In the 1990s, an interesting cultural movement called Dakou emerged in China, where damaged CDs from the U.S. helped spark a vibrant underground music scene. Content creator and enthusiast of Chinese culture, Foreigner Hat, gained attention recently for discussing this lesser-known movement. In China, Western music had been heavily restricted by the Communist Party since the mid-1960s, which viewed it as a sign of capitalist values. Instruments like pianos were also often destroyed or condemned.
By the 1990s, a unique phenomenon began to take shape. American record companies created damaged CDs by cutting or drilling holes into them, known as dakou, before selling them as scrap in Chinese markets. Foreigner Hat noted that many of these CDs found their way to Guangdong province. He explained that because CDs play from the center out, if the hole was near the edge, listeners might miss only the last few minutes.
Despite this, young people were excited because, for 10 to 20 yuan, they could buy albums that would normally cost over 100 yuan. This created a significant black market for the damaged records, as they provided access to music that was otherwise hard to find in China. By the mid-1990s, Foreigner Hat stated that these damaged CDs represented about 95 percent of all Western music in the country.
The video about the Dakou movement resonated with many, and viewers shared fond memories of how they discovered Western music through these CDs. Some recalled how their middle and high school years were filled with music from artists like Eminem, Linkin Park, and Coldplay, thanks to Dakou CDs. Others mentioned that these CDs were their only affordable source of Western music, leading them to pursue careers in music.
Some people reminisced about their experiences in Dakou CD shops, where they spent time listening to a variety of music and connecting with other music lovers. They described finding tapes and CDs for very low prices and the excitement of discovering new sounds. The Dakou movement left a lasting impact, and many reflected on how it shaped their musical tastes and memories. How did the Dakou movement influence your views on music?
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Source: Upworthy, by Heather Wake