On this Independence Day, the first thing that came to mind was Norah Jones. Let me explain:
The last couple years I’ve begun watching more documentaries. I love the American Experience series, which shares many writers and producers with the documentary work of Ken Burns.
One of the things that contribute to a great documentary is the use of music. Ken Burns clearly understanding this using period music in artful and deliberate ways, however sometimes he includes music that is not from the period to great effect.
In Ken Burn’s epic Civil War documentary, an original song “Ashokan Farewell,” accompanied the reading of a letter of Sullivan Ballou (which I discussed in this earlier post). This is one of those “if you don’t cry when you watch this, you must be a Cylon” moments.
Burns did a similar thing again using a Norah Jones song as part of his World War II documentary The War.
Burn’s juxtaposes Jones’ gentle and sincere voice against images from World War II. These are images of terror, bravery, triumph and tragedy. There’s American fighting in unimaginable situations pushing aside their survival instincts and logic to fight for the idea, the dream, and the hope that is America.
As Jones sings “I gave my best to you,” we see a soldier who was killed in battle half buried in sand. He gave more than his best, he gave his everything. Watching this video is a celebration and a tribute to people who fought for our freedom but it’s also a question to all of us whether we give our best to America.
Today we celebrate our independence and the creation of our country. These are two incredible gifts we’ve been given that most of us have done nothing to earn. Did I do any work to have the freedoms I enjoy? No.
There are still many Americans who fight in the military to preserve our freedoms but most people don’t. We go about our daily lives, sometimes thinking about what we can do for our country and other times thinking about what our country can do for us. But honestly, most of the time we’re too wrapped up in our own lives to even think about our relationship to our country.
In addition to seeing fireworks, partying with our friends and family, let’s take this Independence Day to think about how we can give our best to America. It can be something as simple as committing to go to a city council meeting, or volunteering at a community event.
We can’t earn our blessings but if we take advantage of them in a positive way then we can make the spirits of the people who truly gave their best rest easy, knowing their sacrifices were not made in a vain.
Showing posts with label America. Show all posts
Showing posts with label America. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Monday, October 4, 2010
Secret Agent Man by Johnny Rivers
There are many misunderstood lyrics in rock music. While some musicians are very deliberate at making sure that their lyrics are understood, rock singers often do not focus on annunciation as part of their craft resulting in misunderstood lyrics or simply words aren’t understood at all.
Most of the time, this doesn’t really bother me. I’m used to looking up Springsteen and Rolling Stones lyrics to make sense of the meaning in their songs. However there is one example, one instance in which a misunderstood lyric had a profound effect on my identity: “Secret Agent Man.”
When I was in elementary school my dad would often pick me up from school and he would always be listening to Oldies stations (which is one reason I love pop music the way I do). Now I don’t know if he was serious or joking when he told me that this particular song about a spy was named “Secret Asian Man.”
Now in my elementary school brain somehow it made sense. Could you really blame me? Look, there is no hint of an ending “t” syllable when Rivers sings the chorus, AT ALL. Asian people can do spy-like James Bond stuff too. So why not? This is a song about an Asian James Bond character who was “secret” as well as a “man,” hence “Secret Asian Man.”
This connected with one of the other culturally experiences I shared with my dad, watching James Bond movies. I loved watching these films with my father and whenever marathons were on the television, we were all over it. Now, James Bond was of course, never Asian, but a lot of bad guys were like that guy who through hat at people.
Connecting my childhood fantasies of being a James Bond-like spy with a song that told of an Asian James Bond cemented in my head that I, a little Asian boy, could in fact be a “Secret Asian Man.”
Unfortunately like many childhood illusions, I came to the realization that Johnny Rivers was not actually talking about an Asian spy but instead was cashing in one the 1960s spy craze by recording a song about a generic spy character.
Realizing that there was no song about an Asian spy shattered my dreams.
