This paper describes an alternative and unique format to the customary culture and civilization course taught at the upper levels in a university foreign language curriculum. The semester-long course employed a content-based design that combined language instruction and learning with authentic music generated during distinct historical eras in China. Song lyrics representing different epochs were the lens through which students investigated the target culture, its historical, social, and political background. Employing music as the major vehicle and organizing principle of the course proved to be highly motivational for students, as shown in pre- and post-test survey results and end-of-course questionnaire responses. This format is easily generalizable across languages and target cultures.