[Hohaiyan Rock Festival]] in Taiwan on July 8, 2007, after numerous previous attempts to perform there were derailed by the Chinese government. The head Zhang 43 called Cui "the most important rock star in Asia".<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Taipei Times]]|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2007/07/06/2003368390|title=Long time coming|date=July 6, 2007|author=Ron Brownlow}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.cctv.com/performance/20070709/103429.shtml|title=崔健摇滚震撼台湾歌迷 压轴登场疯喊"凑和"(图)|language=zh-cn|work=[[China Central Television]]|date=July 9, 2007}}</ref> After the [[2008 Sichuan earthquake]], Cui donated 51,200 [[renminbi|RMB]] and organized a charity concert titled "Get Over That Day" with China's rock music community on May 22, raising over 400,000 yuan in disaster relief funds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/yl/ytcf/news/2008/05-19/1255128.shtml|author=Tang Xuewei|title=崔健牵头 摇滚众星举行"超越那一天"赈灾义演|language=zh-cn|work=[[Beijing Star Daily]]|date=May 19, 2008}}</ref><ref name="cjsyp">{{cite web|language=zh-cn|url=https://www.infzm.com/wap/#/content/85320?source=131|title=【他，崔健】改变了世界，还是世界改变了你我？ ——崔健商业篇|author=Feng Xiang|date=January 17, 2013|work=[[Southern Weekly]]}}</ref> At the December 2009 Beijing Exhibition Center concert, "Rock 'N' Roll on the New Long March V21", Cui tied a [[red ribbon#AIDS awareness origin|red ribbon]] to call for attention to [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]] awareness.<ref>{{cite web|author=Zhu Yaqing|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/yl/yl-ytcf/news/2009/12-11/2013749.shtml|title=为纪念20年摇滚长征路 崔健将发纪念明信片|language=zh-cn|work=[[Beijing Times]]|date=September 11, 2009}}</ref><ref name="bzaid">{{cite web|author=Wang Run|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/yneidi/2009-12-25/detail-iavxeafr7779038.d.html?from=wap|title=崔健个唱依然给劲 全场观众站着听完|language=zh-cn|date=December 25, 2009|work=[[Beijing Evening News]]}}</ref> On June 5, 2010, Cui performed at an outdoor concert, Green Now, to celebrate the [[World Environment Day]] and encourage a [[low-carbon]] lifestyle at the [[Expo 2010|Shanghai World Expo]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Chen Nan|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/greenchina/2010-05/28/content_11296340.htm|title=Cui Jian rocking for a green world|work=[[China Daily]]|date=May 28, 2010}}</ref>

From December 31, 2010 to January 1, 2011, Cui Jian collaborated with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra to stage the "Rock Symphony Live Concert" at Beijing Workers' Gymnasium, marking Asia's first integration of rock music with a [[symphonic orchestra]] performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ent.chinadaily.com.cn/2017-08/24/content_31053694.htm|title=全亚洲首尝试！崔健《摇滚交响》专辑酷狗首发|language=zh-cn|work=[[China Daily]]|date=August 24, 2017}}</ref> At the concert, he unexpectedly performed the banned anti-war song "Last Shot".<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/y/2011-01-07/17113201188.shtml|title=崔健个唱玩跨界：锥子裤和殿堂感的融合|date=January 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512080046/http://ent.sina.com.cn/y/2011-01-07/17113201188.shtml|archive-date=May 12, 2021|url-status=dead|work=[[Southern Weekly]]|language=zh-cn|author=Ping Ke}}</ref> ''October: The Rite of Spring'', the first [[Wuju|dance drama]] under Cui's full directorship, premiered in [[Tianjin]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[China News Service]]|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/cul/2014/11-07/6761382.shtml|title=中国"摇滚教父"崔健"跨界"执导现代舞|date=November 7, 2014|author=Zhang Daozheng|language=zh-cn}}</ref>

[[File:PIFF China VI.jpg|thumb|Cui (left) at the 2009 [[Busan International Film Festival]]]]
In 2006, Cui directed the short film ''The Age of Repairing Virginity'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20091009000858-260301|title=電影成都，我愛你崔健搖滾新創作|language=zh-tw|date=October 9, 2009|work=[[China Times]]}}</ref> which was selected for the feature and short film competition categories at that year’s [[Vladivostok International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hqylss/2006-08/28/content_675624.htm|date=August 28, 2006|title=俄罗斯电影节开幕 张元崔健代表中国出征(组图)|language=zh-cn|work=[[China Daily]]}}</ref> He made a cameo appearance in Jiang Wen's film ''[[The Sun Also Rises (2007 film)|The Sun Also Rises]]''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ren Fengtao|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/yneidi/2007-12-28/detail-iawzunex7730009.d.html?from=wap|title=崔健彩排姜文带女儿探班 感言做音乐先学会生存|work=[[Beijing Times]]language=zh-cn|date=December 18, 2007}}</ref> He also directed the "future" segment of the 2009 film ''[[Chengdu, I Love You]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/yl/dyzx/news/2009/05-05/1677505.shtml|title=崔健《成都我爱你》首曝光 谭维维鼓手造型夸张|work=[[Nanfang Daily]]|language=zh-cn|date=May 5, 2009}}</ref> In October, he attended the [[Busan International Film Festival]] to promote the film.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina Entertainment]]|url=https://ent.sina.cn/film/foreign/2009-10-12/detail-iavxeafr7880029.d.html?from=wap|date=October 12, 2009|title=导演新手崔健亮相釜山 未来视角看汶川地震(图)|language=zh-cn}}</ref> Following his attendance at the premiere of ''Chengdu, I Love You'' in [[Venice]], Cui proceeded to [[Madrid]] to hold his debut solo concert in Spain.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina Entertainment]]|language=zh-cn|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/rock/2009-09-22/detail-icczmvun3023834.d.html?from=wap|title=崔健西班牙开唱 《一无所有》唱响伊比利亚(图)|date=September 22, 2009}}</ref> Bai Qiang produced a 3D concert film and documentary titled ''[[Transcendence (2012 film)|Transcendence]]'' about Cui Jian, which was screened in Beijing in May 2012 for an enthusiastic fan audience, though its prospects for mainstream release in China remain doubtful.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/article@apa?cui_jian_gets_a_3d_concert_film_and_documentary_16551.aspx | title = Cui Jian Gets a 3D concert film and documentary | publisher = Asia Pacific Arts | date = 24 March 2011 | access-date = 31 March 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140201203657/http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/article@apa?cui_jian_gets_a_3d_concert_film_and_documentary_16551.aspx | archive-date = 1 February 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Echoes of Tiananmen, on Film, Face Hurdles in China|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/world/asia/echoes-of-tiananmen-on-film.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=17 May 2012|author=Jonathan Landreth}}</ref> The film ultimately grossed 370,000 yuan at the box office.<ref>{{cite web|author=Bi Yuanyuan|work=[[National Business Daily]]|language=zh-cn|title="抢不到"演唱会票，电影成贺岁档新宠？歌手张杰演唱会电影票房4天超4000万元|url=https://www.nbd.com.cn/articles/2024-12-23/3696271.html|date=December 23, 2024}}</ref>

On October 17, 2014, Cui's feature film ''[[Blue Sky Bones]]'' was released.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://culture.ifeng.com/a/20140917/42006755_0.shtml|title=崔健电影《蓝色骨头》将公映 自称是"为青春疗伤"|work=[[Beijing Youth Daily]]|language=zh-cn|date=September 17, 2014}}</ref> [[Xie Fei (director)|Xie Fei]] stated that the film was submitted to [[Chinese Film Bureau]] for review as early as August 20, 2012. However, due to its content touching on "[[Lin Liguo]] selecting concubines" and homosexual themes, the project has yet to receive approval.<ref name="cjsyp" /> The film, a nonlinear tale with a musical theme, tells the story of a young rocker who moonlights as a [[hacker]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2014-06/20/content_32722563.htm|title=Cui Jian's movie hits right note|date=June 20, 2014|work=[[Shanghai Daily]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Chen Chen|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1271818|title=崔健拍了部电影，《蓝色骨头》面临"曲高和寡"考验|date=October 19, 2014|language=zh-cn|work=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The paper]]}}</ref> It won the Special Mention at the 8th Rome Film Festival and the Special Jury Prize at the 10th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/yl/2013/11-18/5515356.shtml|title=崔健《蓝色骨头》获罗马电影节"特别推荐奖"|language=zh-cn|date=November 18, 2013|work=[[China News Service]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/yl/2014/08-20/6512737.shtml|title=崔健导演处女《蓝色骨头》获韩电影节大奖|language=zh-cn|date=August 20, 2014|work=[[China News Service]]}}</ref> earning Cui Best New Director at the 2015 [[Chinese Film Media Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/m/yl/2015/11-01/7599493.shtml|title=第15届华语电影传媒大奖揭晓 赵薇封"影后"|language=zh-cn|date=November 1, 2015|work=[[China News Service]]}}</ref> Receiving mixed reviews,<ref>{{cite web|author=Steven Schwankert|date=November 18, 2013|url=https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2013/11/18/rocker-cui-jians-film-directorial-debut-wins-special-mention-rome-film-festival|title=Rocker Cui Jian's Film Directorial Debut Wins Special Mention at Rome Film Festival|work=[[The Beijinger]]}}</ref> the film grossed 4.14 million yuan at the box office.<ref name="piaofang4" />

On May 18, 2006, Cui issued a statement addressing the [[Dou Wei#Personal life|Dou Wei incident]], calling for sound legislation on news reporting and strong protection of artists' privacy.<ref>{{cite web|date=May 19, 2006|url=http://www.ce.cn/culture/main/right/sdjj/200605/19/t20060519_7020879.shtml|title="摇滚教父"崔健:首度就"窦唯事件"发表声明(附文)|language=zh-cn|author=Gao Lei|website=[[Economic Daily]]}}</ref> He submitted a bid proposal to design the [[2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony]] to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, but was eliminated after the first round of presentations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinanews.com.cn/cul/2010/08-06/2450974.shtml|title=北京奥运记忆:开幕式方案集13家团队方案之大成|date=August 6, 2010|language=zh-cn|work=[[Beijing Daily]]}}</ref> In November 2012, Cui announced plans to open a [[security guard]] company, citing dissatisfaction with the behavior of security guards at rock concerts in China.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/entertainment/2012-11/29/content_15970704.htm|title=Strong like a rock|author=Chen Nan|work=[[China Daily]]|date=November 29, 2012}}</ref> On April 16, 2013, Cui released his compilation album ''The 3rd Sound of China'' via global digital music platforms for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[BBC]] Chinese|url=https://www.bbc.com/ukchina/trad/entertainment/2013/04/130416_ent_cuijian_itunes|title=獨家專訪崔健：搖滾樂是對生活態度的誠實表達|language=zh-hant|date=April 16, 2013|author=Zi Chuan}}</ref> On April 17, Cui unveiled a custom "Blue Bone" smartphone to interact better with his fans.<ref>{{cite web|author=Nick Richards|work=[[The Beijinger]]|url=https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2013/04/20/cui-jians-new-calling-rock-god-releases-own-smartphone|title=Cui Jian's New Calling? Rock God Releases Own Smartphone|date=April 20, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/tech/2015-04/22/content_20506890_4.htm|date=April 22, 2015|work=[[China Daily]]|title=Outsiders challenge traditional smartphone makers}}</ref> He is first artist to launch his own custom smartphone in China.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://v.china.com.cn/finance/2013-04/19/content_28593508.htm|title=崔健跨界做手机 "蓝色骨头"定价3999元|website=[[china.org.cn]]|date=April 19, 2013|language=zh-cn}}</ref> Cui was invited to perform on the 2014 [[CMG New Year's Gala]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Luo Tian|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/spring-gala-performance-by-chinese-rock-icon-in-doubt/|title=Spring Festival Gala Performance by Chinese Rock Icon in Doubt|date=January 15, 2014|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> It has been seen as the final stage of Cui’s political rehabilitation.<ref name="zgpnz" /> However, he eventually withdrew the show after organisers tried to censor his performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-25791682|title=China protest singer Cui Jian pulls out of TV gala|work=[[BBC]]|date=January 18, 2014}}</ref> In September, Cui and fellow songwriters co-founded "Huale Chengmeng", China’s first musician-initiated [[copyright agency]], which reportedly brought together "the nation’s best [[Intellectual property in China|intellectual property]] lawyers".<ref>{{cite web|author=Mian Mian|url=https://en.jiemian.com/wap/article/832395.html|title=深扒刘欢诉好声音撕破脸皮内幕|date=September 11, 2016|language=zh-cn|work=[[Jiemian News]]}}</ref>

On July 18, 2006, Cui was awarded the "Hall of Fame Musician" accolade at the {{Ill|Chinese Music Media Awards|zh|南方音乐盛典}}.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina Entertainment]]|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/yneidi/2006-07-18/detail-iavxeafr9077572.d.html?from=wap|author=Hu Wen|language=zh-cn|title=陈绮贞胡德夫音乐受肯定 李宇春撑场崔健压轴|date=July 18, 2006}}</ref> He was invited to present himself at the 20th anniversary of the [[Goethe-Institut]] on November 1, 2008, where he was awarded the title of "Goethe Cultural Ambassador".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/cul/news/2008/11-04/1436602.shtml|title=崔健莫言张艺谋等20人获授"歌德文化大使"|language=zh-cn|date=November 4, 2008|work=[[China Youth Daily]]}}</ref> ''[[Southern Weekly]]'' named him the "2012 [[Chinese Dream]] Torchbearer".<ref name="zgmjxz">{{cite web|author=Feng Xiang|language=zh-cn|work=[[Southern Weekly]]|url=https://www.infzm.com/wap/#/content/83338|title=【2012中国梦践行者】崔健：摇滚是洪水，不是猛兽}}</ref> In 2013, Cui was honored with the Tenco Cultural Operator Award at the [[Club Tenco|Premio Tenco]] ceremony in Italy, and collaborated with [[Francesco Baccini]] in a joint performance.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[il Fatto Quotidiano]]|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2013/09/25/cui-jian-premio-tenco-fuori-dal-tempo/722699/|title=Cui Jian, premio Tenco fuori dal tempo|language=it|date=September 25, 2013|author=Cecilia Attanasio Ghezzi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=October 3, 2013|language=it|url=https://www.lastampa.it/spettacoli/musica/2013/10/03/news/francesco-baccini-duetto-con-cui-jian-1.35963539/|title=Francesco Baccini "Duetto con Cui Jian|author=Piero Negri|work=[[La Stampa]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=[[il manifesto]]|date=January 19, 2014|url=https://ilmanifesto.it/la-canzone-maledetta-di-cui-jian|title=La canzone maledetta di Cui Jian|author=Simone Pieranni|language=it}}</ref>

