[the emergence of Asian-America: only online]

I will make an observation that may seem like nothing new, but still needs to be emphasized.

Look at all of the Asian talent online!

As I watch my choice YouTube videos, I am struck by the prevalence of Asian-American artists… online. It seems that whenever YouTube artists get together (which apparently they often do), they represent a convoluted coalition of the Pan-Pacific. I see Filipino faces singing next to Japanese names produced by a Chinese production company.

But why is it that we don’t see all of this talent outside of YouTube?
How many Asian-Americans have won American Idol?
Can you name an American production company owned by an Asian CEO?

I’m sure I’m being unfair, and that there are many successful Asian-Americans in the entertainment world. But why the following artists remain in the confines of the YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook worlds, I don’t know… Especially considering their following and fan base…

My most recent discovery, and perhaps my favorite male artists thus far: Dawen
Not my favorite of his, but the video is awesome. He also sounds remarkably similar to Raul Midon.

Love the funk of this album.

Wong-fu Productions:

An all time favorite: Kina Grannis – Made it on the Billboards as an independent artists!

Jane Lui

Passion and JR Aquino

AJ Rafael, Andrew Garcia, JR Aquino

Ryan Higa

and more and more and more…

[adele choreography collection]

I’ve been having a hard time falling asleep for the past three weeks… so tonight, I spend my night watching people dance to Adele.

Here is my absoute favorite because this dance depicts everything I feel.

Turning Tables – by Marissa Osato

A few other that I enjoy:

Someone Like You – by Todd Flanagan, Nico O’Connor, & Alana Hyland

Rolling In The Deep – by Amanda Suk

Turning Tables – by Derek Mitchell (the girl in the blue shirt just kills it)

[bennie and the jets... jennie and the bets?]

I’ve had this song stuck in my head for the past 2 days…

But I must give credit where credit is due. I did not know that this song existed (sadly enough) until I saw Haley Reinhart sang it on American Idol, the night she got voted off (one of the few random times I watched American Idol for more than 5 minutes)… She knocks this song out of the damn park.

I must confess, though. If I’m not thinking about the words, I’ll sing “jennie and the bets” sometimes. Must be the whole American Idol, JLo, Jenny on the Block thing…

Music Monday: Florence + The Machine

It’s not Monday and I know nothing about this artist, but I love rocking out to this song.

Music Monday (kind of): [justin, aretha, condi]

I am not ashamed to say that yesterday, while driving back home, I rocked out to Justin Bieber’s “Somebody To Love” remix feat. Usher.

Now I wish I watched the E! True Hollywood Story about him. Then again, I can’t be bothered to spend an hour watching what happened in his short 16 years of life.

Honestly, at 16 years old,  you’re not going to find somebody to love. Granted, I can’t say I have it figured out at 22, but looking back at it now, whatever “love” you were feeling at 16… meh.

But I suppose he’s asking for someone to love, and not someone to marry -which I suppose is something completely different.

Needless to say, the song is still sort of addicting and makes you want to jump up and down.

On a similar note (not really) can we PLEASE talk about the Aretha x Condi Collabo.

Apparently it’s possible to put a republican and a democrat on a stage together and make beautiful music, as long as it’s for a good cause.

From a performing arts major, if they’re doing it to bring money to any performing arts program, then I’m down. It’s just funny to think that Condi (because you know we love her on Stanford’s campus) could actually pull something like that off. Then again, she wasn’t the dean of Stanford for nothing.

Clearly I have nothing insightful to say about the performance, because, after all, they did it for a reason.

But now I’m imagining the next collabo… I’m thinking Condi and Justin Bieber. It seems only appropriate!

Music Monday: India.Arie

I realize that usually on Music Mondays I find an up-and-coming or under-the-radar artist that some will know, but others will just have started to learn about.

This week, I feature an artist that is neither up-and-coming nor under-the-radar, and this post will not be a review but more of a love letter to a goddess of her art and also my first love and longest relationship – India.Arie.

I still remember the very first day I heard her song “Beautiful.” I was in a dance class with Pacific Northwest Ballet‘s summer program and we were bringing the class to a close by stretching and unwinding. “Beautiful” started playing and it was love at first sight… or… hear?

After that day, I frantically looked for this no named song (I was too scared to ask the teacher) through every musical outlet I could think of (I can’t remember if iTunes was mainstream yet).

