My friend sent me this video today claiming that it was racist towards Asians. I watched it four times and had no idea what he was talking about. What?! Is it suddenly racist to have tattoos and wear sexy lingerie? Then, I focused a bit harder, and noticed there was actually a band playing the background.
The band in question, Day Above Ground, consists of the following members: a man dressed like a child's teddy bear, 2 guys who looked like they showed up from a White Power rally, Johnny Frosted Tips, and the one with brown hair.
Usually I give artists, comedians and actors a big pass when it comes to causing offense. You often need that room to be creative, break new ground and start conversations.
These guys, on the other hand, lazily crammed in as many Asian stereotypes as they could think of and put it to a beat.
Here are a few tips you might want to consider when you're talking about a minority group.
1. Maybe ASK someone of that group what they think of the video and lyrics. Specifically, maybe ask some Asian girls.
2. Switch up the ethnicity with another and check to see if what you're saying still doesn't sound offensive. For example, would the song still work if it was about Black girls or Indian girls? Ask yourself why or why not.
3. Listen to Chris Rock. Pressure is better when it's applied upward! For example, even with the progress that we've made, it's still easier for a socially historically non-dominant group to display more open criticism about the group that was or is still more dominant.
The band however defended themselves in a statement:
This video is intended to be a satirical, provocative, absurd, & even silly work of art. The lyrics, story, and visuals are so completely over-the-top and ridiculous that we thought it'd be impossible to miss the point.
lol. Sure. Cool story bro. In other words, we're not sorry, you just didn't understand it.
So due to the overwhelming misunderstanding of this video & the anger it has incited - especially the bizarre and horrible personal attacks on actress Levy Tran - we're pulling the video down within the next 48 hours.
I swear to god, in the same statement they then went on to quote graffiti artist, Banksy.
"Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable."
Check out the art below.
The band in question, Day Above Ground, consists of the following members: a man dressed like a child's teddy bear, 2 guys who looked like they showed up from a White Power rally, Johnny Frosted Tips, and the one with brown hair.
Usually I give artists, comedians and actors a big pass when it comes to causing offense. You often need that room to be creative, break new ground and start conversations.
These guys, on the other hand, lazily crammed in as many Asian stereotypes as they could think of and put it to a beat.
Here are a few tips you might want to consider when you're talking about a minority group.
1. Maybe ASK someone of that group what they think of the video and lyrics. Specifically, maybe ask some Asian girls.
2. Switch up the ethnicity with another and check to see if what you're saying still doesn't sound offensive. For example, would the song still work if it was about Black girls or Indian girls? Ask yourself why or why not.
3. Listen to Chris Rock. Pressure is better when it's applied upward! For example, even with the progress that we've made, it's still easier for a socially historically non-dominant group to display more open criticism about the group that was or is still more dominant.
The band however defended themselves in a statement:
This video is intended to be a satirical, provocative, absurd, & even silly work of art. The lyrics, story, and visuals are so completely over-the-top and ridiculous that we thought it'd be impossible to miss the point.
lol. Sure. Cool story bro. In other words, we're not sorry, you just didn't understand it.
So due to the overwhelming misunderstanding of this video & the anger it has incited - especially the bizarre and horrible personal attacks on actress Levy Tran - we're pulling the video down within the next 48 hours.
I swear to god, in the same statement they then went on to quote graffiti artist, Banksy.
"Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable."
Check out the art below.
Asian girl, She's my Asian girl
You're my Asian girl, You're my Asian girl
You're my Asian girl, She's my Asian girl
Yes, my Asian girl, You're my Asian girl
I love your sticky rice
Butt fucking all night
Korean barbecue
Bitch I love you
I love your creamy yellow thighs
Ooh you're slanted eyes
It's the Year of the Dragon
Ninja pussy I'm stabbin'
Asian girl, You're's my Asian girl
You're my Asian girl, She's my Asian girl
You're my Asian girl, She's my Asian girl
Yes, my Asian girl, You're my Asian girl
Superstitious feng shui shit (what)
Now lay your hair by the toilet
I've got your green tea boba
So put your head on my shoulder
Your momma's so pretty
Best nails in the city
Pushing your daddy's Mercedes
Asian girl, She's my Asian girl
You're my Asian girl, You're my Asian girl
You're my Asian girl, She's my Asian girl
Yes, my Asian girl, You're my asian girl
New Year's in February (February?)
That's fine with me (I guess)
Yeah, shark soup (What? Fuck it, we'll eat it)
Oh, tradition, tradition, tradition, yeah yeah
Baby, you're my Asian girl
You're legally (best kind)
So baby marry me
Come on sit on my lap (right here baby)
Or we'll send you back
And you age so well
I can barely tell
17 or 23?
Baby doesn't matter to me
Asian girl, She's my Asian girl
You're my Asian girl, You're my Asian girl
You're my Asian girl, She's my Asian girl
Yes, my Asian girl, You're my asian girl
Arcadia
J-Town
Alhambra
K-Town
Temple City
Don't forget Chinatown
Get down
Happy endings all over
Bruce Lee
Toyota
Spicy tuny
Sashimi
Tasty Garden
Fried Lice
Sailor Moon
Wonton soup
Spring roll
Tibet
Foot rub rub a down down down
Fa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra
Tofu
All over you all over me