Johnny Rivers, you made me think that I could do something with my life, that I could be a “Secret Asian Man.” You convinced me that racial barriers could be crossed and that stereotypes could not limit my dreams. Then reality crushed the hopes of a little boy who realized that you actually didn’t believe that an Asian man could be on the Riviera one day and hide out in Bombay the next day. All you believed was that by catching on to a craze you could cash out.
Well I hope you’re happy and that your “Secret Agent Man” money comforts you when think of all of the little Asian boys that you misled with your incoherent Southern Drawl.
Most of the time, this doesn’t really bother me. I’m used to looking up Springsteen and Rolling Stones lyrics to make sense of the meaning in their songs. However there is one example, one instance in which a misunderstood lyric had a profound effect on my identity: “Secret Agent Man.”
When I was in elementary school my dad would often pick me up from school and he would always be listening to Oldies stations (which is one reason I love pop music the way I do). Now I don’t know if he was serious or joking when he told me that this particular song about a spy was named “Secret Asian Man.”
Now in my elementary school brain somehow it made sense. Could you really blame me? Look, there is no hint of an ending “t” syllable when Rivers sings the chorus, AT ALL. Asian people can do spy-like James Bond stuff too. So why not? This is a song about an Asian James Bond character who was “secret” as well as a “man,” hence “Secret Asian Man.”
This connected with one of the other culturally experiences I shared with my dad, watching James Bond movies. I loved watching these films with my father and whenever marathons were on the television, we were all over it. Now, James Bond was of course, never Asian, but a lot of bad guys were like that guy who through hat at people.
Connecting my childhood fantasies of being a James Bond-like spy with a song that told of an Asian James Bond cemented in my head that I, a little Asian boy, could in fact be a “Secret Asian Man.”
Unfortunately like many childhood illusions, I came to the realization that Johnny Rivers was not actually talking about an Asian spy but instead was cashing in one the 1960s spy craze by recording a song about a generic spy character.
Realizing that there was no song about an Asian spy shattered my dreams.
Johnny Rivers, you made me think that I could do something with my life, that I could be a “Secret Asian Man.” You convinced me that racial barriers could be crossed and that stereotypes could not limit my dreams. Then reality crushed the hopes of a little boy who realized that you actually didn’t believe that an Asian man could be on the Riviera one day and hide out in Bombay the next day. All you believed was that by catching on to a craze you could cash out.
Well I hope you’re happy and that your “Secret Agent Man” money comforts you when think of all of the little Asian boys that you misled with your incoherent Southern Drawl.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Post #300!!!!! Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen
From the first post I did on this blog I've kept a running list of songs to post about. "Thunder Road" has been on that list since the very beginning. I've had many false starts trying to put into words how much this songs means to me, how it changed my life and why every time I hear this song it becomes more powerful and meaningful to who I am.
So I'll just let the song speak for itself.
I could not think a better song to represent what this blog has been about, what I believe and what my life is all about:
Magic,
Faith,
Love,
Hope.
So I'll just let the song speak for itself.
I could not think a better song to represent what this blog has been about, what I believe and what my life is all about:
Magic,
Faith,
Love,
Hope.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Bui-Doi (from Miss Saigon)
[A conversation between myself (T) and one of my fourth grade student (J)]
J: Mr. Tang, are you married?
T: Yes I am
J: What’s your wife’s name?
T: Diana
J: Is she Asian?
T: No, actually she’s Caucasian, white like you
J: hmm . . . so when you have kids are they going to be Asian or normal?
T: [sigh], no actually. . . well, our kids aren't going to be either, they will be a mix of Asian and Caucasian
J: ohhhhhhh . . .
Most people are mixed race. My wife for example is 1/4 British, 1/4 Polish and 1/2 um. . . white. Keep in mind that once upon a time Polish, Jewish as well as Italians were perceived to be a different race and not "white."
