Mainland pop music scales a first peak in the late 80s

To challenge the dominance of Hong Kong and Taiwan pop music, mainland singers combined aggressive rock with traditional folk songs to widespread success. "Northwest Wind" (Chinese pinyin: xibeifeng) was the representative influence of the period.

"Northwest Wind" is a style of music which emerged on the popular music scene from the northwestern regions of China, specifically from the Shanxi, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. The genre has an upbeat western tempo with a strong beat and extremely aggressive bass lines that is distinctly different from Hong Kong cantopop and Taiwan mandopop.

Pop singer Liu Huan

In 1986, a special concert was held in Beijing, at which 100 mainland pop singers sang. It was the first time that mainland singers had appeared together on such a large scale. From this concert a Chinese folk combo called Xin Tian You (audio) blasted Northwest Wind across the whole China.

Northwest Wind should be considered as the first peak of original mainland music. "Northwest Wind threw up large numbers of mainland songwriters and singers of original music," said Su Yue, a well-known musician. The emergence of outstanding Chinese films and soap operas also played an important role in the creation of Northwest Wind's popularity.

In 1988, theme songs from two Chinese soap operas, Snow City and Plainclothes Police brought overnight fame to pop singer Liu Huan. Shortly afterwards a film directed by Zhang Yimou, Red Sorghum, was shown to the public. Its theme song Girl, Just Go Ahead (audio) brought Northwest Wind to its peak.

In the face of competition from Hong Kong and Taiwan pop music, this style of music later evolved into Chinese rock.

Pop singer Dave Wong

It was during this period that large numbers of singers from Hong Kong and Taiwan also started to hit the mainland, and their wave of popularity lasted for almost 10 years.

In 1989, CCTV broadcast a documentary called Tide – songs from Taiwan, an influential event in the development of mainland pop music. Another Try, Love Is Free, and Turn Around all played in this show, attracted great interest. The singers of these songs, like Dave Wong, Tom Chang and Keung Hang became popular idols on the mainland.

In 1990, the 11th Asian Games were held in Beijing. Its theme song, Spirit of Asia (audio), sung by Liu Huan, brought this period of mainland pop music to its conclusion.

Liu, was chosen to sing Olympic theme song You & Me (video) with Sarah Brightman in 2008 due to his Asian Games success.