I had forgotten about the song when a year or so later, I miraculously found it again, this time attached with a song name and artist. From that day, I started my long, irreplaceable relationship with India.Arie.

I was in middle school when I played her first album, Acoustic Soul, on repeat. Looking back at it now, I didn’t  understand the half of what she was singing about, but I knew somewhere inside of me that she spoke truth. As her other albums came out and I continued to listen to them all on repeat, I accepted her into my life as a healer and reminder that not only am I “not the girl from your Video” but I have “Strength, Courage, and Wisdom.”

To this day, “Nature” is a reminder for me to take life as it goes and as I accept a new love into my heart “Can I Walk With You” has taken new meaning. Yet despite how each song can touch me in varying ways, there is still only one song that can bring tears to my eyes – “Beautiful.” (no need to be over dramatic about it, I know)

I watched “The Secret Life of Bees” the other day and in the middle of the movie, “Beautiful” started playing. I gasped and started tearing, unable to explain why I was suddenly overcome with such emotion. But there it was.

I know that this song will continue to be a reminder in my life of India.Arie’s incredible ability to communicate emotion while soothing your ears with her deep silky voice. There is no question as to which song I will walking down the aisle to and what songs I will sing to my children to sleep. I have been in this relationship for 10 years, and have no interest in ending it now.

I look forward to her upcoming album as she continues to sing the truth and I continue to mature with help from her words.

Music Monday: Pomplamoose Music [part 2] – Telephone by Lady Gaga

I know I’ve already featured them, but can we please talk about how brilliant this cover is?

Pomplamoose covers Telephone by Lady Gaga. (Stanford Alums FTW!)

Music Monday: Kina Grannis

yes, today is Wednesday, but it’s the week before finals so days of the week are unimportant.

This artist deserves a blog post any day and every day anyways.

Kina Grannis

She started getting known as the “gotta digg” girl a few years ago and then gained popularity through  the “Crash the Superbowl” contest. I found her in March of 2008, while looking for Death Cab For Cutie’s New song on youtube, and then found her covering a Death Cab song with her sisters.

A hapa girl with a P.O box in Mission Viejo, CA, Kina Grannis won the “Crash the Superbowl” contest in 2008. That won her the chance to sign with Interscope Records. Unfortunately, Interscope has not been on top of their game and for some reason she hasn’t been able to do all those wonderful things an artist who has signed with a record label should be able to do!

So instead, she took matters into her own hands, and this month, she released her album Stairwells, which debuted on the Billboard top 200 charts at #139 – and incredible feat for a self produced album.

With loyal followers – Kinerds – around the world, her presence on YouTube can be felt through her videos, collaborations, and of course, the success of her new album. I expect the artist and the album will continue to take off as her fans continue to spread the love and buy (and donate) her music to other people who appreciate good music.

Be sure to keep an eye out for her because she isn’t stopping any time soon!

Music Monday: J. Myers

He performed a couple of nights ago at Stanford Black Love event.

How to describe him… hm… Can croon like John Legend, fits right into that neo-soul vibe, raps kinda like Nas…

Not going to lie, I’m not that big of fan of the rapping. But when this Bay area artist sings, he can SING. He started off his set at Black Love with some pre-made backtrack until he quickly realized that what we were looking for was what he transitioned into – an acoustic guitar and some straight up singing.

Not apologetic for his love-centered lyrics, his live performances are conversations and story telling with the audience.

He’s opened for big named artists like Ne-Yo and Marques Houston, and after listening to his single “Give You My Soul,” it’s pretty clear why. He’s also produced some songs for Nas.

Talented? For sure. Where will he go? I don’t know. But worth keeping an eye out? Yup.

J.Myers Myspace and Facebook

Enjoy!

Music Monday: Brad Doggett

YouTube find! And even better – a DUDE!

He covers Lil Wayne, John Mayer, and every other R&B artist out there. Next big thing? Perhaps. That depends on if he can make it out of YouTube. But perhaps with his other crew, the EarthTone Crew, he’ll get somewhere.

As a shameless subscriber to his YouTube account, I do admit that I am pleasantly surprised every time he posts a new video covered an otherwise horrible song that should only be played at a club when you are drunk and unaware of what’s being played.

But no fear, when Brad Doggett covers it, all of a sudden the song takes meaning – at least for a brief moment.

His MySpace, his Twitter, and his Facebook.

Here’s a few videos to satiate your appetite and to show his range: