A couple of weeks ago, I was chatting with my dad over a glass of Italian liquor. Somehow, the conversation wandered into music, art, and the idea of hypothetical bands.
I don’t seriously play live anymore—not since I was 24, except for the occasional charity gig. There’s a laundry list of reasons behind that choice. Among them, perfectionism, long working hours, several different jobs over the years, an obsession with multiple instruments, the rise of video-making, the McDonaldization of musical works, and, of course, a natural tendency to procrastinate (read: perfectionism, again). Put all that together, and you’ll understand why I’m not exactly jumping onto stages these days.
But you know, never say never. I was once the lawyer with long hair; I could just as easily be the artist with short ones. Destiny has surprised me many times before, so who knows…
Back to the conversation. Out of nowhere, I told him that if I ever started a band, I’d call it Ren Mai 17.
Why?
Because it’s one of my favorite points in traditional Chinese medicine, if not the favorite point.
Ren Mai 17, 膻中, The Sea of Chi, isn’t just the second dantien (body’s energy storage areas)—it’s the emotional center, the heart, the most important point on the Ren Mai meridian. It’s where emotions converge and spread. And if you feel like a Heartist (a word that fits me way better than artist), it’s the perfect brand.
If you’re curious, it’s quite easy to locate: right in the middle of your torso, close to the sternum. Quick tip—if you rub the area vigorously and find yourself yelling in pain, you might need to work on your emotional balance.
And if you want to go into transcendental stuff, there’s a legend about old Daoist masters who could sense how many days a person had left to live just by hovering their palms near it (you know, chi…).
Dad didn’t react immediately. But then, out of the blue, he said, “I’d call it Move 37.”
I laughed.
First, because the thought of my dad fronting a rock band is hilarious. I mean, no f’in way. But I was also curious: “Why Move 37?“
That’s when he told me a story I thought I already knew—only this time, there was a missing piece.
It was about AlphaGo, the legendary AI that beat Lee Sedol, one of the greatest Go players in history. The victory wasn’t just about AlphaGo memorizing millions of moves. The real breakthrough came with a single play: Move 37.
At first, Move 37 seemed absurd—a bizarre, illogical move that baffled everyone. But as the game unfolded, its brilliance became evident. Move 37 wasn’t just about the game itself; it was about changing the way the AI thought. It didn’t just learn to play Go—it learned to think differently.
That’s why it clicks so well. Move 37 isn’t just about winning; it is about breaking boundaries and create innovative, unexpected solutions.
Still, despite dad’s beautiful arguing, I can’t imagine Move 37 as a band name.
I mean, it’s a great name, but only if your vibes are nerdy, industrial, post-punk.
And that ain’t me.
I’m a rock-and-roll, soul-shaking, earth-breaking, loud-as-hell kind of guy.
But you know what?
It’s perfect for a blog post.