===2015–present ===
[[File:Cui Jian on set of Outside Girl.jpg|thumb|Cui on the set of the micro-film ''Outside Girl'']]
In 2015, Cui was asked to act as one of the three judges on {{ill|China Star (TV series)|lt=China Star|zh|中国之星}}, a singing talent show broadcast on [[Dragon Television]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/2015-11-04/detail-ifxkhcfq1126133.d.html|title=崔健首次露脸综艺 不懂"小鲜肉"的世界|language=zh-cn|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina Entertainment]]|date=November 4, 2015}}</ref> On the show, Cui criticized Hong Kong singer [[Andy Hui]] for performing a [[Cantopop|Cantonese]] oldie, and expressed dissatisfaction that "no more modern or younger Hong Kong artists had appeared on mainland stages to showcase their voices". [[Initium Media]] commentator Zhang Miao stated that several Hong Kong media outlets had published [[Media bias|false reporting]] and defamed Cui in their coverage of the incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theinitium.com/opinion/20151204-opinion-hkmusic|title=評論｜張淼：被虛構的崔健，被建構的香港音樂|language=zh-hant|work=[[Initium Media]]|date=December 3, 2015|author=Zhang Miao}}</ref> Hong Kong writer {{ill|Lit Foo|zh|列孚}} thought Cui's remarks were distorted by Hong Kong columnist [[Chip Tsao]] out of a [[Political bias|pan-political bias]] stemming from [[Hong Kong independence|Hong Kong separatism]], ignoring Cui's admiration for Hong Kong singers like [[Tat Ming Pair]].<ref>{{cite web|title=崔健與被扭曲的旋律 （列孚）|language=zh-hant|author=Lit Foo|work=[[Yazhou Zhoukan]]|url=https://www.yzzk.com/article/details/%E6%96%B0%E6%80%9D%E7%B6%AD%E5%8F%8A%E5%85%B6%E4%BB%96%E5%B0%88%E6%AC%84/2015-50/1449718117048/%E5%B4%94%E5%81%A5%E8%88%87%E8%A2%AB%E6%89%AD%E6%9B%B2%E7%9A%84%E6%97%8B%E5%BE%8B|date=December 14, 2015}}</ref> On December 4, the ''China Star'' program team issued a statement demanding that Chip Tsao and ''[[Apple Daily]]'' publicly apologize for the false reporting about Cui.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Zhang Yi|title=崔健点评粤语歌曲被"歪曲" 节目组要求《苹果日报》道歉|url=http://epaper.yzwb.net/html_t/2015-12/05/content_266043.htm|date=December 5, 2015|newspaper=[[Yangtse Evening Post]]|pages=A15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203095133/http://epaper.yzwb.net/html_t/2015-12/05/content_266043.htm|archive-date=February 3, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On December 25 of the same year, Cui collaborated with [[Sony Music]] to release the album ''[[Frozen Light]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/yneidi/2015-12-25/detail-ifxmykrf2308059.d.html|title=崔健睽违10年献专辑《光冻》 12月25面世|language=zh-cn|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina Entertainment]]|date=December 25, 2015}}</ref> regarded as his musical comeback.<ref name="flt">{{cite web|author=Chen Nan|work=[[China Daily]]|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201811/24/WS5bf8c56fa310eff30328acf2_1.html|title=Rock steady beat|date=November 24, 2018}}</ref> The single "Outside Girl" featured in the album, along with its same-titled music micro-film, premiered on [[YouTube]] on December 24. Pre-orders for the album's digital version surpassed one million copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yue.ifeng.com/a/20151225/39753856_0.shtml|title=崔健睽违10年再献创作大碟 摇滚教父影响力超脱时代枷锁|website=[[Phoenix Television|Ifeng.com]]|date=December 25, 2015|language=zh-cn}}</ref> It received mixed reviews from critics.<ref>{{cite web|author=Zhang Yi|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1413232|title=这张新专辑，是对崔健诸多矛盾的一次总结|date=December 25, 2015|language=zh-cn|work=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The paper]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=[[Jiemian News]]|language=zh-cn|date=January 18, 2016|url=https://m.jiemian.com/article/511892.html|title=不管多少人批评老崔新专辑，也无法妨碍它成为2015华语最佳}}</ref><ref name="liuwt">{{cite web|author=Liu Waitong|url=https://theinitium.com/article/20160603-culture-music-frozenlight|title=尷尬症與假高潮：崔健一代的餘勇|language=zh-hant|work=[[Initium Media]]|date=June 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=60岁出了新专辑《飞狗》"老子根本没变！"|url=http://music.china.com.cn/2021-09/03/content_41663306.htm|website=[[china.org.cn]]|language=zh-cn|date=September 3, 2021}}</ref>

On September 26, 2016, Cui led a 953-person rock band from the Beijing Contemporary Music Academy to perform at a venue in [[Tianjin]], earning certification from [[Guinness World Records]] as the largest performing rock band.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kyle Mullin|work=[[The Beijinger]]|date=September 28, 2016|url=https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2016/09/28/godfather-chinese-rock-breaks-guinness-world-record-playing-largest-ever-band|title=Godfather of Chinese Rock Previews Sep 30 Beijing Concert By Breaking World Record}}</ref> On September 30, Cui held the "Rolling 30" concert at Beijing Workers' Gymnasium to mark the 30th anniversary of his career. Chinese [[Avant-garde architecture|avant-garde]] architect [[Ma Yansong]] designed the stage.<ref name="xhw">{{cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2016-08/18/c_129237471.htm|title=从工体馆唱到工体场 崔健用了30年|work=[[Xinhua News Agency|Xinhuanet]]|language=zh-cn|date=August 18, 2016}}</ref> During the performance, Cui performed a Mandarin cover of ''[[Message in a Bottle (The Police song)|Message in a Bottle]]'', while [[Stewart Copeland]], drummer of The Police, joined the show as a guest performer.<ref name="frp">{{cite web|date=October 1, 2016|url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/881785.html|title=【腾讯娱乐】"滚动三十" 崔健让人重新爱上中国摇滚乐|work=[[Jiemian News]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theinitium.com/zh-hans/article/20161016-culture-column-liuzijie|title=崔健与倪重华：三十年的摇滚路途，现在思考出创作的意义了吗？|language=zh-hant|work=[[Initium Media]]|date=October 16, 2016}}</ref> Concurrently, he commenced the "Rolling 30" tour.<ref>{{cite web|author=Guan Yu|url=http://ent.ycwb.com/2018-05/23/content_30017241.htm|work=[[Yangcheng Evening News]]|title="滚动三十"再度启程 广州,崔健来了!|date=May 23, 2018|language=zh-cn}}</ref> Cui served as the ambassador for the 2017 Croisements Festival, a cross-cultural event between China and France.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201704/19/WS59bb7f84a310d4d9ab7e9009.html|title=2017 Croisements festival kicks off in Beijing|date=April 19, 2017|work=[[China Daily]]}}</ref><ref name="fcjtsh" /> On August 23, 2017, Cui released ''Rock Symphony Live Concert'', containing the full recordings of the Rock Symphony Live Concert.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/yneidi/2017-08-23/detail-ifykcppy0742499.d.html|title=崔健《摇滚交响音乐会》数字版实体版同步发行|language=zh-cn|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina Entertainment]]|date=August 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Wang Lin|work=[[Beijing Evening News]]|url=http://www.takefoto.cn/viewnews-1277225.html|title=崔健新专辑《摇滚交响音乐会》 跨界尝试"摇滚乐+交响乐"|date=September 22, 2017|language=zh-cn}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/m/yl/2018/08-01/8586128.shtml|title=重返武汉开唱 崔健不打"怀旧牌"|date=August 1, 2018|language=zh-cn|work=[[China News Service]]}}</ref> On November 4 of the same year, Cui performed an electronic music concert as a [[Disc jockey|DJ]] for the first time at the Chishui Valley Music Festival. He stated that this performance was a tribute to [[Igor Stravinsky]], the original composer of ''[[The Rite of Spring]]''.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 8, 2017|language=zh-cn|url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/1735653.html|title="电子"崔健的自我革新|author1=An Xixi|author2=Li Xiaoying|work=[[Jiemian News]]}}</ref><ref name="caiyangz">{{cite web|date=November 13, 2017|language=zh-cn|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/yneidi/2017-11-13/detail-ifynstfh6785025.d.html?from=wap|title=崔健音乐节不唱歌改玩电子乐：感谢留下来的人|work=[[Southern Metropolis Daily]]}}</ref>
[[File:2022崔健长沙 (4).jpg|thumb|upright|258px|Cui performing in 2022, [[Changsha]]]]
On August 27, 2021, Cui released the album ''[[A Flying Dog]]''.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 17, 2021|url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/6606308.html|title=数字专辑：限购后还等不到春天|work=[[Jiemian News]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref> The public interpretd the album as the resurgence of his critical feature, although Cui noted he has never ceased being critical.<ref name="zgxwzk">{{cite web|author=Wei Yanzhang|url=https://finance.sina.cn/chanjing/gsxw/2021-09-10/detail-iktzqtyt5108936.d.html?oid=3817343073817579&vt=4&wm=5&cid=76478&node_id=76478|title=对话崔健：如果说时尚是被操纵出来的，我还是过时为好|date=September 10, 2021|language=zh-cn|work=[[China Newsweek]]}}</ref> Cui was nominated for Best Producer at the 2021 [[Asian Pop Music Awards]] for the album.<ref name="fg2">{{cite web|author=Shou Penghuan|url=https://app.bjtitle.com/8816/newshow.php?newsid=6183040&typeid=3&uid=399513&did=2d433fc0dd074de596d39f8f698e2e08&mood=wx|title=崔健《飞狗》黑胶专辑限量首发|date=June 25, 2022|language=zh-cn|work=[[Beijing Youth Daily]]}}</ref> It was also listed among the Top 20 Albums of the Year by the jury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://i.ifeng.com/c/8CLTehIDDTz|title=亚洲流行音乐大奖2021年度获奖名单揭晓|website=[[Phoenix Television|Ifeng.com]]|date=December 28, 2021|language=zh-cn}}</ref> The single "The B-Side of Time" became the highest-scoring rock song of the year on the 2021 [[Tencent Music#Charts|TME Chart]].<ref>{{cite web|work=[[China Daily]]|url=https://cn.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202201/20/WS61e92c26a3107be497a032b1.html|title=2021腾讯音乐榜年度盘点浪潮榜篇：见证华语乐坛专业与品质的新浪潮|date=January 20, 2022|language=zh-cn}}</ref> Critic Li Wan believed the album represents a return to form for Chinese rock.<ref name="chinagod" />

At the [[33rd Golden Melody Awards]], ''A Flying Dog'' received four nominations — [[Golden Melody Award for Best Male Mandarin Singer|Best Mandarin Male Singer]], [[Golden Melody Award for Best Vocal Recording Album|Best Vocal Recording Album]], [[Golden Melody Award for Best Mandarin Album|Best Mandarin Album]], and [[Golden Melody Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]].<ref name="fg2" /> Ultimately, Cui won the Best Mandarin Male Singer award, making him the first mainland Chinese musician to receive this honor.<ref>{{cite web|author=Huang Pao-hui|date=July 3, 2022|url=https://style.udn.com/style/story/8065/6432557|title=金曲33／大陸第1人！「中國搖滾之父」崔健封歌王|work=[[United Daily News]]|language=zh-tw}}</ref> Taiwanese audiences were generally surprised by this result.<ref>{{cite web|author=Chu Jun-lin|url=https://www.chinatimes.com/cn/realtimenews/20220703000081-261101|title=金曲33／最佳男歌手崔健大爆冷门 他的《飞狗》在唱什么？|work=[[China Times]]|language=zh-tw|date=July 3, 2022}}</ref> Chinese-language news magazine ''[[WHYNOT]]'' praised this decision reflects the confidence and courage of the jury.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[WHYNOT]]|url=https://www.wainao.me/wainao-reads/taiwanese-elements-mandopop-07142022/|date=July 15, 2022|language=zh-hans|title=从崔健到王心凌："台湾元素"在华语流行音乐文化的起伏声线}}</ref>

An online "Keep Going Wild" concert held by Cui on April 15, 2022 drew 46 million views and 120 million likes, breaking the viewership record for online concerts.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ge Yiting|url=https://www.yicai.com/news/101382375.html|title=崔健线上演唱会刷屏，4400万人重温摇滚情怀|date=April 16, 2022|language=zh-cn|work=[[Shanghai Media Group|Yicai]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Yuan Lu|url=http://www.news.cn/ent/20220418/a5b2562165194b61a07c80ae2d0f720b/c.html|title=4600万人观看崔健线上演唱会 音乐成视频号"破圈"路径 崔健用了30年|work=[[Xinhua News Agency|Xinhuanet]]|language=zh-cn|date=April 18, 2022}}</ref><ref name="tianxia">{{cite web|url=https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=3258|title=Cui Jian: China's rock 'n' roll legend still on his game|author=Jing Wen Zheng|date=July 8, 2022|work=[[CommonWealth Magazine (Taiwan)|CommonWealth Magazine]]}}</ref> In August 2022, Cui published ''Poetry Collection of Cui Jian: 1986-2021'', compiling 56 lyrics written over 35 years.<ref name="xwcb">{{cite web|author=Sun Limei|url=http://static.zhoudaosh.com/files/cnews/2022/20220803/D893682FB9FC2E5968B7DC1DDFBB13A8FDA026827AF5906E68C202BCCBAF06D9/1.html|title=35年创作，56首歌词，《崔健诗歌集》来了|date=August 3, 2022|language=zh-cn|work=[[Shanghai Morning Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hi.chinanews.com.cn/hnnew/2022-08-04/648863.html|title=崔健35年歌词创作结集出版 姜文作序《如是我闻》|date=August 4, 2022|language=zh-cn|work=[[China News Service]]}}</ref> On the 2023 world music collaborative album ''Police Beyond Borders'' by Stewart Copeland and [[Ricky Kej]], Cui covered The Police's single "[[Tea in the Sahara]]".<ref>{{cite web|date=August 7, 2023|url=https://shorefire.com/releases/entry/stewart-copeland-announces-new-album-police-beyond-borders-the-polices-greatest-hits-with-musicians-from-around-the-world|title=Stewart Copeland Announces New Album Police Beyond Borders— The Police's Greatest Hits With Musicians From Around The World|work=[[Shore Fire Media|Shore Fire]]}}</ref> Cui staged the "Rolling Power" Snow Mountain Zhijiao Concert on December 22, 2023, drawing 36 million online viewers. Subsequently, the documentary ''Snow Mountain Music Revelation'', which chronicles the 2002 Snow Mountain Music Festival, was released.<ref name="jxsdyxszj" /> On December 21, 2024, Cui kicked off the "Keep Going Wild" tour in Chengdu.<ref name="ctxwb">{{cite web|author=Xu Yuyang|work=[[:zh:楚天都市报|Jimu News]]|title=摇滚四十年，继续撒点野！崔健最新巡演从成都开启|url=https://www.ctdsb.net/c1742_202412/2321407.html|language=zh-cn|date=December 5, 2024}}</ref>

