Diligence is required sooner rather than later - Tiki Music

K Kaiwaza Tiki Socialite Waikiki Beach, Hawaii Joined: Aug 06, 2003 Posts: 560	K Kaiwaza Posted posted on Tue, Jul 8, 2008 6:48 PM As far as I'm concerned, you have my blessing to do anything you want to to any "standard." I mean, how many thousands of versions of Hawaiian Wedding Song, all nearly alike, do we need? Hawaiian War chant is a GREAT example of a "standard" that is commonly played with, changed, altered, and it makes it interesting. I'm particularly fond of the changes made by The Waikikis is their version..called "Waikiki Wedding", and the Waikiki Beach Boys version from their "Breeze of Hawaii" LP. But there are literally HUNDREDS of variations out there that are quite different from one another. Most of the artists have NO CLUE what they lyrics originally meant. The Hawaiian lyrics of "Hawaiian Wedding Song" have no relationship to the well known English lyrics...so, which set do you feel you need to understand to record the song instrumentally? I mean, look at what Martin Denny did to "Sentimental Journey". You could say he massaccred it...yet, I LOVE his rendition. I have pretty strong opinions on this issue (I butted heads with Jerry Byrd the short time I took steel lesons with him on this issue). But musical expression is about YOUR feelings & thoughts...YOURS as an artist. Maybe so-and-so felt a certain way & wrote a song that particular way. Well, maybe I feel differently and I like it THIS way. Then, by God, I'll PLAY it that way. I don't need to know what they were thinking about. Some people will ressonate with your expression & others won't...just likethe original performers/composers.

As far as I'm concerned, you have my blessing to do anything you want to to any "standard." I mean, how many thousands of versions of Hawaiian Wedding Song, all nearly alike, do we need?
Hawaiian War chant is a GREAT example of a "standard" that is commonly played with, changed, altered, and it makes it interesting. I'm particularly fond of the changes made by The Waikikis is their version..called "Waikiki Wedding", and the Waikiki Beach Boys version from their "Breeze of Hawaii" LP. But there are literally HUNDREDS of variations out there that are quite different from one another. Most of the artists have NO CLUE what they lyrics originally meant.
The Hawaiian lyrics of "Hawaiian Wedding Song" have no relationship to the well known English lyrics...so, which set do you feel you need to understand to record the song instrumentally?
I mean, look at what Martin Denny did to "Sentimental Journey". You could say he massaccred it...yet, I LOVE his rendition.
I have pretty strong opinions on this issue (I butted heads with Jerry Byrd the short time I took steel lesons with him on this issue). But musical expression is about YOUR feelings & thoughts...YOURS as an artist. Maybe so-and-so felt a certain way & wrote a song that particular way. Well, maybe I feel differently and I like it THIS way. Then, by God, I'll PLAY it that way. I don't need to know what they were thinking about. Some people will ressonate with your expression & others won't...just likethe original performers/composers.

Post #392545 by Kaiwaza on Tue, Jul 8, 2008 6:48 PM