January 21st, 2008
Bing Ji Ling
Guess what? Listening to music can make you smarter! For real! It’s true! And I don’t mean smart in a “It’s the new Decemberists album; I’d better dust off the dictionary” way. I mean real, useful stuff you can slip into an evening of repartee to amaze those around you with your wit and worldliness.
For instance, just recently, I learned the Chinese word for ice cream is “bing ji ling.” I found this out because Bing Ji Ling is also the name of a New York City musician. Quite honestly, he couldn’t have picked a more appropriate name, too: his tunes bring that glistening joy which one feels when enjoying a frosty treat on a hot, summer day. Bing creates an ecstatic soul-powered pop full of vintage funk vibes and 1980s R&B. Think Midnight Vultures era Beck, or Prince when he was, you know, good.
So next time you have a chance, go ahead and “wow” someone with your newfound knowledge of the Chinese language. Besides, it’ll be easier to plug than “Sycorax and Patagon in parallax” any day.