‘Hello’ Taiwan!

Hello! Dawen here. When I wrote this I was blogging from thousands of feet up in the air, somewhere across the Pacific.  I can’t even begin to describe how it feels to be returning home to the States after being away for nearly two years. On Tuesday March 25th I’ll be joining Canadian singer-songwriter Wanting in Seattle, as part of the West Coast leg of her Say The Words Tour. We kicked it off in Los Angeles and continued to San Francisco and then Portland by tour bus.

So how on earth did I get here?  It seems so unreal to me sometimes when I think about it. The short end of it: About three years ago, famed Taiwanese music producer Adia saw my cover of Bruno Mars’ “Just The Way You Are” (produced by my brother George Wang) on YouTube and passed it along to Universal Music Taiwan.  Universal Music then contacted me through YouTube to ask about my musical background. You can imagine how skeptical I was when I first received a message like that —  a short one sent through YouTube from someone claiming to be Universal. I thought it was a joke, initially. I soon realized that the inquiry was legitimate, and after extensive video chats and a trip to Taipei, I signed with Universal Music Taiwan in 2012.

Upon arriving in Taipei, the first thing I did was enroll in Chinese language class. Although I considered myself bilingual, I quickly realized that my conversational vocabulary was seriously lacking. And if my goal was to someday write lyrics as well as music in Chinese, I would have to improve my speaking and writing comprehension. I went to school for six months, all the while working to expand my fluency.  The following year was a series of personal and cultural developments that culminated in my debut Mandarin album Hello (Nihao) on Christmas Eve of last year.

Hello is distinctly different from my indie album American Me. Nine of the album’s ten songs were written after moving to Taiwan and are in Mandarin. Writing in Mandarin also meant that I had to completely reconsider how I think about melody and how it relates to culture. At first I would write in English and translate it to Chinese, but often the result wasn’t very good — so I abandoned that method very early on (which goes to show that just because something sounds good in English, doesn’t necessarily mean that it will sound good in another language).

The title track ‘Hello’ was the first time I ever tried writing completely in Chinese, and you can hear how rudimentary and direct the lyrics are.  😉  Musically, Hello features more acoustic Pop, in contrast to the R&B /Soul of American Me.  Hello is not a complete 180 though, in terms of style. ‘Acid Rain’ features a groove that is very much in the vein of American Me, and my song ‘Shoes’ (the only English language track on the album) that I wrote for Kollaboration Acoustic 4 back in 2010  — was finally recorded and points to my earlier jazz-influenced piano style.

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I do want to acknowledge how important the Asian American community has been to me and how grateful I am to each and every one of you who have supported me from all the beginning. A particular shout out goes to the blogosphere: Bicoastal Bitchin’, AngryAsianMan, 8Asians, A-Tunes, not to mention my fam at TaiwaneseAmerican.org, Kollaboration and Tuesday Night Project!! I love you guys and can’t wait to see you all.

Hello is out on iTunes and Spotify, so give it a listen when you get the chance. The other person I want to acknowledge is my older brother George. In addition to knowing me for as long as I’ve been alive, Geh has been my best friend and number one supporter, as well witness to all the past highs and lows. It’s safe to say that if he didn’t light that fire under my ass I would not be on this flight coming home. I couldn’t wait to land at LAX, meet my brother, smother Sweet Pea the dog, and take my shoes off when I got in the door.

Sakura-Con J-Pop Extravaganza!

Since the Asian Americans behind this blog don’t know shit about Japanese pop culture, this guest post is brought to you by special J/K Pop correspondent, lace front-wearin’ Sakura fashion model, and BCB Affirmative Action Fellow, Reese Umbaugh aka Bishie Reesie.

Beginning today, all of downtown Seattle will be flanked by cosplayers, otakus, and tons and tons of adults in Pokémon costumes. That’s right: It’s Sakura-Con weekend. For those unfamiliar, Sakura-Con is Seattle’s annual three-day anime convention held at the cavernous Washington State Convention & Trade Cener. Programming includes panels on everything from voice acting to Japanese cooking, RPG and tabletop gaming, fashion shows (more on that in a later post!), and J-pop concerts.

Much like my previous post on K-pop, I’d like to take a moment in honor of Sakura-Con weekend and share with you my 5 favorite J-pop bands, in no particular order:

Stereopony:

If you are a fan of anime, there’s a damn good chance that you’ve heard a song by Stereopony. They basically have the anime theme song market on lockdown, having done theme songs for Gundam, Bleach, and Darker Than Black. They’re also note-worthy for being an all-female rock band, which makes them instantly badass. If you’re into it and heading to Sakura-Con then you’re in luck! Stereopony will be performing tonight at 6:30PM. Not able to make it? Good news, they’re also live-streaming the show. More info here.

The Pillows:

Man, I love me some Pillows. I remember being in high school and spending a hefty chunk of change to import this record from Japan. I’d blast it in my car on full volume with my windows down and other kids would stare me down. I finally saw The Pillows live in a shitty Seattle venue last fall and they blew my face off.

Perfume:

Originally formed in 2001, Perfume has slowly taken over the Japanese pop world. Recently signing on with Universal in order to release their music internationally, the girls seem poised for worldwide success. Fun Fact about Perfume: They formed the group themselves as teenagers, without being put together by a record company. This video stands as one of my favorites of all time.

Shonen Knife:

The song above is called “I Am a Cat”. That is all.

The Seatbelts:

Less a band and more a force of nature, The Seatbelts is composed of over a dozen members and helmed by the musical Goddess of anime: Yoko Kanno. Nothing makes me want to run in the opposite direction quite like the words “jazz band”, but The Seatbelts are so much more than that. They span genres, have songs in multiple languages, and make some of the craziest music I have ever heard.

See you in the mosh pit at Sakura-Con!

Dawen’s 2011: A Year in Asian American Songs

Guest post by Dawen
2011 was all about our visibility. We continued to thrive on YouTube and at times, even made an appearance on the other tube in our living room. We sang live, and not just from the safety of our bedrooms. There were festivals galore (ISA, AMP, SXSW), college tours, and sold out venues. From pop to hip-hop we played our hearts out, united under Twitter updates and Facebook postings, rather than any singular musical genre. With social media as currency we released our new tracks regardless of whether the mainstream caught on or not. Undeterred, we continued to sing our songs, staying after the show, meeting-and-greeting our way further into the American musical landscape.

This compilation, like last year’s, is meant as a list of highlights. Less of a “favorites” and more of a ‘year in review’, here is my 2011: The Year in 12 Asian American Songs.

