NOV 1 BTS AND THE RISE OF K-POP

NOV 1  BTS AND THE RISE OF K-POP

In case you...like...haven't heard. The hottest Boy Band right now is totally BTS. They are favored to beat both Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez for the People's Choice Award's 'Best Artist' next weekend. The band is a regular on Jimmy Fallon and their videos have billions of YouTube views. Okay, for those of our readers who are...like...clueless on Korean Pop Music, here's a quick DUNER BLOG primer.

How did K-Pop start? Our story begins in Post-War Japan. In addition to wacky game shows and silly Godzilla movies, Tokyo also became a center for Pop Music. With teen girls as a target market, a new industry emerged. Pop idols like Yumi Matsutoya were promoted as more than just singers. She had a carefully constructed image of beauty, charm mixed with idiosyncratic lyrics. The formula worked: Yumi has sold over 42 million records. It was only a matter of time before neighboring South Korea tried the concept as well and K-Pop was born.

What does K-Pop sound like? You won't hear any acoustic guitars in this genre. Nope, this field is dominated by EDM (Electronic Dance Music). Throw in some auto-tuned vocals, a bit of Hip-Hop and you've got 'Fake Love,' BTS's first U.S. Top Ten hit. Most of the lyrics are in Korean with English words and phrases occasionally tossed in. "Told You" and "Loser" are the about all an English speakers can understand in an average K-Pop song.

What are 'Concept Bands'? Although there are a couple solo artists, the vast majority of K-Pop acts are bands. And they rarely mix genders. There are BOY bands and GIRL bands. Within each band, each member has a unique theme...just like the Spice Girls. Take the girl group 2ne1. Each singer has her own persona. CL is the 'street' rapper. Bon wears pink and is the decidedly 'good girl.' Dara is the leader and Minzy is the leather-clad rebel.

Aren't the managers controlling? The only black eye in the up-and-coming K-Pop world is the extreme system of artist management. These bands don't form in High School music class. Rather, they are the result of carefully calculated auditions. Then, trainees are selected and put through strenuous singing and dancing training. Those who are selected for a highly-marketed future must first sign intrusive contracts. Some forbid members from dating and having tattoos. All forbid smoking and drug use. Social media is strictly regulated.

Can K-Pop save the world? It's true: Record stores from Guam to Germany all have specific K-pop sections these days. Most songs are uplifting, with lyrics about love, acceptance and understanding. The guys in BTS are UNICEF ambassadors. BoA promotes Korean contemporary arts and PSY hangs out at the United Nations. Yet perhaps K-Pop's biggest influence is with neighboring North Korea. Although it is banned and listening to BTS is punishable by death, somehow people manage to hear them anyhow!

OCT 28 WORLD'S LONGEST SEA BRIDGE OPENS IN CHINA

OCT 28  WORLD'S LONGEST SEA BRIDGE OPENS IN CHINA

The date is October 7, 1910. The place is Kowloon. Gathered along the waterfront are Hong Kong's most prominent businessmen. Not surprisingly, Sir Frederick Lugard is front and center. He was the catalyst in the construction of the new railway line at this morning's opening ceremony. With his top-hat and tails, Sir Lugard makes a brief speech in front of a modest train station. Everyone smiles: For the first time, the thriving port of Hong Kong is linked to the mainland manufacturing magnet city of Canton.

The date is October 24, 2018. The place is Kowloon. Gathered along the waterfront are China's top politicians. Not surprisingly, President Xi Jinping is front and center. He was a catalyst in the construction of the new automobile bridge at this morning's opening ceremony. With his utterly drab navy blue suit, Jinping gives a brief speech. For the first time ever, Hong Kong, Macau and the mainland mecca of Canton (now called Guangzhou) are linked by roads.

However, what makes this item truly blog-worthy is the bridge itself. See, Hong Kong and Macau are separated by the enormous Pearl River Delta. The former British and former Portuguese colonies are located 34 miles apart from each other. This means the newly christened Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is now the longest sea bridge in the world. (Sorry, Lake Pontchartrain Causeway...you're now #2!) This figure doesn't include the four miles of tunnel at the beginning. It's yet another staggering engineering feat accomplished by the People's Republic.

Now that the span is open to the public, the bridge will accomplish the same goal the British did a century ago: Linking the industrious Canton Province...and its 60 million people...to the industrious ports on the coast. In addition to moving commerce, the highway will help people move more quickly between the two places. Many mainlanders can now drive to the casinos of Macao and the luxury shops along Hong Kong's Nathan Road.

All of which has many Old-School Hong Kong residents concerned. They see the new bridge as yet another encroachment by the People's Republic of China into their own city's affairs. When Hong Kong was transferred from the UK to the PRC in 1997, it was supposed to remain 'untouched' for fifty years. 'One Country-Two Systems' means that Hong Kong controls its own economy, politics and judiciary. Also worrisome were the 19 people who died building the bridge. Nonetheless, the economic juggernaut known as the People's Republic continues to push forward at breakneck speed.

