I've mentioned before that my favourite poem in English is Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise". This year, while teaching 19th & 20th Century American Poetry I got to spend some time with Angelou's work again. The poem that my students seemed to like the most (based on the amount of essays that focussed on it) is the poem "Africa." It is quite a striking poem in which the African continent is anthropomorphised as a beautiful woman who is metaphorically ravaged by colonialists, who also "took her young daughters / sold her strong sons / churched her with Jesus / [and] bled her with guns". The poem ends with the woman "rising", "although she has lain" and "now . . . striding", suggesting that she refuse to submit and give up hope, but instead rise above her oppression and adversary. Like "Still I Rise" the poem shows the victim rising above her situation. The poem that really stood out for me this time, however, was "Phenomenal Woman". It might be because many people have asked me in recent months about my ideal woman, and while ideally a good figure does score some points, it is more her confidence in herself--her at homeness in her body--that makes a woman sexy. The poem "Phenomenal Woman" really captures this.
I just now saw this interpretation of Oprah Winfrey of "Phenomenal Woman" and "Still I Rise". Phenomenal! In the YouTube video below, Oprah starts to speak at 2:45 and begins with the excellent performance of parts of the two poems at 3:30.
The Canadian actress/singer Amy Sky did a pretty good job of putting "Phenomenal Woman" to music.
It is difficult to speak about Maya Angelou and not mention her poem "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings". Do read it. It is beautiful.
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
(Suid-) Afrikaanse Rap
Ek kan nie sê dat ek noodwendig 'n aanhanger is van rap is nie. Wat ek bedoel is, ek is nie 'n super fan nie, is nie ophoogte met al die nuutste albums nie, en hou nie trek met al die nuwe kunstenaars nie. Terselfde tyd kan ek ook nie sê dat ek geensins na rap luister nie. Ek was ook opgesweep met Eminem en terwyl ek nie tans juis na hom luister nie, het ek waardering vir sy sosiale kommentaar. Ek luister ook graag na K'naan -- was bewus van hom sedert sy album "Dusty Foot Philosopher", voordat hy 'n fenomeen geraak het tydens die sokker wêreldspele met sy "White Flag"-enkel. Dan is daar Kanye West. Ek het twee van sy albums, die nuutste een waaroor ek nie huistoe sal skryf nie, maar ook die vorige een 808's & Heartbreak, wat ek beweer 'n baanbrekersalbum in die Hip Hop-industrie is.
Wat Suid-Afrikaanse rap betref, Die Brasse vannie Kaap het my regtig opgewonde gehad en ek mis hulle nogals. Hulle het inderdaad 'n verskil onder die Kleurlinggemeenskap gemaak en was sonder twyfel baanbrekers in Afrikaanse kontemporêre musiek-industrie.
Na Die Brasse het ek eintlik min Afrikaanse rap gehoor. Ek het bewus geraak van Jack Parrow en Die Antwoord (soos almal maar), maar nie juis met enige intensie om hulle musiek op my speellys te hê nie.
Onlangs het ek bewus geraak van nog 'n Afrikaanse rap-groep, Bittereinders. Wat 'n bevange naam! Hierdie is wel 'n groep waarvan ek meer wil hoor en beplan om hulle album te koop wanneer ek volgende maand Suid-Afrika toe gaan.
As jy op YouTube soek na Afrikaanse rap kry jy 'n klompie videos van skoolkinders waarvan hulle eerste taal nie Afrikaans is nie, maar wat vir 'n projek hulle gunsteling rap songs in Afrikaans moes vertaal en voordra. 'n Vyfhand vir die onderwyser! Dit maak my uitsien na al die Afrikaanse musiek wat nog voorlê!
Wat Suid-Afrikaanse rap betref, Die Brasse vannie Kaap het my regtig opgewonde gehad en ek mis hulle nogals. Hulle het inderdaad 'n verskil onder die Kleurlinggemeenskap gemaak en was sonder twyfel baanbrekers in Afrikaanse kontemporêre musiek-industrie.
Na Die Brasse het ek eintlik min Afrikaanse rap gehoor. Ek het bewus geraak van Jack Parrow en Die Antwoord (soos almal maar), maar nie juis met enige intensie om hulle musiek op my speellys te hê nie.
Onlangs het ek bewus geraak van nog 'n Afrikaanse rap-groep, Bittereinders. Wat 'n bevange naam! Hierdie is wel 'n groep waarvan ek meer wil hoor en beplan om hulle album te koop wanneer ek volgende maand Suid-Afrika toe gaan.
As jy op YouTube soek na Afrikaanse rap kry jy 'n klompie videos van skoolkinders waarvan hulle eerste taal nie Afrikaans is nie, maar wat vir 'n projek hulle gunsteling rap songs in Afrikaans moes vertaal en voordra. 'n Vyfhand vir die onderwyser! Dit maak my uitsien na al die Afrikaanse musiek wat nog voorlê!
Is "I Am What I Am" Blasphemous?
I've come up in defence of Lady Gaga's song “Judas”, which many people consider blasphemous. I even enjoy Marilyn Manson's song “Eat Me, Drink Me”, which I'm sure other people might find blasphemous too. (No the song is not making reference to Jesus' invitation; it actually alludes to Alice in Wonderland.)
The song that really makes my hair stand on end is probably not one that most people would raise and eyebrow over, and I doubt it's intention was blasphemous. It is “I Am What I Am”, originally from the Broadway musical La Cage Aux Folles (1983-1987), but made famous by Gloria Gaynor. Some might be mistaken to think that it is because the song was written by a gay man, Jerry Herman, or taken up by the gay community as a gay pride anthem, that makes me think of it as blasphemous. That's not it at all.
