Chinatown
E.O.E Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh-huh
Destination: New York
Neo number: 73672 (73672)
Department 6 7-B
Style
Number
FH4 7-2
Two
Destination (you)
Destination, my expiration
7, 3, 6, 7, 0, 2 (R)
One
7, 3, 6, 7, 0, 2
Department number 7-60
The item name
Five pieces
Bridge set
Class
576
The quantity
The quantity
Oh, the quantity is one
One cent
One cent, you
Made in China
Made in China
It was made in china (Taiwanese, American)
Made in China
Everything is made in China
Guess not everything is made in China (steal your shoes make it out)
Got memories like
China, China (Chinese, Taiwanese, American)
China
Chinatown
Made in China
Here in Chinatown I've lost my sense of tact (China)
I'm on the ground
Here in Chinatown I'm awaiting
Here in Chinatown I'm waiting while I'm waiting on the ground (7, 6, 2)
Here in Chinatown I'm waiting for
Net worth (that clown)
I met in the subway last weekend (net weight)
25.2 kilograms
That clown
Was made of everything I wanted
That clown I met
On the subway had the
Most beautiful frown
Everyone I know has told me not to
Pursue it (1, 2, 3)
Destination
Made in China (Chinatown I'm waiting for that loner clown)
Made in China
It was made in China (made in Chinatown)
Made in China (that woman had the most beautiful frown)
Everything is made in China
Made in China, made in China
Made in China (Chinatown)
Destination: New York (most beautiful clown I ever saw)
It was made
In China
China
China
China, it was made in China
In China
In China
I'll meet you in China
Here in Chinatown
I'll meet you in China
Here in Chinatown the most beautiful clown has that frown
Here in China (Here in Chinatown, here in Chinatown)
Chinatown (destination)
The song "Chinatown" by E.O.E is a deep and insightful commentary on the cultural and economic ties between the West and China. The lyrics seem to be a list of items and numbers, reminiscent of a shipping manifest or a customs declaration. The location is New York's Chinatown, a vibrant and bustling neighborhood filled with small shops and street vendors. The singer seems to have lost their way, perhaps intoxicated by the sights and sounds of the place. They are waiting for someone or something, but it is not clear who or what that might be. The theme of China and Chinese products runs throughout the song. There is a sense of irony and detachment in the way that the singer lists the item names and quantities. It is as if they are commenting on the absurdity of the consumer culture in which we live.
The line "Everything is made in China, guess not everything" is particularly poignant. It speaks to the way that we take products for granted, assuming that they all come from China, without questioning why that might be or what it means for our global economy. The line "Got memories like China" suggests a sense of nostalgia or longing for a time when things were more simple and direct. The use of the word "China" is also a metaphor for the larger idea of the East and West coming together, both culturally and economically. The song highlights the complex web of relationships and dependencies that exist between these two worlds.
Line by Line Meaning
Woo
Expressing excitement or approval
Uh-huh
Agreeing or indicating understanding
Destination: New York
Heading towards New York
Neo number: 73672 (73672)
A unique identification number for a particular item or object
Department 6 7-B
Referring to a specific department location
Style
Referring to a specific style or design
Number
Referring to a specific number or quantity
FH4 7-2
A specific code or label for identification
Two
Referring to the number 2
Two
Referring to the number 2
Destination (you)
Referring to you as the destination
Destination, my expiration
Referring to the end of something or the end of a journey
7, 3, 6, 7, 0, 2 (R)
A specific code or label for identification
One
Referring to the number 1
7, 3, 6, 7, 0, 2
A specific code or label for identification
Department number 7-60
Referring to a specific department location
The item name
Referring to the name of the item being discussed
Five pieces
Referring to the quantity of an item
Bridge set
Referring to a specific type of item
Class
Referring to a specific classification or category
576
Referring to a specific number
The quantity
Referring to the quantity of an item
The quantity
Referring to the quantity of an item
Oh, the quantity is one
Stating that the quantity of an item is one
One cent
Referring to the price of an item
One cent, you
Addressing the listener and referring to the price of an item
Made in China
Referring to the country of origin of an item
Made in China
Referring to the country of origin of an item
It was made in china (Taiwanese, American)
Mentioning other countries that could be potential origins of the item
Made in China
Referring to the country of origin of most items
Everything is made in China
Stating that most items are made in China
Guess not everything is made in China (steal your shoes make it out)
Hinting at the possibility that some items may not be made in China and making a joke about stealing shoes
Got memories like
Reflecting on past experiences
