I am reading a really fat history of the Park Chung-hee period (South Korea's dictatorship, 1961-1979). The sky is heavy, overcast and gray. I dreamed I was being chased by an alien last night – perhaps I watched the wrong thing on TV.
What I'm listening to right now.
The Naked and Famous, "Young Blood."
Lyrics.
We're only young and naive still We require certain skills The mood it changes like the wind Hard to control when it begins
The bittersweet between my teeth Trying to find the in-betweens Fall back in love eventually Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Can't help myself but count the flaws Claw my way out through these walls One temporary escape Feel it start to permeate
We lie beneath the stars at night Our hands gripping each other tight You keep my secrets hope to die Promises, swear them to the sky
The bittersweet between my teeth Trying to find the in-betweens Fall back in love eventually Yeah yeah yeah yeah
As it withers Brittle it shakes Can you whisper As it crumbles and breaks As you shiver Count up all your mistakes Pair of forgivers Let go before it's too late Can you whisper Can you whisper Can you whisper Can you whisper
The bittersweet between my teeth Trying to find the in-betweens Fall back in love eventually Yeah yeah yeah yeah The bittersweet between my teeth Trying to find the in-betweens Fall back in love eventually Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Last night, I invited myself to a midnight haranguing.
As a “foreign teacher” without parent-contact duties at my work, and furthermore with my very poor Korean language skills, I have always been officially exempted from many staff meetings. Recently, however, I have been trying to attend anyway – both for the potential benefit toward understanding the what’s going on around me, as well as a kind of passive “Korean listening class” to hopefully help me improve my language at least a small amount.
When it was announced there would be a meeting after the kids went home, last night, I would have been tempted not to attend, given how much I like to get home and go to sleep at a reasonable hour. But I know a lot of stuff has been going on that I don’t really know the details of, lately, so I decided to go. I didn’t participate – I was just an observer.
I guess the business situation with Karma is not looking good, at the moment – we have been bleeding enrollment, with the end-of-October numbers looking exceptionally grim. The boss is distressed, and wondering why his people aren’t inspiring customer loyalty. I can’t capture all the details, but in traditional Korean work-meeting fashion, there were a lot of histrionics and borderline tantrums. It would maybe be entertaining if I wasn’t so personally invested with all the people and the institution involved. As it was, it was pretty stressful – and it went on until well past midnight.
I have my opinions as to why we’re seeing students leaving, lately, but for now I’ll withhold comment, except to say that I don’t think it’s entirely an issue with the quality of our product – there are broader factors at play, including demographics, market shifts, and hostile government regulation. I do think that perhaps a more empathetic management style might go a long ways toward creating a more convivial work environment. Then again, it’s possible that, given cultural differences, ranting and haranguing are necessary components in effective communication. More than once I have been up against a communicative brick wall, and have managed to resolve it with a well-placed tantrum.
What I’m listening to right now.
K-Os, “Hallelujah.” This is not the first time to post this song, but last time I didn’t include the lyrics. I really like this song.
Lyrics.
[Verse 1]
I walk down these city streets
Just a lonely man inspired
Hoping God will send me water down
To quench this burning fire
How I feel for the mountain
A monastery man
Things will stay the same so I’ll remain
And show just who I am
Seeing things around me
Bonnie and Clyde
Graffiti with no message
Doctors, medicines, or pride
But it doesn’t really matter
They’re blowin’ in the wind
On the cover of a magazine
[Hook: x2]
Hallelujah
Babylon is falling
Babylon is falling
[Verse 2]
I try to wash my dirty hands
But they won’t come off the water
Hopin’ truth will make me clean and then
Redeem my sons and daughters
Though they’re not yet on the very highway
Pass along below
That’s why I left my memories far behind the lazy road
Seems so simple
The future’s the past
The present all the things we holdin’ on to make them last
But it doesn’t really maeeaahhh (matter)
Blow eeeahh (blowin in the wind)
Couuhaaahhh (with their heads high)
[Hook: x2]
Hallelujah
Babylon is falling
Babylon is falling
I slept a lot yesterday. I dreamed I was teaching classes at work, which made it unrestful, so I kept wanting to sleep more. I wonder if I'm getting sick. Grrr.
What I'm listening to right now.
Olin and the Moon, "Not In Love."
Lyrics.
Let the sunlight in You might never get this chance again So take a deep breath and hold it in You should take a picture Cause you might never see me again I said take a deep breath and hold it in
Because you're not in love There's no way you possibly could You shouldn't even like this You just like the way it looks If this is the end, and what's done is done Then I wont have to keep hurting anyone
So let the wind take its course over everything You have no control when it's out of your hands You should take a minute for it all to settle in I said take a deep breath and hold it in
Because you're not in love There's no way you possibly could You shouldn't even like this You just like the way it looks If this is the end, and what's done is done Then I wont have to keep hurting anyone
Let the sunlight in You better get as much as you can Cause you might never feel the same again And take the wind, let it blow away everything I said take a deep breath and hold it in
Because you're not in love There's no way you possibly could You shouldn't even like this You just like the way it looks If this is the end, and what's done is done Then I wont have to keep hurting anyone
Halloween is always a stressful time in hagwonland. That’s because it tends to be a juncture of two things. First, it is a high-intensity teaching period in the hagwon context relative to the Korean academic calendar. Second, there exists the idea that the hagwon needs to have a Halloween party for the kids, one of the two big festival-like events we have each year.
Which is to say, I have been very busy, and today is d-day. Or h-day. Something like that.
What I’m listening to right now.
Warren Zevon, “Werewolves of London.”
Lyrics.
I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain
He was looking for a place called Lee Ho Fook’s
Gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein
Aaoooooo!
Werewolves of London!
Aaoooooo! (Repeat)
If you hear him howling around your kitchen door
Better not let him in
Little old lady got mutilated late last night
Werewolves of London again
Asoooooo!
