QUEEN'S GAMBIT and Pinkblack

This blog site has officially shifted to: 

New SIMPLE SOLUTIONS for PLANET EARTH AND HUMANITY

I will maintain this current site, but only until the end of the year.  Then, this blog will become my testing ground for new books I will be drafting, plus a few jokes and photos of general interest.

From Worldometer:

           DAY USA  WORLD  Brazil     India   South Africa

June     9     1093    4732         1185      246         82

July    22     1205     7128        1293     1120       572

Aug    12     1504     6556       1242       835       130

Sept     3     1094     5886         830     1083       174
            9     1208     6222       1136      1168         82

Oct      8       957     6420          730       967       160

          12       316     3757          203       710         83

          13       843    5006           354       723       165

          14       970    6075           716       694       123

          15       873    6106           734       835       158

          17       638    5639           461     1032         38

          18       448    4040           215       578         63 

          19       442    4392           321       594         21

          20       952    6169           662       714       164         

          21     1225    6849           571       703         85 

          22       973     6470          503       683       102 

          23       903     6526          566       656         48 

Summary: not good.

It is rare that Rotten Tomatoes reviewers and audiences both rate a movie or series at 100%.  Well, a special treat just appeared on Netflix.  Here are the two films I just saw:

                                          Rotten Tomatoes       My Grade

                                      Reviewers  Audiences

Queen's Gambit                    100           100            ?

Blackpink: LUtS                      85            98            B+

Queen's Gambit is a mini-series with seven episodes of around 46 minutes each.  I've watched three so far, and, while entertaining, not quite yet close to those 100% ratings.  Maybe it will get better.

The story begins with an 8-year old girl losing her mother in a car accident, with a father who had earlier been pushed away for good.  So she ends up in a spiffy orphanage.  In those days (50's?) they gave the residents (all females) a vitamin pill and tranquilizer every day.  It was there that she became an addict.

A janitor teachers her chess, and she was so good that he invited the high school chess club head to play with her.  At the that point she must have been around 13 or so, played the chess club (all males) simultaneously, embarrassing them. 

She subsequently got adopted, where, again, the husband sort of disappears, essentially abandoning the family, with her new mother not particularly supportive about chess.   But Beth Harmon (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) begins winning chess tournaments, all against male opponents, and winning real dollars.  Her mother takes note and becomes her planner for future competitions.  At the end of episode 3 she loses, for the first time, to a superior U.S. champ (right).  You know that in coming chapters she will beat him, then on to the Russians, who dominate the world.  Four more episodes to go.

Earlier this week I featured BTS, a Korean boy group, who at that time had songs ranked #1 and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Blackpink is not quite at that stage of success (reached #12 with Ice Cream--teaming with Selena Gomez), but, like in LPGA golf, the women are coming.  Their Netflix documentary, Light Up the Sky, tells us all about them.

To appreciate Blackpink, you need to go back to YG Entertainment, which was established in 1996.  They were the ones responsible for Psy and Gangnam Style in 2012.

According to the film, YGE from 2009 recruited throughout the Orient, placing 30 or so trainees in a dormitory and trained them to sing, dance and become socially compatible, finally whittling them down to four in 2016:

• Jisoo, from Korea, represents Dior
• Jennie, born in Korea, but spent five years in New Zealand, Chanel
• Rose, born in New Zealand, Saint Laurent
• Lisa, from Bangkok, Bulgari and Celine

Blackpink symbolizes femininity with a dark mystery.  Kia Motors and Samsung, particularly Galaxy, are among a host of national and international companies, like Pepsi and Adidas, paying them to sell their products.  They first became popular in South Korea, than toured Japan in 2018/2019, then on to the USA last year, becoming a huge hit at Coachella.  Like all Korean stars, they with fanfare donate large sums to worthy causes.  Remember, YG Entertainment runs their lives.

Favorite song #67 represents that key song providing mental peace to comedians who teamed with famous singers:

• Rock a Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody:  Jerry Lewis
• Thanks for the Memory:  Bob Hope

RaBYBwaDM was written in 1918 and immediately became a #1 hit for Al Jolson.  Dean Martin actually came out with it first in 1950, but the Jerry Lewis' 1956 release did better, reaching Billboard's Top Ten.  From Wikipedia:

After their partnership ended with their final nightclub act on July 24, 1956, the boys went on to successful solo careers and neither would comment on the split nor consider a reunion. They were occasionally seen at the same public events, though never together. On two occasions, in 1958 and 1961, Martin invited Lewis on stage, but the split was too serious for them to reconcile. Later in September 1976, Sinatra surprised Lewis by bringing Martin on live stage, reuniting them after 20 years apart^[40] and then in 1989, Lewis attended Martin's 72nd birthday.