China, China (Chinese, Taiwanese, American)
Mentioning different concepts associated with China
China
Referring to the country of China
Chinatown
Referring to a specific area in New York City
Made in China
Referring to the country of origin of an item
Here in Chinatown I've lost my sense of tact (China)
Feeling out of place or uncomfortable in a foreign environment
I'm on the ground
Being physically present and grounded in a location
Here in Chinatown I'm awaiting
Waiting for something in Chinatown
Here in Chinatown I'm waiting while I'm waiting on the ground (7, 6, 2)
Waiting for something while being physically present in Chinatown
Here in Chinatown I'm waiting for
Waiting for something in Chinatown
Net worth (that clown)
Referring to the value of something and mentioning a clown
I met in the subway last weekend (net weight)
Mentioning an encounter with another person and making a wordplay joke about weight
25.2 kilograms
Referring to a specific weight measurement
That clown
Referring to the previous mention of a clown
Was made of everything I wanted
Expressing desire or admiration for the clown
That clown I met
Referring to the previous mention of a specific clown
On the subway had the
Describing a specific feature of the clown encountered on the subway
Most beautiful frown
Making a paradoxical statement about a clown having a beautiful frown
Everyone I know has told me not to
Expressing conflict or uncertainty due to the opinions of others
Pursue it (1, 2, 3)
Deciding whether or not to chase after something while making a reference to a countdown
Destination
Referring to a specific goal or endpoint
Made in China (Chinatown I'm waiting for that loner clown)
Mentioning the country of origin of something while waiting for another item or person
Made in China
Referring to the country of origin of an item
It was made in China (made in Chinatown)
Reiterating the origin of a certain item
Made in China (that woman had the most beautiful frown)
Referencing the country of origin of an item while also mentioning a beautiful frown previously encountered
Everything is made in China
Stating that most items are made in China
Made in China, made in China
Repeating the country of origin of most items
Made in China (Chinatown)
Mentioning China as the country of origin while also referencing a specific location
Destination: New York (most beautiful clown I ever saw)
Referring to New York as the destination while also remembering a particularly beautiful clown
It was made
Referring to the origin of something
In China
Referring to the country of origin of an item
China
Referring to the country of China
China
Referring to the country of China
China, it was made in China
Repeating the country of origin of an item
In China
Referring to the country of origin of an item
In China
Referring to the country of China
I'll meet you in China
Expressing a desire to meet in China
Here in Chinatown
Referring to a specific location in New York City
I'll meet you in China
Expressing a desire to meet in China
Here in Chinatown the most beautiful clown has that frown
Reminiscing about a particular clown encountered in Chinatown and their beautiful frown
Here in China (Here in Chinatown, here in Chinatown)
Referring to the country of China and a specific location in New York City
Chinatown (destination)
Referring to a specific location in New York City as the destination
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: c o m r, crochdeck reenhoom
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Weiyang Chen
>"The "candid camera" portions were depicted very realistically. They didn't present or play it as staged at all."
The whole point of satire/parody is that it's clearly staged due to its exaggeration, with the assumption that most viewers are perceptive enough to pick up on that :/
>"That's where their attempt at satire fails. Even if it were staged, all the Asians in this skit suffer the butt of the joke the most, when a white guy engages in acts of racism, unpunished."
See, this is where I have to disagree completely, as you'd know if you had read my original comment. I think it's perfectly clear, especially given the social context we're living in, that the subject of this video's mockery clearly isn't the actual Asian people who are visibly and rightly horrified by the reporter's act; it's the foolish reporter who thinks he can expropriate an entire culture by using a crappy accent and offensive wardrobe.
The Asians receive audience sympathy. The Asians in this work all behave in ways that are entirely relatable, when confronted with the reporter's clearly inappropriate actions. The journalist, however, is clearly being negatively judged (arguably rightfully) for his racist behaviour, and he's eventually arrested as well. The Asians, whom you seem to see as the butt of the joke, seem to me to be portrayed as completely reasonable and likeable, whereas the racist reporter is simply shown as obnoxiously dumb. (I presume this is satirising other "investigative journalists" who attempt to "infiltrate" certain cultures by engaging in insensitive, disrespectful, and legally questionable mimicry.)
