Levy Tran Featured in Controversial Music Video “Asian Girlz”

Heavily-illustrated model Levy Tran (featured at the old site here) recently tweeted an apology after the above music video she appeared in received a strong backlash due to the song’s lyrics.

Obviously intended to be humorous, “Asian Girlz” by the Los Angeles-based rock band Day Above Ground, is full of racially-stereotyped lyrics that many listeners have found to be extremely offensive. “I love your sticky rice,” “Ooh, your slanted eyes,” and “Your momma’s so pretty, best nails in the city” are some of the milder examples.

At their Youtube channel, where they have the video posted, Day Above Ground stated that the song “was not written with any malicious, hateful, or hurtful intent.” Tran, after geting wind of the negative publicity the video has been receiving (as well as herself, for appearing in it), tweeted:

“I sincerely apologize to all who feels that I set Asian women back 50 yrs. I know I lost respect from a lot of ppl. It wasn’t my intention”

She’s also made further apologetic comments regarding the video, that you can see at her Twitter.

Looks like Levy can now join actress Lisa Chan (who appeared last year in a political campaign ad as a Chinese girl thanking a US senator in mock broken English, for her spending) in the ”I should have had better foresight” file. Unless, of course, they subscribe to the old Hollywood publicist’s adage that any press is good press.

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  1. Avatar of Guest Poster

    It isn’t just the lyrics that are in poor taste—what an utterly crap song!

  2. Avatar of wylde8

    Let me just start by saying that song sucks. How did those guys get a record contract?

    You can probably get away with a line or two like that and just say you were joking, but they obviously crossed the line. How Levy didn’t have the foresight to know this would blow up in her face is beyond me. If she doesn’t have respect for herself, no one else will either.

  3. Avatar of Guest Poster

    For my taste, I’ve never seen anyone prettier than Levy, and she has a pretty nice body too (especially her abs). I also really like her bubbly personality. But sadly her judgement seems to be highly questionable (and I’m not just talking about appearing in this music video either).

  4. Avatar of arf

    Yes indeed Levy is pretty heavenly.

  5. The Dean’s avatar

    I’m with you guys. Forget the racist lyrics for one second. The song just flat out sucks. The only reason it gets any attention is because of these lyrics (and the gorgeous Ms. Tran). I guess when you have zero talent you use whatever you can to attract some attention (the band, not Levy).

    And I also have to agree with Doc regarding Tran’s judgement. She either had no taste, no brains and/or just plain bad judgement. And that is not just based on her acting in this video. Keep in mind she didn’t write the lyrics–it’s just an acting gig. A gig she should have refused, but sometimes a job is a job. I think she should have refused the gig simply because the song is so freaking terrible.

    Destroying her beauty with a disturbing amount of ink is worse that her acting in the video, IMO. Hey I’m not anti-tat–but this is just plain stupid. She is pretty enough to get great gigs without them.

  6. Avatar of French

    Humiliation can be a good teacher. But, these are entertainers, not your mothers….

    Should the American actors of Asian backgrounds apologize for playing North Korean or Chinese villains in a James Bond movie?

  7. Avatar of noddle

    She’s hot for sure and definitely one of my favs on here. She seems fun and lighthearted.

    The song though, I had to mute the volume and then read the lyrics on another site. I think they purposely made the song that bad in hopes that no one would actually listen to it and catch the lyrics. “Strange are the things that be” or whatever that saying is.

  8. Quyen’s avatar

    GOLLY!!! After reading the lyrics, I am offended. It is disrespectful towards Asian women. Damn stereotypes. Like for real, those guys are idiots for making a song about it. Ahhhhhh. Poor Levy. I don’t know why she agrees to appear on the video. Could be just for the money or publicity.

  9. Avatar of Luke

    Has the video been removed? For what it’s worth not having seen it or the lyrics I love Levy and am sure she did it in good fun. Funnily I find I get more offended by racist (anti Asian) comments than my wife, who is Asian. Perhaps for Levy it wasn’t offensive.

  10. Avatar of Luke

    This guy’s reaction is pretty funny…
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnrz4EYtAok

    …Wow, I just found the video and that really is freaking awful. I can’t repost a link and feel happy about doing so. Levy what are you doing?!?

  11. chosun’s avatar

    The lyrics for those who missed it:

    Wooo!