Rather, it is the hook of the song “I am what I am.” This is practically an exact quote from Hebrew: אהיה אשר אהיה, which is commonly translated into English as “I AM That I AM” or “I AM What I AM” or just abbreviated as “I AM”. It is a quotation from Exodus 3:14, one of the most famous verses in the Old Testament (Torah).
“I AM What I AM” is God's name for God; this is what God calls God-self. The expression is not merely an ambiguous self-description, it is the most sensible description that a perfect and perfectly self-sufficient entity could describe itself as. There is nothing else higher, or remotely equal to God. Even the term “God” is an inferior construct. God, therefore describes God-self by God-self: I AM What I AM. This expression is one of the seven holy names for God in the Torah.
Is it any wonder that when I hear Gloria Gaynor sing “I am what I am,” that I cringe, and when she follows up with “I am my own special creation” and so equating herself to the Creator that I flinch? Of course, these are all associations in my own mind, coming from my own interest and knowledge in philosophy and theology.
Unlike the Church and religious people that have many opinions about what constitutes blasphemy, the Bible (i.e. Torah), only truly has one thing that is really considered blasphemous and that is equating oneself with God—setting yourself up as God. When Jesus described Himself as the “I AM”, in other words equating Himself with the God of the Old Testament that spoke to Moses, the Jews wanted to stone him because they believed it to be blasphemous. One of the reasons Jesus was crucified is because he basically proclaimed that He is God, that He is the “I AM”.
I don't think Jerry Herman really intended to write a blasphemous song, but I just can't help to make the association when I hear the words.
One of the comments that got the most thumbs-up for John Barrowman's rendition of “I Am What I Am” in the YouTube video above is: “Some people hate that he's gay. I hate that he's so g*d damn perfect.” I agree.
The song teaches an important principle: it is important to know and accept who you are. Millions of people live unhappy lives because they feel uncomfortable in their own skins, uncomfortable with themselves, uncomfortable with who they are. The song declares that your “live's a sham” until you make peace with yourself. I understand this. And I accept that there is a truth in that. For that reason I also like the song. I used to suffer from low self-esteem too, so I know the truth to this.
Still, whenever I hear someone sing it, I cannot help thinking of a puny little human being declaring him- or herself to be the Great God Almighty—the Self-Sufficient, Uncreated, Infinite, I AM.
So is the song “I Am What I Am” blasphemous? Probably not any more than Frank Senatra's “My Way”.
The song that really makes my hair stand on end is probably not one that most people would raise and eyebrow over, and I doubt it's intention was blasphemous. It is “I Am What I Am”, originally from the Broadway musical La Cage Aux Folles (1983-1987), but made famous by Gloria Gaynor. Some might be mistaken to think that it is because the song was written by a gay man, Jerry Herman, or taken up by the gay community as a gay pride anthem, that makes me think of it as blasphemous. That's not it at all.
Rather, it is the hook of the song “I am what I am.” This is practically an exact quote from Hebrew: אהיה אשר אהיה, which is commonly translated into English as “I AM That I AM” or “I AM What I AM” or just abbreviated as “I AM”. It is a quotation from Exodus 3:14, one of the most famous verses in the Old Testament (Torah).
“I AM What I AM” is God's name for God; this is what God calls God-self. The expression is not merely an ambiguous self-description, it is the most sensible description that a perfect and perfectly self-sufficient entity could describe itself as. There is nothing else higher, or remotely equal to God. Even the term “God” is an inferior construct. God, therefore describes God-self by God-self: I AM What I AM. This expression is one of the seven holy names for God in the Torah.
Is it any wonder that when I hear Gloria Gaynor sing “I am what I am,” that I cringe, and when she follows up with “I am my own special creation” and so equating herself to the Creator that I flinch? Of course, these are all associations in my own mind, coming from my own interest and knowledge in philosophy and theology.
Unlike the Church and religious people that have many opinions about what constitutes blasphemy, the Bible (i.e. Torah), only truly has one thing that is really considered blasphemous and that is equating oneself with God—setting yourself up as God. When Jesus described Himself as the “I AM”, in other words equating Himself with the God of the Old Testament that spoke to Moses, the Jews wanted to stone him because they believed it to be blasphemous. One of the reasons Jesus was crucified is because he basically proclaimed that He is God, that He is the “I AM”.
I don't think Jerry Herman really intended to write a blasphemous song, but I just can't help to make the association when I hear the words.
One of the comments that got the most thumbs-up for John Barrowman's rendition of “I Am What I Am” in the YouTube video above is: “Some people hate that he's gay. I hate that he's so g*d damn perfect.” I agree.
The song teaches an important principle: it is important to know and accept who you are. Millions of people live unhappy lives because they feel uncomfortable in their own skins, uncomfortable with themselves, uncomfortable with who they are. The song declares that your “live's a sham” until you make peace with yourself. I understand this. And I accept that there is a truth in that. For that reason I also like the song. I used to suffer from low self-esteem too, so I know the truth to this.
Still, whenever I hear someone sing it, I cannot help thinking of a puny little human being declaring him- or herself to be the Great God Almighty—the Self-Sufficient, Uncreated, Infinite, I AM.
So is the song “I Am What I Am” blasphemous? Probably not any more than Frank Senatra's “My Way”.
"Across the Universe" and Other Cravings
I've been in the mood again for one of my favourite movies, Across the Universe, lately. I wrote about it before. The video below is a scene from the movie in which Evan Rachel Wood covers the beautiful Beatles' song "Blackbird".
