Michael Learns to Rock

Still Learning to Rock
The selection of official Olympic songs has become an international campaign with complete has-beens and never-will-bes coming out of the woodwork to make their case. Danish band Michael Learns To Rock wrote a song “One World, One Dream” and they flew to Beijing in April to shoot a music video featuring the Bird's Nest, Water Cube and the Forbidden City. “We hope to contribute something to the Beijing Olympics,” the band said. What, bad hair not enough?

Celine Dion

Beijing Bizness
After her successful Shanghai concert, Celine Dion swiftly went to Beijing. She didn’t perform, nor elaborate on the cancelation of her concert, but did meet with Olympic officials to lobby for her new song to be selected as the official Olympic anthem. She also announced the launch of her own jewelry brand together with Chinese TV host Yang Lan. She said it would be Chinese-style featuring diamonds, but Chinese tabloids said the diamond necklace she wore only brought out her wrinkles.

HRH Prince Consort of Denmark

Plaster Casts
The Prince Consort of Denmark showed up in Beijing in his capacity as patron for the Danish-Chinese Business Forum. Interestingly, he handed over 16 plaster casts to the Chinese Academy of Fine Arts at a ceremony convened at CAFA’s new multi-million dollar museum. Here, he’s pictured at the Sofitel Wanda Beijing where he stayed

Eric Piatti

17 Years
The Swissotel Beijing turned 17 in March, and a whole bunch of VIPs showed up in support. Here, GM Eric Piatti is pouring bubbly with Stephen C.T. Hsu, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Macau Center.