Posted on 02/21/2005 3:35:50 AM PST by AmericanInTokyo
If you can stomach it (both via the above link and here):
Link: http://mfile.akamai.com/1689/wmv/bmguk.download.akamai.com/1689/Faithless1/faithless_wmv_high.asx
is a 2-minute streaming video (broadband recommended), on Windows Media Player, by a U.K. "trance-rap" music group called 'Faithless'.
The song is called "I Want More".
One would FIRST think this would be pictures of starving North Korean peasants, crying in the Korean language for more rice gruel.
But what you will be 'treated' to is a clever if not disgusting tribute to the mass brainwashing in North Korea, particularly in the more privileged capital city of Pyongyang, and 'mass games' in the sports stadium, intense socialist-flavored gymnastics, N.K. soldiers on the march and wholesale worship of the Kim dictatorship--all to the beat of the UK group's music.
One wonders, what's the point?
Watch if you can stand it.
Now I've seen everything......
You are not going to freakin' BELIEVE this stuff (if you have not already seen it)!
Hey, you'se guys, too! Ping!
The poor kid who screwed up on his color card while practicing, has probably since been sent to a work camp in a coal field on the Chinese border.
As far as I am concerned, they can send as many human shields up there as they can handle, to receive Uncle Sam's goodies from the air.
Really sad.
Of NAZI proportions.
Will this start making the rounds at dance clubs?
An outrage when you think about it. I know they wanted controversy...they sure got my attention (and anger) in the process.
The lyrics ibeing n English is a clever touch, no?
Well the music "I want more" was fitting for Socialist's! I liked the picture of the Ted Kennedy Lookalike. I thought I spotted the Kerry sister's, but I think it was horses pulling the cart, that was a cart wasn't it? Sorry, I have to have my first coffee for today.
How many of their units are battle ready artillery, along the DMZ (a 10- fold increase in the last four years), ready to shower an incredible storm of death upon Seoul, South Korea and it's many Koreans and Americans, within the first few hours of War on the Korean Peninsula??
In a way, I am sorry to lay this heavy stuff on all the FR East Coaster's for this brand new day, President's day, even before they've had a chance to get the first cup of coffee! Sorry! Mian hamnidda!
Very strange...........
The DMZ battle plan is air power. DPRK: conventional forces, ground attack, human waves, WW II tactics. Not a chance.
Well, I know that of course. I know that. However, you do know the projected S. Korean casualties in the first six hours don't you, unless we could take out those 11,000 DMZ artillery tubes by the Norkies, in the first 20 minutes?
In the old days, our lads would take out takes of Nazi propaganda films, set it to the music of the "Lambeth Walk" and alter the film to make marching Nazis look like they were doing a kick line.
Too bad they didn't do that Kim Jong Il and his fascist band.
Regards, Ivan
You got it, MI.
My interpretation is completely different. Without knowing the politics of the people that produced this video, I see it as a total trashing of the NK regime. The video depicts the complete regimentation of life in this slave state. There are no smiling faces. The only well fed people are the officers. They are pictured applauding the performers in a pro forma way. Now, I couldn't pick up any of the lyrics past "I Want More". Looking at the slave like behavior of emaciated dancers and acrobats while the signers wale "I Want More" in the background does not seem like an homage to the regime. Just my opinion.
That's Thai, yes?
For Khmer its something like "Soc-sa-bai, ta-lai ne-ah teh?" - Good Morning, How are you?
As for the timing of a DMZ battle, I have not seen the numbers but assume they are horrific.
I thought it was very well done.
I took its meaning differently than you.
I think the phrase "I want more", is supposed to represent Kim Jung-Il's need for self-glorification. His people are suffering, starving, dying, yet it's important to put on these elaborate shows for his amusement, and they are never spectacular enough. Thus, he wants more.
That was my take, anyway.
Furthermore, the artist may be pulling a double entendre: why are we so dissatisified with our freedom in the west? It's not as if we've acheived spiritual transcendence here, and so there's room to criticize.
It's almost as if he's saying, "count your blessings, mate..."
I don't think I agree with the perspective of the musicians, but I doubt that they're stooging for the DPRK. We're talking about them. That's what they want.
[LSK]
Hey friend your misery bewilders me
How come you're never satisfied or gratified
Four walls n' a roof, electricity,
Stable mind, wife and child,
Hot and cold water to run anytime.
But still you, whine.
I want more
A bum could rummage through ya bin
And live like a king
On just one crumb o'ya cake
N'ya say ya life needs fulfilling
Some would give anything to live like you
Shame your mind, don't shine
Like your possessions do.
Whining, complaining all the time,
Don't see no rain on you
What side your bread is buttered on
If only you knew
What d'ya mean
I want more
Yep
I was told as a child,
I want more never gets
Learned to count my blessings
Long before I saw an abacus
So what ya family don't speak
At least they're alive
Show me a man without guilt
Or a soul that ain't lied
You don't know what ya got
Open your eyes, look around
Really, hear me you,
Ain't got no reason to be down
What d'ya mean
I want more
Friend what is it that you seek
What is it that you try to find
Someday I hope you realized
It shined in you all the time.
Hills to climb, sights to see, seas to cross,
Friends to make, hands to shake, the world is yours,
Foods to taste, sounds to hear, love to feel,
Seeds to sew, things to know, fish to reel,
Space to quiz, stones to lift, life's a gift
What d'ya mean
I want more
Yep
What d'ya mean
I want more
Yep
In addition, it's a statement about the youth wanting more from their lives, than having to put on these ridiculous displays.
I have always been impressed with the totally coordinated routines demonstrated by the masses of mind-SLAVES.
Totalitarian aesthetics must have made its way into music video. Thoroughly bored useful idiots must be in desperate need of perverted kicks to their life.