As American culture has developed being "white" has taken on many groups that used to be minorities with the influx of other minorities including, Hispanics, Asians and African-Americans. The only difference between a mixed-race person who is Polish, English and Jewish and someone who is African-American and Asian is that the latter person is visually more apparent to be a mixed race because of the fact that there simply are fewer of that "mixture" in our country.
Diana and I are going to have children that are mixed and I'm glad that we live in a society that in general speaks highly of mixed race kids. Many people both Asian and Caucasian have commented that kids who are half-Asian and half-white are very attractive (i.e. Keanu Reeves, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Jennifer Tilly). In a way, our children represent the American dream of racial harmony however that’s not necessarily the case for all children of mixed race.
There were many things left behind by the American military when we left at the end of the Vietnam war, devastated cities, unexploded bombs that littered the countryside and mixed raced children created by members of the American military. In no way am I implying that the American are completely at fault for this. Vietnamese woman had a role in this in many different ways but regardless of who’s to blame for these children the bottom line is that they exist as “Bui-Doi,” the dust of life, outcasts from society.
In the middle of the brilliant musical “Mrs. Saigon” a remake of the opera, Madam Butterfly, a Vietnam Veteran makes an impassionate speech to raise money to aid these children.
Starting with an a capella men’s choir coming out of the darkness, this songs unfolds into a solo voice. There is passion and desperation built into the songs which while framed as a persuasive speech making us reconsider the role that we played in these children’s lives.
I don’t think anyone would disagree with the tragedy and the sentiment in this song. These really are “all our children too.” While I’m glad that my children will not be viewed as “half-breeds” I can’t but think that we all have the potential to view children in our country as “Bui-Doi” to a degree.
No matter how much my children try to be “American” they will always be perceived byr the mainstream as a minority. Some of this may be positive stereotypes like that they are good at math, or more disturbing negative stereotypes like that they are North Koreans who want to blow up America. I’m not saying we are there right now but it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to picture people getting there.
“Bui-Doi” is reminder not only a plea crisis that we must take responsibility for but it’s also a reminder of the danger of projecting our fears, insecurities and anger upon children punishing them for our own failures.
They are all our children too.
J: Mr. Tang, are you married?
T: Yes I am
J: What’s your wife’s name?
T: Diana
J: Is she Asian?
T: No, actually she’s Caucasian, white like you
J: hmm . . . so when you have kids are they going to be Asian or normal?
T: [sigh], no actually. . . well, our kids aren't going to be either, they will be a mix of Asian and Caucasian
J: ohhhhhhh . . .
Most people are mixed race. My wife for example is 1/4 British, 1/4 Polish and 1/2 um. . . white. Keep in mind that once upon a time Polish, Jewish as well as Italians were perceived to be a different race and not "white."
As American culture has developed being "white" has taken on many groups that used to be minorities with the influx of other minorities including, Hispanics, Asians and African-Americans. The only difference between a mixed-race person who is Polish, English and Jewish and someone who is African-American and Asian is that the latter person is visually more apparent to be a mixed race because of the fact that there simply are fewer of that "mixture" in our country.
Diana and I are going to have children that are mixed and I'm glad that we live in a society that in general speaks highly of mixed race kids. Many people both Asian and Caucasian have commented that kids who are half-Asian and half-white are very attractive (i.e. Keanu Reeves, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Jennifer Tilly). In a way, our children represent the American dream of racial harmony however that’s not necessarily the case for all children of mixed race.
There were many things left behind by the American military when we left at the end of the Vietnam war, devastated cities, unexploded bombs that littered the countryside and mixed raced children created by members of the American military. In no way am I implying that the American are completely at fault for this. Vietnamese woman had a role in this in many different ways but regardless of who’s to blame for these children the bottom line is that they exist as “Bui-Doi,” the dust of life, outcasts from society.
In the middle of the brilliant musical “Mrs. Saigon” a remake of the opera, Madam Butterfly, a Vietnam Veteran makes an impassionate speech to raise money to aid these children.