Werewolves of London!
Aaoooooo! (Repeat)
He’s the hairy-handed gent who ran amuck in Kent
Lately he’s been overheard in Mayfair
Better stay away from him
He’ll rip your lungs out, Jim
I’d like to meet his tailor
Aaoooooo!
Werewolves of London!
Aaoooooo! (Repeat)
Well, I saw Lon Chaney walking with the Queen
Doing the Werewolves of London
I saw Lon Chaney, Jr. walking with the Queen
Doing the Werewolves of London
I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic’s
And his hair was perfect
Aaoooooo!
Werewolves of London!
Aaoooooo! (Repeat)
Draw blood…
“Ladybugs are better than Canada.” I said this to my coworker, the other day. It struck me as one of those possibly never-before-uttered phrases.
Context: she had made some paper tokens for an in-class bingo game. One set of tokens had red maple leaves on them (i.e. “Canada”). The other set of tokens had cartoon ladybugs.
She asked me which I thought were better. So I said, simply, “Ladybugs are better than Canada.”
I dreamed I was in some rural place. There were ramshackle, badly-plastered buildings scattered on a steep, gravelly hillside. Little springs of water were leaking out of clay embankments and skipping down the steep, tall grass.
The soil was ruddy. It was somewhat reminiscent of places I have seen in Korea, but also, in the dream, I felt the familiarity of my childhood in Northern California, along some river – the Trinity, the Eel. Thinking about it now, it was like my stepfather's "ranch" high above the South Fork of the Trinity river. I used to spend warm summer afternoons out on the hillside, trying to draw imaginary cities out of the rocky clay.
Perhaps I was a child, myself. Someone nearby had a stuffed toy rabbit, and within the dream, this was utterly unremarkable. There was a dark, shrouded figure lurking in the doorway of one of the buildings, simply watching me. I didn't feel afraid of this, and it did not seem strange.
People were talking, milling around, but I wasn't being social. I was eating fish soup out of a paper cup. The bits of fish seemed like wax – like those was sculptures of food displayed in front of restaurants in Korea, sometimes.
I dropped my paper cup on the ground, and I was so angry, hungry and desperate that I began digging around on the ground for the little bits of fish and vegetables and eating them with chopsticks. Someone was laughing at me – a relative? a friend?
I ended up eating dirt and rocks. I focused on the ground, and ignored the people around me. It was one of those dreams I sometimes have, where I felt myself becoming an animal. Walking on all fours, loping along the hillside, biting at pebbles and blades of grass.
I slipped away into the forest.
What I'm listening to right now.
CHVRCHES, "Clearest Blue."
Lyrics.
[Verse 1] Light is all over us Like it always was Like it always was Shaped, by the clearest blue But it's not enough It's not enough, not enough
[Chorus] Just another time I'm caught inside Every open eye Holding on tightly to the sides Never quite learning why You'll meet me, you'll meet me You'll meet me halfway
Whenever I feel it coming on You can be well aware If ever I try to push away You can just keep me there So please say you'll meet me Meet me halfway
[Verse 2] Tied, to the shifting ground Like it always was Like it always was You, were the perfect storm But it's not enough, it's not enough Not enough, not enough
[Chorus – Variation] Just another time that I go down But you are keeping up Holding to a hope you'll undermine Never to be reversed
Just another time I'm caught inside Every open eye Holding on tightly to the sides Never quite learning why
Whenever I feel it coming on You can be well aware If ever I try to push away You can just keep me, tell me
[Build Up] Tell me tell me, you'll meet me Tell me tell me, you'll keep me Tell me tell me, you'll meet me Will you meet me more than halfway up?
[Outro] Shaped by, clearest blue Shaped by, clearest blue
Shaped (will you keep it half-a-way) By, clearest blue (will you keep it half-a-way) Shaped (will you keep it half-a-way) By, clearest blue (will you keep it half-a-way)
One's not enough I won't stop till I've given you up Here, right as I am, it's hard having fun It's much easier said than it's done
Hold me like before Hold me like you used to Control me like you used to
No You don't move me anymore And I'm glad that you don't 'Cause I can't have you anymore
But I thought you should know You don't move me anymore And I'm glad that you don't 'Cause I can't take it anymore
The room's still now when I'm lying 'Cause the well of the night has gone dry When they ask to behave, I paid them no mind Now I doubt if I'd have been so kind
Hold me like before Hold me like you used to Control me like you used to
No You don't move me anymore And I'm glad that you don't 'Cause I can't have you anymore
But I thought you should know You don't move me anymore And I'm glad that you don't 'Cause I can't take it anymore
Hold me like before Hold me like you used to Hold me like before Hold me like you used to
Hold me like before Hold me like you used to Control me like you used to
Hold me like before Hold me like you used to Control me like you used to
No You don't move me anymore And I'm glad that you don't 'Cause I can't have you anymore
But I thought you should know You don't move me anymore And I'm glad that you don't 'Cause I can't take it anymore
But I thought you should know
And it feels like being tranquilized I know the separation kills the soul But I won't stop falling like raindrops Because I like it when you lose control
I thought you should know You don't move me anymore And I'm glad that you don't 'Cause I can't take it anymore
And it feels like being tranquilized I know the separation kills the soul But I won't stop falling like raindrops Because I like it when you lose control
I thought you should know You don't move me anymore And I'm glad that you don't 'Cause I can't take it anymore
And it feels like being tranquilized I know the separation kills the soul But I won't stop falling like raindrops Because I like it when you lose control
Two weeks ago I had a good Monday. Yesterday I had a horrible Monday. There are good days and bad days.
