More than a Korean Susan Boyle
If you have not seen Sung-Bong Choi’s story, please take a moment NOW to watch this Korea’s Got Talent clip:
I don’t have too many words to say except this: Wow.
We should know by now that the way a person looks has very little to do with the talents that they possess.
Even if you don’t believe in God, this has to be one of the few times you feel compelled to believe in a Divine Justice.
Unfortunately, the world does not operate under a perfect justice–
The rich get richer. The poor get poorer.
Good things happen to evil people. Horrible things happen to great people.
The Yankees win the World Series.
Heidi Montague and Spencer Pratt have fans.
Etc. Etc.
The story and voice of Sung Bong Choi grab me because I am seeing someone who is walking proof that Grace exists. Yes, he has lived an unbelievably heart-wrenching life up to this point, but he has also been given a gift from the Hand of God Himself.
And he is making sure he doesn’t waste it. This Grace is meant to be shared.
Keep singing, Sung Bong Choi. You are obviously loved and you deserve every bit of the Divine Justice bestowed upon you.
What intrigues you about his story and voice?
A Survival Guide to the Rapture (in case you are left behind)
Y’all better get your life in order because according to this 89 year-old prophet, Doomsday is (once again) upon us! In fact, it’s happening TOMORROW, May 21, 2011.
What does this mean? It means that in case you’re left behind, you’re gonna need a pretty hefty contingency plan to hold you over until you can join the rest of us in heaven, the hard way. (Spoiler alert: a guillotine may be involved here but trust me, it’s better than the other eternal option.)
Because I am a loving, compassionate and helpful person, I thought I’d leave a basic survivors guide for those of you who missed the initial wave of beam-ups. <hit the chorus of “Rocketeer” by Far East Movement here>
Here’s what you need to know. Follow these instructions carefully and you’ll be alright:
1. Say No to the Tattoo
There’s gonna be this world-wide campaign to centralize and distribute resources like food, gas, and water. It’s going to sound a lot like communism except the way Oprah explains it to you on her new Global Television Network will make it seem like it’s actually going to work. Everyone in her studio audience (as well as the entire world) will receive a special bar-code tattoo and will begin to receive everything for free! How can this be a bad thing, you ask? Trust me on this one. Say no to the tattoo. If you want a second chance at heaven, say no to the tattoo and follow the rest of my instructions.
2. You Will Eventually Need a Hiding Place
The officials who come knocking on your door daily to offer you the barcode tattoo will one day stop being so nice and you will eventually realize that you don’t have a choice. Before it gets to that point, find a good hiding spot that will shield you from the onslaught of destruction as well as provide you with daily nutrients and entertainment. The only such place that exists on earth is Costco.
First of all, every single Costco is built like an above-ground bomb shelter. You will be safe from any and all missile and grenade attacks, especially if you’re able to locate where Bruno Mars plans to finally make good on his promise to his ungrateful girlfriend. Secondly and most importantly, you will have all the food you will ever need at your finger tips. During normal business hours, hit up the free samples to hold you over until it’s closing time. When the staff starts wrapping things up, climb into one of those tree-house/swing-set things that they have constructed on display and wait till the lights are out. Once everyone is gone, you can use the grills to cook up the endless slabs of meat (I recommend the tri-tip), you can play some X-Box Kinect on the latest Samsung 3D LCD, and you have all the Kirkland bathroom tissue you will ever need. You are set. For a little while. You’re going to need to find some people . . .
3. Find a Member of the “Remnant” (or whatever they will call themselves)
You might need to go on Twitter and search #POTSC to find out who was intentionally left on earth by God to help people find their way to heaven, second-chance style. These people will help you navigate your way to the promised land, even as the world around you is crashing and free food is being distributed like a never-ending Karl Marx tribute. They will explain to you why you were left behind, why the bar code tattoo needs to be avoided, what you need to do to join the rest of us, and why there are still Televangelists on TV every late-night.
4. Get Ready to Die
This is the part I warned you about but if you follow through to the end, you’ll be able to party like it’s 1999 in year 0001, and year 0001 in 1999. It’s gonna be awesome.
For a little while after the rapture, everything’s gonna seem cool and there will be parties and rumors of world-wide peace. Whatever Steve Jobs tells you at this time, however, will only be short-lasting and a little deceptive. The period where it gets crazy and violent will be the true test. You can endure this time of “trials and tribulations” and do whatever it takes by hopping from Costco to Costco but eventually, the barcode tattoo artists are going to find you. It’s gonna get pretty intense and they’re gonna be like, “Dude, it’s either the tattoo or your head, man.”
You’re gonna say “that’s a bit extreme, don’t you think? Just take a finger and let’s call it even.”
To which they’ll say, “shut-up, man. What will it be?”
At that point, you look them in the eye and say, “this world has nothing for me, homies. Take my head.”
Now, that’s gangsta. And that’s how you survive life during and after the rapture.
What other survival tips can you think of?
My American Idol Guesses (Music Monday)
Before you read this post, you must take into consideration the following bit of critical detail: I have not seen a single episode of this season’s American Idol.
So that explains why I can’t even call this a predictions or rankings post. I know nothing about the contestants except that apparently some girl named PIA was ousted last week and no one seemed to be happy about it.
