#ssingssing

For almost two weeks now, NPR Music has been meeting via video conference, just like millions of Americans and folks all over the world. Our office attire is pretty laid back, but working from home, we're all about sweats and T-shirts.

This situation got me thinking about the Tiny Desk's dress code. If you are a fan of the series, you know that most musicians dress comfortably. Occasionally, you'll see a funky coat or a dapper suit, but most wear regular street clothes.

SsingSsing

Minyo Medley

Nanbongga (Song of Beloveds)

SSINGSSING

‘Extravagant shamanistic Korean folk songs meet rock, combined with an extravagant visual style and stage presence. ‘

‘…   One look at (and listen to) the cross-dressing, Asian rock band SsingSsing and you would hardly think they’re singing music inspired by traditional Korean folk. But SsingSsing isn’t like any other band I’ve ever seen or heard. ‘

“In Korean traditional art, male shamans, called baksu, have the body of a male.  But as mediums, they need more than a single sexual identity, because they’re channeling both male and female spirits. When I act a female character and sing, I have to overcome the fact of my being a male sorikkun (singer), and try my utmost to bring a more neutral, unisex feeling to the performance. It sounds silly, but I feel like going to back to the sensibilities of my youth, when I liked Madonna, helps. Isn’t Madonna is the mother of all sexual minorities, embracing all genders? [Laughter] My teacher, master pansori singer Lee Chun-hee (designated holder of Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 57) saw the show and joked that he thought Leslie Cheung of Farewell My Concubine(1993) had come back to life.”