    [Chorus]
    Asian girl, She’s my Asian girl
    You’re my Asian girl, You’re my Asian girl
    You’re my Asian girl, She’s my Asian girl
    Yes, my Asian girl, You’re my Asian girl
    Source: LYBIO.net

    [Verse 1]
    I love your sticky rice (love it)
    Butt fucking all night
    Korean barbecue
    Bitch I love you
    I love your creamy yellow thighs
    Ooh you’re slanted eyes
    It’s the Year of the Dragon
    Ninja pussy I’m stabbin’

    [Chorus]
    Asian girl, You’re my Asian girl
    You’re my Asian girl, She’s my Asian girl
    You’re my Asian girl, She’s my Asian girl
    Yes, my Asian girl, You’re my Asian girl

    [Verse 2]
    Superstitious feng shui shit (what)
    Now lay your hair by the toilet
    I’ve got your green tea boba
    So put your head on my shoulder
    Huh! Your momma’s so pretty
    Best nails in the city
    Pushing your daddy’s Mercedes
    Girl you drive me crazy

    [Chorus]
    Asian girl, She’s my Asian girl
    You’re my Asian girl, You’re my Asian girl
    You’re my Asian girl, She’s my Asian girl
    Yes, my Asian – You’re my Asian girl

    [Bridge]
    New Year’s in February (February?)
    That’s fine with me (I guess)
    Yeah, shark soup (What? Fuck it, we’ll eat it)
    Oh, tradition, tradition, tradition, yeah yeah
    Baby, cause you’re my Asian girl
    You’re legally (best kind)
    So baby marry me
    Come on sit on my lap (right here baby)
    Or we’ll send you back
    And you age so well
    I can barely tell
    17 or 23?
    Baby doesn’t matter to me

    [Chorus]
    Asian girl, You’re my Asian girl
    You’re my Asian girl, She’s my Asian girl
    You’re my Asian girl, She’s my Asian girl
    Yes, my Asian girl yeah, You’re my Asian girl

    Let ‘em know:
    Alright!

    [Outro]
    Arcadia
    J-Town
    Alhambra
    K-Town
    Temple City
    Don’t forget Chinatown
    Get down
    Happy endings all over
    Bruce Lee
    Toyota
    Spicy tuny
    Sashimi (yeah)
    Tasty Garden
    Fried Lice
    Sailor Moon
    Wonton soup
    Spring roll
    Tibet
    Foot rub rub a down down down
    Fa ra ra ra ra ra ra pa ra ra ra
    Woooo!
    Tofu
    All over you all over me
    Yeah
    Love you wong
    All the Asian girls
    We love you
    Keep smiling

  12. Avatar of Guest Poster

    Luke,

    Looks like the video has been taken down. Who wants to volunteer to find another link for it? I don’t think I can face it again…

  13. Avatar of Guest Poster

    BTW, it may only be just past half way through the year, but I’m very confident we already have a sure fire winner for worst song of 2013.

  14. Avatar of BakedZiti

    Here is another link.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYT0NbX9gVU

    When I first heard saw the video (I’ve never heard of the band) I couldn’t tell if they were attempting a serious song or not. I had no reference point since I don’t know who these guys are. The song sounds like a bad Christian rock song. I just youtubed some of their other work. Just a couple of videos for a couple of seconds. They are just a poor man’s Linken Park. So, I think they were just trying to be funny but went way too far. Could image if this was about black people?

    Some of it is funny. ” . . . New Year’s in February?”

    That first verse is pretty bad. But, after reading the whole song, it’s not quite as bad as I first thought.

  15. Avatar of Guest Poster

    BakedZiti,

    Thanks—updated the article.

    Seeing the lyrics made me wince even more! This video looks like it would have cost a fair bit to make—I’m still amazed that somebody involved in this didn’t say “hold on guys, are we sure this is a good idea?” How on earth did this even get a release?

  16. Avatar of Guest Poster

    A fairly amusing parody of Levy (more amusing than this song anyway):

  17. Avatar of relayer

    That video is definitely horrible from a musical standpoint and offensive (and unfunny) from a lyrical standpoint. To me, it seems like they are trying to be like The Lonely Island, who actually have a couple funny songs.

    And Levy is still one of the most attractive women I’ve seen on here, plus she seems to have a nice personality, so I have a difficult time being upset at her.

    Not that she cares what I think…

  18. Malpaso’s avatar

    That “band” is a joke. Awful.

  19. The Dean’s avatar

    BakedZiti,

    “They are just a poor man’s Linken Park.” Now that’s funny–and true. What makes it funny is that Linken Park is horrible to begin with.

    I’m convinced this was done intentionally, Perhaps as a parody of sorts, but most certainly as a way to draw some attention to themselves.

    Doc, that Christina Wong parody was great. Thanks for the link.

  20. Hau’s avatar

    This was absolutely deplorable. She can do whatever she wants with her body, but she was a face for young Asian-Americans in the entertainment industry that was slowly pulling in success. I see her taking this gig as not only a lack of judgement but as a lack of intelligence. Didn’t she give a thought about how her parents would feel? Or at least, how young Asian women like herself would feel being represented in such a condescending, sexual way? This just fetishizes Asian-American women, and instead of letting them blend into the culture as people, this materializes them as an object.