Whether you’ve kept up with the show each week like a true fanatic or you’re like me and haven’t seen a single tick, this post is for you!
Consider this my answer to the March Madness craziness that takes place every year when un-knowledgeable wannabe-fans fill out brackets using incredibly unorthodox (and sometimes dumb) methods such as best uniform color/design, coolest mascot, and cute star players (not my method at all) to make their selections.
These are the unorthodox methods I’ll be using to make my “predictions” for American Idol: 1) Profile Picture, 2) Name, 3) and other arbitrary assumptions and observations I choose to make based on the nothing to very little I know about the contestants. If you’re scared that this post is going to be lame, inappropriate or slightly mean . . . no need to fear. Everything’s gonna be alright. Let’s have some fun! You ready??
Without further ado, these are my American Idol Guesses going from last to first:
3 Awesomely Bad Songs (Music Monday)
The last time I checked, “Friday” by Rebecca Black had over 81 millions hits on youtube. That is just insane. Never in the history of the world has something this bad, gotten so much attention. Actually, I take that back. Our society thrives on diverting all attention to all things bad (exhibit A: Charlie Sheen). However, when all is said and done, this song may indeed be the most famous awesomely bad song ever.
Notice I said that “Friday” could be the most famous awesomely bad song ever. This means that there are many, many other tunes out there that are not as well known but equally bad or far worse. Now I understand that “bad” is a rather relative term but I think we can agree every once in a while when something is truly horrendous. Here’s a few you may or may not have heard, and unfortunately, they are all songs that were written by people of a faith background:
The Breakfast Song
Of all the things that you could sing about in the “name of the Lord,” why breakfast? Someone please get the poor woman a cot because she needs a nap, like right NOW! These folks make heaven sound like a horrible place… no mo’ chicken? No mo’ Cap’n Crunch? No mo’ bacon? Sounds like hell to me! I’m hungry. Let’s eat breakfast!
Jesus is My Friend
As forum bulletin boards like this one will show, there is speculation behind the authenticity of this song and video. Either way, it is one of the most ridiculous songs I have ever heard and it is definitely worth a mention here. Lucky for these guys, Jesus loves everybody and is a friend to anybody who needs one… and I’m sure these guys needed friends.
Dogs of Glory
This is a great example of creativity gone wrong. The make-up is just a little too good and essentially takes this video from a G-rating to an “R” simply because of it’s immense fear factor. Dude looks freaky and the whole performance scares the bejeebus out of me (but Jesus is here to stay!). And just because you talk about God, Jesus and glory doesn’t necessarily mean your song has soul… this is unfortunate but true.
And finally: “HOWL-ELUJAH”?? Are you kidding me? “HOWL-ELUJAH”??? That unholy concoction of a word alone makes this the worst song of all time … at least for me.
What about you? Have any songs to add to the pot? Hope you’re having a great start to your week!
(NOTE: this is supposed to be a fun post. no offense to the writers of these songs and their relatives!)
If I Was Rebecca Black’s Mentor (Music Monday)
By now, you have heard of Rebecca Black and her #1 hit single, “Friday.” If you have not, it means you have been taking your “I’m fasting Youtube for Lent” thing very seriously. Well done, congratulations, and may you be within earshot of God’s audible voice!
I saw her name floating around twitter last week so I decided to check out the youtube clip for myself and I was floored:
I literally did not know what to make of this song/video/artist. Was this all a joke? I wasn’t even trying to be mean when I asked my Twitter and Facebook friends what this was all about.
Turns out that this was an innocent project funded by her mother when she hired Ark Music Factory to give Rebecca a taste of the music biz. A taste of the music business is what she got alright, and after 60 millions views on Youtube and counting, Rebecca Black is now a household name. This, in most cases, would constitute an amazing success story but unfortunately, Rebecca is experiencing the ugliest side of life in the musical limelight.
I must admit that this could very well be the worst song of all time but I don’t know if that necessarily means that she needs to die, as many youtube low-lifers have suggested. She seems like a sweet-enough teen and all she wanted to do was have some fun.
Enough hating. I think Rebecca could use some encouragement, don’t you?
If I was Rebecca’s mentor, what would I say to her? Here are some possible pick-me-ups:
“Rebecca, remember that no matter how good you are at something, there is always someone better. In the same vein, no matter how bad you are, there will always be someone worse than you as well.”
“Becka, there is no such thing as bad publicity.”
“Becky, there’s so much more to you than music. Don’t limit yourself.”
“Bex, there are at the very least three people who love you and that’s all that matters: God, your mom, and Simon Cowell.”
“Yo, B! I haven’t been able to get your song out of my head for the past 72 hours!”
“R.B., it’s Friday. Let’s go kick it. Forget about them losers. By the way, yesterday was Thursday. Tomorrow is Saturday. In case you didn’t know.”
OK, so maybe some of these would be better left unsaid but it’s true that Rebecca could use some more love in her life right now.
In all seriousness: If you were Rebecca Black’s friend or mentor, what would you say to her?
A Redundant Question, & a Racy Photo… of ME (fun Friday)
Thank you for reading my recent wave of blog posts as I try to write every day for a 40 day period.
