About The Song
“Hong Kong Garden” is a post-punk classic by Siouxsie and the Banshees, released in 1978. The song is known for its distinctive sound, blending punk energy with an Eastern-inspired melody. The lyrics touch on themes of cultural appropriation and the clash of Western and Eastern cultures.
Facts:
- Debut Single: “Hong Kong Garden” was Siouxsie and the Banshees’ debut single, and it quickly garnered attention for its unique sound and Siouxsie Sioux’s distinctive vocals. The song’s success helped establish the band’s reputation in the burgeoning post-punk scene.
- Eastern Influence: The song’s title and lyrics were inspired by the “Hong Kong Garden” Chinese takeout restaurant in Chislehurst, Kent, where Siouxsie Sioux and the band’s guitarist, Steve Severin, lived. The music incorporates an Eastern-inspired melody, contributing to the song’s distinctive and eclectic sound.
- Cultural Critique: The lyrics of “Hong Kong Garden” touch on issues of cultural appropriation and racism, expressing frustration with the commodification and misrepresentation of Eastern culture in Western society. Siouxsie Sioux has stated that the song was a response to an incident of racism at the aforementioned Chinese restaurant.
- Chart Success: The single achieved commercial success, reaching the top ten of the UK Singles Chart. Its popularity helped pave the way for Siouxsie and the Banshees’ subsequent albums and established them as influential figures in the post-punk and new wave movements.
- Impact on Post-Punk: “Hong Kong Garden” is often cited as a seminal track in the post-punk genre, blending punk energy with a more atmospheric and experimental sound. Siouxsie Sioux’s distinct vocal style and the band’s innovative approach to music contributed to their lasting influence on alternative and gothic rock.
Video
Lyrics
Harmful elements in the air
Symbols clashing everywhere
Reaps the fields of rice and reeds
While the population feeds
Junk floats on polluted water
An old custom to sell your daughter
Would you like number twenty three?
Leave your yens on the counter pleaseHo-oh, ho-oh-oh-oh
Hong Kong GardenHo-oh, ho-oh-oh-oh
Hong Kong GardenOh oh, oh oh
Tourists swarm to see your face
Confucius has a puzzling grace
Disoriented you enter in
Unleashing scent of wild jasmineSlanted eyes meet a new sunrise
A race of bodies small in size
Chicken Chow Mein and Chop Suey
Hong Kong Garden takeawayLa la la, la la la la la
Ho-oh, ho-oh-oh-oh
Hong Kong GardenHo-oh, ho-oh-oh-oh