Chinese Democracy

Album: Chinese Democracy (2008)
Charted: 27 34
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Songfacts®:

  • This was the first official and authorized release of new music from Guns N' Roses since 1999's "Oh My God," the band's contribution to the End of Days soundtrack. That song peaked at #26 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
  • This song was debuted at Guns N' Roses January 1, 2001 concert at the House of Blues in Las Vegas, their first show in over seven years.
  • Axl Rose wrote this song after watching on TV the 1998 movie Kundun, which is about Tibet's 14th Dalai Lama. At the end of the movie the Dalai Lama escapes from the communist Chinese government disappearing into exile. Rose said at the Las Vegas concert that this song's emotion came from that final scene. He added: "And its not necessarily pro or con about China, its just that right now China symbolizes one of the strongest, yet most the oppressive, countries and, governments in the word. And we are fortunate to live in a free country. And so in thinking about that it just kinda upset me, and we wrote this little song called 'Chinese Democracy.'"
  • After hearing this song for the first time former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash commented to a Boston radio station: "That sounds cool. It's good to hear [Axl Rose's] voice, you know?"
  • Chinese Democracy was the first proper Guns 'n Roses album for fifteen years. The band's previous release was their 1993 cover set The Spaghetti Incident?. The CD was released exclusively through Best Buy, continuing a trend of big releases limiting their distribution in exchange for promotion from a big reseller. A few weeks earlier, AC/DC released their Black Ice album only at Wal-Mart. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • This was Guns N' Roses first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 since their cover of "Sympathy For The Devil" peaked at #55 in 1995.

Comments: 11

  • Tim from Union City, CaMistake in the lyrics: This section (More than they got to rule a nation, But all I got is precious time, More than you got to rule the nation, But all I got is precious time) should read "All they got, to rule a nation, when all we got, is precious time! All they got, to fool a nation, when all we got, is precious time!"
  • Kenny from Remsenburg, NyOpened up the set for the Chinese Democracy 2009/2010 tour!
  • Kenny from Remsenburg, NyOnly problem w/ this song is 15 minutes later I want to hear it again!
  • Michael from Galway, IrelandWWE Used This Song For Their Armaggedon PPV In December 2008
  • Michael from Galway, IrelandAxl Rose is a musical genius one of a kind
  • Steven from Shepparton, AustraliaAxel Rose has no right to name the band Guns N' Roses' (what a asshole) Slash, Duff and Izzy made Guns N' Roses. Not a bad song though just don't think it's Gunners. Velvet Revolver kicks their ass.
  • Al from Philidelphia, Pai dont see why our stupid-ass companies even do buisness with china. they screw up everything you ask them to make for u(melamine,lead...ect) and it also funds their evil country. oh and did i mention that it takes away jobs here??? i hope ive made my point. anyway great song.
  • Jay from West Conshohocken, Paeveryone is saying that they wish that it was the orginal member's, but sometimes forget that there were other's in gun n' roses before slash, duff, steven, izzy. The guns n' roses name came from axl rose and traci guns hence guns n' roses. It is a new album from one of the best frontman ever, no matter who is in the back. They are a new group. And the new members more then likely do not want to be compared to the old member's.
  • Scott from Jacksonvill, FlThis is a great song by the band, Though i do wish it was with the orginal Members
  • T from Boston, MaAfter you listen to this song a few times, you start to understand it.
  • Austin from Smallsville,new England, --Buckethead played guitar on this track.
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