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Elton John dedicates Beijing show to Ai Weiwei Elton John dedicates Beijing show to Ai Weiwei
(35 minutes later)
Sir Elton John has publicly dedicated his only concert in Beijing to Chinese artist and political critic Ai Weiwei, sending a murmur of shock through an audience accustomed to tight censorship of entertainment.Sir Elton John has publicly dedicated his only concert in Beijing to Chinese artist and political critic Ai Weiwei, sending a murmur of shock through an audience accustomed to tight censorship of entertainment.
Minutes into a more than two-hour show on Sunday night, John told the audience that the performance was dedicated "to the spirit and talent of Ai Weiwei", according to several audience members. They said the crowd rumbled in recognition that Ai remains a touchy subject for the Chinese government. Minutes into a more than two-hour show on Sunday night, John told the audience the performance was dedicated "to the spirit and talent of Ai Weiwei", according to several audience members.
An internationally acclaimed sculptor and installation artist, Ai has used his art and his renown to draw attention to social injustice. He was detained for nearly three months last year, and he remains barred from leaving China. An internationally acclaimed sculptor and installation artist, Ai has used his art and his renown to draw attention to social injustice and remains a touchy subject for the Chinese government. He was detained for nearly three months last year, and he remains barred from leaving the country.
Ai and John met each other briefly on Sunday before the concert. "I super like him," Ai said on his feed on Twitter, which is banned in China but on which he has 180,000 followers. Ai and John met each other briefly on Sunday before the concert. "I super like him," Ai said on his feed on Twitter, which is banned in China but has 180,000 followers.
China-based online media sites reported on John's Beijing show, as they did on a Friday night performance in Shanghai, but they did not report John's remark about Ai. China-based online media sites reported on John's Beijing show, as they did on a Friday night performance in Shanghai, but they did not report the singer's remark about Ai.
The Chinese government exercises tight control of live performances, requiring artists to submit detailed lists of songs, casts and crew members before approval is given. Censors further tightened scrutiny after singer Bjork shouted "Tibet, Tibet" at the close of a song titled Declare Independence at a Shanghai performance in 2008. The Chinese government exercises tight control of live performances, requiring artists to submit detailed lists of songs, casts and crew members before approval is given. Censors further tightened scrutiny after singer Bjork shouted "Tibet, Tibet" at the close of a song titled Declare Independence at a performance in Shanghai in 2008.