Post #606759 by tiki mick on Wed, Sep 14, 2011 1:50 PM

I always compare the discussion about what is or what is not tiki, to the types of discussions found in other forums. What you find in those forums is the same you find here: A mixture of newbies, “purists” (Like me) and “big Tent” types who want to include everything in the discussion.
For example, on the train geek’s forums, there are only two topics of discussion: Diesel Electric or Steam Powered. But occasionally, people figure that since a train rides on tracks, EVERYTHING that moves on a track is fair game: Monorails, ore carts, rollercoasters….but the purists shut those threads down fast. Want to talk about rollercoasters? Go to the rollercoaster forums.
In the martial arts forums, they do discuss all kinds of aspects of martial arts: Self-Defense, sports, reality-based, boxing, wrestling as well as all asian fighting forms….but one thing you don’t find is people constantly bringing up pro wrestling, which is scripted entertainment. Those threads get shut down real quick!
Similar to here, the people who put those threads up are quick to say: Pro Wrestling uses real moves, takes place in a ring, and is a sport….so why can’t we talk about it here?
In my opinion, you cannot. They are two different things!

So I don’t feel so bad when I say in public that I don’t consider surf or garage rock to be real tiki music. Just because there are some similarities, the whole intent is different.

And threads like this one are merely a reaction to the vast amount of non-tiki stuff that creeps in here every week! Whether it be some Ska/Reggae musician who has the balls to call himself “tiki joe” (never mind the fact that there already IS an established artists here with that name) Jimmy Buffett, Party City, or “burning man” type attempts to link tiki with the very hippy culture that contributed to it’s demise (That’s the one that always gets me).