The Only Fast Car I'll Have Under My Name

I guess I havent been here in about 6 months.  But enjoy another attempt at music making by yours truly. 

Apologies.

I realize I have not posted in over a month.  Thus, I humbly present this small project as means of appeasement.  It starts out rough.  Sorry.  I'm out of practice.
I'll be back soon, I swear.
FobbyTwinkie Management

The Day the Zone Stood Still.

On Saturday, March 24, 2012, I saw the end of the single most incredible sport season I have ever had the pleasure of watching in my (barely) 24 years of life. It did not end with a national championship, and though that was the goal set at the beginning of the season, it could not conceivably be the determinant of a season that was so unorthodox. No, for this writer, the crux of the season was the heart of the team. This team had the Heart of a Champion, and I will argue to my grave that this team had the toughest road to the national championship than any other team may have had.

My retrospective on this Crazy, Crazy Season.

-This team's ability to play despite ALL of the off- court distractions was awe-inspiring. Never have I seen anything like that before. In complete honesty, I'm in a bit of a rut myself, and I'll be damned I was not inspired by this team's perseverance and fortitude. It was a reminder that those characteristics are ones that I can always strive to display more of my own life.

- I believe this was the team of Jim Boeheim's dreams. The staple of Coach Boeheim's teams is the zone defense. This is the best defensive team Boeheim has helmed. Also, the offense took on the personality of the zone. What I mean is that the zone is determined upon TEAM defense. While there may be spectacular defensive players anchoring the zone, it is only effective if all players buy into it. Having said that, there was no one Offensive Mega Star on the Syracuse team. It was in essence, offense by committee. This worked because the seniors bought into it completely. Despite not being prolific as other Syracuse legends before him, Kris Joseph for one became the all time leader of wins in Syracuse history (yes... even over Dave Bing, Earl Washington, Derrick Coleman, or Gerry Macnamarra). He knew his place in the offense and did everything he could to contribute. Scoop Jardine understood (finally) that he did not have to be the Hero at the end of the game. He was the key in facilitating the offense.

-On that note, Dion Waiters is something else. His game reminds me of Dwyane Wade's. The only difference is that Wade does it on a more consistent level against better competition. I think that he should stay in college for at least one more year to develop in this aspect, and he should be a lock for going in the early first round.

-While I cant stand Scoop Jardine as a basketball player, I think that he was perfect for the team this year. He was the glue that held this team together in the locker room, and it became apparent that he really put his soul into the mantra, "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

- While I stood by what Boeheim did and said for most of the season, I disagreed when he shot back at Arne Duncan, the secretary of education. I believe that academics should always be the primary focus of collegiate athletic programs, and more emphasis to that end can only help the product.

- In that light, I was probably one of the few Syracuse fans who was glad that Fab Melo was not playing in the tournament. For as much as I wanted to see my team win a national championship (and from a basketball point of view, there is no QUESTION we were a better team with him anchoring the zone), as an alumnus, I would not want some kid who is not held at the same academic standard as myself representing my university. As idealistic as that may sound, I believe that if he (Fab) wants to act the way he has, the pros are a better environment for him. There's no need for him to stay in college, where he wont be allowed to play if he does not perform as a student first. He can take his prima donna attitude to the NBA, where I'm sure he'll have a decent career.

All in all, it was the craziest season of sports I've ever followed, and I count myself lucky to have followed this team through this season's roller coaster season.
The highs were euphoric, and the lows were soul crushing.
Thank you Syracuse, for one hell of a season.

Now lets get ready for next year.

Heart

A couple of months ago, I was shown a TED talk given by an 18 year old girl named Natalie Warne, who spoke to teens that anyone of any age could be what she called an "anonymous extraordinary." She was working for an organization called Invisible Children, and she talked about the importance of action, using herself as an example of a regular teenager doing what she could and eventually got the attention of Oprah Winfrey, getting her on board with Invisible Children's goals

Her message was geared for teens but it hit home for me, and certainly moved my 70 year old boss.
And today, I was reminded that it's not over.

I'm putting my money where my mouth is. (kinda)

Obama used the slogan "YES WE CAN" in his first campaign. Any human being who does not lack empathy should want to do what they can to help what Invisible Children are hoping to do. On the real, I'm not in a position where I can help financially. As much as this makes me sound like an asshole, I have to do what is in my best interest before I can think about any body else. What good am I to anybody else if I am not able (in every sense of the word)?

Having said all of that, I am writing this post because... this is what I can.

I havent said anything about what this cause is, because the video here does a much better job of that than I can even pretend.

KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

A close friend of mine called me a social media whore. If you're here watching this video, I am okay with that.