I hate when I lose control of a class. I know, objectively, that it doesn’t happen very often. But when it does, I question my ability to be a teacher, I spin into self-doubt and anger. All that. Those obnoxious kids in the TEPS-M반 got the best of me, once again. By far it is one of the worst classes I’ve ever taught, on a very consistent basis.
I hate that that class is the last in the day’s schedule. The consequence is that I brought home my frustration and anger, instead of have some more pleasant class to clear my head first. I haven’t come home that upset in a very long time. I wanted to become the incredible hulk and knock things down.
My thoughts on this could be summarized by this humorous quote: "Columbus discovering America is like a car thief discovering your car." – This is not an exact quote, but I have seen the concept attributed to comedian Chris Rock, in various incarnations.
Unrelatedly…
What I'm listening to right now.
Camera Obscura, "Lloyd I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken." Who is Lloyd?
Lyrics.
He said "I'll protect you like you are the crown jewels", yeah Said he's feeling sorrier for me the more I behave badly I can bet
Hey Lloyd I'm ready to be heartbroken 'cuz I can't see further than my own nose at this moment
Jealousy is more than a word, now I understand You can't stay a girl while holding a boy's hand
Hey Lloyd I'm ready to be heartbroken 'cuz I can't see further than my own nose at this moment Hey Lloyd I'm ready to be heartbroken 'cuz I can't see further than my own nose at this moment
I've got my life of complication here to sort out I'll take myself to an east coast city and walk about
Hey Lloyd I'm ready to be heartbroken 'cuz I can't see further than my own nose at this moment Hey Lloyd I'm ready to be heartbroken 'cuz I can't see further than my own nose at this moment Hey Lloyd I'm ready to be heartbroken 'cuz I can't see further than my own nose at this moment
Café Tacvba, “Chilanga Banda.” Esta canción es puro eslang de chilangos, que de cierto modo es mi dialacto “nativo” de castellano – o sea, el dialecto que aprendí primero. Mi apodo en aquella época era “gringo chilango.” Y siempre me ha gustado.
Letra.
Ya chole chango chilango
que chafa chamba te chutas
no checa andar de tacuche
y chale con la charola
Tan choncho como una chinche
mas chueco que la fayuca
con fusca y con cachiporra
te pasa andar de guarura
Mejor yo me hecho una chela
y chance enchufo una chava
chambeando de chafirete
me sobra chupe y pachanga
Si choco saco chipote
la chota no es muy molacha
chiveando a los que machucan
se va en morder su talacha
De noche caigo al congal
no manches dice la changa
al choro de teporocho
enchifla pasa la pacha
Pachuco cholos y chundos
chichinflas y malafachas
aca los chompiras rifan
y bailan tibiri tabara
Mejor yo me hecho una chela
y chance enchufo una chava
chambeando de chafirete
me sobra chupe pachanga
Mi ñero mata la vacha
y canta la cucaracha
su choya vive de chochos
de chemo churro y garnachas
Pachuco cholos y chundos
chichinflas y malafachas
aca los chompiras rifan
y bailan tibiri tabara
Transeando de arriba abajo
hay va la chilanga banda
chin chin si me la recuerdan
carcacha y se les retacha
Black Sabbath, "War Pigs." Excellent video adaptation by Chip's World.
Lyrics.
Generals gathered in their masses, just like witches at black masses. Evil minds that plot destruction, sorcerer of death's construction. In the fields the bodies burning, as the war machine keeps turning. Death and hatred to mankind, poisoning their brainwashed minds…Oh lord yeah!
Politicians hide themselves away They only started the war Why should they go out to fight? They leave that role to the poor
Time will tell on their power minds Making war just for fun Treating people just like pawns in chess Wait `till their judgement day comes, yeah!
Now in darkness, world stops turning, ashes where the bodies burning. No more war pigs have the power, hand of god has struck the hour. Day of judgement, god is calling, on their knees the war pigs crawling. Begging mercy for their sins, Satan, laughing, spreads his wings…Oh lord, yeah!
정용화 (씨엔블루), “처음 사랑하는 연인들을 위해 (반말송).” I don’t really like this song, but it’s sociolinguistically interesting – it tackles the moment in a Korean romantic relationship when potential lovers switch to “banmal” – the less formal register of the Korean language used between intimates.
가사.
맨 처음 너를 보던 날
수줍기만 하던 너의 맑은 미소도
오늘이 지나면 가까워질 거야
매일 설레는 기대를 해
무슨 말을 건네 볼까
어떻게 하면 네가 웃어줄까
손을 건네보다 어색해질까 봐
멋쩍은 웃음만 웃어봐
우리 서로 반말하는 사이가 되기를
아직 조금 서투르고 어색한데도
고마워요 라는 말투 대신 좀 더 친하게 말을 해줄래
우리 서로 반말하는 사이가 될 거야
한 걸음씩 천천히 다가와
이젠 내 두 눈을 바라보며 말을 해줄래
널 사랑해
너와의 손을 잡던 날
심장이 멈춘듯한 기분들에
무슨 말 했는지 기억조차 안 나
마냥 설레는 기분인걸
우리 서로 반말하는 사이가 되기를
아직 조금 서투르고 어색한데도
고마워요 라는 말투 대신 좀 더 친하게 말을 해줄래
우리 서로 반말하는 사이가 될 거야
한 걸음씩 천천히 다가와
이젠 내 두 눈을 바라보며 말을 해줄래
널 사랑해
우리 서로 사랑하는 사이가 되기를
잡은 두 손 영원히 놓지 않을 거야
바라보는 너의 눈빛 속에 행복한 미소만 있길 바래
우리 서로 사랑하는 사이가 될 거야
아껴주고 편히 기대면 돼
너를 보는 나의 두 눈빛이 말하고 있어
널 사랑해
The city feels clean this time of night Just empty streets and me walking home To clear my head, I know it came as no surprise I'm affected more than I had guessed on what was said
If this love's not meant to be If the heart's not ready to open If we make it I won't see it's broken
If this love's not meant to be If the heart's not ready to open If we make it I won't see how it's broken
It's the quiet time before the dawn And I'm half past making sense of it Was I wrong?
