"Pachelbel's Everywhere!"

Pachelbel's Canon, also known as Canon in D major (Kanon und Gigue für 3 Violinen mit Generalbaß in German) is the most famous piece of music by German Baroque composer Johann Pachelbel. It was originally scored for three violins and basso continuo and paired with a gigue in the same key The circumstances of the piece's composition are wholly unknown. The Canon may have been composed for Johann Christoph Bach's wedding, on 23 October 1694, which Pachelbel attended.{W}

The song has been covered and re-imagined time after time:

Some years back, comedian/musician Rob Paravonian came to my university in which he performed this same skit. As a former cellist, he points out the repetitiveness of the same chords. I had never forgotten this skit as it was so hilarious.

Then comes the Axis of Awesome, an Australian group who points out the same aspects - including that all the top pop songs use the same 4 chords...

And most recently I stumbled across this woman named Karen Cheng who gave a talk entitled "How To Solve a Song" using music and math at Seattle's IgniteShow.com

Sick of Pachelbel yet?

"Starving Artists"

Some relatives recently sent me an e-mail with a YouTube link of North Korean children playing instruments. One video showed guitars as big as the 5 year-olds playing them. I've seen similar videos in the past, still, the talent of these kids always astounds me.

I suppose Korean culture combined with Communist instilled discipline (either out of fear or nationalism) brings out talent.

Take a look at these:

Their expressions and choreographed head-bobbles are a little creepy

Those little fingers sure fly...

This little boy is amazingly good. I couldn't play the clarinet that well when I was his age. But I was sure happy not to have to practice 8 hours a day like he probably does.

How about these pint-sized percussionists/singers?

Political issues aside, one thing I have found simply fascinating is the North Korea Mass Games, where according to wikipedia:

(The) Mass games or mass gymnastics are a form of performing arts or gymnastics in which large numbers of performers take part in a highly regimented performance that emphasizes group dynamics rather than individual prowess. The effect of displaying huge images is achieved by a having large number of individuals each being dressed in a particular color or holding a colored hard paper above their heads. Because of the vast scale of the performance, with often tens of thousands of performers, mass games are performed in stadiums, often accompanied by a background of card-turners occupying the seats on the opposite side from the viewers. The rapid change of images was achieved by changing a card with another in swift and synchronized movement. The synchronization is achieved after several hours-long rehearsals and employs much choreography.

I would love to see this first hand someday...

"Lonely - I'm soo lonely"

Today I saw this headline in the Joongang Daily:

"Taxi Drivers are Becoming Lonely"

I figured it was perhaps about single taxi drivers looking for love. Nope. It's about the rising cost of gas and having fewer customers who opt for public transportation instead. From the report:

 “In recent weeks, the volume of Seoul’s traffic has decreased significantly and the roads are much less crowded wherever I go,” said a taxi driver, who said he has had fewer passengers as people cut expenditures across the board to cope with rising oil prices. “This has led to a decrease in customers. I see more crowded bus stops, with fewer people waving down taxis.”

Yep, gas prices are hurting everyone around the world - I'm very thankful I don't have a car to fill up! I love being able to walk to work as well. Short distance + daily exercise + free = happiness!

"The average price of gasoline at Seoul’s gas stations last week was 2,009 won per liter ($6.80 per gallon), exceeding the 2,000 won mark for the first time in 34 months, according to the Korea National Oil Corporation"

Yes - $6.80 a gallon! And you were complaining about your $3.50 prices in the U.S....

Although, this has the domino effect. Higher gas prices = higher costs for just about everything. Thankfully, local restaurant prices haven't risen that much because most of it is domestic. Good prices in the grocery stores have because a lot of it shipped in from other countries.

Japan's recent earthquake has had some effect on the economy as well, especially computer components for Samsung and LG which are made in Japan. I hope you weren't planning on purchasing a new TV anytime soon!

"Image Issues"

I stumbled across these clips from Arirang TV's YouTube channel.

The voice-over actors are a little robotic sounding, but try to focus on the content: APPEARANCE.

I've said it many times - appearance is everything in Korea.

People's perceptions of "fat" angers me. The media and society don't help either. Neither do the companies like the obesity clinic in this video who tell this skinny girl that she her body fat percentage is too high, playing off her insecurities to make a profit.

This video focuses on men (most likely richer men in Seoul) and skin/body care...do things like herbal massages really help your skin? Or is it all about the relaxation?

How about hair styles and make-up - what's trendy? I like when Korean women have straight natural hair...it is classy and beautiful. But the wavy hair does look good on some.

"Tonight That Man Opposed will leave some Lip Stains"

Happy March!

Time for some newer K-Pop

Enjoy!

Big Bang - Tonight

Dalmation - That Man Opposed

5dolls (ft. Jay Park) - Lip Stains