I'd also like to note that despite your referring to the journalist as "white," nowhere in the video is this communicated either explicitly or implicitly.
>"Yeah, a ghetto media company like the Onion would really close down an entire street, hire over a dozen street extras, all for a racist comedy skit that generated 139,652 views, in turn earning about a pathetic couple hundred dollars over five years. That's a real loser."
I mean, they wouldn't have to close down the entire street? Really they'd just need to get the few actors they show and a single shop that's okay with them filming. It looks like the Onion's revenue is some fourteen million (https://goo.gl/BbsZyF), in addition to being owned by Univision ($3B revenue), so what's so implausible about that?
Social justice and cultural sensitivity and stuff is great, but it kinda defeats the whole point if you're so angery about it and just lash out whenever you can. In this case, while this video portrays racist behaviour, it seems to do so for the express purpose of invalidating it....
x
Where's the exaggeration? Where's the irony? Yellowface is already an exaggeration. You can't satire a satire; it just ends up depicting what it originally is, a mockery against Chinese. The yellowface portrayed in here isn't far from what we'd see in something like "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Satire and irony is a Black person in Blackface. Racist is a White person in Blackface. How can a white person in Blackface pretend to be a white person in Blackface? You can't, it's redundant. Yellowface is yellowface, you can't fake it, can't escape it, can't exaggerate it. If you can somehow, they sure failed.
Expropriating? That's a joke. This isn't like the show "An idiot abroad" where a harmless idiot tries out other cultures and experiences discomfort. It's a guy in historically racist and offensive costuming pranking and harassing people on and off the street, causing other targeted people to experience discomfort.
Absolutely we disagree. But not only is your logic flawed, you're also flat out wrong, and I'll tell you why. This reporter isn't made to be foolish at all, he's punk'd every single person he runs into. It's like party crashing. You can dress like an idiot and crash a distinguished event. If the distinguished guests remain unphased, the joke's on the idiot. If the distinguished guests react horrified, the joke's on them. There isn't a single Asian in this skit that isn't experiencing discomfort in this skit and that's where they portray that the joke's on them.
If you sympathize and relate with these Asians, the only reaction you should be having is discomfort, discontent, and horror. That's where your sympathy should lie. Because those are the only feelings they express. You see the reporter's "inappropriate actions" but there's no negative consequence for him. Wtf you talking about he's arrested? Where does that happen? IT DOESN'T.
Likeable would be any of these Asians actively making a fool out of this dipshit. Likeable would be any of these Asians beating the shit out of this asshole. NONE OF THEM DO THAT. They just react in horror and discomfort at being harassed by an asshole in yellowface.
Anyone can see he's white, wtf is wrong with you that you'd need that verbally communicated? Where you like born in mainland China or something? Do you know what a white person looks like?
If they spent what it costs to stage it, they lost either way. Wasn't worth it. Didn't succeed.
I'm definitely not the big on the general populous notion of social justice or on a cultural sensitivity advocate bandwagon at all; after all, I'm the guy who encouraged you to put on some Blackface. I do care about unflattering skits against my own kind and getting the facts and interpretation right.
Missing-Ace97
You never see journalists with integrity like this anymore
James Lutian
Except on Fox News. I can't find the link, but reporter Jesse Watters LITERALLY dressed up as a Chinese merchant in order to find out what Chinatown thought of Trump. And then he sauntered around afterward as a woman!
Rand Althor
@James Lutian Jesse is pretty awesome though
Lucas
Team Samir lol you got pissed from a YT comment.
Lucas
@James Lutian They didn't dress up. They just were offensive to the people who didn't speak English.
IliadNetFear
@James Lutian None of what you just said made any sense.
Let's go Brandon.
Red Tsun
I tried to infiltrate the Japanese once. Had my Katana, Dakimakura, Akatsuki robe, and pink wig. The disguise worked perfectly, as no one even looked at me. It was like I was invisible. I was able to slip through crowds without people even so much as glancing over at me. On the contrary, the disguise was so effective that people would actually turn their heads away from my general direction. I was a ghost, or as they called me in japanese: a Baka Gaijin (hidden shade)
Noacceptance772
That last part was the cherry on top LMAO
Peach
Tbh in some areas, so many foreigners here dress like this that it’s not surprising either 😂
stupidumbasshithead
Sussy baka