Category Archives: Inspiration

Dope Media of the Day: Um Jammer Lammy

Dope Media of the Day: Um Jammer Lammy

Inspiration, Media, Music, Reviews
I thought his palms were sweaty…

I thought his palms were sweaty…

In addition to the DOOM, I’ve also been stuck listening on some Um Jammer Lammy tunes. The spiritual sequel to the  Parappa the Rapper{{1}}, the game that single-handedly created the “Music Game” genre, Um Jammy replaces the rapping pooch with a rockin lamb. While it doesn’t quite capture the same charm as Parappa—guitar licks aren’t as cute as funny rhymes{{2}}—the tunes are still catchy as hell. Literally.

Um Jammer Lammy OST – Taste of Teriyaki (Parappa Version)

[[1]]Parappa the Rapper 2 was eventually made , but I haven’t played it or heard the songs. I hate being a cheapass/late adopter of game systems sometimes.[[1]]

[[2]]Actually, if you perform well as Lammy, you can unlock the second part of the game where you play as Parappa who raps to remixed versions of the same songs Lammy played guitar on.[[2]]

In one level, Lammy DIES, then goes to hell{{3}}. [[3]]Of course this was censored out in the US version.[[3]] Here, she meets a lusty lounge singer who’s “talking bout a lotta fire / talkin’ bout no gettin tired” tempts Lammy by crooning that she “can think of something for me and you to do”.

Dope rhymes don't pay the bills.

Dope rhymes don't pay the bills.

Remember, this is a sequel to the game where the cutesy catch phrase was “I gotta believe!”. I’ve said it many times before, and I’ll say it again: Japanese folk are crazy. Hell, remember Chop Chop Master Onion? One of the dopest characters ever made? Well, he lost his dojo and is a street bum, telling Lammy that “nobody ever talks to me no more”. That’s fuckin’ sad. Why would they do this to one of my childhood heroes?

But that’s not to say that the game is all PG-13; in other levels you help put out a fire and even babysit some babbling babies. And the game’s final song is an uplifting anthem telling ya to never give up, never cut corners and always do your best. Aww…

So if you haven’t already, take a listen to the songs, and enjoy the campy craziness that is Um Jammer Lammy. Now if you’ll excuse me, I gotta get these songs outta my head, and the casino outta my hair.

PS: NEVER USE JOE CHIN’S CHAINS FOR THEM NO!

Beep Boop, I love you. / You, you, you!

Inspiration, Life, Media, Reviews, , , , , ,

From Chester 5000 XYV

I never really got into the whole steampunk thing either. Too oldschool for me; There are some geeky paths that even I do not tread.

But this webcomic by Jess Fink might change that. Set in the Victorian era, Chester 5000 XYV is “a tale of erotic, robotic romance” about a woman, her husband, and the robot he built to keep her company. I highly recommend it, even if you’re not into “H” stuff (H is Japanese for NSFW so clicky clicky behind closed doors please).

Chester is a quick read, largely due to the fact that the only words to be found are sound effects. The story is told through squiggly lines, sweatdrops and some of the most emotive faces and gestures I’ve ever seen in a comic. Though the Woman-on-Robot (on Woman) steaminess often takes the spotlight, it’s the underlying love story that kept me from closing the window in a guilty rush.

Fink publishes the comic every Tuesday & Thursday, on a pretty consistent basis. Take a few minutes, check it out, and let me know what you think in the comments!

PS: Just because I’m not surrounded by us, doesn’t mean that I don’t see we everywhere I look.

The Beatles – P.S. I Love You
Daft Punk – Digital Love
Michael Jackson – Ben

Magically Mundane

Inspiration, Life,

In life, there are many things. And many of these many things are magical. Whether it is some crazy newly discovered deep ocean species, a newfangled technology that promises to Change Everything, or one man’s triumph against insurmountable odds, it is plain to see that our world still has more wonders than we could ever imagine.

But you don’t need to go to the bottom of the ocean or be a genius or hero to experience such wonders. Look around you! Magic is all around!

What is magic? Well, according to the dictionary, Magic is:

“Used to discribe any food that weed is an ingredient of”

Wait. That’s not what I mean. Damned Urban Dictionary. Lemme try again:

magic (n) (n-adv)

1) with or through skill, cunning, talent, advanced technique, artifice or precice craft and skill
2) with or through complexity either spurios to the contemproary context or to long to be reasonable or desired of explanation
3) with or through the supernatural, praeternatural or quantum-mechanical
4) nor plausible or possible

That’s more like it.

With this series of posts, I will briefly touch upon some of the wondrous things and non-things that we take for granted. Many of these examples would have aroused accusations of sorcery a few centuries (or decades) ago, but today, they are overlooked, and in many cases, do not get the respect they deserve. And while some of these examples may not seem like magic at all due to our familiarity with them, I assure you, it’s magic.

To start off with, I would like to give thanks to the magically mundane fabulosity of Good Friends. You know who you are (or not). I truly do not show my gratitude for having your magic in my life. I resolve to change this, posthaste.