Comments on: Gumball 3000 10th Anniversary stops in Pyongyang http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/08/16/gumball-3000-10th-anniversary-stops-in-pyongyang/ News and analysis of the North Korean economy Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:25:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Gag Halfrunt http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/08/16/gumball-3000-10th-anniversary-stops-in-pyongyang/#comment-99042 Gag Halfrunt Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:17:58 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/08/16/gumball-3000-10th-anniversary-stops-in-pyongyang/#comment-99042 The Gumball people have put up <a href="http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=55720EC164778F53" rel="nofollow">two videos</a> about their visit to Pyongyang. There are quite a few shots of the Mass Games, but they're impressionistic in style with ambient music dubbed over and lots of fast-forwarding. You can hear the original music in only one tiny clip of what looks like the finale, with a few seconds of the <i>Song of General Kim Il Sung</i>. We also get to see the welcoming ceremony at the Koryo hotel, where the Vice-Minister of Culture gives a speech declaring that "the Arirang performance has given renewed energy and enthusiasm to you for running three thousand mile distance with the desire to contribute to the building of a free and peaceful world". The Gumballers then make their way to the Koryo's karaoke bar - I suppose that Simon must have missed them. :) The Gumball people have put up two videos about their visit to Pyongyang. There are quite a few shots of the Mass Games, but they’re impressionistic in style with ambient music dubbed over and lots of fast-forwarding. You can hear the original music in only one tiny clip of what looks like the finale, with a few seconds of the Song of General Kim Il Sung.

We also get to see the welcoming ceremony at the Koryo hotel, where the Vice-Minister of Culture gives a speech declaring that “the Arirang performance has given renewed energy and enthusiasm to you for running three thousand mile distance with the desire to contribute to the building of a free and peaceful world”. The Gumballers then make their way to the Koryo’s karaoke bar - I suppose that Simon must have missed them. :)

]]> By: NKeconWatch http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/08/16/gumball-3000-10th-anniversary-stops-in-pyongyang/#comment-97158 NKeconWatch Sat, 16 Aug 2008 18:38:21 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/08/16/gumball-3000-10th-anniversary-stops-in-pyongyang/#comment-97158 Alfonso Ribeiro! might have been worthwile to see him sing "Its Not Unusual" by Tom Jones. Thanks for the update! Alfonso Ribeiro! might have been worthwile to see him sing “Its Not Unusual” by Tom Jones. Thanks for the update!

]]> By: Simon http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/08/16/gumball-3000-10th-anniversary-stops-in-pyongyang/#comment-97140 Simon Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:40:19 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/08/16/gumball-3000-10th-anniversary-stops-in-pyongyang/#comment-97140 I was at Arirang the same night as these guys and went to the Koryo Hotel afterwards to see if they were having a party or anything like that - no party, no Hoff and the biggest star I saw was Carlton from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Don't know who Travis Barker is so he may have been there. All in all I don't know if they would consider the visit a success as they just flew in, went to the Games (spectacular as ever, a few changes as well this time so better than last years) and then flew out again - no concert, no party (unless it was hidden away or very small scale) but at least Carlton was there, and a guy carrying a skateboard who could conceivably have been a skater. I was at Arirang the same night as these guys and went to the Koryo Hotel afterwards to see if they were having a party or anything like that - no party, no Hoff and the biggest star I saw was Carlton from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Don’t know who Travis Barker is so he may have been there. All in all I don’t know if they would consider the visit a success as they just flew in, went to the Games (spectacular as ever, a few changes as well this time so better than last years) and then flew out again - no concert, no party (unless it was hidden away or very small scale) but at least Carlton was there, and a guy carrying a skateboard who could conceivably have been a skater.

]]> By: Gag Halfrunt http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/08/16/gumball-3000-10th-anniversary-stops-in-pyongyang/#comment-96959 Gag Halfrunt Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:54:23 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/08/16/gumball-3000-10th-anniversary-stops-in-pyongyang/#comment-96959 It looks as if the rally should be in Pyongyang today. A news article on the official website from May, about <a href="http://www.gumball3000.com/rally/news/11" rel="nofollow">planning for Pyongyang and China segments</a>, mentions that the rally would be in Pyongyang for 24 hours and they were trying to find a pop star 'to perform directly after the Arirang (Mass) Games in the gigantic gold plated 250,000 seater May Day Stadium on Wednesday 13th August'. Eric Clapton was 'incredibly supportive' but was committed to a European tour around the same time. Back in February, there was a story that <a href="http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/02/26/eric-clapton-has-importnat-fan-in-north-korea/" rel="nofollow">the DPRK government had invited Clapton</a> to perform in Pyongyang. It looks as if the rally should be in Pyongyang today. A news article on the official website from May, about planning for Pyongyang and China segments, mentions that the rally would be in Pyongyang for 24 hours and they were trying to find a pop star ‘to perform directly after the Arirang (Mass) Games in the gigantic gold plated 250,000 seater May Day Stadium on Wednesday 13th August’. Eric Clapton was ‘incredibly supportive’ but was committed to a European tour around the same time. Back in February, there was a story that the DPRK government had invited Clapton to perform in Pyongyang.

]]>