Post #151335 by Thomas on Wed, Apr 6, 2005 1:25 PM

I was reading (I wish I could recall what it was, exactly) something very interesting about how the "tropical / exotic" niche has always been a constant in pop music (and you can go further regarding its associations with escape from restrictive norms regarding, well, sex and booze (but I'll leave that topic for now)). Anyway, the point was, the cha-cha craze of the '50s was quickly dropped when Cuba went communist. Either formally or informally, the political authorities let it be known that things Cuban were not to be portrayed in a favorable light. Thus as if on cue, in the '60s there was heavy emphasis on Brazilian (Bossa Nova) and "Mexican" (Alpert et al). I'm not saying here that anyone orchestrated this stuff (too conspiracy theory-ish), but the "message" was conveyed nonetheless. Similarly, the "Hawaiiana" craze can be seen as functioning to 1. solidify Americans' identification with this far-flung island chain when it was vulnerable and under attack, and 2. enhance the "acceptance" of it as a new state, and foster a tourism boom to better integrate it with the mainland economy. I know some of this is like, "No s***t, Sherlock!" but my point is, it's interesting how some of these pop culture things we all enjoy were tied into, of all things, geopolitics. (I've got a feeling this stuff is covered more eloquently in the BOT -- I don't have it yet...) So, in conclusion, you see, Herb Alpert can thank Fidel Castro for his vast commercial success! (My next essay will be on the geopolitical forces behind Jimmy Buffett (a Soviet plot to undermine American culture which took on a life of its own?).)