Pinky Floyd

ok so *check*, the song "Wish You Were Here" does not go over well with Korean students. You should have been there, it was awful. I understand that Pink Floyd can be a little slow and sleep inducing, but there is a certain factor of respect toward musicians that doesn't seem to resonate in this culture. (I'm reminded of a classical performance that I went to and the conductor physically turned around and glared at certain members of the audience because they were talking to one another. That should not be a normal thing, and I fear that it is around here.)

I realize that referring to myself as a musician is rather pretentious, the weirdness that I experienced today may actually have more to do with the fact that I am a foreigner. But the lyrics to that song, omg. Why can't the students appreciate them?? OK, so I will sing a faster one next time, and it will be more difficult for you to pronounce the words, fine.

I am used to the whole "head on desks" phenomenon among Korean students, and it wasn't like there was more of that today than usual. It was the overall vibe that I got while we were "rehearsing" the song "together". The first time the song ended and there was silence, this deafening sort of silence. I awkwardly tried to fill in the silence by telling the students that I wanted them to pronounce the words and to please sing with me, and I looked at the clock and told them that there were only about 5 minutes left. Then, during the second "rehearsal", I looked up from my guitar at one point and the students were talking while I was playing.
Talking while I'm talking is bad enough. But while I am up in front of the class PLAYING THE GUITAR, ooooooooooooooo it really sucked. It makes me really want to throw in the towel on this whole after school thing. I do get paid for it though, so I guess it is worth it, I guess.

So, do you think that it was because I'm foreign? Or because I was playing a slow song? I'll tell you what maybe I should have just stopped playing altogether. I don't show anger in front of these children, and I think that I should.

I was asked, "Are you going to play that song next week? Because I think it was a little slow." And the answer is no I think not, I am not a complete moron.



So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from Hell,
Blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

And did they get you to trade
Your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange
A walk on part in the war
For a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl,
Year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found?
The same old fears.
Wish you were here.