Whenever I crave for something, be it food, or music, or visual stimuli, I always wonder what is the cause for the craving. You see, our cravings are signs that our being has a lack of something. As you probably know, I'm mostly a flexible vegetarian so I almost never eat meat, and don't enjoy red meat and if I were to eat it, it has to be cooked very well done. However, on occasion, once a year maybe, I may suddenly crave medium done red meat. What this tells me is that my body is lacking iron. Usually when I take an iron supplement or just eat some spinach the craving disappears. The same principle applies to other cravings in our life. What I'm wondering is, what is it in or about Across the Universe, that my soul has a need for?
Whenever I crave for something, be it food, or music, or visual stimuli, I always wonder what is the cause for the craving. You see, our cravings are signs that our being has a lack of something. As you probably know, I'm mostly a flexible vegetarian so I almost never eat meat, and don't enjoy red meat and if I were to eat it, it has to be cooked very well done. However, on occasion, once a year maybe, I may suddenly crave medium done red meat. What this tells me is that my body is lacking iron. Usually when I take an iron supplement or just eat some spinach the craving disappears. The same principle applies to other cravings in our life. What I'm wondering is, what is it in or about Across the Universe, that my soul has a need for?
"You Owe Me Nothing in Return"
Alanis Morissette's song "You Owe Me Nothing in Return" effectively summarises how I understand love in a relationship ought to be. It describes an unselfish version of love -- "the only kind of love as I understand it that there really is." Unfortunately there are so few people mature enough, and secure enough, to understand and want such a love and a relationship based on such a love. It requires complete trust of and faith in your partner. It also requires self-assurance. There is no room for self-pity and insisting in your partner fulfilling your selfish needs.
I hope to one day find a person to share a relationship based on such an understanding of love. And I hope that when I find that person that I will have grown adequately to present my partner with this type of love in return.
"You Owe Me Nothing In Return"
I'll give you countless amounts of outright acceptance if you want it
I will give you encouragement to choose the path that you want if you need it
You can speak of anger and doubts your fears and freak outs and I'll hold it
You can share your so-called shame filled accounts of times in your life and I won't judge it
(and there are no strings attached to it)
You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give
You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have
I give you thanks for receiving it's my privilege
And you owe me nothing in return
You can ask for space for yourself and only yourself and I'll grant it
You can ask for freedom as well or time to travel and you'll have it
You can ask to live by yourself or love someone else and I'll support it
You can ask for anything you want anything at all and I'll understand it
(and there are no strings attached to it)
You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give
You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have
I give you thanks for receiving it's my privilege
And you owe me nothing in return
I bet you're wondering when the next payback shoe will eventually drop
I bet you're wondering when my conditional police will force you to cough up
I bet you wonder how far you have now danced you way back into debt
This is the only kind of love as I understand it that there really is
You can express your deepest of truths even if it means I'll lose you and I'll hear it
You can fall into the abyss on your way to your bliss I'll empathize with
You can say that you have to skip town to chase your passion and I'll hear it
You can even hit rock bottom have a mid-life crisis and I'll hold it
(and there are no strings attached)
You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give
You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have
I give you thanks for receiving it's my privilege
And you owe me nothing in return
I hope to one day find a person to share a relationship based on such an understanding of love. And I hope that when I find that person that I will have grown adequately to present my partner with this type of love in return.
"You Owe Me Nothing In Return"
I'll give you countless amounts of outright acceptance if you want it
I will give you encouragement to choose the path that you want if you need it
You can speak of anger and doubts your fears and freak outs and I'll hold it
You can share your so-called shame filled accounts of times in your life and I won't judge it
(and there are no strings attached to it)
You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give
You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have
I give you thanks for receiving it's my privilege
And you owe me nothing in return
You can ask for space for yourself and only yourself and I'll grant it
You can ask for freedom as well or time to travel and you'll have it
You can ask to live by yourself or love someone else and I'll support it
You can ask for anything you want anything at all and I'll understand it
(and there are no strings attached to it)
You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give
You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have
I give you thanks for receiving it's my privilege
And you owe me nothing in return
I bet you're wondering when the next payback shoe will eventually drop
I bet you're wondering when my conditional police will force you to cough up
I bet you wonder how far you have now danced you way back into debt
This is the only kind of love as I understand it that there really is
You can express your deepest of truths even if it means I'll lose you and I'll hear it
You can fall into the abyss on your way to your bliss I'll empathize with
You can say that you have to skip town to chase your passion and I'll hear it
You can even hit rock bottom have a mid-life crisis and I'll hold it
(and there are no strings attached)
You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give
You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have
I give you thanks for receiving it's my privilege
And you owe me nothing in return
Song's About the Craziness of Being In Love
The song I wanted to included first is "It's Crazy" by Sarah Vaughan, but it seems I cannot find a YouTube version of it.
Miyavi's "Requiem"
Few artists have that mythical ability to reach inside your chest, take a hold of heart with both hands and just squeeze it till it oozes with emotion. It's a raw type of emotion evoked by a raw type of voice, like Skin from Skunk Anansie; or like Miyavi. Just listen to Miyavi in his "Requiem". Really listen. You don't even need to understand Japanese to feel the hurt, the longing.
O how I wish I could experience him live. No need for anything fancy. Just him and his guitar -- unplugged. Now that would be a memorable experience.
O how I wish I could experience him live. No need for anything fancy. Just him and his guitar -- unplugged. Now that would be a memorable experience.
See Rain for Free
Do you love K-pop? Would you like to see Korean superstar Rain 비 for free?
Question one doesn't really appeal to me, but as for the second question, yes I would. I don't like K-pop, to be honest, but I do like Rain. I've written about him a couple of times before on this blog (see for instance here and here), and would love to see his dance moves in action, and if I do not have to pay for it, even more so.