1. January: Melissa Polinar – “Never Change”

Released just before the previous New Year, “Never Change” – taken from the last track of Melissa Polinar’s As Of Now EP – immediately evokes Norah Jones with the opening sounds of brushes and piano. Blending styles like jazz and acoustic pop, Melissa’s voice shines over a melody that conjures up images of coffee and the morning paper.

A seasoned songwriter from Dallas, Texas, whose professional career started in Nashville, Melissa has amassed a steady output of solo albums as well as production work for other songwriters like AJ Rafael (Red Roses), Jeremy Passion (Paper Airplane EP), and Mike Isberto (Fly EP). Listen to “Never Change” here.

2. February: Joseph Vincent – “If You Stay”

First he won the Kababayan Superstar Contest singing Maroon 5’s “Sunday Morning”. Then his cover of Iyaz’s “Replay” went viral on YouTube. And with his appearance on Ellen shortly after, it was only a matter a time before Joseph Vincent came out with his own songs. “If You Stay”, with its reggae-acoustic feel reminiscent of “Billionaire” by Travie Mccoy and Bruno Mars, offers an easy listening pop tune, perfect for the tween era. Just watch the MV. With the promise that “Nothing will ever come between us”, Joseph shows us that while some Asians in the library talk too loud, others fall head over heels and inadvertently into love triangles.

Having released a second single “Bumblebee”, as well as collaborated with MC Jin on the hip-hop track “When the Lights Come On”, Joseph is currently finishing a full album, scheduled to drop next spring.

3. March: Anoop Desai – “Worth The Wait”

Do you remember Anoop Desai from American Idol Season 8? This North Carolina native was famously eliminated during the Hollywood round that year, only to be brought back and win his way to the Top 7. Unlike Sanjaya Malakar two seasons before, Anoop can actually sing without resorting to hairstyle hijinks. “Worth The Wait” comes from his second album Zero.0 and demonstrates his flair for sugary commercial pop. Slightly overproduced, “Worth The Wait” nevertheless bounces along with confectionary catchiness. And how many times have you heard lyrics that compare a girl to a “Himalaya summit”? He goes on: “Them other girls taste like O.J. and toothpaste but you/ You taste like birthday cake.” Indeed, anything sweeter would require a trip to the dentist.

Now living in Atlanta, Georgia, Anoop has started putting videos up on YouTube. Check out his new music video “Want Your Love” and also his cover of T-Pain’s “5 O’Clock”.

4. April: AZIATIX – “Go”

Under the auspices of Jae Chong (from the K-Pop group Solid), AZIATIX comprises of singers Nicky Lee, Eddie Shin, and rapper Flowsik. Representing LA, Boston, and New York, this R&B/Pop trio burst upon the scene in the spring with their single “Go”. Eddie’s smooth voice compliments Nicky’s sensual falsetto while both their voices contrast well with Flowsik’s gruff delivery. Not since TLC has a group dynamic been this compelling.

AZIATIX’s debut album Nocturnal subsequently made it to the Top 10 of the U.S. iTunes R&B/Soul chart and the group followed up with a cross-country tour. Meanwhile, AZIATIX has been furiously releasing music videos on their YouTube channel. Having recently entered the chart on Japan’s Billboard Top 40 AZIATIX stands well poised for the same success stateside.

5. May: Blue Scholars – “Oskar Barnack ∞ Oscar Grant”

“Shoot the cops! Shoot the cops! Shoot the cops!/ Take ya cameras out ya pocket, people!” So goes the hook to “Oskar Barnack ∞ Oscar Grant”, perhaps the most provocative track of 2011. Dubbing their sound “cinema art rap”, DJ Sabzi and MC Geologic, who together make up the Seattle-based duo Blue Scholars, juxtapose police brutality with civic responsibility. Taken from the album Cinemetropolis, “Oskar Barnack ∞ Oscar Grant” at once alludes to Oskar Barnack, father of the 35mm camera and Oscar Grant, an unarmed 22 year-old Black man who was shot and killed by an Oakland BART police officer. Instead of responding to violence with more violence, Blue Scholars suggests using the power of the camera to keep those in our government accountable. No longer just a device to play AngryBirds or Words with Friends, our iPhones and Androids have effectively become agents of social change.

2011 was the year that brought us Occupy Wall Street at home as well as the Arab Spring in the Middle East. Considering how it was the images of those events that galvanized support for those movements, “Oskar Barnack ∞ Oscar Grant” seems especially timely.

6. June: Megan Lee – “Love, Laugh & Live”

16 year-old singer Megan Lee lists Christina Aguilera as one of her inspirations. It comes then as no surprise that her first single “Love, Laugh & Live”, co-written with Brite Ma and Smash Hitta, channels the same type of energy as an Aguilera power-house ballad. From the opening piano that recalls Aguilera’s “Beautiful”, “Love, Laugh & Live” showcases Megan’s considerable belt and vocal flourish.

With a voice that many people think sounds uncannily like Justin Bieber, Megan has developed a large following on YouTube. Relentless in her work ethic, Megan continues to put out videos, providing a welcomed alternative to Miley Cyrus and the other Disney cutouts of young pop.

7. July: AJ Rafael – “Red Roses”

AJ Rafael loves musical theater. That’s what came to mind as I was listening to the title track off his debut album Red Roses. From the opening vamp, “Red Roses” theatrically follows the exploits of a guy trying to find the courage to ask a girl out. Hopelessly romantic and full of dramatic charm, AJ laments, “I wish I had the guts to say/ Would you be mine?/ I wished I woulda asked you to be my Valentine.” Heart very much on sleeve, this song begs to be staged in a theater, or more practically, to be filmed as a music video.

As a strong debut overall, the album Red Roses reached # 7 on iTunes during its first day of release and #13 on Billboard’s Heatseeker chart. Additionally, Red Roses was Grammy eligible in the Best New Artist and Traditional Pop Vocal Album categories, a feat to be sure.

Currently gearing up for the Red Roses Tour in Southeast Asia, AJ will be traveling with the whole band to Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. Tour starts January 13^th in Jakarta.

8. August: Jennifer Chung – “Can We?”

I first came upon Jennifer Chung in 2007 singing “Part of Your World” from Disney’s The Little Mermaid on YouTube when YouTube was still taking wind. Little did I know that just a few months before that, she had uploaded a cover of Alicia Key’s “No One”, a hugely viral video that would establish her as a household name for the YouTube generation.

Fast forward to 2011 and her summer album 4 Years & Counting. “Can We?” features Jennifer at her most vulnerable, far from the volume of her formidable belt. Over sparse accompaniment, no more than light acoustic guitar and piano, Jennifer’s voice floats effortlessly over the recollection of a relationship: “Wasn’t it painful/ Painfully beautiful?” Understated and poignant, “Can We?’ captures that pain, beautifully.