    Beauty fades, along with tattoos. The thing that would take the longest to fade was her brain, but looks like she didn’t have one to start off with.

  21. Avatar of Guest Poster

    Hau,

    The wording of your last sentence is a bit too harsh, but I agree with the sentiment of your comments. I recently asked what was going on with the current trend toward more tattoos, thinking I might be missing something, but the answers to that question and Levy’s other actions—together with my observations of others participating in this trend—all lead to the obvious conclusion: it’s just an ill-judged grab for attention. And Levy just isn’t very smart.

  22. Hau’s avatar

    Attention is definitely one thing, but I am actually not against tattoos at all. I have a close to full-back tattoo, and to an extent it was for attention, almost like a boob job, but I truly appreciate the artwork that was placed on me.

    The thing is, as a working professional, I still understand that it is not a highly accepted social norm and people do still frown upon them, so I decided to place it in an area where I could easily cover it up. Party in the back, business in the front. Always.

    Looking at the situation now, maybe the reason why I felt like this was absolutely unforgivable was because she not only further enforces a negative light on Asian-American women stereotypes but also on people who have tattoos as a hobby or for their appreciation of something new that they can control on their bodies. I can’t help but to think that this is another reason why tattoos are still so looked down upon, much more than a boob job these days. Actually I shouldn’t have said boob job, that’s incomparable.

  23. Avatar of Guest Poster

    Hau,

    Thanks for your perspective—I can see how someone with an extensive tattoo could be offended by Levy appearing in this video, in that it would reinforce many people’s negative preconceptions about those who have them. Indeed, it has reinforced mine to an extent, perhaps unfairly.

  24. Avatar of noddle

    I’m a bit confused by some of the comments I’ve read on other sites. Why does she owe anything to the asian community? Who is in this community exactly and when did she sign up as their representative? Is she not free to live her life as she wants, simply because of her appearance? It seems to me that racism and racial identity are two windows of the same prison cell. Am I missing something obvious in all this?

    edit to add: I still think the song was just plain bad regardless of lyrics.

  25. Avatar of BakedZiti

    I understand the band got a million youtube hits. Mission accomplished.

    That said, if so many people are offended, then it’s a problem and ill-advised. But, I seriously chuckle how extreme some people feel. First, the song is crap because it’s a parody. It is suppose to be crap. Now, we get a pass because no one has ever heard this guys and there’s no reference point. Now, these guys went too far, but are so politically correct that we can’t make my sport of our differences.

    Why is it OK for TMZ to make humorous, satirical racial or sexual orientation jokes everyday? If Chappelle did this, we’d all be cracking up. Asian guys on youtube are posting these all the time. IMHO, it’s because these guys have not earned the right to do this. Time and place. A white guy can’t drop the N-word. But, it is different for a black guy. It’s not readily apparent it’s a parody, which is why I cringed (a bit) when I first saw the video.

  26. Avatar of Guest Poster

    BakedZiti,

    I maintain that this song is just plain crap, pure and simple. If this is supposed to be humorous, then it just doesn’t work—there’s zero wit or irony, and obviously no subtlety either. It just ends up being cringe worthy, as bad attempts at humour often are. And if it isn’t supposed to be humorous (which I seriously doubt), then that’s even worse of course.

  27. Avatar of Johnnie

    And they said the same thing about the David Bowie song China Girl. Some people just have racism on the brain. Usually that is projection.

  28. Avatar of Guest Poster

    Johnnie,

    That’s an interesting comparison—I wonder how China Girl would have been received if it was released today? Still, at least it’s a decent song, and it comes across as more respectful to me—there’s criticism of white imperialism in it as well.

  29. kevlar’s avatar

    My guess is that maybe she didn’t fully take a listen to the song, they probably just told her it was a chance to be in a “rock video” and “dedication to asian girls”… which alot of models would have jumped for.

    Her tats really had nothing to do with the video, but they used her has she is already a popular internet name that could easily get them video views as her name is in the title. Im not big into tats , but she is still a cutie (yeah i also believe she could have still been popular without the tats).

    Im sure she really had no clue how offensive it was until after seeing it all edited together.

    Would be nice if us Asian men will get the sex symbol status in America, instead of the typical hollywood stereotype like in The Hangover (I cant stand that asian guy) or the typical asian woman/white male couple yet hardly any asian male couples in commercials, media etc.

  30. Avatar of Guest Poster

    kevlar wrote:
    My guess is that maybe she didn’t fully take a listen to the song, they probably just told her it was a chance to be in a“rock video” and “dedication to asian girls”… which alot of models would have jumped for.

    Not listening to the music video you’re appearing in would be monumentally stupid.

  31. kevlar’s avatar

    Dr. Lee,

    well apparently she didn’t listen to it.

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