==Artistry==
=== Musical styles ===
{{Listen|filename=The Last Complaint Cui Jian.ogg|title="The Last Complaint"|pos=right|description=Cui combines traditional Chinese instruments and Western rock elements. Sample of "The Last Complaint" from ''Balls Under the Red Flag'' (1994) show the use of [[guzheng]].}}
Resisting the mainstream music industry's tendency towards a division of labor, Cui writes his own music, lyrics, and arrangements, performing them himself.<ref name="mmcccips">{{cite thesis|title=Modernization and Music in Contemporary China: Crisis, Identity, and the Politics of Style|author=Timothy Lane Brace|url=https://magnoliaarts.com/brace.pdf|date=1992|degree=PhD|publisher=[[University of Texas at Austin]]}}</ref> Since ''Show You Colour'', he has also handled production, recording, and [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]] himself.<ref name="prmsyc" /> Cui incorporates elements of [[pop music|pop]], [[reggae]], [[blues]], [[funk]], [[ska]], [[hip-hop]], [[jazz]], [[Folk music|folk]], [[Country music|country]], [[Qinqiang]], [[Northwest Wind]], [[New wave music|new wave]], [[hard rock]], [[punk rock|punk]], [[Hardcore punk|hardcore]], [[electronic music]] and [[Electronic dance music|EDM]] into his works.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Zhang |first1=Xudong |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AbdXAX-xIeUC |title=Postmodernism and China |last2=Dirlik |first2=Arif |date=2000-10-27 |publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=978-0-8223-8022-1 |pages=241 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="anren">{{cite web|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=April 16, 2004|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2004/04/16/cui-jians-call-of-the-wild-hails-from-china/|title=Cui Jian's call of the wild hails from China}}</ref><ref name="nyd">{{cite web|author=Sheila Melvin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/arts/31iht-melvin.1.9608490.html|title=Cui Jian: China's rock rebel updates his appeal|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 31, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|author=Shigeharu Aono|title=中国ロックに見るワールドインパクト|magazine=OUFC booklet|publisher=[[University of Osaka]]|language=ja|date=2013|issue=1|pages=111–126}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|author=Ai Weilai|title=崔健、摇滚神话与历史的隐秘脉络|magazine=[[Dushu]]|publisher=[[Joint Publishing]]|language=zh-cn|date=2013|issue=4|pages=131–138}}</ref><ref name="huangguiyu">{{cite magazine|language=zh-cn|magazine=Music Communication|author=Huang Guiyu|pages=90–95|title=对崔健的摇滚乐创作的思考|date=2016|issue=4|publisher=[[Communication University of China]]}}</ref><ref name="hanmaodou">{{cite web|author=Wu Yang|date=June 18, 2018|url=https://m.jiemian.com/article/2234521.html|title=崔健，你给中国摇滚开了个头，但现在却烂尾了|work=[[Jiemian News]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gong |first=Qian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pkMjEAAAQBAJ |title=Remaking Red Classics in Post-Mao China: TV Drama as Popular Media |date=2021-03-22 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-78660-926-7 |pages=24–25 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="jazzfu">{{cite web|author=Kai Yin|website=[[:zh:东方网|021east.com]]|url=https://j.021east.com/m/1650092821034928|title=竟然还是崔健，看来一切都没变|date=April 16, 2022|language=zh-cn}}</ref>}} ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' called it an "almost anarchic [[eclecticism]]".<ref name="anren" /> He is considered to have drawn inspiration from [[jazz fusion]] in his creative approach.<ref name="jazzfu" /> He also incorporated [[traditional Chinese instruments]] into his music compositions, which led Chinese mainland rock music to break away from its earlier phase of pure imitation and develop an original style.<ref name="fby">{{cite thesis|author=Fu Boyi|title=宣泄的仪式——中国大陆摇滚乐的音乐人类学研究|date=March 2008|language=zh-cn|publisher=[[:zh:中国艺术研究院|Chinese National Academy of Arts]]|degree=PhD}}</ref> Cui explained that it isn't because he wants to broadcast or promote Chinese traditional art, but rather because when he uses those instruments, they help him express his true emotions.<ref name="wc" /> ''[[The Independent]]'' described his music as "a sometimes bewildering mix of styles that reflects his two biggest influences, [[Miles Davis]] and [[The Clash]], and his classical background."<ref name="inde" /> [[Kaiser Kuo]], a former member of Tang Dynasty, believed that "there is nobody in Chinese rock music as concerned with innovation as Cui Jian".<ref name="aswkyzzk">{{cite magazine|author=Maria Cheng|magazine=[[Asiaweek]]|title=Rock Icon's New Colors|date=February 23, 2001|pages=52–53|volume=27|issue=3}}</ref> Xu Ning of ''[[Shanghai Morning Post]]'' wrote in 2021 that Cui's rock music which sounded avant-garde in the past remains pioneering today.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 24, 2021|url=http://static.zhoudaosh.com/8018F10B39B423A25200F6844FD7D47633C3BD3976026C15DF19F75676D5014E|title=崔健在"一个空间"唱响摇滚，安可曲《一无所有》《花房姑娘》让观众疯狂|author=Xu Ning|language=zh-cn|work=[[Shanghai Morning Post]]}}</ref>

Cui pioneered the use of rap in the Chinese music scene, which sharply contrasted with the mainstream Hong Kong-Taiwan pop and [[campus folk song]]s of the time, striking listeners as fresh and shake.<ref name="liulip">{{cite magazine|author=Liu Lipeng|title=论崔健摇滚音乐作品的艺术特色|language=zh-cn|magazine=Musical Works|date=2016|issue=9|publisher=[[Chinese Musicians' Association]]|pages=105–106}}</ref> He combined rap and hip-hop with [[Northern and southern China|northern]] folk music, [[free jazz]], and reggae.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[GQ]]|title=Red Scare|author=[[Charles Foran]]|pages=123–124|date=June 2000|issue=6}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_14272451|title=崔健《飞狗》：呼风唤雨，但风雨不至|date=August 30, 2021|language=zh-cn|work=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The paper]]}}</ref> In the late 90s Cui began to experiment on digital [[Experimental rock|avant-rock]] with elements of rap music.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cui Jian |website=[[Rose Goldsen Archive of New Media Art]] |publisher=[[Cornell University Library]] |url=https://goldsen.library.cornell.edu/wen/cui_jian.php |hdl=1813.001/8946249 |hdl-access=free}}</ref> Jeroen de Kloet wrote for ''[[UNESCO Courier]]'' that Cui carries on with the rapper's [[staccato]] precision.<ref name="unescoc" /> In the album ''Show You Colour'', Cui employed [[Varieties of Chinese|dialect]] rapping to address [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]]'s rhythmic limitations, with its "top speed capped at [[shulaibao]] and [[kuaibanshu]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Zhang Xiaozhou|title=全球化时代的中国"杂"种|date=2005|issue=5|language=zh-cn|pages=64–66|publisher=[[Shanghai United Media Group]]|magazine=[[:zh:书城|Book Town]]}}</ref><ref name="mgz" /> His style in the album mixes [[abstract hip hop]] and [[instrumental hip hop]].<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina Entertainment]]|language=zh-cn|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/r/i/2005-09-02/1638829038.html?from=wap|title=颜峻：让这个性感的时代拧巴起来|date=September 2, 2005|author=Yan Jun}}</ref> He also uses [[Delay (audio effect)|delay]] in some of his hip-hop works to make these tracks listen "less hip-hop".<ref>{{cite news|title=中国摇滚乐教父崔健独家专访：做严肃的音乐|language=zh-cn|newspaper=[[:zh:精品购物指南|Shopping Guide]]|date=September 2, 2005|url=https://ent.sina.com.cn/r/m/2005-09-02/1636829035.html?from=wap}}</ref> Maria Cheng from ''[[SFGate]]'' described him as a [[Beastie Boys]]-style rapper laden with [[Peking Opera]]-style recitation.<ref>{{cite web|author=Maria Cheng|website=[[SFGate]]|date=March 27, 2001|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Rebel-With-a-Chord-Despite-easing-restrictions-2937971.php|title=Rebel With a Chord / Despite easing restrictions, Chinese rocker Cui Jian changes his musical direction and his message}}</ref>

Cui considers electronic music "connected to the times, creative, belongs to the young".<ref>{{cite news|title=跟崔健谈"崔健"和"中国摇滚"|date=May 28, 2000|language=zh-cn|author=Zheng Jie|newspaper=[[Modern Express Post]]}}</ref> Influenced by [[The Chemical Brothers]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/2003-12-19/1148257332.html?from=wap|language=zh-cn|title=解放语言，用Hip-Hop抒情(图)|work=[[Southern Metropolis Daily]]|date=December 19, 2003}}</ref> starting with the album ''The Power of the Powerless'', Cui incorporated electronic and [[MIDI]] elements into his music, independently producing the work at home using [[Music technology (electronic and digital)|digital music technology]].<ref name="elct" /> He frequently uses electronic techniques such as [[Programming (music)|programming]], [[Sampling (music)|sampling]] and [[Loop (music)|looping]], and [[Distortion (music)|distortion]] [[Effects unit|effects]].<ref>{{cite magazine|publisher=Hebei Art Research Institute|author=Song Linbo|language=zh-cn|magazine=Popular Songs|title=不是你不明白 这世界变化快|date=January 2001|issue=1|page=14|location=[[Hebei]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guitarschina.com/news/gc/gc02/20040628/211429.htm|title=吉他中国专访中国摇滚教父——崔健（崔健谈吉他）|website=guitarchina.com|date=June 28, 2004|language=zh-cn}}</ref><ref name="southcn">{{cite web|date=April 19, 2022|language=zh-cn|url=https://static.nfapp.southcn.com/content/202204/17/c6408817.html|title=崔健：我享受一个人翻江倒海的孤独 {{!}} 着调专访|work=[[Nanfang Daily]]}}</ref> Cui always samples various ''[[quyi]]'',<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Caixin]]|author=Xu Hong|language=zh-cn|title=了解崔健和他的年代：22年前的报道《北京摇滚录》|date=January 22, 2013|url=https://xuhong.blog.caixin.com/archives/54691}}</ref> as well as Chinese folk songs like [[Hua'er]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Yang Bo|url=https://news.sina.cn/sa/2005-03-30/detail-ikkntiam3103972.d.html?from=wap|title=作为符号的崔健已经远去|language=zh-cn|date=March 30, 2005|work=[[:zh:.外灘畫報|The Bund]]}}</ref> He also incorporates [[techno]] beats into his songs,<ref>{{cite magazine|publisher=Hebei Art Research Institute|author=Chen Peili|language=zh-cn|magazine=Popular Songs|title=曾经是一面旗帜|date=January 2001|issue=1|page=14|location=[[Hebei]]}}</ref> and draws influence from [[electronica]] and [[post-rock]].<ref>{{cite web|title=崔健要在香港《给你一点颜色》|language=zh-cn|author=Huang Zhizong|work=[[Southern Weekly]]|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/h/35339.html?from=wap|date=March 7, 2001}}</ref> To add Chinese timbres into his work, he connected [[guqin]] and [[pipa]] to effects units, transforming them into electronic versions.<ref name="ttwz" /> Some songs from the album ''Show You Colour'' features [[noise music]],<ref>{{cite web|work=[[:zh:南京晨报|Nanjing Morning Post]]|url=http://music.yule.sohu.com/20051124/n240795740.shtml|title=崔健拒绝商家天价出场费 只愿谈他的音乐|date=November 24, 2005|language=zh-cn|author=Gong Yu}}</ref> [[sound collage]]s and [[Nu jazz|electronic jazz]].<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina Entertainment]]|language=zh-cn|url=https://ent.sina.com.cn/r/m/2005-06-07/1539745409.html?from=wap|title=张晓舟：全球化时代的中国杂种|date=June 7, 2005|author=Zhang Xiaozhou}}</ref> ''[[Taipei Times]]'' dubbed him "China's godfather of [[electric rock]]".<ref>{{cite web|date=September 26, 2005|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2005/09/26/2003273337|title=Plant Pop|work=[[Taipei Times]]}}</ref> In 2007, Cui collaborated with [[DJ Hyper]], [[Hybrid (British band)|Hybrid]] and [[Sugardaddy (duo)|Sugar Daddy]] to [[remix]] some of his classic tracks from the '80s.<ref name="beijingdj">{{cite web|date=August 4, 2007|url=https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2007/08/04/cui-jian-perform-beijing-pop-festival|title=Cui Jian to Perform at Beijing Pop Festival|author=Paul Pennay|work=[[The Beijinger]]}}</ref>