9. September: Das Racist – “Shut Up, Man (feat. El-P)”

After releasing two free mixtapes back in 2010, Das Racist put out their first commercial album Relax at the end of the summer. With production help from the likes of Diplo, El-P, Rostam Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend), Heems, Kool A.D. and Dap, who make up this Brooklyn trio, continue their alternative absurdist/subversive brand of hip-hop.

Aimed at detractors (or anyone in the audience, for that matter), “Shut Up, Man (feat. El-P)” spits out laid back defiance against those wary of their lowbrow/highbrow fare. “I think I sound aight/ I sound tight/ Ayo, don’t worry bout how I sound aight?” Heems says, over a minimalist beat interspersed with synth blips. As Kool A.D. says in the preceding verse, “Act with us/ Or pack it up.” It’s sound advice for the anti-pop artist: if they don’t like your stuff, who cares?

10. October: Dumbfoundead – “Town”

Dumbfoundead is K-Town. Just venture out to 6^th and Alexandria any night of the week and you’re bound to find him there, beer in hand. It only seems fitting then, that his album Dfd should open with “Town”, a tribute to LA’s Korean neighborhood. Roots run deep for the rapper, his identity inextricably tied with the 3-mile stretch in the city’s Mid-Wilshire district.

It’s been a great year for Dumb, whom the LA Times featured back in July and LA Weekly this past fall. With a televised appearance on Last Call with Carson Daly just over a week ago I wouldn’t be surprised if 2012 were to see him crossover into the mainstream.

“A local legend is all I’ll ever be/ Until I put this town on the map for everyone to see.” With an impressive debut at #7 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart and at #2 on the iTunes Hip-Hop chart, Dumbfoundead’s making sure that eventually, everyone’s gonna know where K-Town is.

11. November: Jeremy Passion – “Trace”

I can’t think of anyone who channels the spirit of Stevie Wonder better than Jeremy “Passion” Manongdo. “Trace” sounds like a lost track from Innervisions or Talking Book. Drawing its inspiration from the Motown master, “Trace” is a well-crafted soul/R&B tune full of romance and longing. The live instrumentation sounds refreshing, a contrast to current radio’s M-Audio-programmed soundtrack. There’s a hint of John Legend in there, too, and Jeremy sings with honest conviction.

Although Jeremy has been putting up videos on YouTube for over 5 years, “Trace” comes from his debut More Than A Feeling, released just a few weeks ago. Listen to “Trace” here.

12. December: Paul Dateh – “One for James”

Paul Dateh has gone electronic. Showcasing this electronic style on his first track in over two years, “One for James” is a departure from the acoustic pop of 2009’s The Good Life and the R&B/hip-hop of his self-titled debut the year before. Released on the second anniversary of the death of his childhood violin instructor and life-long mentor, “One for James” blends the electronic and the ambient into a celestial soundscape. Vocals and violin are still here, just not front and center. Instead, Paul spreads out his voice with harmonies and layers the strings, all accompanied by a pulsating beat. The track shimmers ethereally as if a ghost were at the turntables before vanishing away in a slow flourish.

After watching Paul traverse multiple genres in his performance of “Darkest Point” on the Knocksteady podcast in September, I’m excited to see how he’ll approach “One for James” in a live setting.

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So that’s it! My 2011 in a nutshell. I’ve obviously left things out as there’s no way I could do everything justice in a single posting. But who knows, maybe I’ll expand the list for 2012. From the looks of it I just might have to.

Let’s keep supporting each other. Not because we’re Asian Americans, but because we’ve got good music. And make catching a live show one of your New Year’s resolutions. Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2012.

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photo by Melly Lee

Dawen is a singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. His New Year’s resolutions include: finishing an upcoming EP, perfecting Chinese, learning Korean, and actually attempting P90X.

Top 10 K-Pop Singles of the Year

Guest post by Cbruhs’ bestie, bandmate, and K-pop fanatic Reese Umbaugh

K-POP SET FOR GALACTIC TAKEOVER IN 2012!

2011 has been a globally momentous year for the once-obscure and uniquely futuristic genre of Korean pop music. Dominating the Top 40 charts of Korea, China, Vietnam, and Taiwan, K-pop has infiltrated the Japanese music industry, the world’s second largest, with a string of number one singles and sold-out tours from Korean boy bands, girl groups, and solo acts. Several artists have begun touring internationally and promoting in countries like France, Germany, Britain, and the US, where a showcase of artists signed to SM Entertainment — South Korea’s largest talent agency — sold out Madison Square Garden in October.

My fascination with K-pop stems from the glossy, flawless, and polished product that is the hallmark of the industry. Every artist, in every group, has impeccable stage presence and etiquette. Every beat is sonically infectious. Every dance move is synchronized to perfection and every vocal performance is flawless. In 2011, K-pop conquered the world, and if the trend continues — as these songs (all released in 2011) would indicate —  2012 will be the year of the K-pop intergalactic takeover. Without further ado, these are the 10 singles that prove K-pop will engulf the universe. Resistance is futile:

10. “Shake Ur Body” by Swincle:

This was a recent discovery for me from this group that debuted in March. One of 27 K-pop girl groups that formed in 2011, their track “Shake Ur Body” stands out to me, mostly because of the non-stop “boom, boom, boom” that is sure to get lodged in your brain all day. The video is fairly simple, with the girls depicted preparing a party for a guy — while being especially creepy in the video’s intro and sometimes becoming miniature versions of themselves. Ooo-kay. Also: lots of shaking they bodies.

9. “So Cool” by Sistar:

 

If any group can dance around in the shortest dresses around and manage to not reveal their lady parts, it’s Sistar! Plus, after watching the video, I’m convinced that the Olympics should absolutely replace the baton used in running events with a diamond clutch. WERK!

8. “Loverboy” by Apeace:

 

Apeace automatically make this list simply by being a 21-member group. Let me say that again: A 21-MEMBER GROUP! Imagine them all in a recording studio! Or in the green room of a venue! Or anywhere else! 21 MEMBERS! This shit would only fly in K-pop, people!

7. “Mirror Mirror” by 4MINUTE:

While “Mirror Mirror” didn’t light the charts on fire, it did cause controversy for the group performing a “spread leg dance” that was deemed too provocative and overtly sexual for television. To the sadness of every single person in the world: the dance was later banned by Korean music shows. A single tear falls.