OCT 19 THE ARABIAN PENINSULA HAS WEALTH DISTRIBUTION ISSUES

OCT 19  THE ARABIAN PENINSULA IS A MESS

These days, it's hard to read any news website without coming across an item involving the Arabian Peninsula. From the kidnapped journalist in Saudi custody to the civilian deaths in the Yemeni Civil War to the Kardashians partying in Dubai...something happening in this land mass will be in the world's headlines. This is a recent development.  A century ago, no one cared about Arabia. The region was a forgotten piece of the dying Ottoman Empire. What changed?

Petroleum! After the Great War, the world's insatiable appetite for oil would transform the Arabian Peninsula. Well...not exactly the entire region. See, places that were blessed with petroleum reserves look different today. Instead of barren desert, the land is now covered with luxury townhouses, Prada boutiques and trendy nightclubs. The places that were NOT blessed with oil fields look the same as they did a hundred years ago: Impoverished villages with no schools or clean water. Let's examine two very different Arabian nations.

In Yemen, the per capita income is a mere $449 a year...the ninth poorest nation on earth, clocking in just below Afghanistan. You'd better not get sick in Yemen. There are only three doctors for every 10,000 people. Better not get thirsty in Yemen either. Over half of the nation's 28 million people do not have access to clean water. Better not talk politics either. As the current Civil War enters its fourth year, Yemen remains divided between three powers: The capital is in a Saudi controlled area, the coast is ruled by Iranian loyalists and ISIS oversees the land in between. Yikes!

Now let's look at Qatar. It leads all nations in per-capita income at a staggering $124,000 average. That's twice the amount Americans earn! No one lives below the poverty line. Unemployment is under 1%. There are no taxes. See what owning the world's largest natural gas reserve will do for a nation! Yet one can't wonder if Qataris have gone too far. Of the three million people who live there, only 300,000 are Qatari. The remaining 2.6 million are all guest-workers from other nations. Odd...

What makes the Arabian Peninsula such a mess? After all, Yemenis, Saudis and Qatari are all united by language (Arabic) and religion (Islam). Yet despite these enormous similarities, one trait trumps them all: One's clan. Being a Wahhabi supersedes being a Saudi. Being a Hashid is more important than being a citizen of Yemen. A hundred years ago, in his benevolent effort to unite the Arabian Peninsula into one nation, T.E. Lawrence discovered this fault. Sadly, it's still present in today's Arabia...which  continues to result in the greatest wealth disparity of any place on earth.

OCT 12 WHAT IS GERMAN UNITY DAY?

OCT 12  WHAT IS GERMAN UNITY DAY?

Last week, 'German Unity Day' was celebrated across Deutschland. A new holiday, it commemorates the incredible events of 1990. Suddenly, the Iron Curtain was lifted and the lofty dream of German re-unification quickly became a reality. Gone forever were the separate nations of East and West Germany. With lightning speed, the West German capital of Bonn relinquished the title to Berlin. Six new states were instantly admitted to the nation. Maps were hastily re-drawn. Finally, the Bundestrat passed a law proclaiming October Third as 'German Unity Day.'

Yet as German Unity Day is celebrated for the 28th time, it's hardly taken shape as a beloved national tradition. "It's not marked by a lot of pomp," explained Tuya Roth, a director at a Bonn historical museum. "It's not an occasion for joy and celebration." National polls show that 29% of Germans just plan to 'sleep in' on Unity Day. Former Chancellor Helmut Kohl liked the holiday because "there is nice weather in the fall." He always chose to spend the day outside at a picnic.

Why the ambivalence? First of all, October Third wasn't actually the natural choice. The more significant day should be November Ninth. That's when checkpoints between East and West Berlin were officially opened, ushering the public destruction of the wall between. The event received worldwide media attention and the photos are now considered iconic. HOWEVER...The events of November Ninth, 1938 overshadow those on November Ninth, 1989. That was Kristalnackt, when Berliners showed a horrible lack of humanity by destroying and burning Jewish homes and businesses. Officially, the passing of Article 23 Berlin City Council on Oct. 3rd is when the nation legally became unified, so this date was selected instead.  

Another reason for the holiday's unpopularity is the dubious fate of East/West unification. Let's face it: Forty years of Soviet isolation is difficult to overcome. As expected, after reunification, many East Germans instantly picked up and moved to the modern cities in the West. As expected, they met with resistance from the established people in the West. They called them 'Ossies" (Easties), as they were easily identified by their odd accents and strange dress. It was hard for them to find jobs and housing. Statistics show they still have lower incomes than their western counterparts....28 years later!