Dont be shocked by the Tone of my VOICE

Recently, I started watching The Voice. Perhaps it was due to American Idol conflicting with my DVR recording schedule, or maybe it was because through my audition process, I realized how much of the show is fabricated, and how terrible the people behind the show are.
...
but really, it is almost entirely because of the DVR situation.

In any light, I was quickly impressed with a lot of things about the show, and was told there was a Korean version. Being the obsessive type that I am, I promptly looked around to find it. After fumbling around, and finding out that the show shares its name with a North Korean News Channel, I was excited to see more of what I was so impressed with, but with Korean people.

Boy, was I in for a surprise.

So what is The Voice?
The show has its roots in the Netherlands. The format of the show (which can be found here) is certainly unique and is what allows for it to be PHENOMENAL TV (banter between the coaches, between contestant and potential coaches, etc). Currently, both versions of the show are in the Blind Audition stage.

The first noticeable difference between the two shows is noticed from the interactions between the judges and the contestants. After the contestant sings their piece they can ask what their prospective coaches can offer in terms of advice should they go their way. Now, I don't expect the coaches to really be saying much here, but something was very difficult to ignore, which was that a majority of what the Korean judges have to say have been about "appeal," or the appearance of the contestants. Right from the get go, one of the judges tells the first contestant, that if he were to choose her, she would work out with him so that he could lose weight. I thought it was odd for a show where the appearance of the contestant was supposed to be a non factor... but it continued happening. Whether it was judges saying that they were in a former boyband that took over the country and if they worked on their gestures they could be a superstar, or that when seeing a bigger lady, saying it LOOKED like that much volume would come from a body like hers. I started wondering why that was the case, and remembered something one of the judges said.
Gil of Leessang (one of the judges) said (roughly translated, something like), "we went through hell, and I can promise to show you some of that hell." At this point, I remembered what it meant to BECOME a celebrity in Korea. The example I am familiar with is the route of becoming a comedian in Korea. To become a comedian people try out to become a "gag man/woman" for specific broadcasting companies. Once they test through, they start the process of becoming broadcast ready by becoming a 연습생, or literally translated: a person who practices. They live to practice to become a comedian. It is pretty much the same way for popular singers in Korea now. Once someone auditions for a label, they go into their practice program where they are produced to become a extension of the record company. They are built to become singers; lose weight if needed, taught to sing if they cant sing, learn to dance if necessary, and even put through plastic surgery if needed.

So how does that affect The Voice Of Korea as compared to The Voice in the US?
First of all, you see a recurring story in the contestants. Coupling what was mentioned above with the size of Korea (as compared to the US), you're going to see a lot of people that have already "made it" into the recording industry. Unfortunately, they didnt succeed, and are looking for a second chance. Some of these people were probably dropped from these companies due to looks, and maybe that's why their looking for this show as an opportunity.

Second, you consider that the coaches all share this "hellish" experience. Consider what else separates any of these coaches from each other. It is not genre. It is not experience, as they were all share the same training. Due to the training, what happens if the coaches are all looking for similar things? There have been cases where the contestant has a great performance, but the coaches dont turn around because the voice is too unique. Consequently, the opposite happens quite often in the US version of the show, where the contestant has a great performance, but none of the coaches find the voice unique enough, and where the coaches finds a voice that is different, but doesnt have the "stuff" to win it all. This is an example of the difference between the individualistic culture of the US as compared to the collectivistic culture of Asia. Even amongst Asian cultures though, the collectivistic mentality of the country once known as The Hermit Kingdom is notorious, as would be expected from the most ethnically homogeneous country on the planet.

In that light, one realizes that the factors that determine success between the two versions of the show (and beyond) are fundamentally different. In fact, the importance placed on aesthetics is the unifying factor between the two audiences watching the show, and that is the factor that was taken out of the equation.

In case any one was interested, I am watching both shows, but for completely different reasons. The Korean version has me giddy over the type of voices that I am have a weakness for (powerful and soulful, all the while has a definitive sound that clearly cuts across the room), whereas the US version has me watching with a more analytical point of view (interpretation, understanding of the song in delivery and phrasing, how they made the song their own).
... I think it's a good use of my time.

...
Check out my new weapon, weapon of choice.