After a week of so much serious business, I thought it would be appropriate to lighten the mood a little while opening your eyes to a different side of me. You have been warned…
You see, I’m back in California this weekend for a really quick trip with my family– a final visa run before my wife gives birth in Mexico in mid-May — and it seems every time I’m back, people ask me the same exact question: “Did you lose more weight?!?!”
For most of you, such a question would make your day but for a person that’s already skinny, you might as well say: “What is wrong with you? Your skinny body disgusts me! You need to eat more, Skinny Bone Jones!”
My answer for now and forever more is, NO. No I did NOT lose weight, I DO not lose weight… and I do not want green eggs and ham.
Perhaps it’s just the tighter clothes I’m wearing. Maybe you have gained weight. But for the last time, I am not losing weight.
I have weighed the same for the last 10 years. I am a picture of consistency. How can I lose weight every time I’m away from you? I’d be a shriveled corpse.
On our last trip back to California, a Korean lady actually said this to me and my pregnant wife: “Wow! It looks like you need to eat more and your wife is eating everything.” (translated)
WHAT?! Dang it, Korean people. That’s the most creative, one-take, double-whammy insult on a couple I’ve ever heard in my life.
All that to say, I know it’s inevitable. I’m going to get concerned questions again about my weight. I need to brace myself.
But for the rest of you (who read my blog), I want you to look at the photo below and tell me who should be concerned (scroll down):
[WARNING: Partial Nudity]
[Full Disclosure]
[Potentially Alarming]
[Or is it inspiring?]
[I had give it all I got in this one]
[Here you go]
When Rick Warren UNfollows You on Twitter (a true story)
(please note: this is just for fun. not meant as an attack on “America’s Pastor.” chill and enjoy, please!)
(also note: the mutual unfollow is a true story)
When Rick Warren UN-follows You on Twitter (a TRUE story, an internal monologue):
- Relax, it’s not the end of the world
- Besides, I unfollowed him first right? It’s only fair
- But why would he care that I unfollowed him? He has a bajillion followers
- Yeah, that is a bit odd. I’m actually sort of hurt by this
- I mean, I know he’s only human but isn’t he like #6 behind the 1) Trinity 2) Abraham 3) Mother Teresa 4) King David and 5) Billy Graham in heaven’s power rankings? He’s practically a modern-day apostle and Purpose Driven Life might be canonized in 100 years.
- That’s huge. Way to blow it, brosef. You just got unfollowed by the Lady Gaga of the spiritual leadership twittersphere.
- Still though, he could’ve “turned the other cheek” and offered me his proverbial tunic by way of a twitter shout-out: “hey @dkdanielkim, you are an inspiration!” That would have left burning coals on my head.
- I guess Rick blew it, then.
- Or… he probably doesn’t care, nor does he have the time.
- But he had time to unfollow me back?
-
USHER - don't blow this friendship!
My Best Movie Oscar Rankings
The OSCARS are right around the corner and I am slightly proud to say that I have seen 9 of the 10 films nominated for Best Picture. You must know that we do not have cable TV in our home here in Mexico so we satisfy our entertainment needs with movies and TV shows off the web. In any case, viewing this many Oscar nominees is a DK first and so I thought I’d do my best Roger Ebert and Gene Shallit by ranking the films, 1 to 10. Keep in mind that I am not a professional movie critic. I just play one on TV. Here we go, starting with what I feel is the most deserving film:
1. INCEPTION
This may be the unpopular pick to win it because it’s too… popular. I know we all live in a world that wants to rebel against the mainstream and the trendy but I got news for you, my fellow fans of Urban Outfitters: this was a GOOD movie. Christopher Nolan has quickly become one of my favorite directors (especially after Dark Knight) and it’s a shame he’s not up for Best Director this year. He is a cinematic visionary and his achievement with this film is nothing short of extraordinary. I’m going to use a word here of which I’m not completely sure of its meaning but it’s going to work: Inception is a TOUR-DE-FORCE. I think that’s French for “really, really good and all-encompassing.” You have the usual, intense, solid performance from Leo and a well-constructed cast. You have a great story-line and ground-breaking special effects. Inception was fresh because it flirted with the vast, mysterious space of dreams and their power… almost like what Back to the Future did with time-travel, minus the comedy. The voters may go with other choices, especially after the precedent set last year with Avatar’s snub… sure it was a very-expensive remake of Pocahontas meets Fern Gully meets Dances with Wolves but it was by far the most deserving and was a better film than Hurt Locker. Seems the Academy is trying to avoid the major blockbusters in favor of the under-dogs but you have to recognize exceptional achievement and effort. INCEPTION should win or else it may leave some of us spinning…. and spinning…. and spinni…
2. THE FIGHTER
I don’t know if we will ever get tired of boxing movies. I thought I was but I saw this film and it made me believe… in Christian Bale. I loved him in The Dark Knight (even though his laryngitis-struck Batman voice was annoying) and his all-in, anorexic approach to The Machinist was stellar… but he was something else here in The Fighter. Perhaps more intriguing was the performance of Amy Adams, who totally surprised me with her portrayal of The Fighter’s (Mark Wahberg) girlfriend. If you haven’t seen Enchanted yet, you gotta, if for nothing but to see the contrast between her role there and her role in The Fighter. It is the difference between Taylor Swift and Pink, Barbie and Catwoman, Lindsey Lohan in The Parent Trap and Lohan on… TMZ. The movie gets extra points because it is based on a true story, successfully navigates through the tensions of a controlling and broken family, and it manages to comically over-exaggerate and somewhat define for us a “white trash” upbringing. I’m also a sucker for movies that depict a believable brother storyline. Love you, bro!
