Chinese Dissident Ai Weiwei Recalls Political Detainment in New Song

'Dumbass' was inspired by the artist's 2011 imprisonment

Chinese sculptor, installation artist and political dissident Ai Weiwei has released the first song off his planned heavy metal album. Like the rest of the album, "Dumbass" takes inspiration from and has roots in Ai's secret government detainment for 81 days in 2011. The accompanying video takes a direct interpretation, depicting Ai in prison, enduring torture, having his head and beard shaved by his son and wearing lipstick and a dress. Meanwhile, the disorienting track sways and swings with growling guitars and Ai's uncompromising vocals in Chinese.

"There was one thing I thought was interesting. When I was detained, there was a paramilitary officer standing there very seriously watching me, and he asked me quietly if I could sing a song," Ai told Reuters on discovering music while detained. "At the time I felt extremely frustrated, because I felt terrible, and I realized that in a situation like that, these guards felt just like me, they wanted to hear songs."

"It doesn't sound very good, because I don't have any real skill. . . . And I found that in making music, I have a lot of difficulties," Ai said. "But I am trying very hard, and I will keep doing it, and I have hope to become someone who sings comparatively well."

Although Ai was previously detained for criticizing the government, he said he doesn't fear retaliation for the album, though he doubts it will be sold in China. "My songs will certainly be blocked. Not just my songs, but my photograph and my name are all blocked. But there's no problem," he said.

Ai plans to release the full album, Divina Commedia, next month. He's also started work on his next album, which he says will be a collection of love songs.  READ MORE HERE

-- By RJ CUBARRUBIA MAY 22, 2013 1:20 PM

Rolling Stone

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Ai Weiwei - Dumbass (Explicit)

 Ai Weiwei

YouTube: Published on May 21, 2013

Music video for Dumbass by Ai Weiwei. Song by Ai Weiwei with music by Zuoxiao Zuzhou. Cinematography by Christopher Doyle. © 2013 Ai Weiwei.
From the forthcoming album, The Divine Comedy, everywhere June 22, 2013.
Download Single + Video: http://aiweiwei.com/music/dumbass

Dumbass (Explicit Lyrics)

When you're ready to strike, he mumbles about non-violence. 

When you pinch his ear, he says it's no cure for diarrhea. 

You say you're a mother-fucker, he claims he's invincible. 

You say you're a mother-fucker, he claims he's invincible.

Fuck forgiveness, tolerance be damned, to hell with manners, the low-life's invincible.

Fuck forgiveness, tolerance be damned, to hell with manners, the low-life's invincible.

Oh dumbass, oh such dumbass! Oh dumbass, oh such dumbass!

Oh dumbass, oh such dumbass! Oh dumbass, oh such dumbass!

Lalalalala, lalalalala Lalalalala, lalalalala

Lalalalala, lalalalala Lalalalala, lalalalala

Stand on the frontline like a dumbass, in a country that puts out like a hooker.

The field's full of fuckers, dumbasses are everywhere.

The field's full of fuckers, dumbasses are everywhere.

Fuck forgiveness, tolerance be damned, to hell with manners, the low-life's invincible.

You say you're a mother-fucker, he claims he's invincible. 

You say you're a mother-fucker, he claims he's invincible.

The field is full of fuckers, dumbasses are everywhere.

The field's full of fuckers, dumbasses are everywhere.

傻伯夷

当你要出击，他嘟囔非暴力，

你拧他的耳朵，他说这样不治拉稀。

你说你马勒隔壁，他说他天下无敌。

你说你马勒隔壁，他说他天下无敌。

宽恕你大爷，容忍你妈逼，

素质你妹耶，至贱则无敌。

宽恕你大爷，容忍你妈逼，

素质你妹耶，至贱则无敌。

傻伯夷啊傻伯夷，傻伯夷啊傻伯夷，

傻伯夷啊傻伯夷，傻伯夷啊傻伯夷， 

啦啦啦啦啦，啦啦啦啦啦。啦啦啦啦啦，啦啦啦啦啦。

啦啦啦啦啦，啦啦啦啦啦。啦啦啦啦啦，啦啦啦啦啦。

像一个傻逼一样站出来，国家就是一只鸡啊

菊花开遍原野，哪哪儿都是傻逼。

菊花开遍原野，哪哪儿啊都是傻逼。

宽恕你大爷，容忍你妈逼，

素质你妹耶，至贱则无敌。

你说你马勒隔壁，他说他天下无敌。

你说你马勒隔壁，他说他天下无敌。

菊花开遍原野，哪哪儿都是傻逼。

菊花开遍原野，哪哪儿啊都是傻逼。