What is
BOLD ACTION?
BOLD ACTION features the BOLDEST ACHIEVEMENTS of Clarion. From innovative to industry-disrupting, we bring you the most wonderful performances!
Date of Premiere:
May 21, 2021
Awards:
Palm Beach International
Music Awards
California Music Video & Film Awards (Award Honoree)
Boston Asian American Film Festival
Los Angeles Asian Film Awards
Lift-Off Global Network Los
Angeles
Press Coverage:
Artist Bios:
Clara Hsu is a published poet, playwright, actor, piano teacher and director of Clarion Performing Arts Center. She is a member of the Grant Avenue Follies and received the Jefferson Award for public service in 2021. Website: clarahsu.com
Cynthia Yee, founder of the Grant Avenue Follies and a Jefferson Award recipient, plays a major role in entertaining and raising funds for senior citizens organizations, including On Lok Senior Center of San Francisco. Under her direction, the Follies performed nationally and traveled to Havana, Cuba and Shanghai, China, etc. for engagements.
Website: chinatownmagic.com
Grant Avenue Follies are an entertainment and dance troupe comprised of former dancers of the Forbidden City Nightclub era (1950s to 1960s).The Follies enjoy a loyal following of seniors as well as the younger generation that takes an interest in their unique roots in San Francisco Chinatown history. Website: grantavenuefollies.com
Gai Mou Sou Rap
The purpose of Gai Mou Sou Rap is to assert the vitality of seniors and stand firm against hate and violence.
Gai Mou Sou Rap was conceived over dinner on April 18, 2021 by Cynthia Yee, director of the Grant Avenue Follies and Clara Hsu, director of Clarion Performing Arts Center.
Violence against Asian seniors had risen in the first half of 2021. One grandma was attacked by a perpetrator in March 2021, but she used a wooden board to fight back and defend herself (news here). This greatly inspired Clara and Cynthia to stand in solidarity and fight back against hate.
Courteys of NPR (link)
With the guidance of Grammy-nominated audio engineer Greg Landau, the Follies recorded Gai Mou Sou Rap on May 10 at 25th Street Recording Studio, Oakland. To the Follies delight, Greg invited Cuban jazz pianist extraordinaire Omar Sosa to fill out the beats. The result was one trance-inducing rap that flowed with ease and vitality. Rehearsals were held at Clarion Performing Arts Center with Miki Katsuyama Novitski, choreographer, who brought out the best of the Follies’ abilities (ages range from 65 to 85.)
Gai Mou Sou Rap made its debut on May 15 , 2021 at the National Unity Against Hate rally in Oakland Chinatown to a great cheering crowd, surprised and excited to see the long forgotten gai mou sou reasserting its power as a symbol of strength and unity against anti-Asian hate crimes.
"Gai Mou Sou" Lyrics:
後生仔, 噉囂張 (Arrogant delinquent)
因住我條雞毛掃 (Beware of my gai mou sou)
你唔好喺度扭計仔 (No more of your twisted ideas)
因住我條雞毛掃 (Beware of my gai mou sou)
打 打 打 打 打 打 (Whack whack whack, whack whack whack)
因住我條雞毛掃 (Beware of my gai mou sou)
你哈我, 我哈番你 (You bully me I’ll bully you back)
因住我條雞毛掃 (Beware of my gai mou sou)
We grow up with this gai mou sou
it comes down hard and makes your bottom pink
but your brain opens up and you start to think
what’s right, what’s wrong and what really stinks.
Knowledge doesn’t generate automatically from you little pea brain.
The elders are your teachers, the elders are your guides
when you mess with them you’re committing suicide
wise guy, wise guy, wise guys.
你折墮, 去仆街呀你 (Go to hell, you degenerate)
因住我條雞毛掃 (Beware of my gai mou sou)
充生晒 以爲好叻仔 (Don’t think you’re oh so smart)
因住我條雞毛掃 (Beware of my gai mou sou)
我係你亞婆, 我係你亞麻 (I’m your grandma)
因住我條雞毛掃 (Beware of my gai mou sou)
有膽就過嚟, 我唔客氣 (Get over here if you dare)
因住我條雞毛掃 (Beware of my gai mou sou)
Drop the violence drop the hate
be smart and cool, don’t take the bait
working yourself into such a state your
manner towards the seniors is most irate.
Who’s the virus that perpetuates the hate?
His mouthpiece is warped and his tongue is forked
when you listen long enough he’ll make you hork.
Would you rather be a dork or would you balk?
打 打 打 打 打 打 Whack whack whack, whack whack whack
因住我條雞毛掃 Beware of my gai mou sou
打 打 打 打 打 打 Whack whack whack, whack whack whack
We’re showing warning raising forging
因住我條雞毛掃 Beware of my gai mou sou
a better you you in this messy boohoo.
打 打 打 打 打 打 Whack whack whack, whack whack whack
Showing warning raising forging, bring
Beware, beware of my gai mou sou
good to the hood n’ you’ll sleep better too.
打 打 打 打 打 打 (Whack whack whack, whack whack whack)
Beware, beware of my gai mou sou