Joy and Happiness
As commies stand and applaud the Star-Spangled Banner in Stalinist holdout capital.
Performing on a stage flanked by the U.S. and North Korean flags, the Philharmonic played the North Korean national anthem, “Patriotic Song,” following by “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The audience stood respectfully and held their applause until both had been performed.
The article fails to mention whether Kim was there. I’m guessing no, not least because standing at applauding the Star-Spangled Banner would have to be a major no go. It does mention that some audience members were using digital cameras, and indication of that they were members of the privileged elite in a country where many have been reduced to eating dirt, thanks to the joyousness of Juche ideas.
Meanwhile, the NKs want Eric Clapton next. NYT:
Mr. Clapton, the rock pioneer and Grammy winner whose catalog of hits includes “Layla,” “Cocaine,” and “Tears in Heaven,” is said to have at least one key fan in North Korea: Kim Jong-chol, a son of and possible successor to the nation’s reclusive leader, Kim Jong-il. Kim Jong-chol, wearing a black leather jacket and jeans, attended a concert by Mr. Clapton in Germany in mid-2006, according to news reports.
NYT neglects to mention the Clapton playlist includes “Lay Down Sally” and “I shot the Sheriff.”
Topics: North Korea, song
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 9:45 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2008
3 Responses to “Joy and Happiness”
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February 27th, 2008 at 1:35 am
Yes, the most important thing we need to be concerned about is that the North Korean elites better understand Western music.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Mr. Clapton needs to rewrite some lyrics:
North of the DMZ, if you go there you see — Pyongyang.
The people all getting ground down into the ground — Pyongyang.
Then they die, then they die, then they die — Pyongyang.
If you speak your mind, then very soon you find — Pyongyang.
Sent to a prison camp, you can’t ever come back — Pyongyang.
There you die, there you die, there you die — Pyongyang.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:07 am
I’d be willing to bet Kim Eraserhead-IL has a tin ear anyway.