Rules are simple:
What would be the weirdest song to hear while waiting for a call-center clerk to become available?
Put your answer in the comments. You can go weird: (Bela Lugosi is Dead) or ironic (like playing "Alive" as an in-flight movie), or whatever you like.
Bonus points if you include a link to a youtube clip of the song.
My first submission: not too out there or anything, but a great video: "Pick Up The Phone" by Notwist.
one expat's life in Korea
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Ten Albums that Make Roboseyo Happy
Here are the ten CDs that have really made me happy over the last half-year.
Including my bliss-out of the week: slow with horns, by Dan Deacon, from the album "Bromst"
The rules are simple: I must have discovered the CD sometime in the last six months. I don't care if some of them are old news to you, and I also don't care if some of them don't float your boat, for any reason. They make me happy, and that's enough. In no particular order:
6. Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish I were an Eagle. Rich, deep voice, gentle arrangements, quirky lyrics: so much to like in a really, really nice, intriguing but relaxing Sunday afternoon album. Favorite song: "Rococo Zephyr" for having a Rococo Zephyr as a character in the song. Here's another song from the album, on Youtube.
I've talked enough about TV On The Radio that I won't write about it here.
4. Dan Deacon - Bromst - some artists have music good for parties. Dan Deacon's music sounds like the instruments are having a party. Favorite track on the album: "Slow With Horns". "Wham City" from "Spiderman of the Rings" is a better song than any on Bromst, the newer one, but Bromst wins out for more consistent awesomenity.
listen to Dan Deacon on his Myspace Page.
9. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion - the whole album is a big, noisy, fun bliss-out. Here's one track with a pretty trippy video, too. Stars AND bubbles.
Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
1. Camper Van Beethoven - Key Lime Pie - a classic from the 1989, a solid songwriting effort with wit and that something extra that makes you want to listen to it again a week later, and snags lines and phrases in your head.
7. Jamie Cullum - Twentysomething - best Jeff Buckley song I've heard by Not Jeff Buckley so far: Lover, You Should Have Come Over. High and Dry gets a nice, mellow jazz version that reveals the song's strong songwriting.
Jang SaIk 장사익 -- 하늘가는 길 the song 찔레꽃 is just heartbreaking.
2. Mugison - Mugiboogie - wacky, weird, noisy and then touching. This album is all over the map, and continuously intriguing, if a bit inaccessible. You really, seriously never know which instrument or sound is going to jump out of a corner and startle you next.
The Music Tapes - Music for Clouds and Tornadoes
3. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - Naturally - wins by a nose over 100 Days, 100 Nights, because of the song "Stranded in your Love" an awesome, awful, co-dependent duet, which unfortunately isn't on Youtube. Here's the title track from 100 Days, 100 Nights, which contains all the reasons you should love Sharon Jones: she's a throwback to that old '70s motown sound, that rich, fat sound, the swaggering Aretha Franklin swing. The power, the heat, all that!
5. Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas - Vol. 1-5. I wrote about these before, so I won't now.
8. Swan Lake - Enemy Mine - creaky, articulate, odd but compelling, Swan Lake is the team-up of two indie rock-superstars. Their first album was uneven, as if they hadn't figured out how to sound TOGETHER yet, but this one is a really nice, tight effort from Spencer Krug (a favorite of mine from Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown, who brings something sweeping yet childlike to his instrumentals) and Dan Bejar (of Destroyer, the awesome The New Pornographers, who brings verve and wit to his lyrics) Here's a nice track with a claustrophobic feeling that suddenly opens into one of those great bridges that Spencer Krug pops off with startling frequency. (at 2:00)
10. - The Walkmen - You & Me - didn't impress me at first, but it's been growing on me more and more. Another solid album from top to bottom, that's got some strong songwriting (I'm a sucker for good songwritine) and an atmosphere all its own. The emotive but slightly adrift vocals, and then frantic, mounting choruses and bridges, create a nice counterpoint. There's a lot of open space in here. In the New Year is a good track that shows off their strengths.
11. (bonus:) Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space - Broken Heart - sweeping orchestral spiritual sadness. After the hypnotic repetitions of intro song "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space," this is the one that actually carries the album off INTO space.
There. Enjoy that for now.
Rob
Including my bliss-out of the week: slow with horns, by Dan Deacon, from the album "Bromst"
The rules are simple: I must have discovered the CD sometime in the last six months. I don't care if some of them are old news to you, and I also don't care if some of them don't float your boat, for any reason. They make me happy, and that's enough. In no particular order:
6. Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish I were an Eagle. Rich, deep voice, gentle arrangements, quirky lyrics: so much to like in a really, really nice, intriguing but relaxing Sunday afternoon album. Favorite song: "Rococo Zephyr" for having a Rococo Zephyr as a character in the song. Here's another song from the album, on Youtube.
I've talked enough about TV On The Radio that I won't write about it here.
