Yale Group Releases Racy (or -ist?) “Single Asians” Video

by | March 24, 2009 at 12:31 pm

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Mixed Company of Yale, who’ve been busting out “exceptional a cappella since 1981,” recently released a music video called “Single Asians.” This cheeky rendition of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” starts out with some nice references to how much Asian girls like to study for their pre-med classes and engages increasingly stereotypical imitations of Asian women.  Aside from the geisha comment and the fairly shocking subtitled final verse, here’s the best phrase:

At the restaurant
I’ll taste your sauce
And you can slurp my sushi.
I like it raw,
So bring it on,
And me love you long time.

Readers have stuffed our inbox with pretty angry reactions about the video’s racist undertones and how it actually manages to be more misogynistic than Beyonce’s original version. One would think that the recent Dartmouth racist email extravaganza might have postponed any racy releases at least until next month. But given that all of the girls singing the song appear to be Asian, it’s no big deal, right?

We tried getting in touch with Mixed Company but they’re apparently cool with letting the video speak for itself. Read the song’s lyrics in full and post reactions after the jump.

Mixed Company of Yale
“Single Asians”

All the single Asians
All the single Asians
All the single Asians
All the single Asians
All the single Asians

Now put your hands up
Library and CDB
Test comin’ up next week.
You dropped a flask,
And now I’ve gotta ask
If you’re enough to be in a lab with me.

I need this grade.
I’ve never been late,
Because I live my life for med school.
I do bio-chem
On the weekends
You ain’t hardcore enough for me.

Cause if you like me
Then you shoulda got an A on it.
Cause if you like me
Then you shoulda got an A on it,
An A-minus
Ain’t the same as an A is it?
Cause if you like me
Then you shoulda got an A on it.

[lots of Oh's]

Let’s make some noise
For all the boys
Who have yellow fever.
I’ll be Lucy Liu
Or Sailor Moon
A geisha just for you.

At the restaurant
I’ll taste your sauce
And you can slurp my sushi.
I like it raw,
So bring it on,
And me love you long time.

[more Oh's...and now with an accent and subtitles]

We from Beijing,
We dry cleaning,
And practice Viorin.
We visit Yale,
We bring peace there,
And take picture at the Beinecke.

I make the rice,
(She make it nice)
Cause I’m in charge of Dim Sum!!!
I make Chai Tea.
I do Tai Chi.
And bring honor to our family.

[lyrics in another language...likely an Asian one]

 
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  • UCI Hapa

    For everyone out there who’s claiming this video “IS NOT RACIST! IT’S OK BC THEY’RE AZN LOL!” doesn’t realize why this is a problem. Aside from propagating these stereotypes, there’s one pretty novel concept that seems to be overlooked:

    NOT ALL ASIANS ARE THE SAME

    This might be a new idea for some, but people from different countries in Asia actually have separate and unique cultures and customs! WOW!

    If someone from England parodied a German with, “I AM FROM GERMANY! SIEG HEIL! DRINK BEER, EAT SAUSAGE AND BURN JEWS!” or someone from Argentina made fun of a Mexican by saying “ALL I DO IS EAT TACOS AND SLEEP ON THE CLOCK DURING MY JOB AS A HIGH SCHOOL JANITOR!” then people would be all over it saying how racist it is. The problem is that everyone views Asians as a unit when they have very unique histories and cultures.

    As soon as a Korean makes fun of a Chinese person with comments of dim sum or dragons etc, it suddenly becomes “THEY LOOK THE SAME SO IT’S FUNNY INSTEAD OF RACIST!” No, it’s ignorance; and ignorance is what breeds these stereotypes in the first place.

    tl;dr There are different cultures in Asia, so not all Asians are the same. This is still racism.

  • UCI Hapa

    For everyone out there who’s claiming this video “IS NOT RACIST! IT’S OK BC THEY’RE AZN LOL!” doesn’t realize why this is a problem. Aside from propagating these stereotypes, there’s one pretty novel concept that seems to be overlooked:

    NOT ALL ASIANS ARE THE SAME

    This might be a new idea for some, but people from different countries in Asia actually have separate and unique cultures and customs! WOW!

    If someone from England parodied a German with, “I AM FROM GERMANY! SIEG HEIL! DRINK BEER, EAT SAUSAGE AND BURN JEWS!” or someone from Argentina made fun of a Mexican by saying “ALL I DO IS EAT TACOS AND SLEEP ON THE CLOCK DURING MY JOB AS A HIGH SCHOOL JANITOR!” then people would be all over it saying how racist it is. The problem is that everyone views Asians as a unit when they have very unique histories and cultures.

    As soon as a Korean makes fun of a Chinese person with comments of dim sum or dragons etc, it suddenly becomes “THEY LOOK THE SAME SO IT’S FUNNY INSTEAD OF RACIST!” No, it’s ignorance; and ignorance is what breeds these stereotypes in the first place.

    tl;dr There are different cultures in Asia, so not all Asians are the same. This is still racism.

