Tuesday, Jun. 22, 2010

Shanghai's World Expo Song

In the lead-up to Expo 2010 Shanghai, China lined up some of its biggest stars — Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Yao Ming — to record a "We Are the World"–style theme song titled "2010, Waiting for You." Shortly after it was released in April, however, netizens began commenting that the song's tune was strikingly similar to a 1997 ballad by Japanese singer Mayo Okamoto, "Stay the Way You Are." Expo organizers immediately suspended the use of the song — and then belatedly asked for permission to use the melody. Okamoto graciously granted the request.