And here is why this song made Lewis' life:

After his partnership with Martin ended in 1956, Lewis and his wife Patty took a vacation in Las Vegas to consider the direction of his career. He felt his life was in a crisis state: "I was unable to put one foot in front of the other with any confidence. I was completely unnerved to be alone".^[33] While there, he received an urgent request from his friend Sid Luft, who was Judy Garland's husband and manager, saying that she couldn't perform that night in Las Vegas because of strep throat,^[33] and asking Lewis to fill in.

Lewis had not sung alone on stage since he was five years old, twenty-five years before, but he appeared before the audience of a thousand, nonetheless, delivering jokes and clowning with the audience, while Garland sat off-stage, watching. He then sang a rendition of a song he'd learned as a child, "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" along with "Come Rain or Come Shine." Lewis recalled, "When I was done, the place exploded. I walked off the stage knowing I could make it on my own".^[33]

Thanks for the Memory was composed by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin for The Big Broadcast of 1938 (this is the whole film), where this tune was sung by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross.  The song won an Oscar and became Hope's signature tune.  He hosted the Academy Award Ceremony 19 times, solo and in a team.  Dorothy Lamour also released her version and is many times mistaken as the female voice on Bob's record.  Bing Crosby also released this song, in 1956.

Bob Hope was also linked to another popular song, Buttons and Bows, from The Paleface in 1947 with Jane Russell.  Dinah Shore, however, released the most popular version the following year, hitting #1 on Billboard.

Even before this #67 song, Bob Hope in 1933 was the star of Roberta on Broadway, where unknowns like Fred MacMurray, Ray Middleton and Sidney Greenstreet appeared.  Also, a singer on this show, Dolores Reade.  She ended up marrying Hope, and they were together for 70 years.  He passed away in 2003 at the age of 100, but she went on for 102 years.

- 

CELINE BLACKPINK PERFUME BABYMETAL

After 16 years and 1141 shows, 51-year old Celine Dion (that's her actual birth name) this summer ended her residency at Caesars Palace.  To the left with her children during the final show.

She was 12 when she first met her husband, Rene Agelil, and he was 38.  At the age of 26 and he 52, they got married, Rene for the third time.

Angelil passed away in 2016.  Two days later, also her brother Daniel, both from cancer.

Celine was born in Canada in a family of 14 children.  At the age of 20 she won the Eurovision Contest in 1988 representing Switzerland.  Her winning song was Ne Partez pas sans moi.  International breakthrough was attained in 1991 for the title track with Peabo Bryson of Beauty and the Beast.  This song won the Oscar and she earned a Grammy.  Of course she had many more hits.

I then switch to the Orient, and you would think that BTS would be the most popular boy band in Korea.  Nope, they are #2 to ATEEZ (left). They just made Billboard's World Albums chart.

Blackpink is the most popular K-pop girl group.   Here is their Playing with Fire, said to be their best.  They also are on the Billboard charts.  How popular are they in the Orient?

On July 20, 2017, Blackpink held a showcase at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. It had an attendance of more than 14,000 people and it was reported that around 200,000 people tried to get tickets for it.^[24][25]

Forbes named them as the most influential celebrity of Korea in 2019.

Of course Japan too has its J-Pop groups.  Here are the hottest three female squads, with AKB48 at the top:

Their best?  Rotation.

All of them look so young and temporary, but there is Perfume, a trio I reported on four years ago.  They were the first J-Pop girl group to perform at Coachella, and they have been around for 15 years.

However, Ranker ranks them as #2 to Babymetal.  This other female trio is into their tenth year, except one got sick, so maybe it's down to two.  Their genre:  kawaii (cute) metal.  I've heard of heavy metal, but cute?  Well, click on their best, Karate.  Charming in an odd sort of way.  If this is their top hit I can only wonder how awful their worst must be.  Well, here is Gimme Chocolate at Glastonbury this year.  Go ahead, put it on full-screen and maximize the sound to wake you up.

-
Dorian remains a hurricane at 90 MPH, making landfall over Cape Hatteras, and now back in the Atlantic.  Actually, I'm looking at the track, and they eased past Beaufort, and I don't  see any contact with the continental USA.  The projection is impact with Nova Scotia.

Remember that 1 MPH speed of the eye movement over the Bahamas?  Now, up to 21 MPH.  The death toll from Dorian in the Bahamas is now up to 30.

Tropical Storm Gabrielle will become a hurricane and head towards Nova Scotia, but make a right turn for Iceland, and might meet up with Dorian there.

Typhoon Lingling went right over Miyakojima as a Category 3, missed Kumejima, and is now headed for the DMZ separating the Koreas.

Tropical Storm Faxai will become a typhoon and threaten Tokyo on Sunday.

There is a chance that Faxai will make a right turn just before impacting the Tokyo area and turn back into the Pacific Ocean.