Starting with an a capella men’s choir coming out of the darkness, this songs unfolds into a solo voice. There is passion and desperation built into the songs which while framed as a persuasive speech making us reconsider the role that we played in these children’s lives.
I don’t think anyone would disagree with the tragedy and the sentiment in this song. These really are “all our children too.” While I’m glad that my children will not be viewed as “half-breeds” I can’t but think that we all have the potential to view children in our country as “Bui-Doi” to a degree.
No matter how much my children try to be “American” they will always be perceived byr the mainstream as a minority. Some of this may be positive stereotypes like that they are good at math, or more disturbing negative stereotypes like that they are North Koreans who want to blow up America. I’m not saying we are there right now but it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to picture people getting there.
“Bui-Doi” is reminder not only a plea crisis that we must take responsibility for but it’s also a reminder of the danger of projecting our fears, insecurities and anger upon children punishing them for our own failures.
They are all our children too.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Nuestro Himno (Spanish language version of “The Star-Spangled Banner”)
Does the thought of the English language not doing being the majority spoken language make you uncomfortable? Does the idea of Caucasians in America being a minority seem wrong? Do you think America be an inferior country if the majority of citizens were Muslim and Buddhist as opposed to Christian?
There is something weird in the air. Controversy about allowing Muslim to build their house of worship, illegal immigration suspicions in Arizona, Senators and representatives from both sides of the aisle trying to play with the Latino vote. Let those thoughts simmer and we’ll come back to that. We’ll take a look at music as a way to examines some of our feelings about America.
During the 2006 United States immigration reform protest a group of Spanish speaking musicians to show support for Hispanic immigration. This song featured a modernized beat and a departure from the traditional musical setting of the “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
There is a Code, approved by Congress that defines the way that our national anthem should always be performed. This code outlines the appropriate times to perform this song, the key and the specific tempo in which to perform this song.
According to the code very few people every perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” the “correct” way. If you want to make a stand that this Spanish language version is not appropriate, that’s fine just make sure you include other variations as being inappropriate including:
Jimi Hendrix-incorrect instrumentation
Whitney Houston-incorrect meter
And my personal favorites: Igor Stravinsky-incorrect harmony (which led to a police seizure of the music)
I revel in this multiple interpretations of the national anthem. Like the beautiful multiplicity of American culture, these version reflect the people and experiences that constantly redefine what it means to be American.
I believe that the way that we react to art is a reflection of the way that we react to other things in our lives and the way we feel about “The Star-Spangled Banner” reflects the way we feel about America.
Before you start arguing for an English speaking, Christian and Caucasian ideal of America please consider the beauty in the variations in our beautiful National Anthem. If you think that people should perform this song one way and that Americans all should be Caucasian and Christian that's fine. You have the right to create that community, but you don't need everyone in America to be that way for you to have that experience.
America is not defined by a language, a religion or a race, it's defined by the idea that we have the freedom to chose the way we want to live whether it's in a all prodminantly African-American community or a going to a church filed with interracial couples. It's in embracing this freedom that we find our greatest strengths, our truest spirit and our love for America.
There is something weird in the air. Controversy about allowing Muslim to build their house of worship, illegal immigration suspicions in Arizona, Senators and representatives from both sides of the aisle trying to play with the Latino vote. Let those thoughts simmer and we’ll come back to that. We’ll take a look at music as a way to examines some of our feelings about America.
During the 2006 United States immigration reform protest a group of Spanish speaking musicians to show support for Hispanic immigration. This song featured a modernized beat and a departure from the traditional musical setting of the “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
There is a Code, approved by Congress that defines the way that our national anthem should always be performed. This code outlines the appropriate times to perform this song, the key and the specific tempo in which to perform this song.