6. “Pop Pop Pop” by Rania:

I was hooked on “Pop Pop Pop” once I heard the plinking synth noises that accompany the track during the intro and chorus. So good! And they have light-up wands. Also good! Rania is another new group, gathering attention partly because producer Teddy Riley, who has produced hits for Michael Jackson, produced some of Rania’s debut.

5. “Be My Baby” by Wonder Girls:

Up until this year, Wonder Girls were probably the only K-pop group destined for an American crossover. They toured the US and Canada, including a stint opening for The Jonas Brothers(!) and Justin Bieber(!!), and performed live on So You Think You Can Dance. Their English-language single “Nobody” hit #76 on the Billboard Hot 100, making the Wonder Girls the first South Korean group to enter the chart. The girls made a Korean comeback this year and are setting their sights on US promotion in 2012.

4. “Mr. Simple” by Super Junior:

Super Junior rightfully deserves a spot here. Despite being plagued with various issues in 2011: Disputes with management! Scheduling conflicts! Line-up changes! Mandatory military service! Su Ju has become Korea’s supreme boy band and further propelled their international success with the release of their 3rd album Mr. Simple and the SuperShow4 tour, which was recently announced for an American leg in 2012. Plus, they are International Sex Symbols. Except for the chubby one with the weird haircut. Unless you’re into that sort of thing.

3. “I Am The Best” by 2NE1:

I appreciate 2NE1 for a lot of reasons. For one, “I Am The Best” is an absolutely killer track. Second, 2NE1 has an image that’s more “edgy” in K-pop, with baggy hip-hop pants and studded jewelry, while other Korean girl groups emphasize sex and mini-skirts. They describe themselves as “hip-hop warriors” — which is awesome —  and they want to portray themselves as strong women. Bottom line: These chicks will kill you.

2. “Roly Poly” by T-ara:

2011 was a great year for T-ara (sometimes stylized as T♔ARA, which instantly makes them my favorite band name ever). The group hit #1 on Japan’s Oricon weekly charts, the first for a foreign group and international female artist ever in history. All in all, T-ara released two Korean EP’s (and a re-packaged edition) and two Japanese singles, all commercially acclaimed, and also had time to release a few different videos for the song showcased here, “Roly Poly”. To all you Bay Area readers, T-ara will be headlining the K-Pop Power & Beauty Concert (best tour name ever) in San Francisco on January 13^th. Best start learning the “Roly Poly” choreography!

1. “Mr. Taxi” by Girls’ Generation:

Alright, I know that this song is actually in Japanese, BUT the Korean version (which is their new single) of the video has not yet been released (but you can listen to it here). Anyway, what is there to say about Girls’ Generation, other than they are the best of the best in the K-pop universe. The girls released singles in Korean, Japanese, and English this year, headlined a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden in New York, and broke too many records and had too many international chart debuts to even list. When the nine members are not recording, touring, and promoting, they are starring in Korean dramas and reality shows, endorsing brands and products (I’ve also attached their advertisement for Intel at the bottom of this post because it too is perfection), and donating their time and money to philanthropic causes. In short, they are global superstars who are the best bet in bringing the “Hallyu wave” (the spread of South Korean culture) to worldwide audiences. GG, thank you for the amazing pop music. Here’s to 2012!

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Reese Umbaugh is the Licensing & Podcast Coordinator at KEXP 90.3FM radio in Seattle, as well as a contributor to the KEXP Blog. When he’s not obsessing over the latest in K-pop music news, he’s playing synths in electro-pop band Noddy, watching subtitled anime, and reading DC comics. In short, he’s a nerd.

Reese is also producing and DJing a J-pop and K-pop Dance Party on January 19th in Seattle (flyer below). Don’t miss it!

All My College Sports Knowledge Comes from AzNs from Pac-12 Schools

In response to the Fox News segment below, which mocks Asian American students by asking uninformed college kids about the recent addition of Colorado and Utah into the Pac-10 Pac-12, I would like to copy/paste fellow Cal Alumni Ben’s rant on the ever expanding Pac-12. Everything Pac-12 related I talk over with a few of my friends from Cal (who are all Asian Americans) and the level of discussion, however vulgar, has always been highly articulate and all parties very knowledgeable. We may not have won a Rose Bowl this century, but we sure do know every detail of Cal/Pac-12 football, from what Marshawn Lynch’s mother looks like in person (she was always rooting the loudest at Memorial Stadium) to which jr college player Coach Tedford was recruiting when he visited Butte College and found Aaron Rodgers (Garrett Cross) or which schools have the hottest cheerleaders (I’m not gonna answer this one).

So to Fox Sports Net and Fox News in general. Fuck you, glad you cancelled the POS show this broadcasted on. And next time, you should hire Ben here to rant on one of your shows cause he knows more about the sports and the football than Bob Oschat on any given Saturday (and USC on Thursday this year).  And I assure you, Ben is Asian.

(Note. this email is in response to AzN’s suggestion that if the Pac-12 expands to 16 by adding Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech, we should have 2 divisions, determined solely by academics. Kind of a joke. And that USC should be in a conference that includes Stanfurd, Cal, Washington, UCLA, Utah, and Texas. An even bigger joke. Big mistake on my part, cause I received one of Ben’s infamous rants):

i refuse to put USC in the “academic” division.  fuck SC.  if that’s not a frat party school, then Berkeley is no better than the 22nd university in the nation.  oh, wait: http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/spp%2B50

well fuck you too, US News.  they ranked USC #23, right behind us.  WOW.  whatever.  USC’s in the frat division.

otherwise, i hear you, 16 Pac teams would be weird as hell at best.  the upside would be that we could tell the SEC to stop fondling themselves all the time.  and then beat their asses in the Bowl Season (well, except for Oregon.  thanks, Oregon.  LSU, Auburn, Ohio State, Boise State, and then Boise State again the year before.  way to really hold down the fort during your big out of conference matchups, you fucking pussies.  honorary mention also to Oregon State, UCLA, and “why the hell are you in our league” Colorado.  really, awesome week 1 work, fellas.  that’s fantastic.  we all deeply appreciate it.  and SC and UW, you’re fucking LUCKY, you hear me?  pick it the fuck up so that it helps us more when we beat your little asses.)

anyway, god i hate Texas.  i mean, i fucking HATE them.  remember when Mack Brown hit the campaign trail to steal the Rose Bowl from Aaron Rodgers and Jeff MacArthur?  i’m not sure why i put that interrogative in the rhetorical–i mean, it was 2004.  my point is that i’m torn.  tons of money from the Longhorn nation would be pretty sweet–depending on the year, my hatred for the SEC is right up there with how much i hate Texas, Stanford, USC, the Big 10, Notre Dame, Miami, Florida State, and Urban Meyer, and Austin money would help us bury the SEC like the dogs they are.  oh, i forgot Bob Stoops and his “i think there might be crap in my pants” face he makes when they’re getting railed in another BCS game.