3. TOY STORY 3
Is this the year that PIXAR wins a Best Movie Oscar? I think it’s about time and Toy Story 3 has as good a chance as any movie this year. The only problem is, I don’t know if the Academy counts votes from the 5-12 age bracket nor do they care that a cartoon movie managed to elicit tears from and grip the hearts of grown men the world over. Seriously, when was the last time you felt moved to (near) tears by the near-demise of a bunch of talking toys? The only time I can recall feeling distressed over an animated feature was when I was around 5 years old and Optimus Prime was headed toward the Sun. *sniff* This was probably the best Pixar movie of all time and completely thwarts the notion that the third installment in a trilogy will never surpass the first as the superior movie. Godfather 3 certainly couldn’t do it. Terminator 3? Please.
4. 127 HOURS
James Franco is my dark horse to win the Best Actor Oscar this year because 1) it is difficult to successfully and believably carry a movie in which you are on screen alone for 1.5 hours, literally between a rock and a hard place, and 2) his genius portrayal of the funniest pothead in Pineapple Express should carry some rollover minutes toward an Oscar, don’t you think? C’mon. This is based on the true story of the hiker dude from several years ago who got his arm stuck between some boulders and ended up having to go Grey’s Anatomy on himself in order to survive. A really, really well-told story and surprisingly captivating despite its limited cast (he’s pretty much the only guy) and virtually no change of scenery. It’s like the movie Friday without the drugs and hip hop. Must-see.
5. THE SOCIAL NETWORK
I love Facebook! You love Facebook! We all love Facebook! Good acting, great script, awesome story-telling, and a fascinating inside look at the origins of everyone’s favorite time-waster. You also gotta love Justin Timberlake bringin’ Sexy Back to what is otherwise a very nerdy cast. I think I’m going to stick with the media’s theory that the real-life Mark Zuckerburg was just about punked into donating a vast portion of his fortune to Warren Buffet’s league of extraordinarily rich gentlemen because he was portrayed as such a d-bag in the movie. You can’t buy love but you can try to look generous and actually help needy people in the process. Double win!
6. THE KING’S SPEECH
I think this is the people’s choice for Best Movie but I am a bit disappointed that I don’t share the same sentiment. Every Facebook post or tweet I see on this movie normally follows this sequence: 1) “Finally going to see King’s Speech tonight 
” [3 hours and 5+ comments that all basically say "you'll love it!" later]: 2) “King’s Speech. Wow. Movie of the Year.” Followed by 7+ Likes. The Academy seems to agree with 12 nominations but I just don’t get it. Am I on something? Maybe I need to watch this again. I mean, I really enjoyed it and found it to be an unexpectedly hilarious film but I just don’t see what all the hype is about. Either there are millions who aren’t telling the truth or I need to stop watching movies when I’m tired… I will say this though: Geoffrey Rush = Brilliant.
7. THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
Incredible movie about a Lesbian couple, their teenage kids and the drama that ensues when they get in touch with their sperm donor for the first time since the fertilization. Sounds like a comic plot-line but I assure you that this film is intense and thought-provoking. The story tries to address the real-life struggles and joys of a family led by a gay couple as well as the unusual, and often complicated issues their children go through as teens. If you’re worried about a bias or an agenda with this movie, I personally didn’t find a heavy opinion that permeated through the movie so just chill. Annette Benning was unbelievably convincing in this movie and it is now a fact in my mind that she is actually gay. She was that good.
8. BLACK SWAN
This is by far the “artsiest” movie of the bunch with lots open to interpretation, stunning visuals, and wonderful dance choreography laced throughout. It is also a freakin terrifying movie. It’s not The Exorcist but I made the mistake of knowing absolutely nothing about the movie before I started watching and what I got was a constant state of confusion mixed with tension and fear. I thought it was going to be a nice movie about Natalie Portman pursuing a career in ballet. Why is she hallucinating so much? Why is Mila Kunis constantly popping up out of nowhere? Why is Portman’s mom so incredibly creepy? Why is there so much blood? Why does this movie make me feel like I’m on (black) magic mushrooms? I hate ballet! I feel so hopeless! Get me out of here! Ahhh! As the credits were rolling up, I was reminded that Jesus died for my sins so all was well, but as for the film, I had no idea what to think. I looked over at my wife and she loved it. I see the Oscar nominations a few weeks later and find out that Black Swan is on the list. I guess it was a good movie.
9. TRUE GRIT
I have met plenty of people who had great things to say about this one but I just couldn’t get into it like everyone else. I take most of the blame for this since 1) I might have been watching a Laker game at the same time we turned the movie on, 2) I may have been nodding off, very reminiscent of my classroom experiences in college. I expected this movie to be a serious Old-Western but when I kept missing the apparent genius of the comical dialogue, I became lost. I felt deceived. I was tired. So what else is new, you say? You got me there. Darn it.