Should I think to give it all In a world where not much Ever seems to last long?
If the love's not meant to be If the heart's not ready to open If we make it I won't see it's broken
If this love's not meant to be If the heart's not ready to open If we make it I won't see how it's broken
How it's broken
If this love's not meant to be If the heart's not ready to open If we make it I won't see it's broken
If this love's not meant to be If the heart's not ready to open If we make it I won't see it's broken
If this love's not meant to be If the heart's not ready to open If we make it I won't see how it's broken
There is actually a rather surprisingly sophisticated write-up of this song, from a musicological perspective, on a blog I have sometimes looked at. It gave me a new appreciation for this song that otherwise would just be one of the pop bits I tolerate because my students enjoy them.
Lyrics.
I threw a wish in the well, Don't ask me, I'll never tell I looked to you as it fell, And now you're in my way
I'd trade my soul for a wish, Pennies and dimes for a kiss I wasn't looking for this, But now you're in my way
Your stare was holdin', Ripped jeans, skin was showin' Hot night, wind was blowin' Where do you think you're going, baby?
Hey, I just met you, And this is crazy, But here's my number, So call me, maybe!
It's hard to look right At you baby, But here's my number, So call me, maybe!
Hey, I just met you, And this is crazy, But here's my number, So call me, maybe!
And all the other boys, Try to chase me, But here's my number, So call me, maybe!
You took your time with the call, I took no time with the fall You gave me nothing at all, But still, you're in my way
I beg, and borrow and steal At first sight and it's real I didn't know I would feel it, But it's in my way
Your stare was holdin', Ripped jeans, skin was showin' Hot night, wind was blowin' Where you think you're going, baby?
Hey, I just met you, And this is crazy, But here's my number, So call me, maybe!
It's hard to look right At you baby, But here's my number, So call me, maybe!
Hey, I just met you, And this is crazy, But here's my number, So call me, maybe!
And all the other boys, Try to chase me, But here's my number, So call me, maybe!
Before you came into my life I missed you so bad I missed you so bad I missed you so, so bad
Before you came into my life I missed you so bad And you should know that I missed you so, so bad (bad, bad)
It's hard to look right At you baby, But here's my number, So call me, maybe!
Hey, I just met you, And this is crazy, But here's my number, So call me, maybe!
And all the other boys, Try to chase me, But here's my number, So call me, maybe!
Before you came into my life I missed you so bad I missed you so bad I missed you so, so bad
Before you came into my life I missed you so bad And you should know that
Yeasayer, "Damaged Goods." Is this song about karma?
Lyrics (websourced – not sure about accuracy).
Her eyes are waiting This calls to panels sustained brown Everyone's tiring September thudding quickens with a serious slope We're in it together but no one pulls
As soon as the circus disappears Damaged goods, damaged goods The saints only preach when the coast is clear Damaged goods, damaged goods The lines in your palm shouldn't give you grief Damaged goods, damaged goods And quickly the bloom on the rose does leave Damaged goods, damaged goods
No matter what he thought she was No matter what he thought she was before Professional, a working stiff It's over now, damaged goods
As soon as the circus disappears Damaged goods, damaged goods The saints only preach when the coast is clear Damaged goods, damaged goods The lines in your palm shouldn't give you grief Damaged goods, damaged goods And quickly the bloom on the rose does leave Damaged goods, damaged goods
No doubts, no doubts What's done is done No doubts, no doubts What's done is done No doubts, no doubts What's done is done
Белый снег, серый лед, На растрескавшейся земле. Одеялом лоскутным на ней – Город в дорожной петле. А над городом плывут облака, Закрывая небесный свет. А над городом – желтый дым, Городу две тысячи лет, Прожитых под светом Звезды По имени Солнце…
И две тысячи лет – война, Война без особых причин. Война – дело молодых, Лекарство против морщин. Красная, красная кровь – Через час уже просто земля, Через два на ней цветы и трава, Через три она снова жива И согрета лучами Звезды По имени Солнце…
И мы знаем, что так было всегда, Что Судьбою больше любим, Кто живет по законам другим И кому умирать молодым. Он не помнит слово "да" и слово "нет", Он не помнит ни чинов, ни имен. И способен дотянуться до звезд, Не считая, что это сон, И упасть, опаленным Звездой По имени Солнце…
Fuí a la discoteca a ver si me conseguía una fresca. Got myself some rum Cause where I'm from sometimes you need some Me tomé mi trago y una princesa pasó por mi lado. La miré con ganas con esa carita de fama. Ella miró OH SI! Ella pasó OH NO! Ella se volvió con una sonrisa. Tengo que bailar con esa muñequita. La invité y puso brinca y enseguida quise jalarla pa' la pista. Y cuando llegué AY, llegó el tiburón y con el se me fué. AHI ESTA el tiburón. AHI ESTA el tiburón. SE LA LLEVO EL TIBURON, EL TIBURON, el tiburón. AHI ESTA el tiburón. AHI ESTA el tiburón. SE LA LLEVO EL TIBURON, EL TIBURON. No pares, SIGUE, SIGUE. No pares, SIGUE, SIGUE. No pares, SIGUE, SIGUE. No pares, SIGUE, SIGUE. No pares, SIGUE, SIGUE. No pares, SIGUE, SIGUE. No pares, SIGUE, SIGUE. No pares, SIGUE, SIGUE.