4. Dan Deacon - Bromst - some artists have music good for parties. Dan Deacon's music sounds like the instruments are having a party. Favorite track on the album: "Slow With Horns". "Wham City" from "Spiderman of the Rings" is a better song than any on Bromst, the newer one, but Bromst wins out for more consistent awesomenity.
listen to Dan Deacon on his Myspace Page.
9. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion - the whole album is a big, noisy, fun bliss-out. Here's one track with a pretty trippy video, too. Stars AND bubbles.
Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
1. Camper Van Beethoven - Key Lime Pie - a classic from the 1989, a solid songwriting effort with wit and that something extra that makes you want to listen to it again a week later, and snags lines and phrases in your head.
7. Jamie Cullum - Twentysomething - best Jeff Buckley song I've heard by Not Jeff Buckley so far: Lover, You Should Have Come Over. High and Dry gets a nice, mellow jazz version that reveals the song's strong songwriting.
Jang SaIk 장사익 -- 하늘가는 길 the song 찔레꽃 is just heartbreaking.
2. Mugison - Mugiboogie - wacky, weird, noisy and then touching. This album is all over the map, and continuously intriguing, if a bit inaccessible. You really, seriously never know which instrument or sound is going to jump out of a corner and startle you next.
The Music Tapes - Music for Clouds and Tornadoes
3. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - Naturally - wins by a nose over 100 Days, 100 Nights, because of the song "Stranded in your Love" an awesome, awful, co-dependent duet, which unfortunately isn't on Youtube. Here's the title track from 100 Days, 100 Nights, which contains all the reasons you should love Sharon Jones: she's a throwback to that old '70s motown sound, that rich, fat sound, the swaggering Aretha Franklin swing. The power, the heat, all that!
5. Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas - Vol. 1-5. I wrote about these before, so I won't now.
8. Swan Lake - Enemy Mine - creaky, articulate, odd but compelling, Swan Lake is the team-up of two indie rock-superstars. Their first album was uneven, as if they hadn't figured out how to sound TOGETHER yet, but this one is a really nice, tight effort from Spencer Krug (a favorite of mine from Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown, who brings something sweeping yet childlike to his instrumentals) and Dan Bejar (of Destroyer, the awesome The New Pornographers, who brings verve and wit to his lyrics) Here's a nice track with a claustrophobic feeling that suddenly opens into one of those great bridges that Spencer Krug pops off with startling frequency. (at 2:00)
10. - The Walkmen - You & Me - didn't impress me at first, but it's been growing on me more and more. Another solid album from top to bottom, that's got some strong songwriting (I'm a sucker for good songwritine) and an atmosphere all its own. The emotive but slightly adrift vocals, and then frantic, mounting choruses and bridges, create a nice counterpoint. There's a lot of open space in here. In the New Year is a good track that shows off their strengths.
11. (bonus:) Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space - Broken Heart - sweeping orchestral spiritual sadness. After the hypnotic repetitions of intro song "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space," this is the one that actually carries the album off INTO space.
There. Enjoy that for now.
Rob
Friday, June 12, 2009
Do something about the Yonhap Race-baiting Article
Two things to do:
2. Help me gather material for an article I'm planning to send to various news sources and Korea brand promoters.
Here's the explanation, with a link to the survey at the end.
1. Want to send an angry email to the reporter? Use this. Be sure to CC the Yonhap ombudsman.
To: ssahn@yna.co.kr
CC: ombudsman@yna.co.kr
포털 네이버에 올라온 6월 11일자 당신의 기사 “자질 시비 원어민 교사 판친다”를 읽고 매우 충격을 받았습니다.
많은 대다수의 원어민 교사들은 매일 매일 그들의 수업에 열심히 참여하고 있으며, 실제로 그들이 하고 있는 일에 즐겁게 참여하고 있습니다. 대다수의 원어민 교사들은 아이들과 아이들의 미래에 대하여 고민하고 있습니다. 그러나 항상 예외는 있게 마련입니다. 하지만 당신의 기사는 마치 대다수의 원어민이 자질에 문제가 있는것처럼 만들었습니다.
저는 당신의 기사에서 어떤 원어민의 인터뷰도 없는 것을 보았습니다. 단지 전해 들은 이야기이다라는 식이었습니다. 사실과 그 사실을 증명할 만한 증거는 어디에 있는건가요? 언론의 기본과 기준은 어디에 있나요? 언론으로서의 전문적인 기준은 모든 측이 공평하게 이야기되어져야하며, 양측에게 모두 이야기할 수 있는 기회가 주어져야함을 요구합니다. 당신이 기사화했다는 것만으로 그것이 사실이 되는 것은 아닙니다.
이런 종류의 선정적인 기사 보도가 마치 철저한 조사에 바탕을 둔 기사처럼 보인다는 점에서 저는 분개하지 않을 수 없습니다. 불행한 것은, 이런 식의 접근이 언론에서 너무 흔하게 발견된다는 사실입니다.
당신의 기사는 한국의 전문 뉴스 통신사로서의 기준도 지키지 않고 있을 뿐만아니라, 외국인 혐오증과 자민족 중심성을 더욱 촉진시키고 있습니다.