Well, this coming Sunday, October 9, Rain will be performing as part of the 2011 Gangnam Fashion Festival's "Korean Wave" concert. The concert will be held in front of the east gate of COEX Mall at Samseong Station, Subway Line 2. It starts at 7pm and continues until 9pm. Better be early if you hope to get a good spot. It is free, after all.
Zahara's "Loliwe"
South African Xhoza singer Zahara performs her title song "Loliwe", from her recent album in the video below. The song is causing a lot of buzz in South Africa. In part because of its beautiful melody and Zahara's rich vocal quality. However, it is not only the aesthetics of the song that is causing the talk -- it is the confusing lyrics. The narrator in the song tells her audience to wipe the tears from their faces because the train is coming, the train is coming, "loliwe", but then the lyrics make a strange turn in the bridge, saying that heaven is only filled with Christians, so if you want to go to heaven you should pray.
Since the album is not a gospel album, it would seem that the lyrics are somewhat insensitive, even, hyper liberals can argue, politically incorrect as it clearly suggests that there is no salvation for anybody of a different faith. The lyrics are further confusing as the connection with the coming train and heaven is never made clear. Is the train a reference to the Second Advent in which the living in Christ and those that died in Christ are spirited away into heaven -- transited to heaven in a metaphorical train, like Elijah in a flaming chariot (II Kings 2:11)? The coming train is obviously meant to be good news, for it is the reason why they should wipe away their tears and stop crying. But why are they crying in the first place? Are they the one's that should pray? Are they crying because they are not going to heaven? If so, why should the announcement of the coming train be of comfort to them?
Any Xhoza readers or other South Africans of this blog that can help to decipher the song?
Update:
I just saw in the comments under another "Loliwe" related YouTube video one YouTube viewer translate the section in question as: "in heaven only the holy ones stay there so if you also want to stay [then you should] pray". Since it is a native speaker's translation, I assume it is much closer than my assumption that it was only Christians staying in heaven. But myself and others are still confused about the connections between the crying people, the coming train, and heaven.
Since the album is not a gospel album, it would seem that the lyrics are somewhat insensitive, even, hyper liberals can argue, politically incorrect as it clearly suggests that there is no salvation for anybody of a different faith. The lyrics are further confusing as the connection with the coming train and heaven is never made clear. Is the train a reference to the Second Advent in which the living in Christ and those that died in Christ are spirited away into heaven -- transited to heaven in a metaphorical train, like Elijah in a flaming chariot (II Kings 2:11)? The coming train is obviously meant to be good news, for it is the reason why they should wipe away their tears and stop crying. But why are they crying in the first place? Are they the one's that should pray? Are they crying because they are not going to heaven? If so, why should the announcement of the coming train be of comfort to them?
Any Xhoza readers or other South Africans of this blog that can help to decipher the song?
Update:
I just saw in the comments under another "Loliwe" related YouTube video one YouTube viewer translate the section in question as: "in heaven only the holy ones stay there so if you also want to stay [then you should] pray". Since it is a native speaker's translation, I assume it is much closer than my assumption that it was only Christians staying in heaven. But myself and others are still confused about the connections between the crying people, the coming train, and heaven.
"Those who inherit the Will of Fire" by Toshio Masuda
Toshio Masuda's "Those who inherit the Will of Fire", which he composed for the Naruto anime-series, is one of my favourites. I can still remember the goosebumps I got the first time I heard it. It is a beautiful fanfare mixing classical instruments with Japanese traditional instruments. Listen to it with your volume up high.
Verlang alweer na Hong Kong
Ek het gehoop om Hong Kong te besoek gedurende die onlangse langnaweek verlede week in Korea, tydens Chuseok. Laasgenoemde is Korea se Danksegginsdag waartydens mense tribuut bring aan hulle voorouers. Chuseok is basies 'n herfs oesfees. In Korea is die dag voor en na Chuseok ook vakansiedae. Vanjaar het Chuseok op 'n Maandag geval, dus was dit 'n lank naweek waartydens ek gehoop het om êrens heen te gaan. Ongelukkig het my departement my nie die hele naweek afgegee nie en kon ek nie so vêr rond rits nie. Seker 'n goeie ding, want dit spaar my geld. Tog, ek dink ek verlang na Hong Kong. Daar is iets omtrent die energie van Hong Kong waarvan ek hou. Ek dink nie ek sal daar wil bly nie, maar 'n paar dae so af en toe sou lekker wees.
Sal maar te vrede moet wees met 'n bietjie Kantonese (Hong Kong) pop-musiek: Andy Lau en Kelley Chan.
En nog 'n Andy Lau oldy:
Sal maar te vrede moet wees met 'n bietjie Kantonese (Hong Kong) pop-musiek: Andy Lau en Kelley Chan.
En nog 'n Andy Lau oldy:
Ek kort kuns -- ek kort 'n Aardklop
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| 'n Portret deur Marie Stander vir haar Aardklopuitstalling: "Antjie is wat die kinders my noem." |
Hoe graag sou ek nie na Amanda Strydom wou gaan luister het! In my opinie is Strydom Suid-Afrika se nommer een verhoogdiva. Haar vertoning "Binnekamer" is in same werking met Deon Opperman, vir wie ek baie respek het sover dit sy bydrae tot die vermaaklikheidswêreld in Suid-Afrika betref.
Of Rocco de Villiers en Annake de Villiers se "Beeld Skoon / But Beautiful" beloof om 'n musikale rit te wees soos min. Albei is uitmuntende musiekante. Ek onthou die eerste keer wat ek Rocco lewendig beleef het; ek het onmiddelik die CD gaan koop.