Notes/File Dump! (aka things that go neither here nor there)=======
-I will have to say I was quite impressed with the coach selection of the Korean version, although I think considering Korea has a fair number of singers that hide their appearances (or used to, like Kim Bum Soo), or any of the ladies of Big Mama would have been perfect for the gig, considering the situation.
- I also watch the Korean version because, since middle school, I've had a HUGE crush on Baek Ji Young. Plus, you know lady's got chops when she can sing her way back into the KOREAN public's acceptance after having a sex video leaked (to put this into perspective, sex and drugs are tattoos are taboo. When a celebrity is caught doing weed, they get ARRESTED and make the front page. the public outcry after her video leaking was incredible and put a stop on her career for a few years).
- Ballerino by Leessang is definitely in my top 5 music videos of all time. Plus, I can neither confirm nor deny this, but the ALi featured on the track may or may not be the ALi who made headlines in Korea a few months ago when she admitted to being a victim of rape
- I will admit at this juncture that I'm a fan of Kangta as a producer, as seen on his first solo album, Polaris, and his songwriting abilities in writing one of my favorite Kpop ballads called 인형
-The image used on this post is from a pretty suspect website that claimed to have links to short program North Korean radio broadcasts. If I go missing, you'll know why.

Over it

Contrary to popular belief, this post will not be an admission of obsession over a certain Katharine McPhee. But seriously, I've had the HUGEST crush on this lady since her runner-up run to TAYLOR HICKS (?!?!?!?!) during the 5th Season of American Idol. I'll be watching Smash tonight (partly because it follows The Voice, but 99% because it means more Ms. McPhee). She also had a small role on an episode of Community, so you know... she's kinda awesome :3

In any light, the Super Bowl is over. Great football all around, but a quick look at some of the more memorable commercials:

FobbyTwinkie's favorite Superbowl Commercials 2012.
1) The Kia commercial with Adriana Lima
I just thought it was a great concept which was executed really well. Starting with the "Mr. Sandman" sample to covering everything a ridiculously epic dream would have (Adriana Lima, Motley Crue in the background, Chuck Lidell fighting in a ring where people blow up, and last but not least a cowboy riding a RHINO [passout]), it really was the unfettered male id... and they tied it all together really well with the Slogan: A Dream Car, for Real Life. No complaints.

2)Pepsi King's Court
I think the reason I liked this commercial so much was because of the perfect casting. It is perfectly believable that both Elton John and Flava Flav might have brought their own costumes. I can also believe that the spot was written with Sir John in mind. Plus, it was good to see X factor winner Melanie Amaro get a moment, especially considering the way X Factor fizzled last season.

3)Hyundai: All for one
I thought this was the perfect car commercial for our economic times. With Detroit faltering the way it has been the past few years, when things look bleak, we remember, there's always power in numbers. And is there any better way to ignite that collective fire than hearing "Gonna Fly Now?"Just watching this ad made me want to do one of two things: just bolt out the door and run as hard as I can and creating an amazing training montage, or just watch the amazing training montage in any of the Rocky movies. Not to mention that it was a capella. Which is always a win in my book... maybe

4)Fiat: Abarth
If you really have to think about why this is a favorite of mine, all hope is lost.

Biggest Disappointment?
Tie- Clint Eastwood and Matthew Broderick
It's a tie here because both actors were used to serve the same purpose. At least the Clint Eastwood spot was really well shot. And in fact, there really was nothing wrong with the commercial itself. It was all about context. It seemed flat compared to last year's AMAZING moment with Eminem captivating America, reminding us that Detroit is not down and out yet. Eminem being a Detroit product, it made sense. Beyond that, Eminem knows a little something about getting kicked down and picking yourself back up. But Clint Eastwood was only brought in because... he is Clint Eastwood. If the footage was of the open plains and had many shots that invoked memories of the wild west as AMERICA, it would have made more sense, despite the gritty nature of his work lately... not to mention his gritty voice. Seriously, Think about how beautiful that commercial could have been. And the easy transition of horses running to cars driving. I think they just missed the point completely after doing so well last year.

However, Matthew Broderick doing the Ferris Bueller thing? That was just cheap. It probably cost a fortune to make, but there was no substance to it. If I wanted to just see him do that, I would have just watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It might have worked better if...
a) Matthew Broderick was actually relevant
or
b) If Matthew Broderick was cast the Principal Rooney equivalent, and that was the reveal.
I think it also would have worked better if they didnt tease the commercial before the show. There was no clear purpose of the commercial except to parody.

Oh well... I guess you cant win them all... just ask the Patriots about it. Or Katharine McPhee

Intertextual Synthesis

I have a weak spot for oxymorons (<- Giant Baby). Upon further reflection, it probably stems from a broader obsession with synthesis (yup. even with Organic Chemistry, synthesis was kinda fun). This explains my obsessions with cross-overs (sure, the Allen Iverson type too, but when there are cameos of TV characters in other shows like Det. Munch from SVU going on Arrested Development, I lose my shit with excitement) and Seinfeld (where the multiple plot arcs in most episodes all come together at the end to create a perfect storm).