According to the code very few people every perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” the “correct” way. If you want to make a stand that this Spanish language version is not appropriate, that’s fine just make sure you include other variations as being inappropriate including:
Jimi Hendrix-incorrect instrumentation
Whitney Houston-incorrect meter
And my personal favorites: Igor Stravinsky-incorrect harmony (which led to a police seizure of the music)
I revel in this multiple interpretations of the national anthem. Like the beautiful multiplicity of American culture, these version reflect the people and experiences that constantly redefine what it means to be American.
I believe that the way that we react to art is a reflection of the way that we react to other things in our lives and the way we feel about “The Star-Spangled Banner” reflects the way we feel about America.
Before you start arguing for an English speaking, Christian and Caucasian ideal of America please consider the beauty in the variations in our beautiful National Anthem. If you think that people should perform this song one way and that Americans all should be Caucasian and Christian that's fine. You have the right to create that community, but you don't need everyone in America to be that way for you to have that experience.
America is not defined by a language, a religion or a race, it's defined by the idea that we have the freedom to chose the way we want to live whether it's in a all prodminantly African-American community or a going to a church filed with interracial couples. It's in embracing this freedom that we find our greatest strengths, our truest spirit and our love for America.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
California Girls (Gurls) by The Beach Boys (Katy Perry)
“California Girls” by The Beach Boys is an important benchmark for the band providing a glimpse into the genius they would reveal the next year in 1966 with their album Pet Sounds. This song may not have featured the most progressive of lyrics but demonstrated a wide array of tone colors and a remarkable musical depth that inspired band like the Beatles to think outside of the box.
“California Gurls” is a song recorded by Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg inspired by Jay-Z’s tribute to New York, “Empire State Of Mind.” Released in late May of this year, this song has gone on to become one of the most popular songs of this summer. Katy’s song is a throwback musically and lyrically with 1980s influenced synthesized sounds and cultural references (“Daisy-Dukes”?!? How old do you have to be to get that reference?). Oh, and the music video features Perry transforming her swim suit into a whip cream canon giving the illusions of lactating whip cream out of her mammary glands . . . yeah. . . not so hot.
One of my friends suggested I look at the Katy Perry song but I couldn't help but think about The Beach Boys song that basically has the same name. Does it make sense to compare songs that were recorded 44 years apart? They are from completely different times with completely different musical sensibilities but they do share a spiritual connection.
Both of these songs are tributes to the California from different perspectives. The Beach Boys claim they have traveled the world and while all these other girls they have met are great they don’t match California girls. Katy takes the perspective of an insider talking about how great her girls are and how they will “melt your Popsicle” (man, I don’t even know where to take this one).
What’s stands out to me after listening to these two songs is how progressive the Beach Boys were in their production of their song. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Katy Perry (one of my earlier posts was about “Hot N Cold”), but my God, really listen to what The Beach Boys were doing.
They open “California Girls” with a slow guitar sparkling like the reflection of a sunrise in the ocean. Through the first verse, the Beach Boys add layers of instruments but it’s the second verse where the music gets blown wide open. It’s like someone coming around a corner and suddenly seeing a beach full of people partying and surfing in the sun. The back-up singing, the saxophones, the shining vibraphone and the booming percussion create a Cathedral of soun.
Pointing this out is not a knock against Katy Perry. She has again demonstrated her ability to create catchy tunes, perfect to dance too, exuding her quirky and infectious personality through her vocal performance.
For me, "California Gurls" doesn't quite work for me, some of it is the weird imagery from the video, but most of it comes from comparing it The Beach Boys song which I can't help with song titles so similar.
If you love Katy's song, party on!! More power to you, every summer needs a song to dance to and Katy's given us a great one. I'll be here listening to music that's older than I am wondering how The Beach Boys captured the innocence and wonder of summer in music . . . disturbed by the imagery of a girl angrily shooting whip cream out of her bikini top.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Ashokan Farewell from Ken Burns’ The Civil War
"Gen. McClellan was such a wuss. seriously. WORST CIVIL WAR GENERAL EVER!!!"