=== Themes and lyrics ===
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Cui's music idea mainly revolves around rebellious and resistance, making introspection and irony to the tradition while exploring [[Human condition|people's living condition]].<ref name="yqhz" /> His works convey his reflections on the history of the motherland, introspection of the state of life, longing for a "[[utopia]]n" beautiful future,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Li |first=Xiaodong |last2=Li |first2=Tianjiao |date=2019-05-31 |title=摇摆的芦苇——新时代女性"不婚"的现状浅析 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.32629/er.v2i5.1841 |journal=Educational Research |volume=2 |issue=5 |doi=10.32629/er.v2i5.1841 |issn=2630-4686|doi-access=free|language=zh-cn }}</ref> and questions to the [[Chinese nationalism|nationalism]] and [[Economic materialism|materialist]] [[Zeitgeist]] of post-1989 China.<ref name="unescoc">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[UNESCO Courier]]|title=Rebel without a pause?|page=37|date=2000|issue=7|volume=53|author=Jeroen de Kloet|url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000120152}}</ref> His songs were also the earliest in Chinese music to tackle the subject of [[Human sexual activity|sex]],<ref>{{Cite news|title=崔健经典专辑回顾|url=http://ent.ifeng.com/feichangdao/detail_2009_12/21/208589_1.shtml|date=December 21, 2009|website=[[Phoenix Television|Ifeng.com]]|language=zh-cn|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101021434/http://ent.ifeng.com/feichangdao/detail_2009_12/21/208589_1.shtml|archive-date=January 1, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> sometimes touching on topics of [[masturbation]] that "not many rock songs ever deal with, even in the U.S.".<ref>{{Cite news|author=J. Poet|title=Cui Jian|url=http://www.globalrhythm.net/WorldMusicFeatures/CuiJian.cfm|date=August 19, 2008|work=[[Global Rhythm]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114103533/http://www.globalrhythm.net/WorldMusicFeatures/CuiJian.cfm|archive-date=November 14, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to [[CNN]] correspondent [[Jaime FlorCruz]], Cui's songs are "sometimes amusing, sometimes plaintive but often overtly political" and challenge "conventional Chinese ideas and attitudes".<ref>{{cite web|author=[[Jaime FlorCruz]]|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/11/world/asia/china-cui-jian-florcruz/index.html|title=China's Bob Dylan-inspired pioneer still rocking|date=May 11, 2012|work=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

Cui said that the ratio of time he spends composing music versus writing lyrics is 20:1.<ref>{{cite magazine|author1=Tian Suping|author2=Li Jinhua|title=崔健制造革命|language=zh-cn|date=1998|issue=1|pages=10–14|magazine=Talents|publisher=[[Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries]]}}</ref> His lyrics embody [[postmodernism]] characteristics, which represent as uncleamness, negativity, uncertainty and metaphor,<ref name="yqhz">{{cite thesis|author=Yang Qing|title=崔健歌词的文学阅读|date=November 2005|language=zh-cn|publisher=[[Huazhong University of Science and Technology]]|degree=MSc}}</ref> reflecting the pursuit of idealism and identity,<ref name="id" /> [[Social alienation|alienation]], [[:wiktionary:disillusionment|disillusionment]], and the craving for personal freedom and sexual desire.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 21, 2000|url=https://www.scmp.com/article/321921/banned-rocker-returns-stage|title=Banned rocker returns to stage|author=Amanda Watson|work=[[South China Morning Post]]}}</ref><ref name="sbs">{{cite web|author=Linda Jaivin|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/creative/the-long-march-of-cui-jian/vt8kzov43|title=The Long March of Cui Jian|work=[[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS]]|date=May 27, 2022}}</ref> [[Conceptual metaphors]] are widely present in the lyrics of Cui's albums.<ref name="yinyu">{{cite magazine|date=July 2015|language=zh-cn|title=基于文化语境的崔健歌词概念隐喻使用研究|magazine=Overseas English|issn=1009-5039|publisher=[[:zh:安徽科学技术出版社|Anhui Science and Technology Publishing House]]}}</ref> According to Junru Huang of ''[[The Times]]'', largely by writing ambiguous lyrics, Cui has skilfully become a symbol of freedom to many without becoming an [[Ai Weiwei]]-esque martyr of the arts.<ref name="jhtt">{{cite web|author=Junru Huang|work=[[The Times]]|date=August 8, 2016|url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/article/before-the-massacre-tiananmen-square-was-like-a-huge-party-9r6rglzxx|title='Before the massacre, Tiananmen Square was like a huge party'}}</ref> His lyrics are often "interpreted as politically oppositional" by the audience, while Cui himself dismissed political uses of his music by audiences as "their own business".<ref name="id" /> Italian rock musician [[Francesco Baccini]] believed that Cui's lyrics largely focus on marginalized communities and touch on politically sensitive topics.<ref name="hrhcr">{{cite web|author=Zhang Changxiao|url=https://ent.sina.cn/zl/2014-09-09/zl-icesifvw9366116.d.html|title=崔健：中国摇滚音乐标杆人物|language=zh-cn|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina Entertainment]]|date=September 9, 2014}}</ref> Critics also point out that Cui's lyrics are filled with "seeing and being seen", "authentically" narrating what he observes.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=麦地里的孩子——评崔健歌词|doi=10.16583/j.cnki.52-1014/j.2009.18.01|language=zh-cn|author=Zhi Yuan|magazine=Movie Review|volume=18|date=2019|publisher=[[Guizhou Daily]] Contemporary Integrated Media Group}}</ref> Besides, he was the earliest artist to use [[Mandarin Chinese profanity|Chinese swear words]] like "[[Mandarin Chinese profanity#Mother|qù nǐ māde]]" (lit. "go to your mom") in song lyrics.<ref name="qnmd" />

Cui's lyrics draw on the expressive techniques of [[modern Chinese poetry]], giving them a poetic quality.<ref>{{cite web|author=Cui Liqiu|title=现代诗与流行音乐|url=http://www.chinawriter.com.cn/n1/2016/1019/c404033-28790464.html|date=October 19, 2016|language=zh-cn|website=[[China Writers Association|chinawriter.com.cn]]}}</ref> Some of his works feature frequent use of short sentence and [[simple sentence]] structures, while others employ a more [[Colloquialism|colloquial]] style to depict the "laughable and helplessness" of reality.<ref>{{cite magazine|volume=18|issue=2|date=April 2013|language=zh-cn|author=Zhao Ling|magazine=Journal of Xinyu University|title=叛逆的艺术——小议崔健、摇滚乐兼先锋诗|publisher=[[Xinyu University]]|pages=54–56}}</ref> {{ill|Chen Sihe|zh|陈思和}}, a [[Fudan University]] professor, described Cui as "contemporary chief rock poet".<ref>{{cite web|author=Shen Hexi|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1545223|title=王安忆和徐冰怎么谈论现实主义的复兴|date=October 18, 2016|language=zh-cn|work=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The paper]]}}</ref> Taiwanese poet [[Yu Kwang-chung]] called him China's "great poet like [[John Lennon|Lennon]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_18312283|title="遇见"VS"童年"，超1.8亿人围观！|date=May 28, 2022|language=zh-cn|work=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The paper]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hk01.com/%E8%97%9D%E6%96%87/133868/%E5%91%A8%E8%80%80%E8%BC%9D%E8%88%87%E5%91%A8%E9%9B%B2%E8%93%AC%E5%9D%90%E9%8E%AE%E5%9C%8B%E9%9A%9B%E8%A9%A9%E6%AD%8C%E5%A4%9C-%E5%B4%94%E5%81%A5%E9%99%A4%E4%BA%86%E5%94%B1-%E9%82%84%E7%8F%BE%E5%A0%B4%E6%9C%97%E8%AA%A6%E8%A9%A9%E6%AD%8C#google_vignette|title=周耀輝與周雲蓬坐鎮國際詩歌夜　崔健除了唱　還現場朗誦詩歌|work=[[HK01]]|language=zh-hant|date=November 16, 2017}}</ref> Chinese writer [[Wang Shuo]] called Cui "China's greatest [[bard]]".<ref name="haibaigd" /> [[Xie Mian]] stated that Cui's lyrics constitute important component parts of modern Chinese poetry history, possessing high value as poetry.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[The Chosun Ilbo]]|language=ko|url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/1997/05/02/1997050270077.html|title=조선족 록가수 최 건 작품 중국 문학 전집에 수록|date=May 2, 1997}}</ref>

[[File:Cui Jian @ 2009-12-24.jpg|thumb|Cui performing in Beijing, 2009. His parody of political symbols in his works is regarded as deconstructive and subversive.]]
Cui's works saturate political symbols like [[Red flag (politics)|red flags]], [[Red#In politics|color red]], (political) movements, the [[Long March]], revolution, which he [[Deconstruction|deconstructively]] [[parody|parodies]] and ridicules from a personalized perspective.<ref name="mdyjl">{{cite magazine|title=矛盾与焦虑——歌词中的崔健与时代中的崔健|author=Zhou Xianbo|date=April 2007|volume=28|issue=4|language=zh-cn|publisher=[[Lanzhou University]]|magazine=Journal of Harbin University|pages=100–103}}</ref> Such [[Subversion|subversive]] "political parody" was often seen as disrespectful at the time.<ref name="rockta64" /> Scholar Xin Da observed that Cui uses these political symbols to express a lighthearted attitude, thereby dissolving their serious nature.<ref name="yinyu" /> [[Dai Jinhua]] said that through parody, Cui accomplished both a burial of an era and a reconfiguration of the memory of the times, constituting an "astonishingly destructive rearticulation or replication".<ref name="guojm" /> Author Xiao Yi wrote that Cui's irony and imitation of [[Communist symbolism|red symbols]] stem from the molding of [[Marxist aesthetics|red aesthetics]] on his musical thinking.<ref name="hxwzcnd">{{cite web|work=[[:zh:华夏文摘|China News Digest]]|date=January 24, 2014|url=http://hx.cnd.org/2014/01/24/%E5%B4%94%E5%81%A5%EF%BC%9A%E5%9C%A8%E9%9B%86%E4%BD%93%E7%8B%82%E6%AC%A2%E4%B8%8E%E4%B8%AA%E4%BD%93%E8%87%AA%E7%94%B1%E4%B9%8B%E9%97%B4%E6%8C%A3%E6%89%8E%E7%9A%84%E6%97%B6%E4%BB%A3%E7%AC%A6%E5%8F%B7/|title=崔健：在集体狂欢与个体自由之间挣扎的时代符号|language=zh-cn|author=Xiao Yi}}</ref> Cui's music is sometimes described as "Red Rock",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2009-12/31/content_3009271.htm|title=又唱毛泽东（图）|author=Chen Jian|work=[[China Youth Daily]]|language=zh-cn|date=December 31, 2009}}</ref> and he called himself a [[Little Red Guards|little red guard]].<ref>{{cite news|title=真实崔健|language=zh-cn|author=Wei Xia|date=March 30, 2002|newspaper=Chongqing Economy|location=[[Chongqing]]}}</ref>

The term "''[[:wiktionary:姑娘|guniang]]''" (girl) is frequently used in Cui's texts, signifying varied personas.<ref name="frs" /> This imagery has often been interpreted as an eroticization of political themes.<ref name="tujinmei" /> Taiwanese lyric scholar Hu Yu-tien thought that Cui's lyrics carry on the tradition originating from ''[[Chu Ci]]'' of using "beauty" as a metaphor for the ruler, while interweaving romantic love with patriotic sentiment.<ref>{{cite web|title=崔健：摇滚歌手、中法文化之春形象大使|url=http://www.msweekly.com/mobile/show.html?id=92059|website=[[china.org.cn]]|language=zh-cn|date=August 3, 2017}}</ref> Rachel DeWoskin of ''[[Words Without Borders]]'' also noted that Cui's songs inherit the "tried and true manner" of court poets and essayists from China's imperial past, appering to be about love but actually about history and contemporary China.<ref name="wwb" /> Malaysian columnist Tan Wei Guang described Cui as "writing about the nation like a lover and transforming political awakening into love songs".<ref name="bjzzzz">{{cite web|author=Tan Wei Guang|language=zh-hans|url=https://theinterview.asia/column/%E7%94%B5%E5%BD%B1%E8%AE%B0%E4%BA%8B/77678/|title=当崔健的歌曲出现在电影里|date=July 7, 2022|work=The Interview}}</ref> Music journalist Zhou Jian called it a "[[Spring and Autumn brushwork]]".<ref name="haibaigd" />

