not this song again

for many people, music is a necessary and indispensable aid to keep the blood rushing through their veins. many of you know that i feel this way as well. sometimes i feel that i live in a place where good music does not exist. i will confess that i am a music snob. i listen to plenty of popular music and in many ways am not impressed. i am trying to make the most of this opportunity and educate my fellow students and friends on, not just american music, but music and the entire genre. that includes different cultures, countries, and histories. i actually am doing a lecture on this topic in front of hundreds of people. many are receptive so far, unfortunately they just do not get exposed to this during adolescence. they listen to what is fed to them, as many of you do back home. hey, if you do not believe me, let's listen to what good music has to say on this matter.

music magazine: so good music, i hear you are going spend some time over in china.

good music: yeah, you know, just wantin' to expose everyone to what i got to offer. you fell me?

mm: that sounds great. what is it you have to offer?

gm: well, i got a lot of different styles, genres, classics, mad talent. maybe some studio, with a little on stage. throwing some live instrumentation in there, intuitive lyrics, also something to get the party started, know what i mean, son? it's like bon-bon, bang-bang, gotcha.

mm: i did not quite understand the last part, but i think i know what you mean. you are going to chongqing, correct?

gm: word.

mm: uh.......okay, have a fantastic time.

gm: yo, yo, yo, peace to the god. holla at ya boy!

good music arrives in china
wow, this place is off the meat rack! let me lay my thang down. i think i can get some work in, for real.
one month
why is everyone listening to the backstreet boys? didn't those mothafuckas break up like ten years ago, or some shit? britney! you know she is a crazy bald bitch, right?
six months
it's like every popular song is about love or dancing. where the songs at about killin' fools? hatin' yo job, being poor? smokin' drinkin'? women gettin' a bad rap? gettin' bush out the motherfuckin' white house? angst, pain, sufferin'? you know what i mean, real life shit. enough with this bunny rabbits, ice cream, and flowers shit.
one year
i met some peeps here who feel me. they say i should get my ass to beijing or shanghai. things are more western there. they got all the dope shiznit there.
two years
we going to ktv (karaoke) tonite? that is super. i would love to sing a love song.
later that nite
how about that song from titanic that is sung by celine dion. i love singing it. here goes guys! near, far, wherever you are, i believe that my heart will go on...........

i have no idea why good music sounds like RZA from the wu-tang clan. maybe it is because i am listening to hip-hop as i write. maybe because the music he produces, in many ways is the exact opposite of what i hear on regular basis. i love it here, but i know the cities on china's east coast have more options when it comes to what one may want to hear. i have met many chinese who do have similar tastes: a couple rock guitarists, a few young MCs, and i sat in with a great jazz quintet, the latter being in beijing. we all are trying our best to make those styles more popular here. i think the young generation wants it, they just do not know where to look. that is where we come in. honestly, i have heard some good pop music here, and the traditional chinese music can be really cool. there are also some great traditional instruments that i want to learn to play. the language is also very musical. one reason why i am trying to become fluent. it is very tonal; the pitch of a word will change its meaning. it is actually documented that musicians have an easier time learning the language. this may have the same effect in reverse. potentially, i could be surrounded by a billion chinese with an innate sense of scales, tones, and pitch. let's get the band back together!?

edub