Carsick Cars is a fairly new Beijing rock band which I discovered via MusicBrainz only yesterday. After listening to the repetitive lyrics and riffy guitar of 中南海 (Zhōngnánhǎi) I think I’m hooked! The title refers to the name of a popular brand of cigarettes, but Zhongnanhai is also the name of the area to the west of the Forbidden City (called the New Forbidden City by Beijingers) from where the Party runs the People’s Republic.

中南海，中南海……中南海，中南海
中南海，中南海……抽烟只抽中南海
中南海，中南海……生活离不开中南海
中南海，中南海……谁他妈抽了我的中南海？[source]

Zhongnanhai, Zhongnanhai... Zhongnanhai, Zhongnanhai
Zhongnanhai, Zhongnanhai... I only smoke Zhongnanhai
Zhongnanhai, Zhongnanhai... I can’t live without Zhongnanhai
Zhongnanhai, Zhongnanhai... who fucking smoke my Zhongnanhai?

Figuring out which Zhongnanhai the lyrics might refer to is left as an exercise to the reader. I haven’t been able to get hold of their self-titled debut album yet, but a record shop in 东单 has a copy booked for me. On Thursday they’re playing at the Mao Club and everyone must go! For those not in Beijing, here’s the video of Zhongnanhai instead.

See also:

• Carsick Cars on MySpace
• Maybe Mars, their record label (also on MySpace)
• Thursday’s gig on Last.fm