10. WINTER’S BONE
I have not seen this movie which is why I have placed it dead last. Only fair. I’m sure it’s a great film, hence the nomination, but I have a sneaky suspicion that many college dudes will download this movie thinking that it’s a Ron Jeremy Christmas special… and they’ll be left feeling very disappointed. Which is why we need to address the need for more role-models in this country. We need more fathers and father figures. Will you be one? Do you like how I turned this into a “The More You Know” spot?
What about you? What is your Top 3 with this year’s nominees?
That’s all folks. Thanks for reading. I am… tired.
crap!
there's a message in the crap of our lives!
this is the first of several posts over time on the topic of memories.
Something you must know about me is that I don’t know how to fart. (Wait, what? How is that possible?!) Some of my friends have theorized that perhaps 1) I wasn’t properly potty trained or 2) maybe it’s subconscious trauma that took over my body since the time in Kindergarten I successfully crapped in my pants during nap time and proceeded to smother the chocolate butter all over my blankets and soiled my clothes beyond repair. As if that wasn’t embarrassment enough, I ended up wearing the Principal’s daughter’s daisy dukes (aka Short Shorts) with a Playboy bunny on the rear left pocket for the rest of the day. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the most confident boy on the jungle gym during recess that afternoon.
So to this day, I have yet to fart publicly. Of course when I’m on the toilet, this all changes as I’m able to let everything rip without worry of Hershey squirting in my pants. The issue here is that I simply do not know how to distinguish between a fart and a real bonafide #2. I’m afraid to try as this will mean I could risk ruining a perfectly good pair of boxers. Some have suggested the use of Depends –as in diapers for adults–but unless I’m filming my own webisode of Jackass for money, I would rather not take anything away from the national geriatric supply.
I have concluded that this is a hopeless case for now but at least it gives me a fail-proof social boost when a conversation runs dry. Even the most non-talkative or socially awkward person can’t resist commenting on such a ridiculous disability. “No way… that’s crazy. Whoa… Ok, I’m gonna go walk over there now…”
I think we all need a Toilet sometimes. A place where we can let go of all inhibition and just let it rip; let the crap fly, so to speak, without worry of embarrassment, judgment, or need to wipe. Some call this “community” or “deep friendship” but whatever you would call it, we all need it and want it. I’m thankful I have it.
When was the last time you just let it rip on a “Toilet”? Maybe it’s been years and you are in major need of prune juice and stool softener before you jump on the porcelain bowl. I just want to say that it’s all good… just come as you are and take a dump, er– take a risk. This could be a matter of life and death!
(my apologies if you are unable to see the reflective and deep nature of this post due to the gratuitous use of “crap” as an analogy. I assure you that my stories are true, however, even if this is the most TMI post you ever read!)
dk
my first ever coffeehouse concert
my family and i will be returning to So Cal for the holidays and thought it would be a great opportunity to share some music in Orange County. my buddy Matt Shockley will be opening and closing the night.
It’s a weeknight so we’re hoping you will make plans now to join us by canceling whatever you have to and asking whomever you need to (for babysitting, carpooling, etc) to come!
I will be sharing songs that nobody has ever heard before (brand new!) and Matt will do his thing as usual. It is going to be a GREAT night.
Hope to see you there! I really do.
Cheers
DK
Then and Now. K-Pop
Before I kick this thing off, let me preface it by saying that I don’t listen to Korean music anymore. I went through a major phase over 14 years ago when I was obsessed with it and was even convinced that my destiny was to go to Seoul and become irreparably famous doing K-Pop. I have seen the light since then and I’m grateful for it, but I definitely won’t hate on anybody for appreciating a little bit of H.O.T., Wonder Girls or whatever is on and poppin nowadays. I tell my friends that K-Pop is like musical junk food… makes you feel good at times but it contains no real nutritional (musical) value.
Not sure if you know this but Korean music has become something of a global phenomenon– particularly throughout Asia. I was surprised during my time in Thailand to find out that most of the youth were down with K-Pop… and then I find out this is the same in places like Hong Kong, China, and Japan. Sold-out concerts in arenas by artists like Rain and Boa have been common-place. Go figure!
I’m going to highlight one person in particular. He’s the guy that started the group that started it all, the one that kicked off the modern era of the Korean pop scene. Let me (re)introduce you to Seo Taiji.
The video below is their first national debut ever on a major Korean network way back in 1992. It’s a show that allows up-and-coming groups to perform their song while the judges sit and critique their overall sound. As you watch, notice how the young crowd doesn’t utter a single peep during the performance. This I find incredibly fascinating as any current video will show you that the Korean girls these days will sacrifice every last bit of their vocal chords to express their undying love for anything remotely entertaining.
For those of you who don’t Se Habla Coreano, basically Seo Taiji and his boys do their thing on stage to an absolutely stunned audience who don’t know what to make of this revolutionary sound and dance. Immediately after, the gauntlet is thrown down by the judges who all essentially say the same thing: this type of music won’t make it, your melody needs to be worked on, I don’t get it, nice try etc. etc. They had no idea that the guy in front of them would change the face of Korean music forever. Look at the determined, stoic face that Seo Taiji carries as he’s receiving the critique of the judges. His face says “y’all don’t know %$!%! I’m gonna prove you mother @%$#@$ wrong!” in the quietest way possible. This is the musical equivalent of the Michael Jordan story… cut by his High School team for lack of size (and his coaches apparent lack of foresight. the biggest #fail in history)
Do your own youtube research if you like but since this debut video Seo Taiji has BLOWN-UP and gone on to release 8 albums in the span of 2 decades and each one has pushed the envelope and shaped not only the industry, but the very paradigm of music in Asia. He has displayed virtuosity in Rap, Hard-Core, Pop, Alternative, Classical and nearly everything in between.