Ya gotta admit -- them commies sure know how to put on an eye-popping extravaganza.
That's what I caught too....couldn't help but think of the countryside where grass is on the menu for the starving.
Probably shouldn't publicize this link. Bands are in it for the money, and controversy sells.
Later posters are agreeing with us. The lyrics seem to confirm the sarcastic way the video is written.
Well, then, at any rate, probably "extreme Western Khmer"...maybe around Battambang or Poipet. (Thanks).
However, is one of my speakers connected to my computer on the blink? Where did the lyrics come from later? (from an FR poster later on).
All I heard from that video intially was "I Want More", and "You know what I want", with some final brief, spoken comments. I took it as a criticism of the materialistic West, where possessions are highlighted in the hearts and preoccupations of the people *to the detrement of the state, (which would be the socialist spin on things).
None of the people in the video are actors. This is in fact the public face of Pyongyang and North Korea, the Nuremburg smoke and mirrors.
If this group had really wanted to make an anti-DPRK statement, there are plenty of sad DPRK images and video available, some smuggled out from the DPRK. Couldn't THAT have been set to the music?
Further question. Who shot the video? How did they get into the DPRK? Not just anyone goes in there.
My final point is that this video is linked to the official website of the DPRK in the West, and is preceded by accolades that it shows the "Beautiful DPRK". That alone in my mind convinces that either by design or accident, this UK groups "art" is being used to further the regime in a positive way, to amaze and to wow, and that praise of the video comes right from North Korean sources themselves.
Ping! DPRK Video controversy.
I didn't study the one linked off of a DPRK site, I only reviewed the version (if it's different) from Faithless here in the west. I think they're the same, but I'm not sure.
You might be right about this being supportive of the DPRK, but I think that's too obvious. Its sarcasm, if it is sarcastic, may have some hidden barbs for us yet, however. Digging further into its potential hidden meanings, it may be a veiled attack on conformity here in the west, as well. We have a military agenda, we have mass media-driven standards for behavior and (im)morality, and we have "great leaders" bent on changing the world for "the better." See the analogy? Western social critics often fail to realize that external threats require sacrifice and voluntary conformity in order to permit freedom to survive. The osstensibly western version of this video strikes me as having been produced in that sort of twisted spirit.
One obvious and critical difference is that you can get rich derriding our "great leaders," while in China, the DPRK, or Iran, you could lose what little freedom you have left, or even be killed for it.
I think it's still interesting work. Look for the phrase "stupid" frequently associated with mistakes the Korean performers are making. Think about what the Faithless artists might be trying to say there. I doubt they agree with DPRK authorities you see taking notes about errors from the sidelines.
Maybe they're talking about music critics for all we know.
"It's a holiday in Cambodia
Where you'll do what you're told
A holiday in Cambodia
Where the rights to you are sold"
- Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys)
I respectfully disagree.
"If this group had really wanted to make an anti-DPRK statement, there are plenty of sad DPRK images and video available, some smuggled out from the DPRK. Couldn't THAT have been set to the music?"
Yes, but that would have had a different "feel" to it. And this has a bit of the absurd to it. The country is full of suffering people. How absurd to have them dancing around as if there's nothing wrong and life there is a big party.
I don't know where those lyrics came from. They weren't in the video.
You ask who shot the video. Well, it's different clips, obviously, but I think you answered for yourself. " This is in fact the public face of Pyongyang and North Korea,"
The fact that it's on DPRK website doesn't mean much to me, except that they may have mistaken the meaning, or not understood the words, or figured others wouldn't understand the words. They may think it's a flattering portrayal.
I still feel my original assessment is correct. And the look of boredom and fatigue on the kids faces seems to reiterate the "I Want More" than this in my life theme.
Anyways, I'm not a cement head or at least I'll try not to be; I can see you may have a point on some things, in fact, I did give it more thought when I saw the one kid wincing in pain from an arched back, another kid tucking a ball underneath and looking bored, and then that little kid missing his cue with color cards. Thanks again.
I think that N. Korean regime has a different mindset than ours. From our point of view, it may look like a subtle satire of their system. However, from theirs, it may well be an artistic promotion of their system.
It happens more often than not. Artistic interpretation and appreciation can be highly subjective.
I want more, FOOD ! !
Of course, it is with "conditions", says Kim Jong il to the Chinese. And of course, to that, the US says "Nuts!"
Ah yes. Probably Poipet.
Where baht and reil and dollars are the same, and English and Thai and Khmer mix together so nicely.
How very like the Nazi's massed gymnastics, and all with a
patriotic theme too.
Of course, it is with "conditions", says Kim Jong il to the Chinese.
Probably wants 3,000 perfectly matched three year olds trained in Junche thought.The best we could do would be some
thug rappers and janet jackson.
Did kinda remind me of the democrat convention though.
That's interesting, since (so far as I know) North Korea has (unlike Vietnam, Cuba, China, etc.) never really been a touchstone to Leftists anywhere other than South Korea.
In fact, I read not long ago that the DPRK actually dropped Marxism-Leninism as its official ideology in 1977, replacing it with the bizarre idol-worship cult of Kim Il Sung (mach shemo) and his descendants. It's supposed to be a sort of cross between Communism and dynastic monarchy, but it does have proponents outside Korea (which it probably wouldn't have if it had been of "rightwing" rather than Communist origin).
Chuche will be chic if it has anything to do with opposing President Bush and the USA.
So much for individualism and integration.
Ops4 God Bless America!
,,, all those amazing performers! None of them seemed to make a mistake in their routines, so I guess for the interim they won't be working on sewers. We get to see them but they haven't got a chance to see anyone outside their own cage. I bet those medal laden generals taught them every move they know.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.