-

DAY 4 IN SEOUL: Most popular Korean Songs from the 1950's to the Present

Korean music was almost totally missing, growing up in Hawaii.  The exception was Arirang.  Today, BTS and BLACKPINK resonate around the world. 

In addition to the 600 year-old Arirang, what is the all-time #1?  My favorites are:

• Baby Shark, released by Pinkfong in 2016.
• For one, it is the most-viewed You Tube video ever, hitting 7 billion views and surpassing Despacito in 2022.  

• Is now up to 16.47 billion views, with Despacito at 9 billion.
• Top 10 music videos, based on data from Kworb and Wikipedia: Note that most are nursery songs.

1. 
   "Baby Shark Dance" – Pinkfong Kids' Songs & Stories (16.47 billion)
2. "Despacito" – Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee (8.91 billion)
3. "Wheels on the Bus" – Cocomelon Nursery Rhymes (8.29 billion)
4. "Bath Song" – Cocomelon Nursery Rhymes (7.31 billion)
5. "Johny Johny Yes Papa" – LooLoo Kids (7.13 billion)
6. "See You Again" – Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth (6.86 billion)
7. "Phonics Song with Two Words" – ChuChu TV (6.81 billion)
8. "Shape of You" – Ed Sheeran (6.62 billion)
9. "Gangnam Style" – Psy (5.78 billion)
10. "Uptown Funk" – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars (5.71 billion) 

• Baby Shark only peaked at #32 on Billboard in 2019.
• Here is a video that goes on and on about Baby Shark, if you need to distract a young child for awhile.
• 
  Psy's Gangnam Style made a huge global splash in 2012.
• Was the first You Tube video to reach 1 billion views, now up to 5.8 billion.
• Peaked at #2 on Billboard that year.
• Psy's Gentleman in 2013 was at least a minor hit, reaching 1.7 billion views on You Tube and peaking at #5 on Billboard.
• 
  BTS (Bangtan Sonyeodan) debuted in 2013.  Their photo that year to the right.  
• Struggled for two years.
• I Need U was their breakthrough hit in 2015.
• In 2017 became the first K-pop group to win a Billboard Music Award.
• During the Pandemic their Dynamite, Butter and Permission to Dance earned multiple Grammy nominations, and they became the first Asian act to win Artist of the Year at the 2021 American Music Awards.
• 
  Then had to complete mandatory military service from 2022-2025, and are now from 28 to 33 years old.
• All seven re-formed and will release their fifth studio album, Arirang, in March of 2026.

• 
  They will begin their Arirang World Tour on 9April2026 in Goyang, South Korea.  Then, NorthAmerica, Europe, South American and Asia.  79 shows on five continents in 11 months.
• They actually released their their version of that historic song, Arirang, seven years ago.
  
• BTS' fanbase, ARMY, is one of the largest in the world, with nearly 90 million members.

• I  wrote about Blackpink 6 years ago.  They made their debut a decade ago and are now all in their early 30s.  Here are their top 10 songs.

• So K-pop music now is all that is left.  Perhaps the first group might have been the Kim Sisters in the '50s.
• They were born in Seoul, formed in 1953, and became popular with American troops.

• 
  Later in the 50s, starred in Las Vegas.
• They appeared on the Ed Sullivan show more than 20 times.  
• Here they are with Charlie Brown.

Interesting that the following Google AI summary of music about South Korea does not even mention Baby Shark.  Why?  I guess because it is a children's song.

Creating a definitive "top ten" is subjective, but historically crucial South Korean songs from the 1950s onwards include timeless folk like "Morning Dew" (Yang Hee Eun), wartime classics such as "Night of Yongdeongpo," trot anthems like "Busan Station of Farewell" (Nam In Su), ballads like "You're My Only Love" (Hye Eun), rock-infused hits, and the legendary folk song "Arirang," representing diverse eras and enduring cultural significance. 

Here's a blend of foundational hits and iconic tracks, spanning from the 50s to modern classics:

Iconic Songs from South Korea (1950s - Present)

1. Arirang (Various Artists): The quintessential Korean folk song, embodying national spirit and recognized by UNESCO.
2. Busan Station of Farewell (Nam In Su): A foundational trot song from the post-war era, reflecting longing for home.
3. Dreaming Baekma River (Lee In Kwon): A popular classic evoking nostalgia and traditional imagery.
4. Night of Yongdeongpo (Oh Ki Taek): A poignant song capturing the atmosphere of a city during challenging times.
5. Morning Dew (Yang Hee Eun): A powerful folk song from the 70s that became an anthem for youth and change.
6. You're My Only Love (Hye Eun): A beloved pop standard from the 70s, showcasing vocal talent.
7. Shine (Shinhwa): An optimistic, classic K-pop track proving that brighter themes can endure.
8. Cherry Blossom Ending (Busker Busker): A massive modern hit (2012) known for its seasonal appeal and sales.
9. A Buddhist Nun of Suducksa (Son Chun Hee): A deeply emotional song from the trot/folk tradition.
10. Spring in My Hometown (Kim Jung Mi): A beautiful, nostalgic piece representing a classic sound. 