Okey, tanto, encontré otra chica que estaba mejor. Bailamos tres merengues de corrido y gozamos. Luego nos sentamos, ordenamos bebidas y conversamos. She look good, so of course I lied all my girls from the hood Ella preguntó si tenía novia y yo dije no. Me quité el anillo, despacito me lo metí en el bolsillo. Vino un descarado y me dijo : ¡Jo!…¿Tú no eres casado? Me quedé pasmado y enseguida se la llevó de mi lado. OH MY GOD ESE TIBURON Yo pense que tú sabías que es Proyecto Uno! Dela uh! AHI ESTA el tiburón. AHI ESTA el tiburón. SE LA LLEVO EL TIBURON, EL TIBURON. AHI ESTA el tiburón. AHI ESTA el tiburón. SE LA LLEVO EL TIBURON, EL TIBURON.
No pares, SIGUE, SIGUE. No pares, SIGUE, SIGUE. No pares, SIGUE, SIGUE. No pares, SIGUE, SIGUE. No pares, SIGUE, SIGUE. No pares, SIGUE, SIGUE. No pares, SIGUE, SIGUE. No pares, SIGUE, SIGUE.
UH! CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE, CHOCO. UH! DE CANELA, DE CANELA, DE CANELA, DE CA. UH! CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE, CHOCO. UH! DE CANELA, DE CANELA, DE CANELA, DE CA.
TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, GUAU, GUAU, GUAU, GUAU. TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, GUAU. TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, GUAU, GUAU, GUAU, GUAU. TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, TAM, GUAU.
UN POQUITO MAS SUAVE, UN POQUITO MAS SUAVE. UN POQUITO MAS SUAVE, UN POQUITO MAS SUAVE. UN POQUITO MAS SUAVE, UN POQUITO MAS SUAVE. UN POQUITO MAS SUAVE, UN POQUITO MAS SUAVE. UN POQUITO MAS DURO, UN POQUITO MAS DURO. UN POQUITO MAS DURO, UN POQUITO MAS DURO. UN POQUITO MAS DURO, UN POQUITO MAS DURO. UN POQUITO MAS DURO, UN POQUITO MAS DURO.
UH! CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE, CHOCO. UH! DE CANELA, DE CANELA, DE CANELA, DE CA. UH! CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE, CHOCO. UH! DE CANELA, DE CANELA, DE CANELA, DE CA.
CON LA MANO ARRIBA ¡HUEY! CON LA MANO ARRIBA ¡HUEY! CON LA MANO ARRIBA ¡HUEY! QUE ESTA FIESTA NO TERMINA. CON LA MANO ARRIBA ¡HUEY! CON LA MANO ARRIBA ¡HUEY! CON LA MANO ARRIBA ¡HUEY! QUE ESTA FIESTA NO TERMINA.
What I’m listening to right now.
[UPDATE 2020-04-25: Sadly, the video I posted here has disappeared from the internet. Presumably, due to copyright enforcement. It took footage from one of the Muppet Movies and matched it to NWA’s song “Express Yourself.” ]
MWA, “Express Yourself.” I like the car in the video. Reminds me of road trips with my dad.
[Dr. Dre:]
Yo, man… There’s a lot of brothers out there flakin’ and perpetratin
But scared to kick reality.
[Ice Cube:]
Man, you’ve been doing all this dope producing.
You had a chance to show ’em what time it is…
[Dr. Dre:]
So, what you want me to do?
Express Yourself…
[Dr. Dre:]
I’m expressin’ with my full capabilities,
And now I’m livin’ in correctional facilities,
Cause some don’t agree with how I do this.
I get straight, meditate like a Buddhist
I’m droppin’ flava, my behaviour is heriditery,
But my technique is very necessary.
Blame it on Ice Cube… Because he says it gets funky
When you got a subject and a predacit.
Add it on a dope beat
And that’ll make you think.
Some suckaz just tickle me pink
To my stomache. ‘Cause they don’t flow like this one.
You know what? I won’t hesitate to dis one
Or two before I’m through.
So don’t try to sing this!
Some drop science
While I’m droppin’ English.
Even if Yella
Makes it a-capella
I still express, yo, I don’t smoke weed or a sess.
Cause its known to give a brother brain damage.
And brain damage on the mic don’t manage
Nuthin’
But makin’ a sucker and you equal.
Don’t be another sequel…
Express Yourself…
Express Yourself…
Come on and do it…
Express Yourself…
Express Yourself…
Come on and do it…
Now, gettin’ back to the PG.
That’s program, and it’s easy.
Dre is back. Newjacks, I mean hollow,
Expressin’ ain’t their subject
Because they like to follow
The words, the style, the trend,
The records I spin.
Again and again and again
Yo, you on the other end.
Whatch a brother playin’ dope rhymes with no help.
There’s no fessin’ and guessin’
While I’m expressin myself.
It’s crazy to see people be
What society wants them to be. But not me!
Ruthless…
Is the way to go
They know.
Others say rhymes that fail
To be original.
Or they kill where the hiphop starts,
Forget about the ghetto
And rap for the pop charts.
Some musicians curse at home
But scared to use profanity
When up on the microphone.
Yeah, they want reality.
But you won’t hear none.
They rather exaggerate, a little fiction.
Some say no to drugs and take a stand,
But after the show they go lookin’ for the dopeman.
Or they ban my group from the radio.
Hear NWA and say “Hell no!”.
But you know it ain’t all about wealth.
As long as you make a note to…
Express Yourself…
Express Yourself…
Come on and do it…
Express Yourself…
Express Yourself…
Come on and do it…
Express Yourself…
From the heart.
Cause if you wanna start to move up the chart
Then expression is a big part of it.
You ain’t efficient when you flow
You ain’t swift, movin’ like a tortoise.
Full of rigor mortis.
There’s a little bit more to show
I got rhymes in my mind, embedded like an embryo.
Or a lesson – all of ’em expression
And if you start fessin’ –
I got a Smith and Wesson
For you.
I might ignore your record
Because it has no bottom.