As ek myself moes dwing tot slegs twee shows sal dit eerstens Nataniël insluit. Sy vertonings dryf jou tot trane. Soms huil jy van die lag. Ander kere huil jy net vir die elende van mens wees. Nooit verlaat jy 'n vertoning sonder dat jy oor diep dinge gedink het nie. Verskeie gaskunstenaars deel die verhoog in "Weeksaand: Las Vegas". Die ander show wat ek bitter graag sou wou sien is "Projek: Nuwe Maan" met Laurinda Hofmeyer, Riku Latti en Les Javan. Iemand wat lief is vir woorde, vernaam Afrikaanse woorde kan nie verkeerdgaan met die vertoning nie. Aai . . .
Lucas Maree se "Ek sal kan doen met 'n miljoen" gesing in Frans
Hoe kan 'n kabaretliefhebber soos ek Myra Maud se Afri-Franse vertoning "Viva La France" misloop? (Sien en hoor 'n voorsmakie hier.)
Dan praat ek nie eens van die visuele kunste nie! Dink byvoorbeeld aand die poësie in beeld vertoning deur Kai Loss Gott, of die feeskunstenaar uitstalling van Sam Nhlengethwa, of die Leonard Cohen-tribuut, of . . . so kan ek aan hou.
Ag tog! Ek mis die kunste. Hier in Korea kry ek blootstelling aan baie wêreldklaskuns, maar tydens Suid-Afrika se kunstefeeste, soos Aardklop, is dit net soveel meer gekonsentreer. So in jou gesig. Dis wanneer ek aan die kunste en kunstefeeste dink dat ek voel dat my huidige job is nog nie presies waar ek in my lewe wil wees nie. Ek's geluk in my werk -- het net vandag weer dit vir myself hardop gesê -- maar ek kort nog meer kuns in my lewe. Ek kort 'n Aardklop!
Fokofpolisiekar en Placebo
Wat het Fokofpolisiekar en Placebo in gemeen?
'n Swart boks.
In 2009 stuur my jonger broer vir my die skakel na die YouTube-video van Fokofpolisiekar se song "Antibiotika". Hy het die video verontrusstellend gevind en wou weet wat ek daarvan dink.
In reaksie stuur ek vir hom 'n skakel na hierdie video van Placebo se song "Teenage Angst".
Die res van my repliek lui as volg:
'n Snaakse gesprek tussen ek en my boetie. In 2009 was ons onderskeidelik 31 en 21 jaar oud.
Vanaand het ek en hy weer gesels. Hy het vir my vier musiekstukke gestuur wat hyself gekomponeer het en op klavier gespeel het. Drie daarvan is profesioneel opgeneem in 'n studio. Een het hy op sy selfoon opgeneem. Ek sien daarna uit om nou daarna te gaan luister.
Intussen wonder ek weer oor die swart boks in Fokofpolisiekar se video. Is die mense wat vasgevang is in daardie swart boks dieselfde mense wat vasgevang is in Placebo se musiekvideo. Maw, is Placebo gaskunstenaars in Fokofpolisiekar se video? En hoe pas Nirvana in hierdie prentjie in. Daar is nie swart bokse in hulle video nie, of is daar? Die lirieke van "Antibiotika" verwys beslis na Nirvana se song. En hoekom daardie wit kruis. Die wit kruis staan duidelik in jukstaposisie met die swart boks. Is ons veronderstel om te glo dat Fokofpolisiekar, 'n selferkende ateïstiese groep, Christenskap as oplossing, as "antibiotika", aanbied teen die angs, vasgevangendheid en hopeloosheid wat die swart boks simboliseer. Weereens sommer net vinnige gedagtes wat sekerlik meer bepeinsing vereis.
'n Swart boks.
In 2009 stuur my jonger broer vir my die skakel na die YouTube-video van Fokofpolisiekar se song "Antibiotika". Hy het die video verontrusstellend gevind en wou weet wat ek daarvan dink.
In reaksie stuur ek vir hom 'n skakel na hierdie video van Placebo se song "Teenage Angst".
Die res van my repliek lui as volg:
Lyk die swart boks dalk bekend?
Ek dink dit ("Teenage Angst") is moontlik die sleutel om die Fokofpolisiekar song te ontsluit. Fokofpolisiekar se song is waarskynlik, soos Placebo se song, 'n refleksie van die angs van tieners. Fokofpolisiekar sing "Die goddelose het geen heenkome . . . ruik soos tienergees, tussen die spoke." Die frase "tienergees" kan verwys na hierdie song "Teenage Angst" van Placebo, of meer akkuraat, seker "Smells Like Teen Spirit" van Nirvana.
In iedergeval, die musiek is bloot 'n refleksie van die angs en onsekerheid wat die postmoderne jeug beet het.
Met hierdie in gedagte dink ek eintlik positief oor Fokofpolisiekar se video. Ek het nie die lirieke gelees nie (as jy dit in die hande kry, stuur dit asb vir my), maar dis asof die swart boks die angs en alles wat negatief is vir die jongmens simbolisiseer. Daarinteen staan die witkruis as 'n baken van hoop [vir die goddelose].
Hierdie is sommer net vinnige gedagtes wat sekerlik meer bepeinsing vereis.
'n Snaakse gesprek tussen ek en my boetie. In 2009 was ons onderskeidelik 31 en 21 jaar oud.
Vanaand het ek en hy weer gesels. Hy het vir my vier musiekstukke gestuur wat hyself gekomponeer het en op klavier gespeel het. Drie daarvan is profesioneel opgeneem in 'n studio. Een het hy op sy selfoon opgeneem. Ek sien daarna uit om nou daarna te gaan luister.
