Post #465861 by tiki mick on Tue, Jun 30, 2009 2:32 PM

On 2009-06-30 13:30, aquarj wrote:

I would also say that "authenticity" is not the hallmark of tiki music. In fact to me, the lack of authenticity is part of the essence (and appeal) of exotica. -Randy

Yes. And this has been defined by people such as Sven Kirsten and others. It's the lack of authenticity that seems to be what most people into tiki love, including myself. I like the authentic stuff as well, though. I am a big world music fan myself.

Even in the Hawaiian music genre (Which I know a few things about), the Hapa Haole music I love so much is not real Hawaiian, Polynesian or Tahitian music. It's from there, about there, but authentic? No way!

About the new tiki scene (the one with the hotrods and eyeballs on the covers)....this music may not be all that authentic, but is pays serious homage to what most of us consider tiki music, which is Denny/Lyman/Baxter. It evokes it in a big way.

There are bands right now that in probably would not really have fit in a cocktail or tiki bar back in the 1950's, for the simple reason that surf music was not part of the original scene. However, they are still excellent bands and way more "tiki" then world music, or fusion. And in style and substance, they get "tiki"....

I cited Jon Hassell, and posted some of his stuff. His album cover art could have been designed by Squid or some of the other major lowbrow and tiki artists on this site.

http://maarifastreet.com/images/painting_big.jpg

Not quite the same, of course, but you get the idea...it's exotic and modern at the same time, somewhat tribal.

I do feel that white devil likes to argue. That's ok, so do I. He (or she) is missing the point that I actually really dug the music clips and links he posted!