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Who the hell is Xiao Shenyang?Posted by Alice Xin Liu, February 26, 2009 9:00 PM
At Youku Buzz Steven Lin (aka flypig) translates from a Xiao Shenyang skit. Lin introduces Xiao Shenyang so:
For those who don't know who he is, Xiao Shengyang, together with his teacher, Zhao Benshan, performed what was considered the best xiaopin (comic skit) at this year's Spring Festival Gala. Lin's translation from the video of BTV's Spring Festival Gala, from 1:00 to 2:35, is reprinted below with the translator's permission:
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Comments on Who the hell is Xiao Shenyang?
Why would I think he's a tasteless and creepy gender-bender? I think I can appreciate imitations as well as anyone.
I also think he's tasteless. His popularity simply reflects the tastelessness of a large share of Chinese audience.
Xiao Shenyang is a hell of a talent in the best vaudevillian tradition of song-and-dance-interspered with jokes and puns directed at himself and the audience. I've watched his two performances at least half-a-dozen times on various tv channels since New Year's, finally with Chinese subtitles added the last few times so the depth of humour could be appreciated through his purposely thick accent.
Also, not wanting to initiate yet another spat over translation but "pia-pia-de" by intent and the characters is best translated as "patter, patter" which in context is the sound of little feet.
Also, in both peformances Xiao Shenyang was in front of a live audience; his sense of timing with other actors, his expression, knowing just how far to go to tease the audience then drop the punch line or break out into a popular song with a deeply masculine voice, was just superb. This guy is a genuine talent on stage. He has the quality not seen in film but once requisite for all good actors - stage presence. He's also got a good shtick. Good for him.
"I also think he's tasteless. His popularity simply reflects the tastelessness of a large share of Chinese audience. "
And the tastes of the American and European audiences are any better?
I have watched him in the same skit many, many times since the gala and i still break out in laughter when he introduces his English name, which is essentially a higher pitched pronunciation of his Chinese one.
Hilarious.
I dont' like his master,Zhao benshan,but like Xiao shenyang very much.
It should not has such great impact if those words from other comics,but it so different from Xiao Shenyang.Because Xiao Shenyang he is!
Zhao Benshan is done, so here he comes, a heir-apparent to entertain us in future new year festivals.
And his role in 乡村爱情 was just as good.
no matter how tasteless and creepy he is, he is talented.
Zhao wouldn't have selected him if he wasn't talented.
and I respect Zhao for his eloquent yet nail-hitting criticisms to the power-worshipping system.
Xiaoshengyang is a bit like Lucas in Little Britain. :D
The English on this Danwei.org is so bad. Did they use Google Translate to write these articles?
'I also think he's tasteless. His popularity simply reflects the tastelessness of a large share of Chinese audience.'
I also think your comment is tastless. Your mentality simply reflects the tastelessness of the famiy and society that was responsible for your upbringing.
I dont' like his master,Zhao benshan,but like Xiao shenyang very much.
It should not has such great impact if those words from other comics,but it so different from Xiao Shenyang.Because Xiao Shenyang he is!
same feeling as you!
'I also think he's tasteless. His popularity simply reflects the tastelessness of a large share of Chinese audience.'
The popularity of vulgar performers I've seen in other parts of the world, and especially the USA reflect the tastlessness of those audiences.