Intussen wonder ek weer oor die swart boks in Fokofpolisiekar se video. Is die mense wat vasgevang is in daardie swart boks dieselfde mense wat vasgevang is in Placebo se musiekvideo. Maw, is Placebo gaskunstenaars in Fokofpolisiekar se video? En hoe pas Nirvana in hierdie prentjie in. Daar is nie swart bokse in hulle video nie, of is daar? Die lirieke van "Antibiotika" verwys beslis na Nirvana se song. En hoekom daardie wit kruis. Die wit kruis staan duidelik in jukstaposisie met die swart boks. Is ons veronderstel om te glo dat Fokofpolisiekar, 'n selferkende ateïstiese groep, Christenskap as oplossing, as "antibiotika", aanbied teen die angs, vasgevangendheid en hopeloosheid wat die swart boks simboliseer. Weereens sommer net vinnige gedagtes wat sekerlik meer bepeinsing vereis.
Seoul Tube or Jarasam International Jazz Festival?
On Saturday, 1 October 2011, both the second Seoul Tube event will occur as well as the opening ceremony for the Jarasam Jazz Festival. I want to go to both!
The Seoul Tube event is sponsored by YouTube and is a gathering of regular YouTube vloggers in Korea and people that enjoy Korea-related YouTube stuff. I'm a semi-regular watcher of Korea related YouTube videos and follower of YouTube related vloggers, so obviously I'd love to attend this event, particularly the evening gathering where some of the vloggers will perform live. It is sure to be heaps of fun. (Not to mention that Google / YouTube is bound to give away some stuff.)
At the same time, I love jazz music and would really like to go to the 8th Jarasum Jazz Festival. It is an extremely popular festival with attendees numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Last year's festival had over 700 000 visitors. The festival has won numerous awards, including being appointed as the best festival by the Korean Ministry for Culture, Sport and Tourism.
Since it is rather far from where I live, it will take me some time to get to the event, so there is no way that I can go to both. Luckily the jazz festival stretches over three days so I can always go on Sunday. The problem is, however, that because it is so far and the shows are mostly in the evening, it will be very difficult for me to get back. I'll probably have to sleep over there somewhere on Sunday night and then somehow get back Monday morning before my classes start. That is why it would be better to go Saturday night so that I wouldn't have to struggle with all these other hassles.
I'll most likely have to choose between either Seoul Tube or Jarasum Jazz Festival. But which one should I choose? Seoul Tube will be fun and free and I may even get a T-shirt or something, while the Jarasum Jazz Festival will have world class music with wonderful international musicians. Unfortunately it is not free, and quite far from where I live.
Since it is rather far from where I live, it will take me some time to get to the event, so there is no way that I can go to both. Luckily the jazz festival stretches over three days so I can always go on Sunday. The problem is, however, that because it is so far and the shows are mostly in the evening, it will be very difficult for me to get back. I'll probably have to sleep over there somewhere on Sunday night and then somehow get back Monday morning before my classes start. That is why it would be better to go Saturday night so that I wouldn't have to struggle with all these other hassles.
I'll most likely have to choose between either Seoul Tube or Jarasum Jazz Festival. But which one should I choose? Seoul Tube will be fun and free and I may even get a T-shirt or something, while the Jarasum Jazz Festival will have world class music with wonderful international musicians. Unfortunately it is not free, and quite far from where I live.
Drie Gunsteling Gesange / Three Favourite Hymns
My gunsteling gesang is Martin Luther se "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" / "'n Vaste burg is onse God."
Wanneer ek sterf en iemand is lus vir 'n okkasie, dan is hierdie een van die liede, vernaam die Afrikaanse weergawe, wat ek sou geniet. Nie dat ek dit sal "geniet" in die letterklike sin van die woord nie -- ek glo nie 'n mens het enige voortlewende bewussyn na jou dood nie; ek praat van "geniet" in die figuurlike sin.
Nog 'n gunsteling is "What Wondrous Love Is This?"
'n Ander gunsteling is "Flea as a Bird". Sjoe!, was dit nou 'n gesukkel om 'n ordentlike weergawe op YouTube op te spoor. In die volgende videotjie kan jy darem die basiese deuntjie hoor.
Onderaan is 'n blues-versie:
What is jou gunsteling gesang ("hymn")?
Wanneer ek sterf en iemand is lus vir 'n okkasie, dan is hierdie een van die liede, vernaam die Afrikaanse weergawe, wat ek sou geniet. Nie dat ek dit sal "geniet" in die letterklike sin van die woord nie -- ek glo nie 'n mens het enige voortlewende bewussyn na jou dood nie; ek praat van "geniet" in die figuurlike sin.
Nog 'n gunsteling is "What Wondrous Love Is This?"
'n Ander gunsteling is "Flea as a Bird". Sjoe!, was dit nou 'n gesukkel om 'n ordentlike weergawe op YouTube op te spoor. In die volgende videotjie kan jy darem die basiese deuntjie hoor.
Onderaan is 'n blues-versie:
What is jou gunsteling gesang ("hymn")?
Aliens
If you could send a message to aliens (of the extra-terrestrial kind), what would you say to them? I like the letter by Hank of the Vlogbrothers to aliens. He does a really good summary of the human species.
If you are living in a foreign country, like myself, then the term "alien" is applied to you. My identification card in Korea states "Alien Registration Card".