  • Hahvahd Snot

    Boring, boring, boring. They look spastic in their lame attempt to dance.

  • Hahvahd Snot

    Boring, boring, boring. They look spastic in their lame attempt to dance.

  • yale09

    This video is also a clear case of Korean supremacy at work. Notice the pointed digs at Japanese and Chinese girls– but what, Korean girls don’t get the same treatment? This isn’t just a case of Asian-on-Asian racism, it’s Korea-and-Korean-wannabes-vs-the-rest-of-East-Asia racism.

    While you’re at it, Mixed Co., why don’t you channel the Korean History Channel (a brilliantly hilarious parody of Asian stereotypes) and throw some lines about the dirty Vietnamese in there? Southeast and South Asians don’t get any love?

  • yale09

    This video is also a clear case of Korean supremacy at work. Notice the pointed digs at Japanese and Chinese girls– but what, Korean girls don’t get the same treatment? This isn’t just a case of Asian-on-Asian racism, it’s Korea-and-Korean-wannabes-vs-the-rest-of-East-Asia racism.

    While you’re at it, Mixed Co., why don’t you channel the Korean History Channel (a brilliantly hilarious parody of Asian stereotypes) and throw some lines about the dirty Vietnamese in there? Southeast and South Asians don’t get any love?

  • yale09

    irony ftw: steph chan’s facebook profile now says “thinks the ignorant haters can suck it. That’s right.”

  • yale09

    irony ftw: steph chan’s facebook profile now says “thinks the ignorant haters can suck it. That’s right.”

  • yale12

    i find it a bit strange/creeper that suddenly it’s okay to start posting people’s facebook status updates on ivy gate…

  • yale12

    i find it a bit strange/creeper that suddenly it’s okay to start posting people’s facebook status updates on ivy gate…

  • FreezeFrame

    Apparently these girls are still too young to realize how offensive this video can appear to some of their own people. 100% demeaning and 0% funny — I would expect a little more from people who are accepted into Yale…But then again maybe I’m uptight and you all are right: in college let gross Asian stereotypes be perpetuated. Dress up like geishas, accommodate those with Asian fetishes, let everyone know you make rice and are severe stress cases about getting a good mark. I’m sure it will, as these fine single Asians put, “bring honor to the family.”

  • FreezeFrame

    Apparently these girls are still too young to realize how offensive this video can appear to some of their own people. 100% demeaning and 0% funny — I would expect a little more from people who are accepted into Yale…But then again maybe I’m uptight and you all are right: in college let gross Asian stereotypes be perpetuated. Dress up like geishas, accommodate those with Asian fetishes, let everyone know you make rice and are severe stress cases about getting a good mark. I’m sure it will, as these fine single Asians put, “bring honor to the family.”

  • Austin
  • Austin
  • Hal

    It’s an obvious message. These are three stereotypes they face–nerds, sex objects, and fobs. They are none of these and they are talented Yale students, so wtf, let’s dance. Treat them with respect; treat the sterotypes with respect. Put a ring on it, if you like it. Korean language ending is nice, it says we are who we are, and we are fine with that. Be sincere. Korean vs. Japanese Dinosaur Grudge Match was not referenced, from what I could tell. Hope Viets are in Mixed Company in future years, for their perspective, humor, and music. Justkiddingfilms is bomb, btw.

  • Hal

    It’s an obvious message. These are three stereotypes they face–nerds, sex objects, and fobs. They are none of these and they are talented Yale students, so wtf, let’s dance. Treat them with respect; treat the sterotypes with respect. Put a ring on it, if you like it. Korean language ending is nice, it says we are who we are, and we are fine with that. Be sincere. Korean vs. Japanese Dinosaur Grudge Match was not referenced, from what I could tell. Hope Viets are in Mixed Company in future years, for their perspective, humor, and music. Justkiddingfilms is bomb, btw.

  • Chanel

    I grew up in a generation where cultures laughed at the stereotypes that were so true to their nature. People could joke, laugh with and at themselves and it was OK.
    Lighten up folks who get offended with this.
    I am more offended by the filth and degrading of women sexually and the coarse jesting and foul language that sounds like people don’t know how to speak English but just cuss.
    This was offensive but now laughing at funny stereotypes isn’t?
    These women did a great job and good for them for their sense of humor.

  • Chanel

    I grew up in a generation where cultures laughed at the stereotypes that were so true to their nature. People could joke, laugh with and at themselves and it was OK.
    Lighten up folks who get offended with this.
    I am more offended by the filth and degrading of women sexually and the coarse jesting and foul language that sounds like people don’t know how to speak English but just cuss.
    This was offensive but now laughing at funny stereotypes isn’t?
    These women did a great job and good for them for their sense of humor.

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    This video is very much boring, although song is awesome and voice is melodious but video spoils due to the lame dance of these girls.

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