=== Vocal style ===
[[File:崔健 2025 南丹音乐节.jpg|thumb|Cui performing in 2025, [[Nandan County|Nandan]]]]
Cui sings in a pinched, [[hoarse voice]],<ref name="zsxw">{{cite web|author=Chu Jun-lin|url=https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20220702002939-260404|title=金曲33／搖滾教父崔健入圍4獎項 60歲創作能量老而彌堅|work=[[China Times]]|language=zh-tw|date=July 2, 2022}}</ref><ref name="bookrg1">{{cite book|title=Rockin' the Boat: Mass Music and Mass Movements|author=Reebee Garofalo|date=July 1, 1999|isbn=9780896084278|publisher=[[South End Press]]}}</ref>{{Rp|page=120}} with "guttural yet passionate" vocals.<ref>{{cite thesis|doi=10.7275/35077308|title=Voices Against an Era: Alternative Voices, Cultural Heroics, and the Impact of He Yong and Zhang Chu on Chinese Rock Music|date=May 2023|author=Peter J. Moncur|publisher=[[University of Massachusetts Amherst]]|url=https://scholarworks.umass.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/9f419610-650f-4e6a-b072-3f944c592216/content|format=pdf}}</ref> His raw, shouting vocal style blended the folk singing techniques represented by [[Li Guyi]] with [[bel canto]], carrying an aspect of asserting [[masculinity]].<ref name="ligy">{{cite magazine|title=「俺」から「俺たち」へ―中国ロックの起点から|date=June 1996|volume=50|issue=6|pages=24–32|language=ja|author=Tamako Akiyama|magazine=Monthly Journal of Chinese Affairs|publisher=[[:ja:中国研究所|Institute of Chinese Affairs]]}}</ref> Believing that language should not overshadow music, Cui deliberately obscures the accuracy of pronunciation in lyrics by omitting [[vowel]]s, forcefully articulating [[Affricate#Non-sibilant affricates|labiodental affricates]], and employing rapid, consecutive same-pitch note patterns in melodies, making the lyrics difficult to recognize.<ref>{{cite news|title=崔健抗拒「融合民族特性於摇滚乐」的大帽子 因为语言不能替音乐说话|language=zh-tw|newspaper=[[China Times]]|date=April 7, 1991}}</ref> Besides, he often uses [[Non-lexical vocables in music|non-lexical vocables]] such as ''ooh''.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Read and Write Periodical|volume=10|issue=1|date=January 2013|language=zh-cn|title=论崔健创作歌曲的音乐特征|doi=10.16071/j.cnki.cn51-1650/g4.2013.01.05|page=42|author=Yang Huijun|publisher=[[:zh:四川省文学艺术界联合会|Sichuan Federation of Literary and Art Circles]]}}</ref> His blurred enunciation marks a deliberate departure from 1990s pop music, which emphasized "precise articulation and polished vocals".<ref name="shwx">{{cite magazine|title="软弱的力量"与"主体的弥散"——从崔健《无能的力量》到《给你一点颜色》|magazine=Art Panorama|date=March 2014|issue=3|author=Wang Xiang|publisher=[[:zh:辽宁省文学艺术界联合会|Liaoning Federation of Literary and Art Circles]]|language=zh-cn|pages=68–76}}</ref> Daniel Southerland from ''[[The Washington Post]]'' described Cui's voice "sounds like a cross between Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and [[Joe Strummer]] of the Clash".<ref name="wash" /> British sinologist [[Gregory B. Lee]] called it a raucous, guttural Beijing [[Proletariat|proletarian]] street accent.<ref>{{cite magazine|volume=1|issue=2|date=July 1, 1998|author=Gregory B. Lee|pages=181–196|title=Chineseness and MTV|magazine=Kültür Ve İletişim|url=https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/1934539|format=pdf}}</ref> Chinese music critic Li Wan described it as "strained, high-pitched, piercing, unpleasant, yet compelling".<ref name="byt">{{cite web|work=[[:zh:半月谈|Banyuetan Magazine]]|url=http://www.banyuetan.org/chcontent/gd/sdrw/20121017/77013_2.shtml|title=崔健 顺流而下，逆流而上|language=zh-cn|date=October 17, 2012}}</ref> Scholar Yin Lixin claimed that Cui is the only pop singer in contemporary China who has "mastered the unique rhythmic and tonal patterns of the [[Chinese language]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=可惜中国只有一个崔健!——点击当代流行歌坛|magazine=Art Criticism|date=2006|issue=5|author=Yin Lixin|publisher=[[:zh:中国艺术研究院|Chinese National Academy of Arts]]|language=zh-cn|pages=19–21}}</ref> Chinese record producer [[Zhang Yadong]] stated that Cui's enunciation style and vocal placement create a "unique feeling".<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Hei Mai|url=https://www.lifeweek.com.cn/article/58662|title=张亚东：流行音乐是一种情绪|magazine=[[Sanlian Lifeweek]]|volume=40|date=2018|language=zh-cn}}</ref> Taiwanese musician Li Pai-kang praised Cui for his "highly individualistic vocals and articulation" and his reinvention of vocal expression within Chinese rock music.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20220625000574-260112|title=黃宣歌聲戳心搶歌王|work=[[China Times]]|language=zh-tw|date=June 25, 2022}}</ref>

{{blockquote|Cui Jian's hoarse voice that is roared out, in stark contrast to the "erosive quality" of [[Teresa Teng]]'s sweet and tender vocal timbre, manifests immense resistance and destructive power... His shouts articulate the voice of the underclass, granting the right to public expression to the loneliness, anguish, repression, tedium and even despair experienced by countless individuals in social reality. Through this public articulation, such emotional experiences attain a certain kind of significance.|[[Zhejiang Gongshang University]] professor Guo Jianmin<ref name="guojm">{{cite magazine|author=Guo Jianmin|magazine=Contention in Literature and Art|title=声音政治:八十年代流行乐坛的邓丽君、崔健及费翔|date=2015|issue=10|language=zh-cn|pages=121–126|publisher=[[:zh:吉林省文学艺术界联合会|Jilin Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles]]}}</ref>}}

=== Videography and stage ===
Chinese [[Cinema of China#The sixth generation|Sixth Generation]] filmmaker [[Zhang Yuan (director)|Zhang Yuan]] directed the music videos for "Piece of Red Cloth", "Wild on the Snow", "Last Shot", and "Flying".<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Caixin]]|url=https://wangxinjiang.blog.caixin.com/archives/6355|title=脱光，镜鉴美丑——感悟崔健的歌|language=zh-cn|author=Wang Xinjiang|date=July 15, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2592754|title=我拍崔健十三年|date=November 2, 2018|language=zh-cn|work=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The paper]]}}</ref> Zhang stated that he always filmed Cui as a hero, because in his perception, Cui was "a hero imbued with power".<ref name="byt" /> The video for "Piece of Red Cloth" won special mention at the Golden Gate Viewers awards ceremonies at the 1992 [[San Francisco International Film Festival|San Francisco Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Popular Music|title=The Political Meaning of Hong Kong Popular Music: A Review of Sociopolitical Relations between Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China Since the 1980s|author=Wai-Chung Ho|volume=19|issue=3|date=October 2000|pages=341–353|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]}}</ref> The "Wild on the Snow" video won the [[MTV Video Music Award for International Viewer's Choice|International Viewer's Choice Award for MTV Asia]] in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Jawahir Gustav Rizal|author2=Bayu Galih|url=https://www.kompas.com/cekfakta/read/2023/08/01/171700482/kilas-balik-siaran-perdana-mtv-1-agustus-1981?page=all|title=Kilas Balik Siaran Perdana MTV, 1 Agustus 1981|work=[[Kompas]]|date=August 1, 2023}}</ref> In 2005, Cui teamed up with [[Adobe Flash|Flash]] artist Lao Jiang to release the animated video for his song "Mr. Red".<ref>{{cite web|author=Jia Wei|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/x/2005-03-11/1009674419.html?from=wap|title=崔健专辑未发动画先行 化身超级玛丽解析爱情|work=[[The Beijing News]]|language=zh-cn|date=March 11, 2005}}</ref> Cui held a negative view toward music videos in his later career. For his 2021 songs "A Flying Dog" and "The B-Side of Time", he filmed live-performance music videos blending genuine onstage performances with visual elements, aiming to "defend the inherent qualities of live music".<ref name="gdfg">{{cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/ent/20210910/8ec3aac36a14410aaa0823758706922b/c.html|title=新专辑《飞狗》出炉 60岁崔健 音乐不曾止步|work=[[Xinhua News Agency|Xinhuanet]]|language=zh-cn|date=September 10, 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Cui Jian concert Jan 08.jpg|thumb|right|271px|Cui Jian at Workers' Gymnasium during his concert in 2008. He himself served as the artistic director.<ref>{{cite web|date=December 11, 2007|work=[[Beijing Times]]|url=https://ent.ifeng.com/music/mainland/200712/1211_1838_327802.shtml|title=崔健2008首唱工人体育馆 时代的晚上回顾经典|language=zh-cn}}</ref>]]
Cui Jian is described as frequently engaging in "intricate and dazzling experiments in musical craftsmanship" during his live performances.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://zqb.cyol.com/content/2007-10/31/content_1938441.htm|title=崔健：一把装进鞘里的刀|work=[[China Youth Daily]]|date=October 31, 2017|language=zh-cn|author=Xia Yu}}</ref> At his 2008 Chengdu concert, Cui invited Chinese gymnast [[Li Donghua]] as a special guest, who appearing on stage with a [[pommel horse]].<ref>{{cite web|work=[[NPR]]|date=April 27, 2008|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/chengdu/2008/04/_cui_jian_often_referred.html|author=Andrea Hsu|title=Rock Star Cui Jian Performs in Chengdu}}</ref> He won Best Live Performance at the 8th [[Midi Music Festival|Midi Awards]] for the 2016 "Rolling 30" concert.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/1049823.html|title=第八届中国摇滚迷笛颁奖礼结束了，摇滚的前路依然崎岖|work=[[Jiemian News]]|date=January 4, 2017|language=zh-cn}}</ref> In 2017, Cui made his debut as a DJ for a solo electronic live performance at the Chishui Valley Music Festival, without singing throughout the entire performance.<ref name="caiyangz" />

Cui regards live performance as the singing method he endorses, considering it "the purest and most moving".<ref>{{citation|website=[[Phoenix Television|Ifeng.com]]|url=http://ient.ifeng.com/42694102/news.shtml?srctag=zbs_slide_next|title=今夜我不关心人类我只想你——崔健滚动三十演唱会|language=zh-cn|date=September 30, 2016}}</ref> He emphasizes that he "will never leave live performances",<ref>{{cite news|title=一顆狂熱的心 崔健|language=zh-hant|date=February 15, 2001|newspaper=[[Oriental Daily News]]author=Yu Lip'ing}}</ref> expressing his wish to "sing until his last breath or die on stage".<ref>{{cite news|title=崔健唱到生命最后一刻|language=zh-cn|newspaper=[[:zh:精品购物指南|Shopping Guide]]|date=May 17, 2002|author=A Lai}}</ref> Cui stated clearly in 2024 that he will not retire.<ref name="sconline">{{cite web|author1=Cong Yumeng|author2=Zheng Zhijie|work=[[Sichuan Daily]]|language=zh-cn|date=December 6, 2024|url=https://sichuan.scol.com.cn/m/ggxw/202412/82855865.html|title=成都演唱会在即 崔健：谁让我退休我跟谁急}}</ref> In 2010, Cui became the first mainland Chinese musician to tour across China and stage over 1,000 live performances.<ref name="ctxwb" />

=== Apparel and accessory ===
[[File:2022崔健长沙 (1) (crop).jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Cui uses the red star as his symbol and wears a white baseball cap with that symbol.]]
Cui often appears wearing a white [[baseball cap]] with a bright [[red star]]. He chose the red star because he once wore it as a child and it is a clear reference to the revolution.<ref name="id">{{cite magazine|author=Zhaoxi Liu|url=https://digitalcommons.trinity.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=comm_faculty|title=Cui Jian: Extolling Idealism Yet Advocating for Freedom Through Rock Music in China|format=pdf|date=2016|publisher=[[Trinity University (Texas)|Trinity University]]|magazine=International Communication Research Journal|volume=51|issue=1|pages=3–20}}</ref> Cui said he initially wore the hat because he wanted to control his exposure, and he can lower his head and no one can tell who him is.<ref name="fce" /> He intentionally distressed the hat to look worn-out because that's "interesting".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/rock/2009-12-14/detail-icesifvx7265827.d.html|title=实录：崔健聊北展个唱 摇滚永远有青春荷尔蒙|language=zh-cn|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina Entertainment]]|date=December 14, 2009}}</ref> German journalist {{ill|Christof Siemes|de|Christof Siemes}} believed Cui reverses the colors of the [[Chinese flag]], where the big yellow star on a red background stands for the Communist Party, appropriating and deconstructing the state symbol.<ref>{{cite web|date=August 28, 2008|url=https://www.zeit.de/2008/36/Was-mache-ich-hier|title=Revolution mit Bier|author=Christof Siemes|work=[[Die Zeit]]|language=de}}</ref>

Cui usually blindfolded himself with a piece of red cloth when performing his song "Piece of Red Cloth".<ref>{{cite magazine|pages=42–45|magazine=[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]]|title=Beijing Rocks: Rockin' in the Not-So-Free World|author=Steven Schwankert|date=September 1995|issue=139}}</ref> Near the end of his performances, Cui would forcefully tear off the red cloth and hurl it violently to the ground.<ref name="byt" /> This imagery also appears on the cover of "Nothing to My Name", reflecting the populace's pervasive sense of disorientation about the future during that era.<ref>{{cite magazine|doi=10.13556/j.cnki.dncb.cn35-1274/j.2014.07.03|title=选秀节目中摇滚元素的隐喻学初探|language=zh-cn|date=2014|volume=119|issue=7|author1=Wang Nana|author2=Ji Wei|pages=96–98|magazine=Southeast Communication|publisher=[[Fujian Radio Film and TV Group]]}}</ref> [[Communication studies|Communication]] scholar Wang Na pointed out that Cui's "red cloth" creates a visual darkness through its ironic act of blinding the eyes, manifesting dual blindness in both identity and soul, carrying distinct symbolic significance.<ref>{{cite magazine|doi=10.13556/j.cnki.dncb.cn35-1274/j.2014.03.01|title=以"崔健的一块红布"论图像的舆论建构|language=zh-cn|date=2014|volume=115|issue=3|author=Wang Na|pages=60–62|magazine=Southeast Communication|publisher=[[Fujian Radio Film and TV Group]]}}</ref>

He used to wear a green [[People's Liberation Army]] uniform jacket at live performances and in music videos. Some scholars like Jonathan Matusitz and Andrew F. Jones interpreted it as "a subversive sartorial recontexutalization", while others saw it as an expression of nostalgia.<ref name="id" /> He also wore [[Grunge fashion|grunge]] clothing in his 1990s' stages.<ref>{{cite web|date=August 28, 1995|title=POP REVIEW; Chinese Rock Legend Sings of a Different Malaise|author=Jon Pareles|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/28/arts/pop-review-chinese-rock-legend-sings-of-a-different-malaise.html?searchResultPosition=31|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In his 21st-century live performances, he has sometimes worn retro and introspective stage costumes, such as floral shirts and [[Nakhi people#Clothing|traditional Nakhi ethnic clothing]], to create stark contrasts with the trendy electronic music he performed.<ref>{{cite web|author=Zhai Yi|language=zh-cn|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/r/m/2002-02-23/73563.html?from=wap|title=评论：从演出服的变迁看崔健的心灵之旅(图)|date=February 23, 2002|work=[[:zh:每日新报|Morning Post]]}}</ref>

==Cultural status==
[[File:Cui Jian 02.02.1993 I 05 crop.jpg|thumb|During Cui Jian's 1993 performance in Germany, the audience held up a banner reading "Long Live Cui Jian" (崔健万岁).]] 
[[File:2014秦皇岛6789音乐节 金属礼.jpg|thumb|Some [[security guards]] giving the [[sign of the horns]] to Cui during his performance, [[Qinhuangdao]], 2014.]]