Or, another way of looking at music popular in South Korea:

South Korea’s musical history from 1950 to 2026 is defined by a transition from mourning the war to global pop dominance. Below are ten historic songs that have shaped the nation's identity, spanning trot, folk, rock, and the modern K-pop era. 

• "Hold On, Geumsun" (굳세어라 금순아) – Hyun In (1953)
  A defining song of the 1950s that resonated with millions of refugees during the Korean War. It tells the heart-wrenching story of a man separated from his sister at the Hungnam evacuation.

• "The Boy in the Yellow Shirt" (노란 샤쓰의 사나이) – Han Myung-sook (1961)
  This upbeat track signaled a shift away from melancholic traditional styles toward Western-influenced swing and country. It is considered the first "Hallyu" (Korean Wave) hit, gaining massive popularity in Japan and Southeast Asia.
• "Camellia Lady" (동백 아가씨) – Lee Mi-ja (1964)
  The quintessential "Trot" ballad, this song topped Korean charts for a record 35 weeks. Despite being banned for years by the government for sounding "too Japanese," it remained the nation's unofficial favorite, cementing Lee Mi-ja as the "Queen of Trot".
• "Morning Dew" (아침 이슬) – Yang Hee-eun (1971)
  Originally a poetic folk song, it became the anthem of South Korea’s 1970s and 80s pro-democracy movements. Though banned for nearly two decades, it is still sung today at major national protests and gatherings.
• "Short Hair" (단발머리) – Cho Yong-pil (1980)
  Cho Yong-pil is widely regarded as the "King of K-Pop." This synth-pop track helped modernize the Korean music scene in the early 80s, blending electronic sounds with catchy melodies that appealed across generations.
• "I Know" (난 알아요) – Seo Taiji and Boys (1992)
  This song is the "Big Bang" of modern K-pop. By introducing American rap, hip-hop, and new jack swing to the domestic market, it revolutionized the industry and created the blueprint for the current idol system.

• "Into the New World" (다시 만난 세계) – Girls' Generation (2007)
  While "Gee" was a bigger commercial hit, "Into the New World" has evolved into a national protest anthem for the younger generation, famously sung during the 2016-2017 candlelight vigils and various social rights movements.
• "Gangnam Style" (강남스타일) – PSY (2012)
  The most globally recognized Korean song in history. It was the first video to reach one billion views on YouTube and broke international barriers, proving that Korean-language music could dominate global charts.
• "Spring Day" (봄날) – BTS (2017)
  Widely considered one of the greatest songs in K-pop history, this track resonated deeply for its themes of loss and longing, often associated by the public with the Sewol Ferry tragedy. It is one of the longest-charting songs in Korean history.
• "Arirang" (아리랑) – Traditional (Various versions)
  Though much older than 1950, it remains the most significant song in South Korean history. Every generation has its own version, from 1920s film scores to BTS's modern renditions, serving as the "eternal anthem" of the Korean people.

Day 4 in Seoul began with a glance outside my room, and it had snowed last night.

On to perhaps my best breakfast ever.  I love Shanghai Soup Dumplings (Xialongbao), but I have enhanced the experience with scotch (cognac works fine, too) and assorted vegetables.

Into a bowl of scotch,

I only had four Shanghai Soup Dumplings, so went on to get two more.

My final bite and drink.

In the afternoon, as it was so cold, around freezing temperatures, we first were greeted by my Blue-bar Pigeon, but left him to enter the Sogong Underground Shopping Center, which connected to the larger Myeongdong underground shops.

These underground markets link to the Lotte Hotel, and we again saw the same horse just standing there.  Better than freezing outside, but seems awfully cruel, actually.

Walked by the grocery area and again saw that otoro sashimi package, so bought it, plus a Kelly Beer (cheapest one, for about a dollar/can, and that omnipresent green bottle of soju seen in Korean films/series, Chamisul Fresh.  Went to the eating area, and had this sashimi with a beef bone soup and rice.

Absolute best sashimi I've ever had in my life.  Stopped by Uniqlo to purchase two long sleeve t-shirts, tax-free.  Except you need to get refunded at the airport on your way out.  Back in our hotel, a flower arrangement.

Had a Cabernet Shirah and Tanqueray Gin on rocks with appetizers in the Executive Lounge.

Walked 3584 steps today.

One more day left, then we leave Seoul for Tokyo on Wednesday, January 21.  Will be cold, but sunny, for the next two days,.

-