John Denver Performed His Biggest Hit in Fluent Mandarin in Front of a Former Chinese Politician

Besides acquiring loads of fame in the United States, John Denver was also successful worldwide. However, there is one surprising country where Denver’s music was nearly, if not more popular than in the states. That country would be China in the early ’90s. Now, this comes as a surprise given the cultural rivalry between the West and the East, although, Denver subverted this tension with his biggest hit “Take Me Home Country Roads.”

In 1992, Denver toured China and performed his hit song and some others in fluent Mandarin in front of the former leader of China, Deng Xiaoping. At face value, this story seems quite odd and possibly even a diplomatic stunt between both countries. Although, when it’s further looked into, it’s not too weird given one simple fact—The people of China found Denver’s lyrics deeply relatable amidst a changing time.

John Denver’s Rural Resonance

Prior to and amid Denver’s 1992 tour, Xiaoping began the mass industrialization of China. Consequently, Chinese citizens longed for the rural lifestyle that had been a staple of their culture until Xioping’s reconfiguration of the country. It was this yearning for the past that caused Chinese citizens to resonate with Denver’s themes of ruralness and home.

According to GemsOnVHS, “‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ became particularly beloved in China, with its nostalgic lyrics about rural life, resonating deeply at a time of rapid urbanization and social change.” With this in mind, Denver took to China’s stages to share the ideologies he cherished with people who agreed. His tour began in October of 1992 and consisted of multiple shows across numerous cities.

Denver & Xiaoping

The relatability the people of China found in Denver would not have come to light if it was for Xiaoping. Considered “The Modern Architect of China,” it was his economic and industrial reforms that seemingly stripped China of its rural lifestyle. With that in mind, John Denver performed in front of Xiaoping in fluent Mandarin, given that he was the cause of this need for a rural voice, Xiaoping sat in attendance with an unidentified motive. Did he like the music or was he at Denver’s show to present a pro-rural political facade? Who is to say, but it is food for thought.

Regardless of the Chinese politics embedded in John Denver’s tour, the series of shows solidified Denver as one of the first Western artists to become a staple Eastern artist. John Denver became a voice of hope for a country and by doing so it proves his lyrics are worldly despite being written about a small state in the USA.

Photo by Tony Russell/Redferns