So if I don’t listen to Korean music, why am I writing a post about it? Well, my wife just happened to be looking up her favorite K-Pop classics one day and showed me the video above and the videos you are about to see below. I couldn’t help but be inspired by the genius and resilience of Seo Taiji. A true musical revolutionary. We could learn a lot from this guy.
Look at how far he has come in one of his more recent music videos. The music has changed considerably and the quality of the music video is absolutely sick (and the drummer is ridiKulous):
And this is one of the most ambitious concert productions I’ve seen. He combines a Russian orchestra with a choir along with his usual set-up:
You don’t have to be impressed. Just inspired.
Can you think of other unlikely artists who have surprised you?
Then and Now. Ever hear of Katy Hudson?
Watch this video below and let me know if you recognize the singer. (You probably see who it is by the heading on the video)
Excuse me if I’m a bit late on this (or you’re welcome if you’re mind is blown like mine) but could it be?
That was a video of a teenage KATY PERRY performing at the Glasshouse in Pomona, CA as a – *gulp* – Christian artist some 9 years ago! I had no idea until I came across this hilarious blog post from Jon Acuff.
Before she bust out on the scene with wholesome anthems like “I Kissed a Girl” and “California Gurls,” Katy real name Hudson was making her pastor parents proud by writing and performing songs about Jesus, playing out in public venues, and releasing CDs to stock the shelves of Family Christian Stores the world over (although apparently she never had a successful album release in this arena)
I know what kind of path a blog post like this one can take but I’m not here to bash on Katy or talk about how I wish she was still doing Christian music (I don’t), blah blah blah. I’ll leave that sentiment to the youtube hate comment brigade. Rather, I’m just simply intrigued by all this, that’s all.
It’s not just that she used to do Christian music. It’s that she used to have a real singer/songwriter vibe with some really decent acoustic guitar sensibilities and versatile vocal delivery.
It’s not just that she was small-time then and she’s big-time now. It’s the evident shift she has made from a somewhat shy, unassuming, teenage coffeehouse performer to a full-blown pop icon who commands the stage and the attention of all who would care to watch and listen.
It’s not just that her and Jesus were BFFs back in the day. It’s that today, somewhere underneath the scanty “what the heck is she wearing?!” fabric lies a woman who occasionally thinks back to the days of her Youth Group past with either disdain or nostalgia. Which is it?
It’s also intriguing to think that Katy would never have had the magnitude of influence she has right now had she stayed with the music she was doing cerca 2001. All her videos right now on youtube have an average of 20 million hits.
These are some semi-inconclusive thoughts I’m simply throwing out.
Right now, I’m simply intrigued and fascinated by the extreme conversion that Katy Hudson has gone through to become Katy Perry. Change to this degree, whether “good” or “bad,” is always worth a little investigation, a little thought.
For the record, I admit that her songs are pretty dang catchy… California Gurls. that’s my jam. Her acoustic stuff from the past are pretty cool too.
What do you think? Are you more fascinated now than before? Or could you care less?
Reflections?
Katy Perry = Katy Hudson
Un-American?
image courtesy of a google search of "football sucks"
I know this is a terrible, blasphemous, un-American thing to say but– who gives a rat’s booty about FOOTBALL anway?
THERE, I said it! Don’t get me wrong, I can sit down and enjoy a nice match-up but I’m just not one to get all geeked out about a new season. I’m also not one to shout (or tweet) “OoOoOh! My life is complete now that college football is starting up again!” or “The NFL is God’s favorite league!” (I made that one up)
Perhaps I’ll change my mind when:
1. Football acknowledges how shamefully imperialistic it has been by snatching the name of a world sport (known in the U.S. as soccer. We’re the ONLY country in the WORLD that calls it this) and making it its own. Have you thought about how inappropriately named the sport really is? It needs to be called something like “Tackleball” or “Helmetball” (in fact, I’m going to use “Tackleball” for the rest of this post… and my life). The foot is actually only used for kick-offs, punts, and field goals– the rest of the game consists of running, throwing, man-handling, dancing in the end-zone and getting taxed by Roger Goodell. I am appalled that we applied the Manifest Destiny to a sport and the poor people around the world need to learn another name for their game. In the words of our social media youth: EPIC FAIL.
2. When L.A. finally gets a team. I’m really hoping Ari Gold (or Jeremy Piven, it doesn’t matter) lands a team and gives the world’s largest media market what we’ve been waiting for since the Rams and Raiders arrived and jumped ship: a winning Tackleball Team.
3. When Shaq finds a second life as a center… for an NFL squad. Wouldn’t that be something to watch?
It’s fine by me if you’re a die-hard Tackleball fan. It’s all about the NBA for me and the Lakers’ quest for a 3-peat. I do love football, though, as in The English Premier League. Go Manchester United.