 back to what i was saying, would Texas in the Pac 16 mean that i’d have to try to root for Texas when they were playing out of conference?  i kind of like a team like 2010 UCLA showing up and knocking those fucks around in Austin randomly every few years–having three teams to hate the hell out of in my own conference might get a little overwhelming.  do you know how hard it is to root for Stanford or USC just because they happen to be playing Notre Dame or some fuck SEC team?  i don’t know how many complicated gaps like this i can negotiate.  

obviously it’d be weird to have teams in TX and OK in the “Pacific” division, but a bigger question is what the broader consequences would be.  everyone whines about how there’s no NCAA Football playoff, but what i haven’t heard anyone really talk about is how the BCS has basically paved the way for two major conferences every year.  that’s all there’s room for, dude.  you know how i know that?  because the fucking SEC gets like 4 teams into a BCS game every year while a couple of undefeated small conference schools get fucked just as bad as we did in 2004 when we had a once-in-a-generation QB on our squad and Mack Brown’s sleazy penis in our ass.  before the BCS, the Pac 10 and Big 10 were set in stone because no matter how many bribes those SEC fucks bought to win AP and USA Today poll votes to win end-of-season rankings, we still had the Rose Bowl and they could go fuck themselves.  now that those same bribed voters are the ones who get to pick Texas over a stacked 2004 Cal team that was a first and goal away from beating a #1 ranked SC in an otherwise undefeated season and send them to the Rose Bowl instead, what’s the fucking point of being in the Pac 10?  Oregon got fucked into the Holiday Bowl in 2005, a year after we did, because like us their only loss was to a #1 ranked USC and yet that wasn’t good enough to get them into the BCS.

so why not form a macro conference like the SEC?  what’s the point of holding to any sense of tradition whatsoever when there’s about a billion BCS dollars at stake?  i don’t know WHAT the hell would happen if the Pac 12 got Texas and Oklahoma on their way to the Pac 16.  what the fuck would the Big 10, Big 12 scraps, ACC, MAC, WAC, Big East and whoever the fuck else, what would they do?  they’d get steamrolled by the 16 team mega-conferences every year.  but why would TX or OK hold out and keep the Big 12 together?  the Pac 16 option makes WAY more sense.  i’d go so far to say that it’s inevitable, if not next year then maybe a few years from now, whatever.  goddamnit.  this is depressing.  fuck!  

Dawen’s Favorite Asian American Songs of 2010

Guest post by Dawen

2010 was a crazy year. We hit #1 on Billboard and charted on iTunes. Pop radio featured us, as did NPR, while we YouTubed and Facebooked and Twittered our way onto listeners’ playlists. We succeeded in the mainstream while also flourishing in the indie route. We made music videos, we went on tour, and we set the bar higher than it has ever been.

As I was putting together this list for 2010, I decided to make it less of a ‘best of’ and more like a ‘highlights of my favorite songs’ from the entire year. By no means exhaustive, here is 2010: The Year in 12 Asian American Songs.

1. January: Lady Danville – “Kids” (MGMT cover)

Yes, I know what you’re thinking: “How can you start your list off with a cover song? MGMT aren’t even Asian American!” And yet, Lady Danville’s interpretation of MGMT’s “Kids” represents everything a great cover should be: innovative and fresh, but still faithful to the spirit of the original song. With just piano, guitar, cajon and great 3-part harmony, Lady Danville, formed at UCLA in 2007 by Dan Chang, Matt Frankel, and Michael Garner, reinvents the electro-synth of the original by adapting it to their trademark acoustic aesthetic with surprisingly poignant results.

While NPR has recently been playing Lady Danville’s studio recording of “Kids”, (off Tour EP), the trio has been performing this version live since 2009. Since their appearance at Kollaboration Acoustic 2 back in 2008, Lady Danville has toured with Ben Folds and will be starting a new tour with Dashboard Confessional on January 10^th. Listen to “Kids” here.

2. February: Kina Grannis – “Valentine”

Released just a few days before February 14^th, “Valentine” might be one of the most tender Valentine’s Day songs ever. With its catchy hook, understated vocals, and upright bass, “Valentine” possesses a charm that has inspired fans and other Asian American YouTubers including Jennifer Chung and Melissa Polinar, together with Alyssa Bernal, to cover their own version of the Kina Grannis tune. With lyrics that address the “arbitrary” nature of a seemingly pointless holiday, “Valentine” ultimately, lets love prevail. “I will love you, I will love you, I will love you,” Kina reaffirms in the hook. Given the loyal relationship this Orange County native shares with her devoted fans, she may as well be singing to them.

“Valentine” appears on Kina’s sophomore effort, Stairwells, which charted #139 on Billboard, as well as #5 on the iTunes Pop chart, no easy feat for an indie artist.

3. March: Tim Be Told – “Analyze”

It was early spring when I first came across Tim Be Told’s music video for “Analyze”.  With a simple but brilliantly executed concept, “Analyze”, taken from their album From the Inside, deals with the self-doubt, self-struggle, and ultimately, the self-redemption found within us all. Piano driven with Coldplay-like guitar lines and strings, “Analyze” features this quintet’s strong penchant for soul/pop songwriting, reminiscent of Maroon 5. Lead singer Tim Ouyang’s voice effortlessly navigates its complex melody as he sings of a “soul healing” that sounds almost spiritual.

Hailing from Charlottesville, Virginia, Tim, together with Luan Nguyen, Andrew Chae, Parker Stanley, and Jim Barredo are busy finishing up their third album Humanity slated for release in 2011. Catch them this winter as they continue their tour in churches and community centers across the country.

4. April: Kite Operations – Islands

Describing themselves as “post-noise,” and “experimental/freestyle”, the Brooklyn-based Kite Operations continues to defy tradition. Off their third album Festival, “Islands” is best described as the most appropriate accompanying soundtrack for someone partaking in authentic Korean food for the very first time. If you’re confused, just watch the music video. I caught this during Visual Communication’s Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and was immediately riveted and grossed out at the same time. With their amped-up guitars, deafening drums, and feedback galore, Joseph Kim, David Yang, Jie Whoon Kang, and Andrew Blanchard, who make up Kite Operations, feel right at home in the fray.

Whether it’s noise creation, or noise pollution, “Islands” stretches the boundaries and provides those of us who are so over this-thing-called-pop with a distortion-happy alternative.

