Stephen Colbert spoofed the Korean singer Rain (비) on an episode of The Colbert Report on May 10th. Though the show itself carried nothing negative towards the singer, many news articles reported the spoof as a jealousy-filled rant towards the singer.
[edit] Transcript
Colbert: The story here is the message sent by you, the nation. Time asked its readers to select their own list of the 100 most influential people in the world, and I'm right at the top, at number...two?! What? Who's at number one?
It can't be! My old nemesis, 24-year-old Korean R&B pop sensation Rain! RAAAIIIIINNNN!!!!!
I've battled this guy on the Korean pop charts for years! He's always gotten the best of me! For those of you not familiar with this Kid Jong Il, here's a little background info.
Korean tv: 해피랭킹 뭐야!뭐야!
Korean woman: 우와, 되게 귀엽네요...
Colbert: All right, that's enough Jimmy, that's enough Jimmy, I think they're up to speed.
According to Rain's website, his motto is: "Endless Effort, Endless Endurance, Endless Modesty". Oh yeah? Well, my motto is "Infinite Modesty", and buddy, I will carve that on the face of the Moon.
(applause)
Now sure, yeah. These people know how modest I am. Now sure, he's got some good songs like 내가 누웠던 침대 - it's a toe-tapper. But check out the amateur videos of this soul singer.
Rain, it is time to rein you in. I've got my own Korean R&B music video, and this thing is going to sweep - yeah, yeah, feel it! Feel it! Electric! This room is soaked with gasoline! And I'm gonna light it up. Jimmy - drop the needle.
(song sung by Stephen Colbert)
- Girl, I'm gonna dedicate this song to you. And the Time 100.
- Girl, I love you so much. My feelings to you can only be expressed...in Korean.
- 이봐, 자기야, 내 현대차에 올라타
- 이봐, 자기야, 함께 김치도 먹고~
- 우린 함께야 ??하는 Hawkeye과 Hot Lips처럼~
- (Chorus) He's singin' in Korean x4
- (그리고?) 또 뭐할까~ 한국적인 것 또 뭐가 있을까
- (Chorus) He's singin' in Korean x4
Colbert: Rain, I'm gonna be all over you like egg on a bowl of bibimbap.
[edit] Media errors
- The Chosun Ilbo reported the name of the show as "Colbert on Demand" and that Rain's picture was featured on the magazine that Colbert threw - [1]
[edit] Internet response
The majority of netizens recognized the show as a simple parody, and criticism of the articles that did not recognize the spoof for what it was was much more common: [2] Comments such as 원래 코미디가 다 그렇지 (That's just what comedy is), 나도 기자나 할까나... (I guess I could be a reporter too), 기자님 조롱하는거 아닙니다 (Dear reporter, he's not mocking (Rain)), 문화차이 (Difference of cultures) and 비는 조롱하면 안되나? 코미디가 다 그렇지... (Why can't someone make fun of Rain? That's what comedy's all about) were commonplace.
[edit] External links