As for the NFL, wake me up in January when it’s time to “root” for another non-L.A. team in the Super Bowl. (Go Saints)
America - In God and Football We Trust
(Note: this post was not meant to offend anyone and was mostly written in jest. If you are now planning out the size of the cross you want to burn in front of my house, you have missed this entirely and I’m sorry. Save yourself the trip to Home Depot)
live like you matter
hi buddies.
i’m taking a little time-out of EP/album promotion to bring you this little thought:
Live like you matter
let me clarify by giving you an example.
I love watching movies and TV shows with my wife because she gets really into it and she reacts to everything. The best is when the main character is in danger (gun pointed at his/her face, he/she hangs by a thread off a 100-foot cliff, etc) and my wife braces herself for the worst. That’s when I get to swoop in, uncover her eyes, put my arm around her and reassure her that NOTHING is going to happen… “that’s Jack Bauer,” I tell her. “He’s survived several seasons of this. He can’t die. This is only episode 1…”
I don’t know about you but the fear and concern that my wife feels in these moments of stress (no matter how fictional) is actually the kind of thing that cripples us from living the life we are all supposed to live.
You see, you are the main character of your story. A problem occurs when you live life like you’re TV Extra #105 with barely a part written out for you– destined to die in Act 1, Scene 1, of Season 1. Such a sad way to live.
When you live like you’re the main character of your story, you begin to realize that your limits are only self-imposed. The things that you fear most (failure, rejection, death) can be cast aside because you know that you matter.
I don’t see this as an arrogant or reckless thing– of course we need to exercise common sense and take precaution when we need to. If I jump out of a plane without a parachute, I deserve to die. I’m an idiot.
However, some of us need to move on from Act 1, Scene 1, Season 1. You’re not going to die. You thought your story was going to end at the pilot episode but you have a life of complete season DVDs to be lived.
What’s been crippling you? Don’t forget who you belong to, who chose you for greatness, and who has your back. Take nothing for granted, of course, but move on and live like you matter.
i love the iPhone = i love my wife
a few weeks ago, our friend Dave Gibbons reiterated a comment he had made before about how if we (married) men treat our wives the way we treat our iPhones, we would have awesome marriages. i may have thought, “how dare he! doesn’t he know I’m up for the ‘Husband of the Year’ award in my household? my iPhone comes in a distant 2nd place to my family!” yet, the more i think about it, the more he is utterly correct and once again, I have been virtually slapped in the face. these are the ways I love my iPhone and obviously, these are the ways I need to love my wife:
in light of slavery prevention month
i shared my song “Unleash Your Beauty” on this blog a couple months ago and at the time it was performed acoustically at the Conference we hosted at Newsong.
As President Obama has declared this month the “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month”, i thought i’d post the live full-band version of this song from a couple weeks ago. As always, I have to apologize for the sound-mix and would like to ask you to listen with grace. I was also having a bad-hair day (or bad hair life rather) and i assure you that i’m a little more handsome in person 
.
this is a song about what happens when we lay down our lives for the poor and the enslaved. enjoy!
INVICTUS – you convict us…
i just saw INVICTUS and thought it was a good movie. here’s a few of my quick takeaways from the film (no real spoilers here so i think you’re safe if you didn’t see it yet!):
my latest song: “Hey”
hey dudes…
please do me a favor and pump this up on your head phones. reason being, the quality SUCKS and you’re just gonna dismiss this song in the first few seconds unless you stick it out with some headphones turned up! (also, i need a haircut and i look like a bum so you may be better off minimizing the window as well when you listen.)
another favor… if you like the tune, please feel free to spread it AND let me know what you think below. as you know, i don’t get paid for my songs so the only “currency” that flows in this economy are words. yours are precious to me. THANKS!
(on another note, if you do want to support me financially, there’s a donate option to the right on my sidebar… thanks)
wrote this one on 11.12.09. Thanks for giving the ghetto-fab production a chance! just doing the best with what i got!
how Christian cliches can help us understand Twitter
and i will make you fishers of men(?)
I don’t know about you but I’m pretty ashamed of the many clichés that we throw around in the Christian sub-culture. Not only do they sound pretty lame but they keep us from being real people. Check out this brilliant comedy spot by Michael Junior, a “Christian” comedian:
The latest rage these days is TWITTER. If you’re not on Twitter, you’re either really old and out of touch with society (no offense) OR you’re one of those “I’m never going to conform to the trends of this world–Going against the flow, man!” types. Regardless, you need to be on twitter because it is today’s cell phone… the longer you resist getting on board, the more out of touch and uncool you will be! So get on twitter NOW and start following me and we can be friends!
There are websites, blogs, phone apps, and daily news reports that feature Twitter and there has even been a 911 rescue that occurred through people’s tweets! It’s crazy. If you’re a blogger, chances are you’ve already written an entry or two about Twitter and how it is changing (or ruining?) your life.
Well, I was thinking about some of the more common Christian cliches in the nomenclature and how they could be used to better understand TWITTER, which happens to have a subculture of its own. Check out this list and let me know if you’d like to add any more:
updated american idol power rankings – the finale!
Forgive my lack of graphic design skills but I thought the Idol website did a great job of putting this photo together. I was too lazy to try and cut out the link text beneath their names so forgive me if you tried to click the links to no avail!
The finale is here and tonight, the gauntlet is laid down. I think there has been little mystery as to who the show wants to crown as the winner but the question is, do you believe in miracles?