5. May: Bruno Mars – “Talking To The Moon”

With the success of his collaborations on B.O.B’s “Nothin’ On You” and Travie McCoy’s “Billionaire”, it was only a matter of time before Hawaii-born Bruno Mars broke through with his own solo material. But before this gifted songwriter of Puerto Rican and Filipino descent brought us “Just The Way You Are” and the current hit “Grenade”, there was the quietly released EP It’s Better If You Don’t Understand.

Containing some of the songs that would eventually make it onto his solo debut Doo-Wops & Hooligans, the EP also featured “Talking To The Moon” which showcases his soaring high vocals and gorgeous melody. As a killer-vocalist and hit songwriter for others, there is nothing he can’t do. Just as 2009 was dominated by Lady Gaga, 2010 in many ways, belongs to Bruno Mars. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t win a few awards come Grammy night.

6. June: The Kominas – “Tunnnnnn”

Only in America will you find a Desi punk rock outfit that channels the spirit of the Brits. On “Tunnnnnn” from the album Escape to Blackout Beach, The Kominas interpolate The Clash’s “Armagideon Time” with their brand of reggae/dub. “A lot of people won’t get no justice tonight”, sings Shahjehan Khan, echoing Joe Strummer.

To call The Kominas provocative would be understating it. When I first heard them chanting “Sharia Law in the USA” at LA’s Tuesday Night Project in 2009, I was initially alarmed. But the very nature of punk is to question and subvert authority, and The Kominas are continually challenging everything with this new brand of music many are calling taqwacore. From calling out Western-racism to exposing the hypocrisy of Muslim fundamentalism, nothing is off limits to Basim Usmani, Shahjehan Khan, Imran Malik, and Arjun Ray. Formed in Boston, birthplace of the American Revolution, The Kominas are making waves with their own musically revolutionary struggle.

7. July: Connie Lim – “Walk On”

With the shortening of our national attention span many artists are releasing EPs these days instead of full-length albums. Many of us simply can’t devote the time to digest anything longer than a half hour. In the case of Connie Lim’s EP The Hunted, that brevity leaves us wanting more. With her ‘retrotronica’ sound Connie combines electro beats with vintage soul. Feminine and feminist all at once, Lim delves into social issues on songs like “Sugar” (watch the stunning music video) and celebrates gender empowerment with the accessibility of a primetime television show heroine (“There She Walks Again”).

“Walk On”, however, is by far my favorite track with its acoustic feel-good arrangement and circus fun-outro. Connie’s musical vocabulary is vast with live sets that evoke anything from Dusty Springfield, to Sarah McLachlan. Her CD release party for The Hunted was one of the best I attended all year. Watch out for her tour coming to a city near you.

8. August: Das Racist – “Who’s that? Brooown!”

I have NPR to thank, yet again, for introducing me to this Brooklyn-based, Wesleyan-educated hip-hop duo. After hitting the scene with the nonsensical but awesome “Combination Pizza Hut & Taco Bell”, Das Racist, or Himanshu Suri and Victor Vazquez, together with hype man Ashok Kondabolu, spent 2010 busily making music, releasing two full-length mixtapes.

As the opening track off of Shut Up, Dude, “Who’s that? Brooown!” mixes hipster cool with socio-consciousness. Along with Sit Down, Man, both mixtapes are free to download. With rave reviews by Pitchfork Media and other indie sites, Das Racist has ruled the underground scene, collaborating with everyone from Sabzi of Blue Scholars and synth pop group Chairlift. Although they were recently detained at UK Customs and subsequently missed their London show as a result, Das Racist will continue their tour in the US and Canada in 2011.

9. September: Clara C – “Waking Up In Neverland”

Ever since winning Kollaboration 10 in Los Angeles in March and playing at the White House in Washington, D.C. a month later, Clara C has been on a roar. By summer’s end Clara had released her debut album The Art In My Heart, a reference to a lyric from her first single, “Offbeat”. While the entire album illustrates her whimsical musical style and her quirky multi-instrumentalism, my favorite track is the album’s last song “Waking Up In Neverland”. The female/male vocal dynamic alludes to a slightly more mature sound with a nice blend of acoustic and synth that feels both innocent and nostalgic. “Lets grow young,” she sings, with all the wisdom of a love-lorn graduate who wishes to return to the romance of freshman year.

As a Youtube star, Clara spent the year consistently putting up highly original interpretations of well-known songs. Her take on “Clocks” by Coldplay, and “Rocketeer” by Far East Movement are standouts in particular.

10. October: Jane Lui – “Goodnight Company”

There were puppets, a trip to Switzerland, and at the start of the fall, a brand new record. “Goodnight Company”, which kicks off Jane Lui’s album of the same name, showcases some of the best songwriting happening today. Those who decry the lack of melody, development and musicianship in today’s music need look no further than Jane’s latest effort. In the title track, Jane invites us into her musical world, with her great vocals, piano playing, brass arrangements (love that tuba) and other musical surprises. Listening to Goodnight Company is like enjoying a satisfying performance of a classic Rogers & Hammerstein musical. From her re-harmonized version of “Edelweiss” to the gravity of “Long Ago”, Goodnight Company is a trove of gems. Preorder a physical CD/DVD of the album, which comes out January 11^th.

11. November: Far East Movement – “Rocketeer”

Since the move to major label Interscope, Far East Movement has toured with Lady Gaga, expanded their sold out concert series International Secret Agents with Wong Fu Productions, and oh yeah, made history by becoming the first all Asian American musical group to hit #1 on Billboard with “Like A G6”. Yet, in contrast to the club anthems like “G6” and 2009’s “Girls on the Dance Floor”, FM’s “Rocketeer” proves what major label backing and resources can do through high profile collaborations. Prohgress, J-Splif, Kev Nish, and DJ Virman show a different style here, while Ryan Tedder, of One Republic, vocally soars into the stratosphere on the hook. With solid production by The Stereotypes, it’s a pleasant contrast to their club fare. As “Rocketeer” continues to rise on Billboard (currently at #39), FM is proving to be anything but a one hit wonder.

12. December: Oak & Gorski – “Love Destroyer”

As we moved into the holiday season, Oak & Gorski, formely known as Ken Oak Band, released their end of the year EP Love Destroyer.  A shift from the previous Good Advice, Bad Advice, Love Destroyer features a lighter mood with a return to more accessible melodies, Ken’s beautiful cello lines, and Ed Gorski’s crisp guitar. The title track almost feels like a throwback to the chamber folk days of Vienna to Venice, with a twist of Brad Paisley thrown in for good measure. Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, Love Destroyer brings a bit of the heartland to the Santa Monica Promenade.

The holidays are almost over, but before you start up work again or return to campus, throw this one in the car and hit the road.

*   *   *

So you can see, 2010 was absolutely nuts. In many ways, it feels as if we are in un-chartered territory as our artists break new records and continue to expand Asian American visibility.

I can only hope that we continue to bring our community, which often feels disparate, together in support of our artists. There was so much to celebrate in 2010. Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2011.

– Dawen

Dawen is a soul/R&B singer based in Los Angeles. A recent winner of Kollaboration Acoustic, Dawen has performed for Grammy Award-winning artist Macy Gray and has shared the stage with artists such as Marié Digby, slam poets Beau Sia and Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai, and actor James Kyson-Lee from TV’s Heroes. Dawen continues his college tour in 2011 with an appearance at Showtime at the Apollo, New York in late winter.

Let’s Leave the Thai Out!

The following is a cross-post, originally written by CubicleJOT of the blog LiveLaod.

by cubiclejot on December 2, 2010

Can we just call it Lao?  I’m talking about restaurants called Thai/Lao.  Cookbooks titled Thai/Lao, Thai/Lao music, Thai/Lao sticky rice, Thai/Lao blah blah blah.   Folks, if it’s labeled Thai/Lao I guarantee you it is Lao.  Lets be real. The Thai have taken great lengths to eliminate Lao from their cultural equation through Thaification (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaification).  For example a true “Thai” restaurant would list their Lao dishes, Thai Issan dishes.  (Thai Issan the term used to identify the people of northeastern Thailand. This area consists primarily of ethnic Lao but through thaification Thailand adopted the name Issan to encourage Thai Nationalism while discouraging other loyalties, such as Lao.)

Disclaimer:  Before I continue on I want to make sure folks don’t take this as a bashing on the Thai because that is not where I am going.  This is not to hate on those owners of Thai/Lao restaurants or Thai/Lao cookbooks etc. I know you all are trying to make a living so kudos to being entrepreneurs.  This is not an attempt to bring up old Thai/Lao relations and its’ rocky history. If you are mixed Thai & Lao you know this is not directed at you so no need to be PC.  So what is this about?  Honestly this is about me, and how much I hate that I can’t just say, “It’s Lao!!!”  Also on a less selfish note this is about the potential negative impact categorizing Lao with Thai.

The topics I bring up on this site are topics that impact me both in a positive and negative way.  With this Thai/Lao issue I really hate not being able to say “It’s Lao!!”  Having grown up in a smaller town in Eastern Washington and having gone to a high school with only a handful of Asian kids in my graduating class it was hard to fully embrace my ethnic identity.  Now as an adult and having shed away insecurities I want to fully and completely embrace my culture.  I don’t want to be identified as Chinese, Korean or Thai.  I have grown up with all the good and bad of being Lao and embrace all of it.  I have much pride and it upsets me when I see the Thai & Lao culture being blended together.  I want to be able to claim what is ethnically and cultural Lao.  Not Thai/Lao!!!!

The second issue with categorizing ethnically/culturally Lao “Anything” with Thai is the negative impacts it can have.  To me the Thai/Lao association conveys two things:

1. Thai & Lao are one and the same.
2. Lao can’t stand on it’s own.

As we can see happening already, Lao food and music are being confused for Thai.  How will we differentiate from things that are culturally Lao and those that are culturally Thai when we continue to group them Thai/Lao.  Also when I say “we” I’m talking about us Lao folks.  Lao folks make the argument that Lao is too unknown so putting the popular Thai branding will help business.  Very valid point, but what I am asking is how can we step out of the Thai shadow if we keep avoiding the spotlight?  Can we really not stand alone?  If Lao doesn’t embrace its own identity I’m sure Thailand will surely embrace it for us and claim it as their own.  Come on folks lets leave the Thai out!!!!

Live Lao’d,

CubicleJOT

Nikki Haley: Reformed Sikh, Proud Tea Partier

Guest post by Justin Woo (whom I asked to write a post-election piece, after watching his asshole-chapping slam poem about Nikki Haley)

Okay, so I’m all for more Asian representation damn near everywhere. Movies, TV, films – Though I’m not angry about the whole Last Airbender thing anymore because at least people can’t blame us for that crap now.

Oh wait. Shit.

But POC in the GOP bears way too much resemblance to a certain Dave Chappelle skit.

Which brings me to Nikki Haley. Not only is she a Republican, she’s a proud member of everyone’s least-favorite sect of xenophobic wackjobs, the Tea Party. Her birth name was Nimrata Randhawa, and she is/was an Indian Sikh. She used to play up her Sikh faith and Indian background as a state legislator, but during her gubernatorial run, she played up her conversion (at 24) to Methodism. Way to strike a blow for liberation, Nikki.

If you go to her website, you can see her lecturing on “economic prosperity” while standing in front of a palm tree at what looks like a country club. I’m particularly revolted when she starts talking about the 12% unemployment rate in her home state, then cites ever-popular, incredibly misleading “right to work” legislation to “keep the unions out” and gets applause. She also talks about passing “business friendly legislation” – which is secret conservo-code for “fuck the poor.” We’ve seen what business friendly legislation looks like, and it is NEVER good for working people, particuarly POC.

On the flip side, her rambling video about smashing abortion rights repeats the word “life” no less than six times in 41 seconds, revealing the dearth of ideas and logical arguments in this theocratic stance. But at least Nikki yaks in a much less enthusiastic way. Maybe because her womb is punching her in the gut for so eagerly ceding control of her body to the state? Who can say? She’s obviously an educated, well-spoken woman, despite her crazy ass ideas. I’m hoping on some level, she realizes what an insane stance she’s promoting here, and is only doing so to become a viable candidate in her zany party.

And speaking of that party – regarding Haley’s candidacy, South Carolina Republican state senator Jake Knotts said, “We’ve already got a raghead in the White House. We don’t need another raghead in the governor’s mansion.” That kind of speaks for itself, doesn’t it? Maybe Nikki Haley has some kind of secret urge to be beaten and humiliated, but that’s not properly “Christian” enough, so she gets her abuse by staying Republican instead. I don’t know.

But the cyanide cherry on top of the turd sundae is the fact that Nikki has received the “Strom Thurmond Excellence in Public Service and Government Award” from the “S.C. Federation of Republican Women.” I think the only thing more ironic than naming a good government award after Strom fucking Thurmond is giving it to a POC who, if Strom had his way, wouldn’t even be able to use the same bathroom as white women. I mean let’s be real here – this guy staged a 24 hour straight filibuster against the Civil Rights Act. If that’s your idea of good government, what the hell counts as bad government?

This comes to a larger issue – why is it that Asian Americans are only getting visibility in the most stupidly conservative positions? Why do they have to change their names to get elected? (Piyush “Bobby” Jindal, I’m looking at you!) Do we have to endorse the absolute worst, most racist kinds of American policies and ideas to get any kind of representation in the higher echelons of government?

The only comfort I get from this whole shitty situation is that my slam poem about Ms. Haley will be good for another 4 years at least. Then again, her moronic policies will probably ensure that her state remains piss poor with a higher-than-average-unemployment rate, and my Northern tax dollars will continue to flow into her big-government hating state.

Hey, Nikki – you can criticize us “tax and spend liberals” when you pay for your own fucking stop signs, okay?

Justin Woo is a writer, spoken word artist, theatre artist, and DJ in Jersey City, NJ. He writes cranky screeds with hopes of changing the world. Also, for the lolz.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/justinwooartist
Wordpress: www.justinwoo.wordpress.com

Top Ten Asian American Comedians of All Time

Re-posting this piece written by David Fung from MakeitintheMotherland.com. I’m not necessarily familiar with the work of every one of these comedians, but wanted to cross-post nonetheless.

Weigh in on your fave API comedians in the comments (I’d like to add Sheng Wang and Ali Wong to the list. Just sayin’!)

Top Ten Asian Comedians of All Time

For the past few decades, steady progress has been made in one of the last frontiers of Asian American occupation: the entertainment industry.  More recently, things seem to be approaching a tipping point – with Asian comedians boldly leading the way.  Comedy has the unique ability to bring audiences across racial barriers to come together and is the first genre to experience breakthroughs.  Asian comedians are beginning to get more leading and supporting roles in Hollywood, with increasing diversity in characters.  The internet has been crucial in the discovery and dissemination of new Asian comics, allowing some to cater entirely to Asian audiences and sustain a career.  The Asian comedians on this list range from the goofy, to the nerdy, to the intelligent and everything in between.  Some play to the mainstream, others to ethnic niches or both.  But they all have one thing in common: in an Asian American entertainment scene where the odds are stacked against you, the following ten comics have left their mark.

10.  Jo Koy

Asian connection: Jo Koy is half-Filipino and originally from Tacoma, Washington but started his career in Las Vegas.  He often touches on race, stereotypes, growing up with a Filipino mother and does various accents.

Jo Koy reminds you of your funny friend who always got told they should be a comedian, except that Jo actually followed the advice and became a star.  Armed with a frenetic physical style that reminds you of Dane Cook but with Carlos Mencia’s material, his ethnic jokes are definitely surface level (i.e. Asians can’t drive, Mexicans don’t have insurance) but are often based on solid observation (his bit on the questionable service at Chinese restaurants is on point).  The most notable thing about Koy’s act is its universal appeal – he makes fun of every single group and manages to do it without being offensive.

Final word: Jo Koy is the type of comedian who grows on you as you watch more of his material.  His act is nothing groundbreaking but he is a very solid comedian who could perform his act in front of both mainstream and Asian audiences without having to change a single joke.

Check out: Jo Koy – Performs at the Laugh Factory

9.  Kal Penn

Asian connection: Kal Penn is an Indian-American who is best known for his role as Kumar in the “Harold and Kumar” comedy movie series.  His ethnicity often plays a part in the joke but is rarely the punchline.  Ironically, his Indian accent impersonation is quite bad.

Kal Penn was the first Indian-American to play a major character on Hollywood screens.  Not a stand-up comedian but a comedic actor, Kal plays the sly frat-house-but-smart persona to perfection.  Kal’s strength is his ability to craft a hilarious but believable character that can transcend race without completely ignoring it.  Everyone knows somebody who acts like Kumar, which makes the character more hilarious – even if it’s the only one he ever plays.  Plus he gets points for putting a hold on his lucrative acting career to serve as part of the Obama Administration and also having taught a class at the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania.

Final word: Kal Penn reminds me of Ben Stiller.  He’s making audiences of every background laugh by playing a character that’s easy to relate to.

Check out: Kal Penn – Harold and Kumar: Weed

8.  Rex Navarette

Asian connection: Rex was originally born in the Philippines but raised in the Bay Area.  All of his jokes are geared towards a Filipino audience, often going in-depth into the culture, history, and of course – the Filipino accent.

Significance: Rex Navarette started his career in 1989 and was the first Asian comedian to ever sustain a career doing shows for a predominantly non-white audience.  In his many years on scene, Rex has become a legend in the Filipino community (while remaining relatively unknown outside of it) for his hilarious parodies of working-class citizens which are intended to educate as much as they were supposed to make you laugh.  Even those who are not Filipino can relate to the spot-on accents and 1st-generation immigrant characterizations.

Final word: Rex Naverette is the first Asian comedian who did comedy directly targeted for Asians and may be the only Asian comedian more popular in his motherland than in America.

Check out: Rex Naverette – SBC Packers

Read the rest of David’s Top 10 (including Aziz Ansari, Henry Cho, and Dat Phan) here.

Justin’s Big Ups to Mariqueen Maandig

Guest post by Justin Woo

Regarding Mariqueen Maandig + Trent Reznor, CBruhs and I disagree on this point a bit.

Okay, maybe when Filipina Mariqueen Maandig seemed doomed to be rockstar arm candy, I could see the issue. But with the release of How To Destroy Angels’ eponymous EP, it appears that Mariqueen is a lot more than some old ’90s rocker’s new hawtness. She’s the singer and frontwoman now, with Trent staying in the background. Check out the highly creepy video for “The Space In Between”:

Mariqueen, front and center, Trent… bleeding out on the floor. A metaphor for their marriage, maybe?

In all seriousness, I’m impressed with it. It sounds like Nine Inch Nails humping Portishead’s back catalog, but in a good way. The group sweetens the pot by following NIN’s lead regarding creative commons, and releases the album for free ($2 if you want high quality lossless files). I’d expect song stems and tracks in Pro Tools and Ableton Live format soon as well, for all your remixing delight.

Also, this song proves that that song title has not been forever sullied by frat boy DMB associations. There’s part of me that that takes a great amount of glee in some striped-shirt khaki-wearer asking for “The Space Between” and getting a Filipina crooning about murdering people. Unsurprisingly, that’s usually the feeling I got at college frat parties as well.

"Zombie Apocalypse - So Not My Fault"

Justin Woo is a writer, spoken word artist, theatre artist, and DJ in Jersey City, NJ. He writes cranky screeds with hopes of changing the world. Also, for the lolz.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/justinwooartist
Wordpress: www.justinwoo.wordpress.com