"While the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is preparing a ban on karaoke songs deemed out of line with 'the core values of socialism'..."

"... city officials are regulating dancing in China’s parks, a popular pastime for retirees.... 'Everything the government does — they do it to maintain the stability of its governance, sometimes without considering the impacts on individuals,' [said Ouyang Haotian, a 22-year-old student]. 'It is a trial and error process, so people have to accept those errors and move on.... [But t]here is a point where government regulations stop working. You can ban artists and certain movies or songs, but you cannot teach people what to think.'"

 

From "Xi Jinping’s crackdown on everything is remaking Chinese society" (WaPo).

"That passage links to Chinese language webpages. Here's a Google translation of the page about karaoke. Here's what's forbidden in song lyrics: 

1) Violating the basic principles established by the Constitution; (2) Endangering national unity, sovereignty or territorial integrity; (3) Endangering national security, or harming national honor and interests; (4) Inciting ethnic hatred, ethnic discrimination, hurting ethnic feelings or infringing ethnic customs and habits, and undermining ethnic unity; (5) Violating the state's religious policies and promoting cults or superstitions; (6) Propagating obscenity, gambling, violence and drug-related illegal and criminal activities, or instigating crime; (7) Violating social ethics or national excellent cultural traditions; (8) Insulting or slandering others, infringing on the lawful rights and interests of others; (9) Other content prohibited by laws and administrative regulations.