So recently a fellow alien was videotaped while he was shouting in a bus and beating up an old Korean man. The video has gone viral in Korean online video sites like Daum TV-pot and has also made its way onto YouTube. The man apparently misunderstood the Korean guy who was saying something along the lines of 내가 여기 앉아, meaning "you can sit here." 내가, which means "you" is pronounced "nega" which sounds a little like "nigga", i.e. "nigger." So the African-American guy apparently thought the old Korean man was calling him a nigger and went bonkers. This is an apparent case of cultural miscommunication.
But not so fast. The African-American dude shouts back at the old man in Korean 개새끼야, which is the equivalent to "fuck you!" So this guy took the time to learn very offensive Korean swear words, doing it with perfect pronunciation, but he cannot understand something simple like 내가 여기 앉아?! Let's assume that this is true, that he doesn't know what 내가 means, but knows what 개새끼야 means, what does that tell us about his character? For him it was more of a priority to learn to cuss in Korean that to learn the simple pronoun "you"?
Don't tell me its because black people experience racial discrimination in Korea and so that excuses his behaviour. Just two days ago I again experienced racial discrimination myself on the subway. I went to take a seat next to someone in the train and immediately this Korean person got up and went to sit in another seat. I've experienced this enough times to see it for what it is -- racism. Yes, some Koreans are racist and not only towards black people. Still, even though I felt offended by the woman's behaviour I didn't shout 개새끼야 at her. Why? Not because I didn't feel offended -- I do -- but because that is not the kind of person I am. Let's, for the sake of the argument, assume that the Korean old man did call this African-American guy nigger. Does that really warrant that kind of rage and violence? Seriously, this guy needs some Jesus-Love to heal his heart, for he must have experienced the worst kind of racism, oppression, hatred and torture for that word to trigger such a reaction.
In one easy swoop this "tough guy" has reinforced the stereotypes of foreigners in Korea being unmannered, disrespectful and uncivilised. His actions has strengthened the stereotype against black people as violent and barbaric, and he has made my life and the lives of all other foreigner teachers in Korea much more difficult. I'm ashamed on behalf of all foreign residence in Korea. I feel serious pity towards all black foreigners that this guy is representing in the eyes of Koreans. Not to mention another stereotype, that of Americans as arrogant and bombastic also strengthened by this loud and dirty-mouthed individual.
Onto another alien: Lady Gaga. She came out with a rather nice country music-influenced song, "Yoü And I". Did you see the music video? Disturbing and sexy in a mermaid-fetish / Frankenstein-fetish / necrophilia kind of way. Apart from a secret mermaid fantasy, not really my kind of thing. I like, however, the cover by Korean-American David Choi and Lisa Lavie. Not two voices that I would have imagined to go well together, but they pull it off pretty well.
The most beautiful part of the song is that line: "muscle cars drove a truck through my heart."
An all time favourite "alien song" is Sting's "Englishman in New York". "I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien, I'm an Englishman in New York." I sometimes choose this song when I'm singing in a noraebang (karaoke).
A random post on random thoughts about random aliens would probably be incomplete without a list of some of the aliens I find most attractive: Leeloo from Fifth Element; Neytiri from Avatar; Sil from Species; Seven-of-Nine / Borg from Star Trek; T-X from Terminator 3; Leela from Futurama; Alien from Alien; and Captain Jack Harkness from Doctor Who / Torchwood.
If you are living in a foreign country, like myself, then the term "alien" is applied to you. My identification card in Korea states "Alien Registration Card".
So recently a fellow alien was videotaped while he was shouting in a bus and beating up an old Korean man. The video has gone viral in Korean online video sites like Daum TV-pot and has also made its way onto YouTube. The man apparently misunderstood the Korean guy who was saying something along the lines of 내가 여기 앉아, meaning "you can sit here." 내가, which means "you" is pronounced "nega" which sounds a little like "nigga", i.e. "nigger." So the African-American guy apparently thought the old Korean man was calling him a nigger and went bonkers. This is an apparent case of cultural miscommunication.
But not so fast. The African-American dude shouts back at the old man in Korean 개새끼야, which is the equivalent to "fuck you!" So this guy took the time to learn very offensive Korean swear words, doing it with perfect pronunciation, but he cannot understand something simple like 내가 여기 앉아?! Let's assume that this is true, that he doesn't know what 내가 means, but knows what 개새끼야 means, what does that tell us about his character? For him it was more of a priority to learn to cuss in Korean that to learn the simple pronoun "you"?
Don't tell me its because black people experience racial discrimination in Korea and so that excuses his behaviour. Just two days ago I again experienced racial discrimination myself on the subway. I went to take a seat next to someone in the train and immediately this Korean person got up and went to sit in another seat. I've experienced this enough times to see it for what it is -- racism. Yes, some Koreans are racist and not only towards black people. Still, even though I felt offended by the woman's behaviour I didn't shout 개새끼야 at her. Why? Not because I didn't feel offended -- I do -- but because that is not the kind of person I am. Let's, for the sake of the argument, assume that the Korean old man did call this African-American guy nigger. Does that really warrant that kind of rage and violence? Seriously, this guy needs some Jesus-Love to heal his heart, for he must have experienced the worst kind of racism, oppression, hatred and torture for that word to trigger such a reaction.
In one easy swoop this "tough guy" has reinforced the stereotypes of foreigners in Korea being unmannered, disrespectful and uncivilised. His actions has strengthened the stereotype against black people as violent and barbaric, and he has made my life and the lives of all other foreigner teachers in Korea much more difficult. I'm ashamed on behalf of all foreign residence in Korea. I feel serious pity towards all black foreigners that this guy is representing in the eyes of Koreans. Not to mention another stereotype, that of Americans as arrogant and bombastic also strengthened by this loud and dirty-mouthed individual.
