Yes, even PerezHilton.com posted this video, writing: “LOLs! In an attempt to attract new, younger followers to Buddhism, Buddhist monks in Japan are trying a new approach – rapping! Check out the HIGHlarity of the hip hop monks…” (And comments there have been positive, too, so far.)
What do you think of Mr. Happiness and his drink-pouring extended posse? The more traditional of us may balk, but he’s doubled attendance at his temple. Can you argue with those results? (And really, is this all so “HIGHlarious”?)
This year’s Tibet House benefit concert — it’s twentieth! — just got a boost: Iggy Pop, legendary frontman of The Stooges (just named as Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees (for whatever that’s worth)) has now joined previous performers Philip Glass and Patti Smith on the bill, along with Gogol Bordello, Regina Spektor, and more. Now that’s cool.
The benefit will be held at Carnegie Hall on February 26. For tickets or more info call Tibet House (NYC) at (212) 807-0563, between 10AM and 5PM, Monday through Friday. More info of course on the TH site, here.
After first writing up this item, I decided to start playing recordings by the great artist, Iggy, himself. Some after-listening thoughts:
First off, I have to give kudos to Tibet House for booking Iggy. And Iggy for supporting Tibet House. (It goes without saying that anyone who supports a fine cause has earned their kudos, of course. And Tibet House surely qualifies as a fine cause.)
But why is Iggy cool? Well, as a writer of music (albeit a private and “unconventional” — read: bad – one) I would say this:
If I could write one song as good as, say, “Gimme Danger,” I’d be… well… I’d be Iggy Pop. And there really can be only one Iggy Pop.
I mean, who else could write (and sing) the phrases “that’s like hypnotizing chickens” and “I’m just a modern guy; of course I’ve had it in the ear before”? And not only that, he put them back to back. (Those are lyrics from “Lust for Life.” Don’t let those horrible cruise commercials ruin that song for you. The song is brilliant. And darkly so. And, okay, those lyrics may not thrill you, but trust me, it’s about context. And Iggy had it. “Lust for Life” wasn’t key to the soundtrack of 1996’s Trainspotting for nothing.)
Also, as a guy who calls himself a Buddhist (and who advocates meditation for everyone, in pretty much whatever form works for you), I want to hear why Iggy is playing this show. Maybe it’s just that he’s available and said, “Sure,” because he’s an affable and enthusiastic and good guy. Maybe it’s something else, more specifically related to meditation or Buddhism.
Either way, I’d like to know — this is an actual artist, a lifer. And he knows a thing or two about perseverance through suffering. That’s the type of person I consider worth following, whatever the reason he’ll be performing at Tibet House in February. So I’ve got a message in to Tibet House to see what they say.
Anyway, that’s besides the point. The real point is: Iggy is big-time, enduring Great. Nice get, Tibet House. Iggy rules.
This article from China Daily highlights “art monk” Shi Daoxin (left).
What do you think about this shades-and-Blackberry wearing Buddhist monastic? (Just a friendly note to Shi Daoxin: That’s not the best look for anybody, monk or not.)
Some highlights:
Buddhist monk Shi Daoxin’s daily routine is not about chanting scriptures, meditating or temple ceremonies – rather, he spends his time listening to different categories of music, updating his blog, exchanging messages and emails with fans, and granting interviews in addition to working on his music. [...]
On the one hand, he has a huge crowd of growing fans, praising and downloading his songs; and on the other, a substantial number of people who question the true motivation of a monk active in the secular entertainment world.
Most of his previous songs are what he describes as the “modern and popular version of traditional Buddhist chanting”, but now, he is considering a switch in style.
He said he will try something less religious, and easier-to-understand lyrics. He does not think this is a departure from Buddhism; instead, it is a better way to “call forth the busy urban dwellers’ reminiscences of childhood and allay their anxiety and restlessness”.
But skepticism abounds, especially online. Many accuse him of chasing personal fame in the guise of Buddhism; some even dismiss him as a disgrace to the religion.
The website of New Jersey’s The Aquarian Weekly has posted a new interview with Charles Spearin, of the indie-music darlings Do Make Say Think and Broken Social Scene. In it, Spearin talks about his practice of Buddhism, and his new album, “The Happiness Project” (pictured here) — a “collection of interviews he made with his neighbors about the subject of happiness” that was then turned into a song cycle. An excerpt:
A big part of being Buddhist is about finding beauty and finding the wonderful things about the ordinary world. And so to do a record where I’m talking to my neighbors is first of all very ordinary and then the melody of speech is something so ordinary that you don’t even notice it. So in that sense it is kind of a Buddhist record. So, bringing some of the magic out of the ordinary world.
To read the entire interview, click here. And for more on the Happiness Project, visit the album’s website, or hear samples of the album on its MySpace page.
When Melvin McLeod (my boss at the Shambhala Sun) recently asked me if I wanted to interview Wu-Tang Clan founder The RZA for the magazine, I jumped at the chance.
Well, I’m happy to say that a new Shambhala Sun Audio clip from the 45-minute interview is now online at Shambhala SunSpace. Hope you’ll check it out and leave a comment.
And for more from the Horse on the Wu and the hip-hop/Buddhist connection, click here.
Don’t know how this one eluded the Horse for so long, but it’s an oddity: this song by German “Dance-Metal” band Rammstein came out a couple years ago, and is called “Dalai Lama,” because (it seems) the Dalai Lama isn’t a big fan of flying, and this song is sorta about that. Though it’s not about His Holiness; it’s actually based on a poem by Goethe. (Wikipedia told me that; I got Ds in German.)
Anyway, here’s a fan-made video. The music and images are strange bedfellows.
We’ve covered the Buddha Machine a lot here on the Horse, but this, via Pitchfork, is an interesting take.
CNN (and others) are reporting that “the former ‘American Idol’ contestant was struck [and killed] by a car in New Jersey.”
Cohen was infamous for her American Idol auditions. In her first she was incredibly confrontational. In her second, she took a different tack, informed, she said, by Buddhism.
Get well soon, MCA. You rule.
That’s right: gooftacular. That’s not a word, but this video might just be justification for a call to Miriam-Webster’s.
Lyrics after the jump if you’re interested.
