JYP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYEePKsRWYo

Hines Ward: Obama of Football

My parents are both immigrants from South Korea.  They can speak English well enough, but occasionally their accent will come out in conversations with my friends and I will cringe.  However, this self-consciousness seems almost silly compared to the degree to which bi-racial children are mistreated in Korea, purely for the color of their skin.  Bi-racial children are humiliated to the point that the toughest of men still remember the pain.  Even wide receiver of the Steelers and MVP of Super Bowl XL, Hines Ward is said to have duck down in the car seat when his mom would drive him to school.  He stopped when his mother told him: “if you are that ashamed of me, don't be with me anymore.”

            Consider this excerpt from a Daily News Article (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/2009/01/31/2009-01-31_steelers_hines_ward_is_making_a_differen.html): “The Pearl S. Buck International foundation, which works with Ward to create awareness of discrimination against bi-racial children in Korea, estimated in 2006 that 9.4% of Amerasian children in Korea dropped out of school before finishing the elementary grades and 17.5% of Amerasian children dropped out of middle school due to discrimination and constant teasing. Those are disturbing numbers, since only 1.1% of typical Korean children dropped out before completing middle school.”

            These are startling statistics.  I always knew that Korea was highly influenced by an older, more conservative generation, but this mode of thinking should be left in the 20^th century.  The article describes Hines Ward as a man breaking boundaries for not only bi-racial citizens, but for Koreans who treat bi-racial people as second-class citizens as well. He is a source of inspiration and a national celebrity in Korea who has met with the Korean president. 

            Ward: "I have seen change.  They didn't (used to) let mixed races into the military and they have passed laws to allow mixed races to join the military. I am not trying to change it overnight. I am not trying to be the next Martin Luther King."  You’re not trying to be the next MLK, Ward, but you’re still breaking racial barriers; Way to be. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Epik High

My parents raised me in a very music-centric environment.  Every road trip would have its own Pink Floyd soundtrack to it.  Spring-cleaning had more of a classical theme to it, whether it was Beethoven or Liszt.  If that wasn’t enough, my parents found me teachers for piano, violin, cello, oboe, and saxophone lessons.  Yet, whenever a conversation about my future was brought up, music never had a place.  My parents had a vision for my future and being a musical artist was not a part of it.

            I feel this is a common phenomenon among parents, particularly if they are immigrants.  Many children of immigrants are pressured to become doctors, lawyers, or really, any generic professional job.  This commonality was what first attracted me to the Korean rap group, Epik High, particularly the lead rapper, Daniel Lee, aka Tablo.  Even before I heard his music, I was informed of his background and it fascinated me.

            Tablo’s parents (who constantly traveled, from Indonesia, to Switzerland, to Canada) strongly advocated education and professionalism.  At the same time, they provided Tablo with many musical outlets such as the piano and violin.  Much like my parents though, they were adamantly against any musical or artistic careers.  Therefore, Tablo continued his education, capping his academic career with a Masters degree in English literature from Stanford.  Then his best friend died from cancer.

            His friend’s dying wish was that Tablo would fulfill his artistic dreams.  And so it went.  After years of difficulty, Tablo was able to break into the musical consciousness of Korea (which was, and still is, in love with pop), along with fellow rapper, Mithra, and DJ Tukutz.  Thus, Epik High was part of the mainstream and of a larger global musical community.  Perhaps realizing this, Epik High not only has Korean songs, but English songs as well:     

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCLgm0V3fEk (you can see the lyrics for both songs in the description box)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhn5J2jS2NI

Epik High’s songs largely address personal and social issues in their songs.  Sorry, no stanky leg or pimpin’ in these songs… for the most part.

            In one interview by MTV Iggy (http://www.mtviggy.com/video/map-soul-tour-interview) Tablo brought up a point very relevant to the issues I usually explore in regards to Koreans in the media.  He mentions, “there’s a lot of Asian people who are doing great music here [in America].  There’s also a lot of people in Asia, obviously, doing great music.  And we feel that the kids who are doing it well in Asia, deserve to be heard in America.  And kids who are making it out here, deserve to be heard in Asia.”

            So what do you think guys, did you like the English songs?  Would you still like them if they were in Konglish (Korean/English)?   And do you agree with Tablo, that artists of different cultures deserve to be heard by others?  Is this even possible, considering cultural and language barriers?