Let me spoil my rankings for you before you click to read more: Kris Allen is number 1, Adam Lambert is number 2.
I am sad as my wife declared her endorsement for Adam Lambert last night. It’s not as bad as my son growing up to tell me one day that he’s a Celtics fan (and when that day comes, I will spank him), but still, there is division in my house at the moment.
Let’s get to it, shall we? Here we go!
The Top 2:
special american idol power rankings – the best of the reviews
Hey Guys!
So in celebration of the Idol finale that is taking place this week, I decided to dig through my archives to compile my favorite review of each contestant. I’ve also put them in order of my preference, while placing the top 5 in their actual order. Yes, Kris Allen is number 1! Let me know if you agree or disagree with my selections!
Hope you enjoy!
updated american idol power rankings – and then there were 3
The great sausage fest of May 2009 kicked off last night and the boys didn’t disappoint– one of them just annoyed and screamed like he always does. I was feeling Bono’s pain but more on that later. . .
It’s going to be very interesting to see who goes home tonight. Regardless of who it is, the result will be an incredible letdown for a huge chunk of the American population as I’m sure many have picked sides and have declared their loyalty to one of the 3. Actually, if you’re like me, you may have declared that you would be down with anyone winning except somebody. That person for me should be obvious to you all by now!
whoever mixed the sound for the show last night might be fired when the producers review the show. don’t know if you noticed but one of the background singers during one of Lambert’s songs sounded like she had brought a boost pedal for her microphone. It’s as if she she made a decision to hijack the moment and like Nacho, wanted a “taste of the glory!” Pretty funny but annoying stuff.
as this season is nearing a close, the best news is that “So You Think You Can Dance” will debut very soon… May 21 to be exact! If you haven’t watched this show, you have to. as much as I enjoyed watching Idol this past year, SYTYCD is actually the purer, more inspiring show in my opinion. It’s not as bogged down by ratings, marketing, and biased judging. Can it be anymore clear who the Idol judges want on the winner’s platform next week? Sickens me!
The Top 3:
Dear Dad (a letter to Charlie Sheen from the future)
Dear Dad,
This is your son and I’m writing to you from the future using my iPad 27. You think the iPad 2 was cool, wait till you check this baby out; the hologram cornea display is a thing of beauty! They also finally added Flash to the browsing experience after holding out for all those decades. It’s pretty sweet, especially when I want to go retro and check out web sites. You should also know that it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that Steve Jobs is in fact the anti-Christ… especially because he’s still alive.
I just want to say that despite what many have told me over the years, I still think you were a pretty swell dad. I know we never talked that much or saw each other as much as we would have liked to but I always looked up to you and you were always fun. You helped define what a winner is for me and I live by your words and example to this day.
I came across this feature article about you recently that was a retrospective on the year 2011. I have vague memories of that time… like how mom actually changed my diapers with her own hands before the iChange app changed everything for mothers everywhere. Anyhow, the article mentions that this was the year everything changed for you. I guess you got fired from a TV job that paid you $2 million per episode (funny how that was a lot of money back then!) and then you started this crazy country-wide, sold-out tour shortly after. This was not before you became one of the fastest twitter users to reach 3 million followers and the nation became obsessed with all things Charlie Sheen. You were a major star! So proud of you, dad!
The article also mentions that you were America’s favorite train wreck in 2011. What is that all about? Your “years of drug use and soliciting prostitutes caught up” to you, as well as the “many instances of violence and spousal abuse.” Apparently you were spinning out of control and the world was simply waiting for you to “crash and burn (or die?) so that they could move on to the next disaster in a body.”
Either I forgot about all of this or I just never knew. Totally crazy to think that you ever went through that or that you were ever that guy.
I don’t know what exactly happened but the article mentions that your life made a dramatic turn for the best in the next few years. I think this is when you made a conscious decision to lay low and stay out of the public spotlight for a while. Mom tells me that you received help by admitting to her you had a problem and enlisting in a variety of detox and counseling programs. Maybe this is when I started to see you around a little bit more along with the many new uncles that you started hanging with. They were super cool guys and I remember thinking that you seemed different (in good ways) after you met them.
I guess you were a mess back then but the only version of you I remember is the one that showed up at the moments that mattered to me– including my high school graduation when you told me you loved me and that you were proud of me. I know you were a busy guy and you had to spend time with my other brothers and sisters that lived in different cities with their moms but I saw that you were trying and I appreciated that a ton. I see now how rare a loving father is and I’m forever grateful that you were around when it counted.
I love what you stood for in your later years as an actor and activist. You were quite the motivational speaker and you helped “screw-ups” get back on their feet. You showed me that mistakes are ok as long as you work towards righting the wrongs. You showed me that second chances are precious but available to anyone who is wiling to give life another fair go.
Just wanted to write you to tell you I love you and that I miss you. Wish you were still around.
It’s crazy but I just met my first grand-kid the other day. His name is David Carlos Estevez and he has your eyes.
You’ll be proud to know that in the midst of my own hang-ups and let-downs, I think I turned out okay and I’m someone you’d probably call a “winner.” Thanks, dad.
Love,
Your son
April 5, 2011 | Categories: Commentary, Entertainment, Inspiration | Tags: charlie sheen, future, letter, winning | 5 Comments »