Cui is credited with popularizing rock throughout China,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/103614247|title=Rock 'N' Roll At The Top Of The World|work=[[NPR]]|date=May 5, 2009}}</ref> and with being a trailblazer in Chinese [[progressive music]].<ref name="pmzjtd">{{cite book|title=The Power of Culture: Encounters between China and the United States|isbn=9781443885881|date=December 16, 2015|author=[[Priscilla Roberts]]|publisher=[[Cambridge Scholars Publishing]]}}</ref>{{Rp|page=456}} He's been called the "Father of Chinese Rock", "Grandfather of Chinese Rock", "Godfather of Chinese Rock", "Emperor of Chinese Rock", "Chinese King of Rock", and "China's God of Rock".<ref name="Gunde">Gunde, Richard. [2002] (2002) Culture and Customs of China. Greenwood Press. {{ISBN|0-313-30876-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nocutnews.co.kr/news/852621|title=조선족 1% 시대…"나는 조선족이다"|language=ko|work=[[No Cut News]]|date=July 7, 2011}}</ref><ref name="zzaq">{{cite web|title=A fascinating interview with China's biggest rock star|author=Max Fisher|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/01/03/a-fascinating-interview-with-chinas-biggest-rock-star/|date=January 3, 2013|work=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|author=Shigeharu Aono|title=進化するロック専門誌『通俗歌曲』|magazine=OUFC booklet|publisher=[[University of Osaka]]|language=ja|date=2011|issue=10|url=https://www.law.osaka-u.ac.jp/c-forum/box2/dp2011-10aono.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/video/hong-kong/1606744/godfather-chinese-rock-cui-jian-asks-why-hong-kong-doesnt-get-good-music|title=Godfather of Chinese rock, Cui Jian, asks why Hong Kong doesn't 'get' good music|date=December 1, 2013|work=[[South China Morning Post]]}}</ref><ref name="chinagod" /> He is sometimes hailed as the "coordinates of Asian rock music".<ref>{{cite web|author1=Chen Pingshu|author2=Wen Jing|url=https://zqb.cyol.com/content/2006-09/28/content_1525201.htm|title=崔健：贴在我身上的标签对我来说是麻木是不痛不痒|work=[[Beijing Youth Daily]]|date=September 28, 2006|language=zh-cn}}</ref> According to ''[[Southern Weekly]]'', Cui was China's first rock artist to gain worldwide reputation.<ref>{{cite web|date=January 3, 2017|url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/1048905.html|title=崔健要上《我是歌手2017》？姜文、冯小刚、于谦有话说|work=[[Jiemian News]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref> In China, his name is the synonym for rock music.<ref name="id" /> His songs characterized by individualism and rebellion against tradition led him to be referenced as the voice of his generation.<ref>{{cite thesis|title=從搖滾樂看台灣在地青少年次文化—以五月天為例|language=zh-hant|date=June 2008|author=Hung Chia-hung|degree=MSc|publisher=[[Nanhua University]]|url=https://nhuir.nhu.edu.tw/retrieve/26715/096NHU05375005-001.pdf}}</ref> In Western countries, Cui is often compared as the Chinese equivalent of John Lennon, [[Elvis Presley]], Bob Dylan, [[Kurt Cobain]], [[Bruce Springsteen]], [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], and [[Johnny Hallyday]],<ref name="cultf" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zeit.de/1993/08/die-internationale-erkaempft-das-menschenrecht/seite-2|language=de|work=[[Die Zeit]]|title=Die Internationale erkämpft das Menschenrecht|date=February 19, 1993|author=Tom R. Schulz}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|website=[[University of California, Los Angeles|international.ucla.edu]]|url=https://international.ucla.edu/institute/article/11612|title=Cui Jian: Father of Chinese Rock 'N' Roll|date=June 3, 2005}}</ref><ref name="inde">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/cui-jian-the-man-who-rocks-china-515208.html|title=Cui Jian: The man who rocks China|work=[[The Independent]]|date=November 14, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cui Jian|url=http://www.china.org.cn/popfestival/2007-09/05/content_1223358.htm|website=[[china.org.cn]]|date=September 5, 2007}}</ref><ref name="pierrehaski">{{cite web|author=Pierre Haski|title=Le rocker chinois Cui Jian refuse la censure et reste privé de télé|url=http://rue89.nouvelobs.com/2014/01/17/rocker-chinois-cui-jian-refuse-censure-reste-prive-tele-249136|date=January 17, 2014|work=[[Rue89]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140120162507/http://rue89.nouvelobs.com/2014/01/17/rocker-chinois-cui-jian-refuse-censure-reste-prive-tele-249136|archive-date=January 20, 2014|url-status=dead|language=fr}}</ref> and is recognized for his [[anti-establishment]] persona.<ref>{{cite web|language=ko|title=조선족 3세 록가수 최건의 음악세계|url=https://h21.hani.co.kr/hankr21/K_977O0167/977O0167_068.html|date=July 24, 1997|author=Kim Soo-byeong|work=[[The Hankyoreh]]}}</ref> British journalist [[Jasper Becker]] wrote in 1995 that Cui is usually known as China's greatest rock star.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jasper Becker|date=December 10, 1995|title=The last rock star in China|url=https://www.scmp.com/article/142245/last-rock-star-china|work=[[South China Morning Post]]}}</ref> Matthew Corbin Clark of [[PBS]] described Cui as "a bizarre concoction of [[Post-communism|post-Communist]] celebrity, cross-cultural artistic transfer, [[David & Goliath]] political dynamics, and inspired musicianship".<ref name="pbs">{{cite web|author=Matthew Corbin Clark|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/red/sonic/|title=Birth Of A Beijing Music Scene|date=February 13, 2003|work=[[PBS]] [[Frontline (American TV program)|Frontline]]}}</ref> ''[[Die Tageszeitung]]'' named him the most successful Chinese rock musician of all time.<ref>{{cite web|language=de|work=[[Die Tageszeitung]]|url=https://taz.de/Der-grosse-Ueberlebende/!1912194/|title=Der große Überlebende|date=October 24, 1998}}</ref>

===Public image===
Cui is recognized as a [[cultural icon]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Matthew Carney|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-10/cui-jian-and-chui-wan-the-changing-voice-of-chinese-rock-music/8261330|title=Cui Jian and Chui Wan: the changing sound of Chinese rock music|date=February 10, 2017|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC New]]}}</ref><ref name="pdtcka" /> a [[pop icon]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Cui Jian, incarnation rock d'une nouvelle fraternité chinoise|language=fr|date=January 27, 2001|work=[[Le Monde]]|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/2001/01/27/cui-jian-incarnation-rock-d-une-nouvelle-fraternite-chinoise_4152970_1819218.html|author=Stéphane Davet}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=de|author=Carola Padtberg|url=https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/musik/chinas-popikone-cui-jian-kaempfen-gegen-macht-und-mammon-a-365244.html|title=Kämpfen gegen Macht und Mammon|work=[[Der Spiegel (website)|Der Spiegel]]|date=July 15, 2005}}</ref> a [[teen idol]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Lee Dong-jin|work=[[The Chosun Ilbo]]|language=ko|url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/1999/08/26/1999082670398.html|title=[최건-빅토르 최] 영상―음악으로 만난다|date=August 26, 1999}}</ref> a [[fashion icon]],<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Madame Figaro]] Chinese|language=zh-cn|title=Top中国时尚名人录|date=October 2005|issue=10|volume=212|pages=77–117}}</ref> an icon of the [[punk subculture]],<ref>{{cite web|website=[[NBC News]]|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna14254365|author=Maureen Fan|title=Chinese punk rockers scream to be heard|date=August 9, 2006}}</ref> and one of the most famous iconic figures in contemporary Chinese art.<ref name="fce">{{cite web|author=Chen Jing|url=https://news.cyol.com/yuanchuang/2017-05/02/content_16013845.htm|title=崔健：我不希望说得越来越多，做得越来越少|work=[[China Youth Daily]]|date=May 2, 2017|language=zh-cn}}</ref> He is seen as one of the most popular critical voices in the nation.<ref>{{cite web|date=December 2, 2013|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1370299/chinas-youth-has-forgotten-about-politics-laments-cui-jian-he-plays|title=China's youth has forgotten about politics, laments Cui Jian as he plays Clockenflap|work=[[South China Morning Post]]|author=Patrick Boehler}}</ref> Unlike Teresa Teng who occupied a liberated position after the [[Reform and opening up]], Cui took on the role of a "rebel" in the 1980s.<ref name="fcjtsh" /> He and his music were regarded as symbols of rebellious youth and an oppositional educated class.<ref name="mmcccips" /> [[Charles Xue|Xue Manzi]] stated that Cui brought "the most sincere and rebellious voice".<ref name="baiqiang">{{cite web|author=Han Songluo|url=https://ent.ifeng.com/cuijian/|title=现场直击：崔健《一无所有》唱响26周年活动[高清大图]|language=zh-cn|work=[[Phoenix Television|Ifeng.com]]|date=May 9, 2012}}</ref> In 1990, ''The Washington Post'' said Cui is an "unauthorized hero" or "[[antihero]]" for many youths in China.<ref name="wash">{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1990/01/29/return-of-a-rock-antihero/ebb5c67e-582d-409a-8434-51a38190a66e/|title=RETURN OF A ROCK ANTIHERO|work=[[The Washington Post]]|date=January 29, 1990|author=Daniel Southerland}}</ref> Chinese cultural critic Han Songluo described the public image of Cui as "a pioneer, an antenna and volcanic vent of the era... a heretic, an undercurrent, another force beyond the jubilant mainstream world... He also embodies armor and holy garment symbolizing masculinity".<ref name="wlh">{{cite web|author=Han Songluo|url=https://ent.ifeng.com/idolnews/yuledaoxiang/special/cuijian/|title=[娱论导向]崔健对于中国摇滚的时代意义究竟是什么？|language=zh-cn|work=[[Phoenix Television|Ifeng.com]]|date=September 29, 2016}}</ref> ''[[Shishang Xiansheng]]'' categorized Cui as a classic example of what sociologist [[Max Weber]] termed "[[charismatic authority]]".<ref name="livehouse">{{cite web|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_14014715|title=崔健：冰与火的较量|date=August 17, 2021|language=zh-cn|work=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The paper]]}}</ref> Jeon Hyeon-il of ''[[Segye Ilbo]]'' cited him as a counterexample to the [[Clash of Civilizations]] theory, noting that "over ten million [[East Asians]] are cheering him, who sings based on the spirit of freedom".<ref>{{cite web|language=ko|work=[[Segye Ilbo]]|title=「자유」 외치는 중국의 록가수／무토 미쓰로（외지칼럼）|url=https://segye.com/view/19941224000032|author=Jeon Hyeon-il|date=December 24, 1994}}</ref>
{{blockquote|For many people, this undisputed pioneer of Chinese rock remains their sole hero. Meanwhile, as the embodiment of an era's cultural revolution, Cui Jian demonstrates a distinct self-awareness of his own and that of his generation's historical position... Regardless, for more than one generation of Chinese people, Cui Jian himself constitutes an action sketch map for cultural rebellion.|Li Dawei of ''[[Caixin|Caixin Weekly]]''<ref>{{cite web|author=Li Dawei|work=[[Caixin|Caixin Weekly]]|title=崔健时代的最后一枪？|date=March 16, 2011|language=zh-cn|url=https://lidawei.blog.caixin.com/archives/16264?originReferrer=caixinsearch_wap}}</ref>}}
Due to his opposition to [[cult of personality]] and [[Idolatry|idolization]], Cui limited his interactions with the public.<ref name="nanzhouj">{{cite web|language=zh-cn|url=https://www.infzm.com/wap/#/content/85321?source=131|title=【他，崔健】"这孩子从小就撒不了谎"——崔健真唱篇|author=Feng Xiang|date=January 17, 2013|work=[[Southern Weekly]]}}</ref> Chinese news website ''[[Shanghai Media Group|Yicai]]'' reported that Cui is actively trying to shed his symbolization while exploring new opportunities.<ref>{{cite web|author=Lu Yunfei|url=https://finance.sina.cn/2016-10-02/detail-ifxwkvys2529101.d.html?from=wap|title=《一无所有》唱了30年了，崔健有些着急{{!}} CBNweekly|date=October 2, 2016|language=zh-cn|work=[[Shanghai Media Group|Yicai]]}}</ref> [[Initium Media]] commentator Liu Waitong also believed that Cui has attempted to resist his own heroic image<ref name="liuwt" /> Music critic Zhang Xiaozhou stated that many people's attitudes towards Cui stem from first placing him on a pedestal to worship, then seeking to knock him off that pedestal.<ref name="waitan">{{cite web|author=Liu Muyang|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/yneidi/2012-12-03/detail-iavxeafr6825837.d.html?from=wap|title=崔健：没有人可以说自己活在坏时代（组图）|language=zh-cn|date=December 3, 2012|work=[[:zh:.外灘畫報|The Bund]]}}</ref> In a 2015 interview with ''[[Shanghai Observer]]'', Cui remarked that "some enshrine me on a pedestal; others claim I’m stepping down from it. But in reality, I’m stepping onto the ground".<ref>{{cite web|author=Xu Ning|url=https://web.shobserver.com/wx/detail.do?id=8274|title=崔健：真人秀不值得信任|work=[[Shanghai Observer]]|language=zh-cn|date=December 22, 2015}}</ref>

Since 2000, Cui has been perceived more as a nostalgic symbol and spiritual icon representing "marginalization, rebellion, and [[critical consciousness]]", rather than a commercial star with mainstream influence.<ref name="nyls">{{cite web|author=Luo Tian|url=https://cn.nytimes.com/culture/20140116/tc16cuijian/|title=上春晚？崔健不愿接受审查|language=zh-cn|website=[[New York Times|cn.nytimes.com]]|date=January 16, 2014}}</ref> In 2015, Cui said people view him more as "an old man" than a rebel, a familiar face on television but no longer influential.<ref name="tjp">{{cite web|author=Louise Watt|url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/12/30/rocker-cui-jian-says-his-music-hasnt-changed-china-has.html|title=Rocker Cui Jian says his music hasn't changed but China has|date=December 30, 2015|work=[[The Jakarta Post]]}}</ref> However, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' said Cui "continues to be an inspiration for China's disenchanted youth".<ref name="npr">{{cite web|author=Bob Boilen|url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/28/1151698876/cui-jian-tiny-desk-meets-globalfest-2023|title=Cui Jian: Tiny Desk Meets globalFEST 2023|date=January 28, 2023|work=[[NPR]]}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' stated that his anthems are "both remembered and forgotten, too significant to ignore but increasingly repressed by a government eager to move on and youth who have other, more present concerns".<ref name="was64" /> Japanese scholar {{ill|Akio Yaita|zh|矢板明夫}} believed that since the [[Xi Jinping]] era began, most singers and musicians have abandoned the pursuit of individuality and freedom to maintain their presence in the Chinese market, while Cui Jian, known for his "free-spirited" style, has regained prominence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/3980239|work=[[Liberty Times]]|title=獎落崔健「體現格局與高度」 矢板明夫：金曲應走向世界|language=zh-tw|date=July 3, 2022}}</ref> A ''[[New York Times]]'' editorial pointed:<ref name="nyd" />

