Songs for the Year of the Dragon

Bummed that yet another New Year's celebration has passed? Don't fret, you can continue partying, because today is the Chinese New Year. So happy Year of the Dragon, everyone. And you don't have to be Chinese to celebrate. After all, Chinese New Year is focused on good food, good luck,...

By Melissa Fossum

January 23, 2012

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Bummed that yet another New Year's celebration has passed? Don't fret, you can continue partying, because today is the Chinese New Year. So happy Year of the Dragon, everyone. And you don't have to be Chinese to celebrate. After all, Chinese New Year is focused on good food, good luck, and fireworks. What's not to love?

To help set the tone for the holiday, here are nine songs to get you in a "Year of the Dragon" mood.

Siouxsie & the Banshees- Hong Kong Garden

Chicken chow mein and chop suey/Hong Kong garden takeaway.

Contrary to those lines, this song is not about Chinese take-out. Siouxsie Sioux is singing about racist skinheads terrorizing Chinese people in a London restaurant called Hong Kong Garden.

Since chill songs about Chinatown seem to be all the rage, here's what Destroyer and Wild Nothing have to say about it:

I don't care, I can't walk away/I can't walk away in Chinatown.

I need to picture you still/I need to clear the fog.

Nina Simone- Spring is Here

Stars appear, why doesn't the night invite me? But maybe it's because nobody loves me.

Au contraire, Nina. Lots of people love you. Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival, so eat some tasty food and go for a nice stroll outside.

Vetiver- Red Lantern Girls

Strength and chance will make the buildings fall and the fires dance.

Red lanterns are a big part of Chinese New Year, so Vetiver sings about them with escalating poetic intensity.

PJ Harvey- Good Fortune

In Chinatown/Hungover you showed me just what I could do.

You may feel a little hungover tomorrow, but hopefully good fortune will follow soon.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Dragon Queen

Sure, a dragon queen is typically a bad thing, but according to the Chinese zodiac, a dragon is charismatic and self-sufficient, though ruthless and egocentric. Stay selfish and make it your year!

Jimmy Eat World- Just Watch the Fireworks

I promised I'd see it again, I promised I'd see this with you now.

Fireworks are another big part of Chinese New Year, so buy some firecrackers, play Clarity, and snuggle with a loved one.

Bonus: Katy Perry shooting fireworks out of her boobs.

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