Onto another alien: Lady Gaga. She came out with a rather nice country music-influenced song, "Yoü And I". Did you see the music video? Disturbing and sexy in a mermaid-fetish / Frankenstein-fetish / necrophilia kind of way. Apart from a secret mermaid fantasy, not really my kind of thing. I like, however, the cover by Korean-American David Choi and Lisa Lavie. Not two voices that I would have imagined to go well together, but they pull it off pretty well.
The most beautiful part of the song is that line: "muscle cars drove a truck through my heart."
An all time favourite "alien song" is Sting's "Englishman in New York". "I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien, I'm an Englishman in New York." I sometimes choose this song when I'm singing in a noraebang (karaoke).
A random post on random thoughts about random aliens would probably be incomplete without a list of some of the aliens I find most attractive: Leeloo from Fifth Element; Neytiri from Avatar; Sil from Species; Seven-of-Nine / Borg from Star Trek; T-X from Terminator 3; Leela from Futurama; Alien from Alien; and Captain Jack Harkness from Doctor Who / Torchwood.
Don't Smoke in Bed & A Poem About the Assassination of a Heart
One of my favourite songs is "Don't Smoke in Bed." I'm not sure why this song resonates with me, because I do not smoke and am unlikely to be romantically involved with someone that does smoke. Nevertheless, there is something wonderfully touching about the lyrics of this song. Even as the narrator is leaving her husband, she still cares for him, she still reminds him not to smoke in bed.
My favourite version is of course the one by Nina Simone, whom I've mentioned on this blog before (see here and here).
Apart from Nina Simone, the other person with whom the song is probably usually associated is Peggy Lee. I especially like the instrumentation in this version.
Patti Smith, the musician partly responsible for the punk rock genre, also does a riviting performance of this old jazz classic.
A more upbeat version in a lounge jazz style is performed by the Eddie Higgins Trio. You might be excused for getting up and dancing to this tune. The trio consists of piano, guitar and bass.
k.d. lang with her beautiful voice provides a beautiful full sounding version, but I do miss the rawness that one hear in Simone and Smith.
In around 2008 my then girlfriend and I broke up after somewhat of a tumultuous emotional period in our relationship. Shortly before we broke up I wrote her the poem below. In the poem the narrator speaks of his lover as an assassin of hearts that will soon come to murder (i.e. break) his heart and in so doing be the cause of his death. At the end of the poem I realised that I needed there to be a personal touch--a loving "don't smoke in bed". After sometime I added the line: "Don't forget to water the flowers"--the idea being that flowers are a symbol of romantic love and by caring for the flowers she will keep his remembrance and symbolically keep their love alive after his passing. In a strange way this poem I wrote was influenced by this song "Don't Smoke in Bed". Basically they have the same themes and tell the same story of broken hearts and separation. Soon afterwards I moved to Korea.
Throughout the night I battle sleep
(my fists broken my temples bleeding
my knees and elbows chafed from fighting)
lest, like a calamity, the morning breaks
open like an egg a skull a heart stuffed
to the brim with love (that undaunted
heartless threatening damned type of love).
And now, as the day comes crawling
(my heart’s assassination on the agenda;
it will, I’m sure, be done with a knife)
and I have little fighting spirit left, I beg you
my love, be swift. I have already
both my stubborn shirt and chest
ripped open (I trust you’ll appreciate it).
My love, both my heart and I am ready
on this day (please don’t torture me further!)
to die enthusiastically an enormous death.
The angels (my guardian angel and yours)
are standing on their marks for a farewell number
(a necro-duet) to call me to the Big Slumber.
Don’t forget to water the flowers.
Jazz in Bangkok, Thailand
One of the highlights of my recent holiday was going finding jazz hangouts in Bangkok. My most enjoyable visit was to the Saxophone Pub. It is a pub that features jazz and blues music, with regular live performances. The night that I went (it was a Wednesday) a big band style band played, aptly named the JRP Little Big Band (Facebook Page). The musicians are excellent and the vocalist's has a contagiously happy stage personality, not to mention that he really gets old jazz. I was able to find some videos on YouTube. The video quality and audio is not too good, unfortunately, but I can definitely vouch for their great live performance.
Anyone that enjoys good music and finds him or herself in Bangkok should really try to get to the Saxophone Pub. You can reach it by BTS (Sky train), at Victory Monument station. When I visit Thailand again, this will be my most frequent waterhole.
Another nice place where I enjoyed jazz was at The Living Room, a lounge at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel. They have live jazz performances on Friday and Saturday evenings (maybe other nights too). Food and drinks are a little more pricey than elsewhere, but the performance is free and the classy ambiance is definitely worth it. Dress up a bit and go feel how it feels to live the high life.
I also went to this rustic little place called Brown Sugar. Apparently it is one of the first places in Thailand were one could hear live jazz; it has been going strong since 1985. I can't say that the performance I heard there was that great, but the food was nice and the place have a nice ambiance if you want to hang out with a group of friends.
Anyone that enjoys good music and finds him or herself in Bangkok should really try to get to the Saxophone Pub. You can reach it by BTS (Sky train), at Victory Monument station. When I visit Thailand again, this will be my most frequent waterhole.
Another nice place where I enjoyed jazz was at The Living Room, a lounge at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel. They have live jazz performances on Friday and Saturday evenings (maybe other nights too). Food and drinks are a little more pricey than elsewhere, but the performance is free and the classy ambiance is definitely worth it. Dress up a bit and go feel how it feels to live the high life.
I also went to this rustic little place called Brown Sugar. Apparently it is one of the first places in Thailand were one could hear live jazz; it has been going strong since 1985. I can't say that the performance I heard there was that great, but the food was nice and the place have a nice ambiance if you want to hang out with a group of friends.
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