I get loose in the summer. When in spring and autumn
It’s Dre on the mic, gettin’ physical.
Doin’ the job
NWA is the lynch mob!
Yes, I’m a cob?
But you know you need this.
And the knowledge is growin’
Just like a foetus, or a tumor.
But here’s the rumor:
Dre is in the neighborhood
And he’s up to no good.
When I start expressin’ myself,
Yella, slam it!
Cause If I stay funky like this I’m doin’ damage.
Or I’mma be too hyped,
And need a straight jacket.
I got knowledge and other suckaers lack it.
So, when you see Dre, a DJ on the mic,
Ask what it’s like.
It’s like we gettin’ hype tonight.
Cause if I strike
It ain’t for your good health.
But I won’t strike if you just…
Express Yourself…
Express Yourself…
Come on and do it…
Express Yourself…
Express Yourself…
Come on and do it…
Express Yourself…
Come on and do it…
Come on and do it…
Come on and do it…
Come on and do it… [music fades]
I really haven't been sleeping well, lately. Partly it's the sultry late summer temperatures, I'm sure – I don't like to sleep running my a/c which is, in any event, not very useful, but it's hard to sleep with my apartment at over 30 C.
So my sleep feels fragmented. I wake up at 4 am. I read or something – I refuse to just lie in bed awake – though it might be smart to try to meditate, but my mind has been really resisting that lately, too. So then I doze off and wake up again at 5:30. Same pattern, several times. The night gets sliced up.
When I was young, and could sleep continuously for 12 or more hours with little difficulty, I used to sleep with the radio on. I can't do that anymore, but I think it left some permanent effects.
One thing that used to happen that was more than a little bit entertaining was that my dreams would have commercials. Fully separate, hallucinatory vignettes inserted willy nilly into some other hallucination. Mostly I don't have commercials, anymore. But the other thing my dreaming developed at that time which remains a recurrent constant is the "announcer voice." Sometimes, my dreams have an announcer, or a voice-over. It's not my voice, nor that of anyone I know. Just a disembodied, often authoritative voice making commentary.
Since it's dreaming, however, the announcers rarely make much sense. Things don't seem relevant, or the utterances are non sequiturs.
Yesterday morning, I woke up before dawn with the following voice-over stunningly, clearly and precisely reverberant in my mind. In that moment of awakening, it felt incredibly profound, and I wrote it down – otherwise, like most of my undocumented dreaming, it probably would have faded from memory quickly and disappeared.
"You're not wearing shoes, and you blame me for such totalitarian conditions?" – the disembodied voice in my brain.
Instead, later I found that scrap of paper where I had written it, and I decided that although it was rather gnomic and weird, it still seemed oddly profound.
I wonder what it means, or shows, about my subconscious and my state of mind. Perhaps, it only demonstrates that I read too much philosophy, history and political science while barefoot in my apartment?
What I'm listening to right now.
Black Boned Angel, "The Witch Must Be Killed (Side B)." This is a "drone metal" group from New Zealand – I [broken link! FIXME]posted "Side A" some years ago. My musical tastes remain weird.
World Order (Genki Sudo), "Multipolarity." These guys do really interesting robotic dance routines, which is why I first found their music. The music is kind of pop-generic but I don't mind it, either. Mostly it's for the videos, though.
I don't have the lyrics. I searched by my ability to search in Japanese is stunningly poor.
Chew the pill that tastes like hell, but gives you strength
Embrace the drug that makes you mad, cause then it turns you into something else
Feel the need for love grows stronger!
Swap your mind for a mirror-search, and shake until the break of day
One day you’ll realize that you were wrong
And you’ll regret that all this happened
Did it (all) happen?
Some day you’ll realize that you were wrong
(You’ll be) Left with paranoia, (as your only friend)
Your mind is full of enemies, the room is full of energies
That want to take control
They’re all around you, and you’re all alone
Your mind is full of enemies, the room is full of energies
Haunting your soul
They’re all around you, and you’re on your own
One day you’ll realize that you were wrong
You’ll regret that all this happened
Some day you’ll realize that you were wrong
To be left with Paranoia
오빠 차 뽑았다 널 데리러 가
Baby Let’s ride (Hey) 빨리 나와 (Skkkkkrt)
어서 타 달리자 어디든 괜찮아
Baby Let’s ride Let’s do it All night
질리도록 말했잖아 돈 벌어서 데리러간다고
넌 그냥 몸만 오면 돼
쥐뿔 하나 없어도 날 믿어주던 사람들에게
확실히 보답해
Brake 없이 Accelerator
말년휴가처럼 달려가 제대로
신발대신 이젠 바퀴
멈출 생각 없어 아우토반이 된 앞길
풀릴 일 없게
꽉 조여 매 안전벨트
걱정 마 너 말곤
아무도 안태워 내 옆엔
아까워 우리 나이가
좀 빨라도 겁내지마
가끔 속도위반
오빠 차 뽑았다 널 데리러 가
Baby Let’s ride (Hey) 빨리 나와 (Skkkkkrt)
어서 타 달리자 어디든 괜찮아
Baby Let’s ride Let’s do it All night
다 태워 먼저 부모님 또
뒷바라지해준 여자친구
절대 아냐 허세나 생색
내 차엔 없거든 Airback
돈 번 다는 말은 진짜 종이 쪼가리 몇 장을
바라는 게 아냐 알아서 따라올 걸 알아
이젠 사치가 된 부모님의 걱정
한낱 소원 같은 게 아니었어
I love my car my ride 네 바퀴 달린 왕좌
U know U want it baby Shotgun it baby
Strap on your seatbelt Let’s ride
I love my car my ride 네 바퀴 달린 천사
Zero to one hunnit baby
We runnin crazy
Let’s make some noise
오빠 차 뽑았다 널 데리러 가
Baby Let’s ride (Hey) 빨리 나와 (Skkkkkrt)
어서 타 달리자 어디든 괜찮아
Baby Let’s ride Let’s do it All night
운전면허 딴 적은 없어도 아끼고 안 쓰고 벌어
그 당시 전 재산 털어 십년은 넘은
아빠차를 바꿔드렸어
한 달 뒤에 주차장에 세워져
먼지 덮인 걸 보고 화냈지
울 아빠는 말했지내 아들의 첫차 아까워서 어떻게 타겠니? For real
오빠 차 뽑았다 널 데리러 가
Baby Let’s ride (Hey) 빨리 나와 (Skkkkkrt)
어서 타 달리자 어디든 괜찮아
Baby Let’s ride
오빠 차 뽑았다 널 데리러 가
Baby Let’s ride (Hey) 빨리 나와 (Skkkkkrt)
어서 타 달리자 어디든 괜찮아
Baby Let’s ride Let’s do it All night
[Verse 1] Well, I dreamt you were playing An old guitar from a five and dime There was a song trapped inside With the sweetest tune You said it was sad to sing
[Chorus] Where do you fall when you have nowhere to go? Where do you go where you have no one to see? What do you see when you have nothing to feel? What do you feel when you're all alone?