Thus, it is no surprise that I find myself obsessed with the intertwining of Asian and Western Music cultures. My obsession is even evident in the naming of my Jeep (is there a more American Car?): The Turtle(named after the Turtleship, the first steel plated ship in naval history... which happens to be from the Land of the Morning Calm). But I know I'm not the only one out there. Fans of Cowboy Bebop or Samurai Champloo can tell you that the soundtrack of Jazz and Hip Hop, two "western" styles of music are ESSENTIAL to setting the tone for the respective animes.

That being the case, Pandora-ing Nujabes (RIP) lead to a pleasant surprise: The Shanghai Restoration Project.

To understand the project, a little history lesson may be in order. What does the Shanghai Restoration Project even mean? The end of the First Opium War was signaled with the signing of the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842. Amongst other things, one of stipulations of the treaty was that China was to open up five port cities (one of which was, you guessed it, Shanghai) for trade with the United Kingdom. After this, the Treaty of the Bogue in 1843 would supplement this and allow Brits to trade on Chinese soil within these 5 port cities. The following years, and certainly by the early 1900's Shanghai becomes a haven for Westerners looking for trade, and as these things do, becomes a melting pot of culture. One of the things that rises by the 1930's are the Shanghai Jazz Bands, bands that specialize in play of a music which is an amalgamation of Eastern and Western styles. The movement even reaches all the way out West to influence a subgenre called "Orientalized Jazz"

Rising out of the ashes of the Eastern and Western combinatory tradition, The Shanghai Restoration Project hopes to continue the legacy of these bands in utilizing traditionally "Eastern" sounds with Western hip hop and electronic beats. Their latest work is Little Dragon Tales which specifically uses Chinese children's songs and puts a hip hop beat on them. Personally, I dont care much for this, as it seems like the target audience is not specific. However, they've (or he, as David Liang is the mastermind behind the project) been doing this for quite some time, and I'll say I LOVE IT.

Additional Notes (link dump): The first time I was introduced to this kind of musical cross-over was a Korean Cell Phone commercial. Traditional Korean instrumentation of Pachebel's Canon. This was even before Jerry C did Canon Rock (and thus before FunTwo, and his Korea Shaped Guitar). In that light. Jojo's touring Guitar player is a Korean girl named Jinjoo, and I swear the girl has power guitar potential like Orianthi... Plus is mighty cute. And here's Kim Jo Han and Yoon Do Hyun singing "pop ssongs" and reminding you exactly of what Korean people do when they hear english and dont completely follow (say something almost completely out of context... like Yoon Do Hyun saying Hallelujah... while singing Desperado).

A Few Good Thoughts.

A few thoughts:
The format of this entry will be a little different as we are short on time, and full on information capacity.

- The staff of FobbyTwinkie.blogspot.com will be taking the GRE's on the 24th of January. That is all that will be said, in recognition of lack of entries, quality of this entry, and will mark the date for the return of the gatekeeper and the keymaster.

- We are sad to announce that our name will soon become halfway obsolete. Hostess (apparently not of the mostest), the creators of healthy salad alternatives such as twinkies, sno balls, and wonderbread is declaring for bankruptcy. It's funny to think that those folks who watch Zombieland 15 years in the future may have no idea that twinkies were a real thing. Also, we are not seriously considering any name changes here yet, as the obvious option of choco-pie (refer to our inaugural post here) does not carry the same punch as our current name.

- It's been a bizarre month to be an Asian American. First the Papa John's debacle, and now this beat down out of Chicago. Speaking about the second incident, it is a little ridiculous that that sort of behavior is something we still have to deal with. A little more ridiculous is that the attack on video was in fact a retaliation for a 20 on 2 beat down that happened months ago. A reminder that no one is a victim any more. How is any of this real?

- Having recently watched The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I will say that the opening sequence for that film was all kinds of wonderful. It may be the best cover of a Led Zeppelin song that this writer has ever heard. The urban sound that Trent Reznor put together was perfect for setting the tone for the movie and its heroine, and the sequence would have been a 10 right there... But Karen O (of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) takes it to 11. Listen to it here, but really, the booming sound systems of the theater is the only way it is really done justice. Kind of like watching Transformers on a theater screen... as compared to watching it at home on your laptop. Lame.

- In that light, we've been listening to a lot of "Asian music" here at the FT headquarters (the segue being that Karen O is 1/2 Korean). There's the kpop thing, and then there's the stuff that's been in heavy rotation here. Lots of Nujabes, Dumbfoundead (via Silverbamboo), Clazziquai, and the Study Music Project.
...
and Old Crow Medicine Show (not even kidding).
Consequently, most of it is great cruising music. Cuz you know...
we're gonna cruise right through this exam coming up!

Then we'll be back to maintaining the blog.
See you on the flip side, folks