{{blockquote|But to his fans - and detractors - he remains the same unrepentant rebel and cynical idealist that he was at 25, tirelessly battling myopic censors, greedy promoters, lip-synching pop stars and anyone else who stands in the way of an artist's right to make good music and an audience's right to enjoy it.}}

===Enlightening function===
{{main|New Enlightenment (China)}}
{{quote box
| quote = A young Korean Chinese named Cui Jian was the flower of the Beijing democracy movement that emerged like a legend at the time. He opened the way for Chinese youth who were helplessly wandering between socialist ideals and capitalist reality with his songs. He taught that true openness and reform meant gaining not only political freedom but also inner freedom. He sang about complete freedom, not limited openness or limited freedom. His songs awakened the dormant self-consciousness of individuals who had been accustomed to control such as the state and norms.
| author = ''[[The Chosun Ilbo]]''
| source = <small>May 16, 1999</small><ref>{{cite web|work=[[The Chosun Ilbo]]|language=ko|url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/1999/05/16/1999051670160.html|title=[화첩기행] <60> 최건과 베이징|date=May 16, 1999}}</ref>
| align = right
| width = 25%
| border = 1px
| fontsize = 90%
}}
With regard to the anti-tradition, anti-dominance, and [[anti-consumerism]], Cui's songs have certain enlightenment significance among the public.<ref name="enlight">{{cite magazine|author=Zhou Xiaoyan|title=Rock Music in Contemporary China: An Ideological Arena|publisher=[[Shanghai Jiao Tong University]]|magazine=Journal of Literature and Art Studies|date=December 2015|volume=5|issue=12|pages=1146–1151|doi=10.17265/2159-5836/2015.12.006}}</ref> Influenced by the [[Misty Poets|Misty Poetry]] movement, His works often addressed Enlightenment ideals, including the pursuit of freedom, resistance to hypocrisy, assumption of responsibility, and doubt and rejection of established values.<ref name="mdyjl" /> Aesthetician [[Gao Ertai]] stated in 1990 that Cui and his rock music were "the only art form in China capable of undertaking the Enlightenment".<ref name="zjw" />{{Rp|page=256}} Wang Shuo wrote that for those who growing up during the [[Cultural Revolution]] like him, Cui "shattered illusions, exposed some truths, and most crucially, made me hear a person's soul".<ref name="cna">{{cite web|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/cul/news/2009/09-22/1878324.shtml|title=一声呐喊　让乐坛不再一无所有|date=September 22, 2009|language=zh-cn|work=[[China News Service]]}}</ref> Author Jie Ziping described him as "a philosophical enlightener, a literary enlightener, and also a musical enlightener" of "a specific era".<ref>{{cite web|date=April 22, 2022|url=http://www.jzxww.com.cn/conn/2022-04/22/content_77763.htm|title=崔健的八十年代|author=Jie Ziping|language=zh-cn|work=Jinzhong Daily|location=[[Jinzhong]]}}</ref>

[[Feminism|Feminist]] scholar Liu Chang pointed out that the male characters in Cui's "Nothing to My Name" occupy the dominant position and transform women into objects and targets of male sexual desire, facilitating the resurgence of traditional [[femininity]] and women's liberation from [[sexual repression]] against the backdrop of the post-revolutionary era.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=西方视角及中国摇滚乐中男性气质和女性气质的构建|author=Liu Chang|date=2014|issue=S1|magazine=[[:zh:新闻与传播研究|Journalism & Communication]]|publisher=[[Academy of Social Sciences]]|language=zh-cn|pages=110–123}}</ref>

===Cultural impact===
Cui's success marked the rise of [[subculture]] in China, leading to a social landscape where mainstream culture coexisted with subcultures, and orthodox culture paralleled popular culture.<ref name="ngssch">{{cite thesis|title=中国大陆流行歌曲的文化轨迹与审美流变（1978-2014）|author=Cao Hua|date=April 27, 2015|language=zh-cn|degree=PhD|publisher=[[Jinan University]]}}</ref> His hairstyle became popular across China,<ref>{{cite web|author=Andrea Weber|title=Cui Jian,|work=[[Der Spiegel]]|language=de|date=May 11, 1997|url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/cui-jian-a-40b4f152-0002-0001-0000-000008716822}}</ref> empowering young men to grow long hair.<ref>{{cite web|language=zh-cn|title=崔健：不是我不明白，这世界变化快|author=Qiao Xueyang|url=https://news.sina.cn/sa/2008-11-05/detail-ikknscsk4213472.d.html|date=November 5, 2008|work=[[:zh:成都商报|Chengdu Economic Daily]]}}</ref> His music "profoundly shook" the cultural and social conduct across the mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan in the 1980s and 1990s,<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Radio Taiwan International]]|url=https://www.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2174801|title=談談體制中的音樂抗爭（上）|language=zh-tw|date=July 26, 2023|author=A Duo}}</ref> and changed the status of Chinese [[Independent music|indie music]].<ref>{{cite thesis|title=中国独立音乐的演变过程研究|author=Zhang Xinpei|url=https://repository.pknu.ac.kr:8443/bitstream/2021.oak/33775/2/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E7%8B%AC%E7%AB%8B%E9%9F%B3%E4%B9%90%E7%9A%84%E6%BC%94%E5%8F%98%E8%BF%87%E7%A8%8B%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6.pdf|date=February 2014|degree=PhD|publisher=[[Pukyong National University]]|language=zh-hans}}</ref> In Taiwan, although his album was censored by the [[Government Information Office]] shortly after its release for "being incompatible with current politics", he still exerted a profound influence on Taiwanese underground rock scene.<ref>{{cite thesis|author=Chen Chung-yi|language=zh-tw|title=個人音樂工作室形象設計之研究~以音思拜耳音樂工作室海報設計為例|date=2004|degree=MSc|publisher=[[National Taiwan Normal University]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=[[Initium Media]]|url=https://theinitium.com/zh-hans/article/20211010-culture-cuijian-rocker-in-china-nowadays|title=身体站起来，要带脑袋出去："飞狗"老崔与他的邀请|language=zh-hans|date=October 10, 2021|author=Lin I-ch'êng}}</ref> According to a 1994 report from ''[[The Chosun Ilbo]]'', Cui's "powerful rock sound and melody, uniquely hoarse voice, and rich vocal abilities" combine to fuel his rising popularity in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[The Chosun Ilbo]]|language=ko|url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/1994/06/21/1994062170706.html|title=최건은 몰라도 되지만(홍사중 문화마당)|date=June 21, 1994}}</ref>

According to ''[[OhmyNews]]'', Cui is revered as a top musician who exerted profound influence on Chinese popular culture.<ref>{{cite web|author=Choi Jong-myeong|url=https://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001125812|title=조선족 여가수 김미아, 중국에서 승부하라!|language=ko|date=May 6, 2009|work=[[OhmyNews]]}}</ref> Music critic Huang Liaoyuan wrote that Cui was "the first person in contemporary China to modernize the subject matter of popular music".<ref name="cna" /> Chinese singer [[Cheng Lin]] stated that Cui is "a banner in the history of music". [[Gong Linna]] remarked that Cui pioneered a form of "Chinese rock" that "dug into the roots of Chinese culture".<ref name="youthfilm">{{cite web|date=September 27, 2016|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/yneidi/2016-09-27/detail-ifxwevmc5626904.d.html|title=姜文龚琳娜张一白等文艺咖畅谈心中的崔健|work=[[Youth Film Handbook]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref> Mongolian singer [[Daichin Tana]] called him the "backbone and gall of this land", and described his music as the "hope and despair of this country".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/chinese-singer-cui-jian-drops-concert-after-tiananmen-song-banned-1.2501887#:~:text=CBC%20ARCHIVES:%20The%201989%20massacre%20at%20Tiananmen,permission%20for%20concerts%20and%20censored%20his%20lyrics.|title=Chinese singer Cui Jian drops concert after Tiananmen song banned|date=January 18, 2014|work=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]}}</ref> Music critic Jin Zhaojun believed that the immense cultural impact generated by Cui stemmed from his "fundamental questioning" of the Chinese people's way of existence.<ref name="cna" /> 

{{blockquote|Jian is not one of those postmodern pretty boys produced by so-called Canto-Pop from Hong Kong, Taiwan, or even Shanghai, schmaltzy singers like [[Andy Lau]] or [[Anthony Wong (Hong Kong actor)|Anthony Wong]]. He is a true expressionist of his inner self. Perhaps that's why his positions come across so decisively – when they do come.|Thomas Gross of ''[[Die Zeit]]''<ref name="dezijazzc">{{cite web|url=https://www.zeit.de/2001/29/200129_cos_jian.xml|language=de|work=[[Die Zeit]]|title=Hört auf eure eigene Stimme!|date=September 7, 2013|author=Thomas Gross}}</ref>}}Cui exerted a lasting influence on the creative production of rock music in mainland China.<ref name="fcjtsh" /> Since Northwest Wind and Cui's rock, the experimental use of traditional musical components in the creation of popular music has formed a striking trend.<ref>{{cite thesis|degree=PhD|author=Zhao Yue|title=The musicality of C-pop : a study of Chinese popular music from 1985-2010|date=December 2010|publisher=[[University of Sheffield]]|url=https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/14987/1/538022.pdf}}</ref> ''[[The Beijing News]]'' and ''[[Sixth Tone]]'' have noted that in the 1980s, Cui represented [[High culture|elite culture]]'s resistance against mainstream culture. However, beginning in the 1990s, when the Chinese government intensified regulatory control over the arts and [[Mandopop]] music became commercialized, this elite cultural production model led to the successors of Chinese rock music retreating into increasingly marginalized subcultural circles.<ref>{{cite web|date=May 9, 2008|author=Yang Bo|url=https://ent.sina.cn/review/media/2008-05-09/detail-iavxeafr8466386.d.html?from=wap|title=崔健给了中国一种声音|work=[[The Beijing News]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref><ref name="chinagod">{{cite web|author=Cai Yineng|url=https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1010953|title=Did 'God Songs' Kill China's God of Rock?|date=August 10, 2022|work=[[Sixth Tone]]}}</ref>

{{multiple image
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| image2            = 王力宏 wang lee hom crop.jpg
| footer            = Artists such as [[Khalil Fong]] and [[Wang Leehom]] have cited Cui as a musical influence
}}
Many musicians were influenced by him, such as [[Chang Chen-yue]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/yl/mxzz/news/2007/07-04/971226.shtml|title=崔健本周5抵台将献上处女秀 张震岳自告奋勇接机|date=July 4, 2007|language=zh-cn|work=[[China News Service]]}}</ref><ref name="nbd">{{cite web|url=http://www.nbd.com.cn/rss/toutiao/articles/2222758.html|title=摇滚教父崔健"根本没变"，演唱会行业却正在改变|work=[[National Business Daily]]|language=zh-cn|date=April 16, 2022}}</ref> [[Xu Wei (musician)|Xu Wei]],<ref name="chennan">{{cite web|author=Chen Nan|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202204/21/WS6260a4c7a310fd2b29e58379.html|title=Veteran rocks online audience|work=[[China Daily]]|date=April 21, 2022}}</ref> [[Second Hand Rose (band)|Liang Long]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Guo Xiaohan|url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/7427732.html|title="教母"梁龙的东北往事|work=[[Jiemian News]]|language=zh-cn|date=May 7, 2022}}</ref> [[Pu Shu]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Wang Xiaofeng|url=http://old.lifeweek.com.cn//2013/0412/40555.shtml|title=朴树，一棵长不大的树|work=[[Sanlian Lifeweek]]|date=April 12, 2013|language=zh-cn}}</ref> [[Wowkie Zhang]],<ref>{{cite web|date=September 12, 2017|url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/1617593.html|title=我本想和100万人听大张伟讲段子，却被他唱的4首歌惹哭了|work=[[Jiemian News]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref> [[Tang Dynasty (band)|Tang Dynasty]],<ref name="cjtb">{{cite web|author=Yang Shiyang|url=https://finance.sina.cn/sa/2005-09-17/detail-ikkntiak9539187.d.html?from=wap|title=崔健：被神化后的神话|work=Business Times|language=zh-cn|date=September 17, 2005}}</ref> [[Black Panther (band)|Black Panther]],<ref name="cjtb" /> [[Wang Feng (singer)|Wang Feng]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Wang Xiaofeng|url=http://old.lifeweek.com.cn//2011/1130/35928.shtml|title=汪峰：摇滚幸存者|work=[[Sanlian Lifeweek]]|date=November 30, 2011|language=zh-cn}}</ref> [[Wang Leehom]],<ref>{{cite web|language=zh-cn|title=王力宏遇崔健 秒变粉丝|url=https://ent.ifeng.com/a/20160326/42596059_0.shtml|author=Cui Wei|date=March 26, 2016|work=[[Beijing Youth Daily]]}}</ref> [[Tan Weiwei]],<ref>{{cite web|date=September 14, 2016|url=https://ent.cnr.cn/gd/20160914/t20160914_523137072.shtml|title=崔健演唱会嘉宾曝光 谭维维登台致敬偶像|work=[[China National Radio]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref> [[Liang Bo]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/yl/2012/09-29/4223276.shtml|title="好声音"梁博小学学习差爱吉他 被那英领去见崔健|date=September 29, 2012|language=zh-cn|work=[[China News Service]]}}</ref> [[Gao Xiaosong]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Wang Run|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2005-12-02/1606915423.html?from=wap|title=崔健高晓松联手触电 携手压岁短片《故事无双》|work=[[Beijing Evening News]]|date=December 2, 2005|language=zh-cn}}</ref> [[Deserts Chang]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/2007-10-22/detail-icesifvx9718058.d.html?from=wap|title=图文：张悬独家做客聊天--受崔健张楚影响大|language=zh-cn|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina Entertainment]]|date=October 22, 2007}}</ref> [[Lin Sheng Xiang]],<ref>{{cite web|date=January 15, 2017|url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/1071673.html|title=他是17年来第一个拒绝金曲奖的人，只为在时代中为土地歌唱|work=[[Jiemian News]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref> [[Khalil Fong]],<ref>{{cite news|title=凱琪助陣方大同北京開唱|url=https://dw-media.tkww.hk/epaper/tkp/20111024/C3_Screen.pdf|date=October 24, 2011|work=[[Ta Kung Pao]]|language=zh-hant}}</ref> [[Yaksa (band)|Yaksa]],<ref>{{cite magazine|publisher=Hebei Art Research Institute|author1=Suan Sanse|author2=Zhu Shan|language=zh-cn|magazine=Popular Songs|title=关于崔健|date=January 2001|issue=1|pages=16–17|location=[[Hebei]]}}</ref> [[Li Zhi (singer)|Li Zhi]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ent.ifeng.com/fcd/special/lizhihaowai/|title=李志：一个不合时宜者的逆袭|language=zh-cn|work=[[Phoenix Television|Ifeng.com]]|date=May 7, 2015}}</ref> [[Tengger (singer)|Tengger]],<ref>{{cite web|website=[[china.org.cn]]|date=March 19, 2018|language=zh-cn|url=http://music.china.com.cn/2018-03/19/content_40256454.htm|title=《歌手》腾格尔长褂墨镜玩摇滚 自称"老炮"}}</ref> [[Zi Yue (band)|Qiu Ye]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Huang Xiaohe|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1403844|title=给我们洗脑多年的脑白金神曲原来是摇滚乐！|date=December 2, 2015|language=zh-cn|work=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The paper]]}}</ref> [[Mao Amin]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ku.m.chinanews.com/wapapp/cns/null/zw/6593347.shtml?target=_self|work=[[China News Service]]|title=毛阿敏捧场崔健新片：他是一个人战斗的战士(组图)|language=zh-cn|date=September 15, 2014}}</ref> and [[Gao Qi (musician)|Gao Qi]].<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Southern Metropolis Daily]]|language=zh-cn|date=October 12, 2017|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/yneidi/2017-10-12/detail-ifymrqmq4899193.d.html|title=高旗:可以说老摇滚乐手不行 但我们不代表行业|author=Ding Huifeng}}</ref> Chinese newspaper ''[[National Business Daily]]'' reported that in numerous variety talent shows, contestants paying tribute by performing Cui Jian's songs has become a common occurrence.<ref name="nbd" /> A 2018 ''[[Yangcheng Evening News]]'' survey showed that the song "Greenhouse Girl" alone, has been covered more than 20 times on TV shows since 2010, and has appeared in at least five [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ent.ycwb.com/2018-05/23/content_30017241.htm|language=zh-cn|date=May 23, 2018|work=[[Yangcheng Evening News]]|title="滚动三十"再度启程 广州,崔健来了!|author=Guan Yu}}</ref> His songs have also been popular in Chinese [[karaoke]] parlors.<ref>{{cite web|author=Qiao Long|url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/karaoke-07092021100747.html|title=China Mulls Crackdown on National Pastime: Singing Karaoke|work=[[Radio Free Asia]]|date=July 9, 2021}}</ref> The song "The Lost Season" inspired [[Ning Hao]]'s film ''[[Guns and Roses (2012 film)|Guns and Roses]]''.<ref name="baiqiang" /><ref>{{cite web|date=May 10, 2012|url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/yl/2012/05-10/3877892.shtml|title=崔健唱"一无所有"聊26年变化 谭维维听后激动发抖|work=[[China News Service]]|language=zh-cn}}</ref>