While no one in Europe wants to see gigantic military parades goose-stepping past the Brandenburg Gate, it would be nice to see German Unity Day become something more important than an excuse for sleeping in. However.. Let's not forget: "It's a very young national holiday" reminds Roth. "It needs to develop. I feel it will grow each passing year." She's correct. It's difficult for a nation with a history as troubled as Germany to move forward with any national pride. Hmmm...Maybe sleeping in is the best idea after all!

OCT 5 THE SIMPLE SOLUTION TO THE NFL ANTHEM DEBATE

OCT 5  THE SIMPLE SOLUTION TO THE NFL ANTHEM DEBATE

As the NFL season enters its fifth week, Commissioner Goodell has still not made a decision on the league's National Anthem Policy. Well, relax, Roger! We here at the DUNER BLOG have the solution. Instead of playing the suddenly divisive Star Spangled Banner, each team should instead play their own individual fight song. Let's play music that celebrates something everyone in the stadium can agree upon: Love of the Home Team! Here's a brief rundown of all 32 teams.

Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals are Charging. When the team moved to Phoenix, the line: 'The Pride of St. Louis' was changed to 'The Pride of Arizona.'

Atlanta Falcons: Fly High, Falcons. Fans are trying to replace this slow piece with the more up-tempo 'Rise Up' by Young Snead.

Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore Fight Song. The Colts may have moved to Indianapolis, but the Fight Song remained in the city. NOTE: The Ravens are one of two NFL teams still featuring a marching band.

Buffalo Bills: Shout. It's the Isley Brother's classic with 'Bills!' replacing 'Shout!'

Carolina Panthers. Sweet Caroline by Neal Diamond. Duh!

Chicago Bears. Bear Down. Written in 1941, it's a classic. Speaking of classics: 'The Super Bowl Shuffle' hit #31 on the Billboard Charts in 1985.

Cincinnati Bengals. Bengals Growl. Unlike others on this list, this track is still played in the stadium after every Bengals touchdown.

Cleveland Browns. Hi-O Hi-O for Cleveland. It's catchy, but it's hard not to laugh when the lowly Browns sing the line 'We're the Greatest Team in the Land."

Dallas Cowboys. Dallas Cowboys. Written by Charlie Pride, it actually hit the country charts in 1977, the peak of Cowboys prosperity.

Denver Broncos. Mile High Pride. Not very memorable, but still fits the bill.

Detroit Lions. Gridiron Heroes. Thank you, Detroit. After the National Anthem, you already play your own fight song. Bravo!

Green Bay Packers. Go! You Packers Go! The oldest of all NFL fight songs, it was written in the team's sophomore year, 1931. It's still played after every Lambeau Field extra point.

L.A. Chargers. Super Chargers. This one is tough. Everyone, including Chris Berman, loves to sing 'San Di-ego. Super Chargers.." Sadly, the acrimonious move to LA has shelved the song.

L.A. Rams. Marching Song. Another oldie without any airplay nowadays. Maybe consider bringing back the ridiculous 1980's misfire, 'Let's Ram It!'

Miami Dolphins. Fight Song. With an update from local Hip-Hop star T-Pain in 2009, this track is receiving lots of play at Dolphin Stadium.

Minnesota Vikings. Skol! Vikings! Today, the song (and toast) has been converted to a favorite stadium chant.

New England Patriots. New England, The Patriots & We. Although the team does not have an official song, this one failed so miserably it must be mentioned.

New Orleans Saints. When the Saints Go Marching In. Duh!

NY Giants. Go Big Blue. Written prior to the 1987 Super Bowl win, this song has the most basic lyrics ever.

NY Jets. Play Like a Jet. A fan favorite, this song includes the J-E-T-S chant.

Oakland Raiders. Autumn Wind. Technically a poem, it's the unknown song is the teams official song. Fans prefer Ice Cube's 'I'm a Raider.'

Philadelphia Eagles. Fly Eagles Fly. Perhaps the most well known on the list, it was played repeatedly at this year's Super Bowl Parade.

Pittsburgh Steelers. Here We Go Steelers. This tune gets updated after every Super Bowl with new player's names. It's Currently 'We Got Ben, Ready To Throw."

San Francisco 49ers. We Are the 49ers. Dating back to the Kezar days, this track needed an update. So the SF Gay Men's Choir stepped in and...well...it still sounds kinda dated.

Seattle Seahawks. Roll With It. Not exactly a motivating title for a football team!

Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hey Hey Tampa Bay. This catchy tune was written by 'Jingle King' Jeff Arthur. He also wrote the 'When You Say Bud!' commercial.

Tennessee Titans. Houston Oilers #1. Okay... Again, a favorite song has been ruined by a move to a new city.

Washington Redskins. Hail to the Redskins. Quick answer to the obvious question: Yes, the original lyrics 'Scalp 'em for ol' Dixie' have been replaced.