In a first for the country’s music industry (and maybe the world’s?), the hip new boy band on the block is composed entirely of girls.

Acrush made its music video debut last month with the song Activists (行动派), and the buzz has only been spreading. The members dance, sing, and rap with a cultivated rough-around-the-edges cool you’d normally expect to see from Korean supergroups like Big Bang. What might be even more surprising is the actual quality of the song itself, as well as the video, both of which have a much more hip and modern feel than most mainland pop offerings.

Assembled through the proven Korean formula for manufacturing pop stars, the group found its final members after several rounds of auditions and rigorous cuts. Tencent is behind the scenes of all this, backing the Zhejiang Huati Culture Communications Co Ltd, which took the initiative to assemble the group.

The group has already received widespread international media coverage, and has a Weibo account boasting huge numbers of followers given their very recent debut. But when surveyed, not many local music fans seem to have heard of them.

“I honestly haven’t heard any Chinese person talk about them,” one admits. “I think I’ve only read an English article on them.”

We hope that changes in the very near future. Watch the video for Activists above. We’ve got your back with the translated version of the lyrics below. (Italics = English)

Activists

I refuse to be an insignificant existence any longer
When will this world of chaos start to rupture?

Hotheaded, too hotheaded; a sign of danger
Hotheaded, too hotheaded; my reckless paces
Hotheaded, too hotheaded; sound the alarm

Let it go

How do I fight my hardest
so that the future will come?
How do I tear off these labels
so that I can rule my own life?

“Haste makes waste”
Why wouldn’t I understand this principle?
Instead of waiting for a gift of a bouquet
Why not plant flowers yourself?

Break through the obstacles
Evolve to be irreplaceable
Break free from the sea of fire
I am my own trump card

[0:50] I refuse to be an insignificant existence any longer
When will this world of chaos start to rupture?
I’m sick of enduring this weakness
Come back as activists
Even if it must be painful, let it bring the most euphoria

Everybody go!

Bounce everybody, bounce everybody, yeah
Bounce everybody, bounce
Bounce everybody, bounce everybody, yeah
We got right now
The transformation starts now

[1:27] This is the worst and the best of times
While displaying individuality, show one’s capability
Yeah
Only favored
are you qualified to sigh
Don’t expect it
Won’t give you any weaknesses
I, the ace wakes and accepts his rival’s worship
I, with all firepower, occupy all the stage
Up, up, up
My word must be
Must try to be the one
exception

[1:47] I don’t exist for anyone
Dancing heart breaks through barriers
Pure power is beyond imagination
Come back, highest pose,
lofty activists

Everybody go
Bounce everybody, bounce everybody, yeah
Bounce everybody, bounce
Bounce everybody, bounce everybody, yeah
We got right now
The transformation starts now

[2:31] Everybody go, yeah
Everybody is expecting my new collision
Right now follow my perfect tempo
Look, gotta break all illusions

Everybody go
Bounce everybody, bounce everybody, yeah
Bounce everybody, bounce
Bounce everybody, bounce everybody, yeah
We got right now
The transformation starts now

Bounce everybody, bounce everybody, yeah
Bounce everybody, bounce
Bounce everybody, bounce everybody, yeah
We got right now
The transformation starts now

Those behind the Great Firewall can watch “Activists” here.

Yin (音, “music”) is a weekly Radii feature that looks at Chinese songs spanning classical to folk to modern experimental, and everything in between. Drop us a line if you have a suggestion: editor@radiichina.com.

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