A [[tribute album]] ''Who Is Cui Jian!?'' was released in 2005 by Scream Records, featuring 11 bands covering Cui's songs.<ref>{{cite web|author=Zhai Yi|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/x/2005-06-23/1511760612.html?from=wap|title=《谁是崔健？！》翻唱专辑致敬老崔|work=[[:zh:每日新报|Morning Post]]|date=June 23, 2005|language=zh-cn}}</ref> Jon Campbell from ''[[South China Morning Post]]'' reviewed that the album "leaving much mediocrity", although he thought [[Reflector (band)|Reflector]]'s [[pop-punk]] take on "Rock 'N' Roll on the New Long March" and Pao Pao Tang's reinvention of "Piece of Red Cloth" are highlights.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 31, 2005|url=https://www.scmp.com/article/510364/who-cui-jian?module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article|title=Who Is Cui Jian!?|work=[[South China Morning Post]]|author=Jon Campbell}}</ref>

=== Archives and recognition ===
Cui ranked 51rd on ''[[Forbes]]'' [[Forbes China Celebrity 100|China Celebrity 100]] list in 2004.<ref name="fbscfb">{{cite web|author=Lun Bing|url=https://news.sina.cn/sa/2004-02-23/detail-ikkntiak9594122.d.html?from=wap|title=崔健澄清：从没说过"只给滚石和伍佰当嘉宾"|date=February 23, 2004|language=zh-cn|work=[[Beijing Youth Daily]]}}</ref> He graced the cover of the first Chinese edition of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' in March 2006.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-mar-30-fg-stone30-story.html|title=Rolling Stone Silenced in China|date=March 30, 2006|author=Mark Magnier}}</ref> In 2007, Cui was included in the China Power List by [[openDemocracy]] and [[Chatham House]].<ref>{{cite web|date=June 5, 2007|title=China Power List 2007|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/chinajsp/|work=[[openDemocracy]]}}</ref> In 2009, in an online poll by [[China Internet Information Center]], Cui ranked as the 6th most influential singer in China since 1949 and the 12th most influential celebrity overall, with 160,000 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.cntv.cn/2015/11/19/ARTI1447863194724155.shtml#|title=中国摇滚歌手崔健时隔9年"回归" 发新专辑(图)|website=[[China Network Television|news.cntv.cn]]|date=November 19, 2015|language=zh-cn}}</ref> The Chinese edition of ''[[L'Officiel Hommes]]'' listed him as one of the fashion legends since the [[Proclamation of the People's Republic of China|founding of the People's Republic of China]].<ref>{{cite web|language=zh-cn|url=http://style.sina.com.cn/fashion/costume/2009-09-29/174249555_4.shtml?from=wap|title=盘点建国60年60个时尚传奇(组图)|work=[[L'Officiel Hommes]] Chinese|date=September 29, 2009}}</ref> In a 2010 survey of Chinese university students, Cui ranked second among the symbolic figures in the Chinese entertainment world.<ref>{{cite web|author=Choi Hyun-Joon|url=https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/international/international_general/1049532.html|title=중국 '록 대부' 조선족 추이젠, 대만 최고남자가수상|work=[[The Hankyoreh]]|date=July 4, 2022|language=ko}}</ref> A [[Wax sculpture|wax figure]] of Cui has been unveiled at [[Madame Tussauds Beijing]] in May 2013.<ref>{{cite web|author=Chen Nan|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2014-03/04/content_17319758.htm|title=Tussauds Beijing to honor Cui Jian|work=[[China Daily]]|date=March 4, 2014}}</ref> In the same year, according to a market survey by {{ill|Xi'an Concert Hall|zh|西安音乐厅}}, 60-70% of [[middle-class]] and above males had varying degrees of complex to him.<ref name="cwr" /> {{ill|Arts Council Korea|ko|한국문화예술위원회}} described Cui as "the best rock singer in China".<ref>{{cite magazine|publisher=Arts Council Korea|language=ko|url=https://www.arko.or.kr/zine/artspaper2002_02/13.pdf|title=한국문화의 진수를 전달하는 교류 소재 개발해야|date=January 2002|pages=14–19|author=Lee Young-il|magazine=Cultural Arts}}</ref> A booklet of the [[Arezzo Wave]] calls him "protagonist of the Chinese pop-rock scene".<ref name="dezijazzc" /> He has been recognized by the media outlet ''Cultural Tourism China'' under [[Ministry of Culture and Tourism (China)|China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] as "a musical genius born for Chinese rock and roll, the founder of Chinese rock, and a pioneer and thinker of China's new music".<ref name="pdtcka">{{cite web|website=[[People's Daily]]|language=zh-cn|url=https://www.peopleapp.com/rmharticle/30021997019|title=崔健携手《乐队的夏天》多个乐团现身常州广电·新龙森林音乐节|date=April 27, 2021}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{main|Cui Jian discography}}
*''[[Returning Wanderer]]'' (1984)
*''[[Rock 'n' Roll on the New Long March]]'' (1989)
*''[[Solution (Cui Jian album)|Solution]]'' (1991)
*''[[Balls Under the Red Flag]]'' (1994)
*''[[The Power of the Powerless (album)|The Power of the Powerless]]'' (1998) 
*''[[Show You Colour]]'' (2005)
*''[[Frozen Light]]'' (2015)
*''[[A Flying Dog]]'' (2021)

==Filmography==
*1993 – ''[[Beijing Bastards]]'' (北京杂种; Beijing Zazhong), directed by [[Zhang Yuan (director)|Zhang Yuan]], as himself
*2003 – ''[[Roots and Branches (2001 film)|Roots and Branches]]'' (我的兄弟姐妹; Wo de xiongdi jiemei), directed by Yu Chung, as the father/music teacher
*2007 – ''[[The Sun Also Rises (2007 film)|The Sun Also Rises]]'' (太阳照常升起; Taiyang zhaochang shengqi), directed by [[Jiang Wen]], as Tang's friend in Beijing
*2010 – ''[[Dooman River]]'' (두만강), directed by [[Zhang Lu (director)|Zhang Lu]], as Chang-ho
*2012 – ''[[Transcendence (2012 film)|Transcendence]]'' 3-D concert, directed by Bai Qiang
*2013 – ''Promise'', directed and written by himself
*2013 – ''[[Blue Sky Bones]]''

== Books ==
* {{Cite book |author1=Cui Jian |author2=[[Zhou Guoping]]|date=October 2001 |title=自由风格 |trans-title=Free Style|publisher=[[Guangxi Normal University Press]]|isbn=9787563331079}}
* {{Cite book |author=Cui Jian |date=November 15, 2017 |title=Never Turning Back |location=Hong Kong |publisher=[[Chinese University of Hong Kong Press]] |isbn=9789882370357|series=International Poetry Nights in Hong Kong Series}}
* {{Cite book |author=Cui Jian|date=July 1, 2022|title=崔健诗歌集: 1986-2021|trans-title=Poetry Collection of Cui Jian: 1986-2021|publisher={{ill|Contemporary World Press|zh|当代世界出版社}}|isbn=9787509016565}}

==Tours==
* Rock 'N' Roll on the New Long March Tour (1990; 1991-1992)<ref>{{cite web|date=October 31, 2008|language=zh-cn|title=1990年 中国摇滚他爸爸|url=https://ent.ifeng.com/music/review/200810/1031_39_855896.shtml|work=[[Southern Metropolis Daily]]}}</ref>
* 1995 US tour (1995)
* 1999 US tour (1999)
* 2001 European tour (2001)
* Live Vocals Movement Tour (2002–2005)
* 2009 Concert Tour (2009)<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Sina Corporation|Sina Entertainment]]|language=zh-cn|url=https://ent.sina.cn/music/rock/2009-09-04/detail-iawzunex7090161.d.html|title=崔健全国巡演启动 再次踏上新长征路上的摇滚|date=September 4, 2009}}</ref>
* The Blue Bones Tour (2012–2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ent.chinadaily.com.cn/2012-12/25/content_16054180.htm|title=崔健"蓝色骨头"巡演上海落幕 谭维维助阵|language=zh-cn|work=[[China Daily]]|date=December 25, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Zhang Daozheng|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1298962|title=崔健：过多关注春晚是落后，春晚的舞台早晚会有摇滚|date=January 29, 2015|language=zh-cn|work=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The paper]]}}</ref>
* Rolling 30 Tour (2016–2018)
* 2019 Australian tour (2019)
* A Flying Dog Tour (2021–2023)
* Keep Going Wild Tour (2024–2025)

== Awards ==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Cui Jian}}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q540516|c=Category:Cui Jian|q=Cui Jian|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no}}
* [http://www.cuijian.com/ Official website]
* [https://www.douyin.com/user/MS4wLjABAAAA11niyh8HIUP6raaag1ZGw-HkpaySQlYOwvLPrv3AqUTRqOPTF7KchhaPgOkaFU72 Cui Jian] on [[Douyin]]
* Cui Jian's agent [https://weibo.com/u/1573507563 You You] on [[Sina Weibo]]
* {{IMDb name|0191277|Cui Jian}}
* [https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cui-jian-mn0000139728 Cui Jian] on [[AllMusic]]
* [https://www.yaogun.com/wiki/%E5%B4%94%E5%81%A5 Cui Jian] on Chinese Rock Database (in Japanese)
* [https://8964museum.com/time/en/t-f06-007/ Cui Jian Sings for the Students] on June 4 Memory & Human Rights Museum
* {{cite web|author=Milene Larsson|date=February 29, 2008|url=https://www.vice.com/sv/article/fuck-confucious-v15n3/|title=Fuck Confucius|work=[[Vice Media|Vice]]}}
* Wei, S. Louisa (2006). "{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090627094542/http://www.bqcc.com/rockingchina_e.htm Cui Jian: Rocking China]}}" (DV).  Music documentary.

{{Authority control}}
{{Cui Jian}}
{{Golden Melody Award for Best Male Mandarin Singer}}
{{Golden Melody Award for Best Vocal Recording Album}}
{{1989 Tiananmen Square protests}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cui, Jian}}
[[Category:Cui Jian| ]]
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Chinese guitarists]]
[[Category:Chinese male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Chinese people of Korean descent]]
[[Category:Chinese rock singers]]
[[Category:Chinese political music artists]]
[[Category:Chinese Mandopop singers]]
[[Category:Chinese electronic musicians]]
[[Category:Chinese male rappers]]
[[Category:Chinese DJs]]
[[Category:Chinese male film actors]]
[[Category:Chinese male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Chinese philanthropists]]
[[Category:Chinese environmentalists]]
[[Category:English-language singers from China]]
[[Category:Male trumpeters]]
[[Category:Punk rock singers]]
[[Category:Alternative rock singers]]
[[Category:Jazz-rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Folk rock musicians]]
[[Category:Rap rock musicians]]
[[Category:Experimental rock musicians]]
[[Category:Alternative hip-hop musicians]]
[[Category:Electronic dance music musicians]]
[[Category:Electronica musicians]]
[[Category:Experimental musicians]]
[[Category:Noise musicians]]
[[Category:Sound collage artists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Beijing]]
[[Category:Singers from Beijing]]
[[Category:Poets from Beijing]]
[[Category:Film directors from Beijing]]
[[Category:MTV Video Music Award winners]]
[[Category:Counterculture of the 1980s]]
[[Category:Counterculture of the 1990s]]