연합뉴스! 그런 기본도 안되는 기사를 싣는 당신이 부끄럽습니다.
[Translation]
I was shocked to find your 6-11 article “자질 시비 원어민 교사 판친다” on naver.com.
The vast majority of native English teachers show up for work every
day ready to teach, and actually enjoy what they are doing. They care
about the students and their future. There are always exceptions, but
this article makes it seem like the rule [norm].
I noticed that there are no quotes from English teachers in this
story. It is all hear-say. Where are the facts and supporting
evidence? Where are the journalistic integrity and standards?
Professional standards demand that all sides be equally represented
and given a chance to speak for themselves. Just because you print
something doesn’t make it fact.
I’m outraged that this kind of sensationalist opinion piece actually
passes as investigative journalism. Unfortunately, this approach is
too common in the media.
Not only is this story below the standards of a national newswire, it
also fuels the fires of xenophobia and ethnocentrism.
Shame on you, Yonhap, for printing this ignorant hate speech!
2. Help me gather material for an article I'm planning to send to various news sources and Korea brand promoters.
Here's the explanation, with a link to the survey at the end.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Dear Korean Journalists: You are Making Your Country Look Bad
I don't want to say anything about Yonhap News' latest piece of racist muckraking. But I have to.
However, it must be said that when racist garbage like Yonhap News' latest hit piece on English teachers comes out, people know. Koreans are not the only people who read Yonhap news, and even if most Koreans don't read what is written about Korea in English (why bother when I'm sure Naver has another essay up today about Korea's glorious four seasons), other people, in other countries want to learn about Korea, and when they find things like this: Yonhap: Unfit, Foulmouthed, Drunken English Teachers Running Rampant it doesn't matter how many Korean language articles there are to be found on Naver and Daum about the health benefits of Kimchi: English speakers still read mention of articles like this one, and frankly, here's the impression it gives:
Only a country full of racists would allow a media outlet to publish a piece as full of unchecked racism as this.
Now, this isn't necessarily true: we've all met a lot of Koreans who are super-cool, cosmopolitan, global-minded, who deplore such bald racism... but why aren't they storming down the doors of media outlets that publish this kind of yellow journalism, and demanding accountability... their silence reads as tacit approval, and Korea looks bad.
And Korea SHOULD look bad, until its media is roundly, and loudly criticized for playing on people's worst fears. Korea DESERVES to be embarrassed on the world stage, if it allows their media so much unchecked irresponsibilty. That's all.
Shame on you, Yonhap, and shame on every media outlet that publishes junk like this, and on every editor who approves it, and on every Korean who is silent while media outlets make their country look like some kind of racist backwater. Shame on all of you.
(Yeah. I'm mad. So?)
PS: let's not forget Korea's Foreign teachers are not the only ones who behave badly.
More here from Brian.
HT to Korea Beat.
However, it must be said that when racist garbage like Yonhap News' latest hit piece on English teachers comes out, people know. Koreans are not the only people who read Yonhap news, and even if most Koreans don't read what is written about Korea in English (why bother when I'm sure Naver has another essay up today about Korea's glorious four seasons), other people, in other countries want to learn about Korea, and when they find things like this: Yonhap: Unfit, Foulmouthed, Drunken English Teachers Running Rampant it doesn't matter how many Korean language articles there are to be found on Naver and Daum about the health benefits of Kimchi: English speakers still read mention of articles like this one, and frankly, here's the impression it gives:
Only a country full of racists would allow a media outlet to publish a piece as full of unchecked racism as this.
Now, this isn't necessarily true: we've all met a lot of Koreans who are super-cool, cosmopolitan, global-minded, who deplore such bald racism... but why aren't they storming down the doors of media outlets that publish this kind of yellow journalism, and demanding accountability... their silence reads as tacit approval, and Korea looks bad.
And Korea SHOULD look bad, until its media is roundly, and loudly criticized for playing on people's worst fears. Korea DESERVES to be embarrassed on the world stage, if it allows their media so much unchecked irresponsibilty. That's all.
Shame on you, Yonhap, and shame on every media outlet that publishes junk like this, and on every editor who approves it, and on every Korean who is silent while media outlets make their country look like some kind of racist backwater. Shame on all of you.
(Yeah. I'm mad. So?)
PS: let's not forget Korea's Foreign teachers are not the only ones who behave badly.
More here from Brian.
HT to Korea Beat.
Not Quite a Bliss-out, But Definitely a Glee-down
Art Brut: "Good Weekend" -- funny funny song. You can totally tell he's singing to sixteen-year-olds.
The chorus: "Got myself a brand new girlfriend" is adolescent glee, but the real clincher is the end of the bridge, with the triumphal cry, "I've seen her naked...TWICE!"
Can't embed it, but click the link and have a laugh.
The chorus: "Got myself a brand new girlfriend" is adolescent glee, but the real clincher is the end of the bridge, with the triumphal cry, "I've seen her naked...TWICE!"
Can't embed it, but click the link and have a laugh.
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