-Facebook Status update June 24th
As I was watching Ken Burns’ epic documentary The Civil War, I got so enraptured in the drama of the conflict I had to post the a Facbook status update about the McClellan, a Northern general.
McClellan had the resources and the troops but with a lack of confidence and spirit needlessly prolong the war. Like at the Battle of Antietam, when McClellan with troops outnumbering the Confederate troops failed to launch counterattacks. Why was I getting so frustrated with McClellan? I realized it was because I thought of him as being on my team, the winning team, the North. After finishing the The Civil War, I realized how wrong I was to feel this way.
My understanding of this conflict from my exposure during middle school was that the North didn’t want slavery the South were bad guys who did. So the North fought them, freed the slaves and the South lost, the end. Ken Burns revealed a lot more to this story.
The South succeeded and the way the North got them back was by invading their land. Lincoln refused to let the war be about slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation was very much a political move. He stated at one time that if he could win the war and not free the slaves he would. There were no good guys or bad guys in this war, only Americans.
At the end of it all the person that I most admired was not Lincoln but General Lee. While his military strategy beating the odds over and over is impressive it was the way that he served his troops which is the most touching. Lee constantly advocated for the welfare for his troops and after his loss in Gettysburg he rode out amongst his men and apologized to his troops taking blame for devastating loss.
The most powerful part of Ken Burns masterpiece is how he helps us understand on a human level what happened. No one can truly comprehend the over 600,000 American deaths in this war. Burns reveals the struggles through individuals like Sullivan Ballou with his beautiful and heart breaking letter to his wife.
Accompanied by "Ashokan Farewell," the theme composed for this series, this letter expresses love and passion that we all share as Americans and reminds us that the tragedy of death is not simply a loss of life but the pain felt by the people who loved the one who has passed.
The Civil War will change the way you view America and will make you question what it means to be American. Yes, it's nine episodes that adds up to more than 10 hours but watching this documentary is an engaging and unforgettable experience.
-Facebook Status update June 24th
As I was watching Ken Burns’ epic documentary The Civil War, I got so enraptured in the drama of the conflict I had to post the a Facbook status update about the McClellan, a Northern general.
McClellan had the resources and the troops but with a lack of confidence and spirit needlessly prolong the war. Like at the Battle of Antietam, when McClellan with troops outnumbering the Confederate troops failed to launch counterattacks. Why was I getting so frustrated with McClellan? I realized it was because I thought of him as being on my team, the winning team, the North. After finishing the The Civil War, I realized how wrong I was to feel this way.
My understanding of this conflict from my exposure during middle school was that the North didn’t want slavery the South were bad guys who did. So the North fought them, freed the slaves and the South lost, the end. Ken Burns revealed a lot more to this story.
The South succeeded and the way the North got them back was by invading their land. Lincoln refused to let the war be about slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation was very much a political move. He stated at one time that if he could win the war and not free the slaves he would. There were no good guys or bad guys in this war, only Americans.
At the end of it all the person that I most admired was not Lincoln but General Lee. While his military strategy beating the odds over and over is impressive it was the way that he served his troops which is the most touching. Lee constantly advocated for the welfare for his troops and after his loss in Gettysburg he rode out amongst his men and apologized to his troops taking blame for devastating loss.
The most powerful part of Ken Burns masterpiece is how he helps us understand on a human level what happened. No one can truly comprehend the over 600,000 American deaths in this war. Burns reveals the struggles through individuals like Sullivan Ballou with his beautiful and heart breaking letter to his wife.
Accompanied by "Ashokan Farewell," the theme composed for this series, this letter expresses love and passion that we all share as Americans and reminds us that the tragedy of death is not simply a loss of life but the pain felt by the people who loved the one who has passed.
The Civil War will change the way you view America and will make you question what it means to be American. Yes, it's nine episodes that adds up to more than 10 hours but watching this documentary is an engaging and unforgettable experience.
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