Cloud USA

(Image credit: 1theK @ Facebook / R.A.I.N. Company. ^@@^)

Rain teasing us with a fedora in relation to his upcoming music comeback on January 15 made my soul soar, folks (we don’t get that a lot, so I love it when we do). And then, his “The Best Present” music video hit with its amazing silhouettes and I immediately went to heaven. His M.J. side is one that I have long appreciated and loved. It’s an important part of him that has made him who he is, just as the Fred Astaire and James Brown sides of Michael Jackson were important parts that made Michael who he was.

That’s how it works a lot of the time, you see…

Young, aspiring (insert profession here) finds inspiration in his/her idol, imitates his/her idol, and then takes that and builds upon it and adds to it and evolves it to make his/her own unique style. This is a good thing, because it — in addition to the idol’s body of work — is what helps immortalize said idol in our world’s collective memory.

This is why you will always see “touches” of M.J. in Rain — in his hands, his posture, the tilt of his head, the way he touches a hat, his eyes hidden in the shadow of the brim. Michael Jackson lit a fire in a starving, desperate child on the streets and gave that child a life raft and a dream. You can no more take Rain’s M.J. side out of him than you can take the Pope out of the Vatican. And why would you want to? I don’t recall anyone bitching about Michael’s style paying tribute to Fred Astaire and James Brown ever. (Not that anyone’s bitching about Rain, but you know, there’s got to be somebody somewhere being a smartass, LOL.)

A little M.J. fun in Taiwan on New Year’s Eve… haha~

Now, with all of that said… when Rain begins to move and groove in the MV, whether in silhouette or in the light, it is all strictly his dance style. It is all him and that incredible body. He is imitating no one, folks.

In celebration of Rain’s black- and white-fedora’d “The Best Present” produced by top entertainer PSY, I wanted to revive and refashion my brief, original “Ultimate Generational Trio” post from June 2010. It’s quite fitting, I think, and there are new Rain fans and veteran Clouds who might enjoy it.

Thanks for indulging me. And thanks for supporting the official “The Best Present” MV so doggone well! ❤ ^@@^

My Ultimate Generational Trio: Fred Astaire, Michael Jackson, and Rain

Thinking back on my favorite Rain performances, one in particular always stands out quite strongly — his “11 Days” live stage during his Legend of Rainism Tour (with “I Like You Again” as additional gravy).

Not only was it creative in and of itself, but it reminds us that 1) great minds do indeed think alike, and 2) Rain is one smart cookie.

In honor of his January 15 return to the music scene, I give you what I fondly refer to as the ultimate generational trio: Rain’s “11 Days”, Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” short film, and Fred Astaire in the popular 1953 film The Band Wagon. Three mega-icons, one great idea, down through history. Club/bar scene, hot chicks, dress jackets, and fedoras.

I can only imagine what creativity might have come out of these three men if they’d been in one room together, talking for a while. (M.J. and Astaire were neighbors and became very close, so they had those moments, at least.)

Stephe @ cloudusa.blog / CloudUSA.org

Rain, 2008 Legend of Rainism Tour. (Courtesy of Hangkalokkala)

Michael Jackson, 1988 Smooth Criminal. (Courtesy of michaeljacksonVEVO)

Fred Astaire, 1953 The Band Wagon “Girl Hunt Ballet” dance sequence, with the amazing Cyd Charisse. (Courtesy of SophyaAgain)

~ by Cloud USA on January 23, 2017.

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA
Tags: Bi Rain comeback, Bi Rain music video, Bi Rain News, Bi Rain singer/actor/entertainer, Cloud USA article, From Stephe's desk, Jung Ji Hoon, Korean pop, need to know