Kinoko Hotel

Meanwhile somewhere in Japan...

Nylon Pink - K POP gets Rocked

Coming out of LA, California USA all grrrll band Nylon Pink have been honing their skills in the Dark Art of the cover song. Not just any song but.
They have been picking the cherries of the 'go nuts' music phenomenon of K-POP.
Pop Music in Korea.
Sounds odd? maybe, until you look at the size of this industry.
Sometimes slightly twee, usually quite epic, love it or hate it, knowing Psy is just scratching the surface.
There is Sistar, Girls Generation, 2NE1 (twenty one), T-ara (tiara) and a whole lot more.
PS these are just the girl groups, plenty of boy ones too.

I don't really get the highly manufactured looks, choreographed performances, the miming but caught wind of this whole thing through the epic film clips of the band T-ara.
Day by Day is an epic 20min, big budget post apocalyptic/sci fi showcase video clip from T-ara that is more film than music clip. Check out the costumes, the sets, the camera moves etc. OK the story may not be great but it is narrative.
This outfit seems to have laid claim to the filmic music video promotion title but the others also plough plenty of bucks or Won (KRW) into their clips too.

But the music always got in the way for me, good songs but a bit too froth and bubble for me.
That is until I stumbled onto Nylon Pink.
For starters they hold and play instruments, they translate the lyrics to english but most importantly they rock the froth and kick the bubble. Oh yeah they kinda look good too. (smiley face emoticon)
They describe themselves as Hello Kitty on Acid!

Here's a couple of of their versions along side of the originals so the comparison can be yours.

I am the best - 2NE1


I am the best - Nylon Pink


Gee - Girls' Generation


Pretty light on eh?

Gee - Nylon Pink


There are others  like Hyuna's Ice Cream and Big Bang's Blue (they're a boy band) but these girls also do their own music.
They aint just a cover band but the covers are a clever way to raise ones' profile.
Nylon Pink are a self funded, Indie rock/pop outfit and they've been at it for over four years.

Now if you are in Japan you can catch them as they will be touring at the end of March and early April 2013 and to help cover the costs of such a tour they are running a KickStarter campaign.
So if you wanna get behind them you can check em out live, or maybe pitch in some bucks ($US) or even join their global army of Ninjas (social media promoters)

They could sure use your help at this stage with only 3 days to go

Back on the Bike!

Some food for thought

$ave with a Bike Lane infographic by pasteinplace.

Rocks in My Head

There are not many landscapes I know that have this vivid orange baked into them.
Lots of rock but not much roll
but I can't get it out of my head!

  

Star Gazing

Things are forever washing up on beaches
They are depositories of surprises
Walk the same sands day after day and you'll never know what comes tomorrow.
Sometimes things get blown onto the beach too.
One day the stars blew onto the beach....and what a sight it was.

The Waveform Monitor

I'm fascinated by waves.
The only consistent physical manifestation of energy that we can touch, feel and see.
I find surf beaches mesmerising.  I watch them, ride them and swim them too.
The Rhythm, the sound, the smell but really it's the visual.
The sight of of approaching swell, corduroy!
A wave forming, building, peaking and breaking.
Being witness to this is nourishment for the soul. Being amongst it is Heaven.
And the wave is non less perfect than with a stiff offshore wind
and a handsome groundswell to match.

It is with this that I present to you
Day 7, 2013 King George Beach S.A. 35° 37' 16" S x 137° 12' 34" E

 

 

And at the end of the day

 

Videos that are a Gas #10

Have a look at this most epic of life adventures

Go to the site and see all the rest Janapar - a true story