[Verse 2] It’s a song that circles round and around Like a bird lost inside a cloud Cut off from the stars and they’re guided in the light Not sure which way is up or down anymore
[Chorus]
[Outro] Tired of waiting Clouds will be breaking Soon you'll escape and Someday we'll find a place in the sky
Saul Williams, “List of Demands (Reparations).” This song has a reference to the concept of reparations for African-Americans, which has recently seen some revival, especially on the part of the stunningly talented writer, Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Lyrics.
I want my money back, I’m down here drowning in your fat
You got me on my knees praying for everything you lack
I ain’t afraid of you, I’m just a victim of your fear
You cower in your tower praying that I’ll disappear
I got another plan, one that requires me to stand
On the stage or in the street, don’t need no microphone or beat
And if you hear this song, if you ain’t dead then sing along
Bang and strum to this here drum ’til you get where you belong
I got a list of demands written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist and you gon’ know where I stand
We living hand to mouth, you wanna be somebody?
See somebody? Try and free somebody?
Got a list of demands written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist and you gon’ know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
Hand to mouth
I wrote a song for you today while I was sitting in my room
I jumped up on a bed today and played it on a broom
I didn’t think that it would be a song that you would hear
But when I played it in my head, I made you reappear
I wrote a video for it and I acted out each part
And then I took your picture out and taped it to my heart
I’ve taped you to my heart, dear girl, I’ve taped you to my heart
And if you pull away from me you’ll tear my life apart
I got a list of demands written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist and you gon’ know where I stand
We living hand to mouth, you wanna be somebody?
See somebody? Try and free somebody?
Got a list of demands written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist and you gon’ know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
Hand to mouth
Ecstasy, suffering, echinacea, buffering
We aim to remember what we choose to forget
God’s just a baby and her diaper is wet
Call the police, I’m strapped to the teeth
And liable to disregard your every belief
Call on the law, I’m fixing to draw
A line between what is and seems and call up a brawl
Call on them now ’cause it’s about to go pow
I’m standing on the threshold of the ups and the downs
Call up a truce ’cause I’m about to break loose
Protect ya neck ’cause son I’m breaking out of my noose
I got a list of demands written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist and you gon’ know where I stand
We living hand to mouth, you wanna be somebody?
See somebody? Try and free somebody?
Got a list of demands written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist and you gon’ know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
Hand to mouth
I got a list of demands written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist and you gon’ know where I stand
We living hand to mouth, you wanna be somebody?
See somebody? Try and free somebody?
Got a list of demands written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist and you gon’ know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
Hand to mouth
Now the king told the boogie men You have to let that raga drop The oil down the desert way Has been shakin' to the top The Sheik he drove his Cadillac He went a' cruisin' down the ville The muezzin was a' standing On the radiator grille
[Chorus:] The Shareef don't like it Rock the Casbah Rock the Casbah The Shareef don't like it Rock the Casbah Rock the Casbah
By order of the prophet We ban that boogie sound Degenerate the faithful With that craazy Casbah sound But the Bedouin they brought out The electric camel drum The local guitar picker Got his guitar picking thumb As soon as the Shareef Had cleared the square They began to wail
[Chorus:]
Now over at the temple Oh! They really pack 'em in The in crowd say it's cool To dig this chanting thing But as the wind changed direction The temple band took five The crowd caught a wiff Of that crazy Casbah jive
[Chorus:]
The king called up his jet fighters He said you better earn your pay Drop your bombs between the minarets Down the Casbah way
As soon as the Shareef was Chauffeured outta there The jet pilots tuned to The cockpit radio blare
As soon as the Shareef was Outta their hair The jet pilots wailed
[Chorus:]
He thinks it's not kosher Fundamentally he can't take it. You know he really hates it. Really really hates it!
Nosequién y los Nosecuantos, "Pacha." No entiendo esta canción muy bien, pero me imagino que el eslang tiene un sentido que no debo elaborar demasiado aquí.
Sé que el vocablo "vohue" es una alteración de "huevo," utilizando el juego de palabras "vesre." "Hacer la sapa" es probablemente un lundardismo. Respecto el título, "pacharaca" es una mujer ligera: ""Originalmente 'pacharaca', despectivo para muchacha de vida ligera o de entrega sexual sin mayores complicaciones, pero de bajo nivel social y mestiza." – según una definición encontrada en línea.
Letra.
