Richard Clayderman: The Power of Easy Listening

Just as roast turkey and drunk uncles are synonymous with the holidays back home, Richard Clayderman’s annual descent on Beijing can only mean one thing: It’s time to celebrate Christmas with pure semi-classical piano balladry.

The buzz
The Frenchman’s love affair with China goes back two decades. He has sold around 90 million records worldwide, clocking up an astonishing 267 gold and 67 platinum discs. One journalist remarked, “He has probably done more to popularize the piano around the world than anyone since Beethoven.”

Key tracks
He has over 1,200 of them, but we have a soft spot for “A Comme Amour.” It’s the song you hear when you call friends who use a China Mobile SIM card.

He says:
“I have been told that lots of babies have been made when my music was being played. Nothing could please me more.”

We say:
We hope there’ll be none of that, Dickie. Not in the Great Hall.

See him at
The Great Hall of the People on Dec 25

This article originally appeared on page 50 of the December issue of the Beijinger.

Click here to see the December issue of the Beijinger in full.

Photo courtesy of the organizer