Songs spark storm in China

BEIJING, March 17 (UPI) -- A new list of 100 patriotic songs has set off a stormy controversy in China, the China Daily reported Thursday.

The list compiled for middle school students has led to a heated debate about how patriotic education should be carried out, the newspaper said. The list has sparked controversy because it includes some songs that encourage individualism rather than dedication to society.

The songs include several Hong Kong and Taiwan pop songs such as "Snail," composed by Taiwan star Jay Chow, "The Chinaman" sung by Hong Kong's Andy Lau and "Real Hero" written by Taiwan composer Johnathan Lee, the China Daily said.

"Snail" is the most controversial because its lyrics encourage young people to pursue their own success regardless of the difficulties they might encounter -- a departure from the traditional understanding of patriotic songs, which usually endorse selflessness, collectivism and heroism.

Most of these kind of songs were written in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s during the era of Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong, the paper said.