Ya no recuerdas quien soy, yo te hice plan en la playa tu te enfrentabas al sol y yo me acerque por la espalda pasado el susto inicial, vencida tu descofianza buscamos de lo que hablar y cruzamos las miradas, me fui con tu direccion y tu numero en la agenda, y en la mente un vision mezcla de hembrita y pantera, deje q pasen los dias y a tu numero marque, y cuando por ti pregunte, me dijeron q no vivias, Ja Ja Ja . . . ni siquiera te conocian
Tu no estas obligada a satisfacerme, por eso no debes mentirme si no te apetece verme, trata de no ser falsa busca ser sincera siempre, quiza antes de recibir lo que puedes ofrecerme lastima que con tu gracia y con esa linda facha te quieres hacer la sapa y actues como una pacha
Pacha . . . Pacharaca Pacha . . . Pacharaca
Tu no estas obligada a satisfacerme, por eso no debes mentirme si no te apetece verme.
Pacha . . . Pacharaca Pacha . . . Pacharaca
Lastima que con tu linda gracia y esa linda facha te quieres hacer la sapa y actues como una pacha
Pacha . . . Pacharaca Pacha . . . Pacharaca(x2)
No te veo de nuevo, no quiero verte otra vez, me he dado cuenta de que contigo, solo he recibido un revez no te veo de nuevo en la playa, no te veo para que te ahogues me he dado cuenta de que simplemente eres una calienta vohue
Franz Ferdinand, "Right Action." Um… this song seems weird. Is it a reference to steps 2, 3 and 4 of the Buddhist eightfold path? Or just a coincidence?
Lyrics.
Come home practically all is nearly forgiven Right thoughts, right words, right action Almost everything could be forgotten Right thoughts, right words, right action
[Chorus:] But how can we leave you To a Saturday night or a Sunday morning Good morning
Sometimes I wish you were here, weather permitting Right thoughts, right words, right action This time, same as before, I'll love you forever Right thoughts, right words, right action
[Chorus]
11 South Court Gardens England’s Lane past end to London
[Outro:] Sometimes I wish you were here, weather permitting Right thoughts, right words, right action Right thoughts, right words, right action Right thoughts, right words, right action Right thoughts, right words, right action…
Sometimes, I will admit, what I’m listening to right now is not something I particularly like. I try to keep myself exposed to Korean culture and that includes the pop my students mention to me or that I happen across on the TV.
My students said I was old yesterday. This is true, but I still ended up preoccupied by it. So I went surfing Korean pop music.
Tomorrow will bring new expectations.
Psychedelic shack, that’s where it’s at
Psychedelic shack, that’s where it’s at
Psychedelic shack, that’s where it’s at
Psychedelic shack, that’s where it’s at
People let me tell you about a place I know
To get in it don’t take much dough
Where you can really do your thing, oh yeah
It’s got a neon sign outside that says
Come in and take a look at your mind
You’d be surprised what you might find, yeah
Strobe lights flashin’ on signs empty after sundown–1:15
People gather there from all parts of town, oh yeah
What do I call it, you know it’s just across the track
People I’m talking about the psychedelic shack
Psychedelic shack, that’s where it’s at
Psychedelic shack, that’s where it’s at
Psychedelic shack, that’s where it’s at, oh yeah
You can have your fortune told
You can learn the meaning of soul
There ain’t no such thing as time
Incense in the air, ‘in signs painted everywhere
I guarantee you this place will blow your mind
Music so high, you can’t get over it, so low, you can’t get under it
Right around the corner
Oh yeah just across the track
People I’m talking about the psychedelic shack
Psychedelic shack, that’s where it’s at
Psychedelic shack, that’s where it’s at
Psychedelic shack, that’s where it’s at, oh yeah
Millionaires, kings and queens, go there to do their things
You might see anybody there, yeah
Bear skin rugs, tails and beads
Don’t really matter what you wear
You can take off your shoes, sit on the floor
Join in and be what you wanna be
Don’t you know it’s right around the corner
Oh yeah just across the track
People I’m talking about the psychedelic shack
Psychedelic shack, that’s where it’s at
Psychedelic shack, that’s where it’s at
Psychedelic shack, that’s where it’s at, oh yeah
They got a cat there shouting the blues
Talking about payin’ some dues
People walking around reciting poetry
Screamin’ guitars and a thousand colored lights
People I’m telling you this place is really out of sight
You can have your fortune told
You can learn the meaning of soul
I guarantee this place will blow your mind
Don’t you know it’s right around the corner
Oh yeah, just across the track
I’m still in a kind of bad state of mind, but I’ll get over it.
What I’m listening to right now.
Charanjit Singh, “Raga Bhairav.” This is from a unique 1982 album called “Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat” which has been “grandfathered” into the Acid House genre, which didn’t even exist in 1982. Nevertheless, the sound is quite convincingly within the style. I heard about the death of Mr Singh on the radio yesterday, and realized I had this in my collection, so I went and listened to it. It does sound quite contemporary. [daily log: walking, 6 km]
The other day, we were starting book three in the Smart Phonics series in my Alpha1 cohort (elementary 1st and 2nd graders). This is where the kids first meet the obscure and confusing "silent e."
This always makes me think back to PBS's Electric Company show, circa 1970s.
What I'm listening to right now.
Tom Lehrer, "Silent E."
I think I will try to show this to my students.
Lyrics.
Who can turn a can into a cane? Who can turn a pan into a pane? It's not too hard to see It's silent e
Who can turn a cub into a cube? Who can turn a tub into a tube? It's elementary For silent e
He took a pin and turned it into pine He took a twin and turned him into twine
Who can turn a cap into a cape? Who can turn a tap into a tape? A little glob becomes a globe instantly If you just add silent e
He turned a dam – alikazam! – into a dame But my friend sam stayed just the same
Who can turn a man into a mane? Who can turn a van into a vane? A little hug becomes huge instantly Don't add w, don't add x, and don't add y or z, Just add silent e
