Post #610089 by emspace on Thu, Oct 13, 2011 10:56 AM

komohana and Chuck Tatum, I wasn't trying to drag this thread OT simply by addressing Mr. Ho's description of his music as an evolved form of exotica. I don't need to; Tiki music was well-defined over half a century ago. It is Polynesian pop and exotica, period. Hapa-haole music of the kind played in Hawaiian hotels (although it should also be made clear that a lot of that is not hapa-haole but traditional Hawaiian songs given mid-century treatment - electric steel, loungey crooning vocals etc).

You guys all need to go listen to some of the Hawaii Calls shows, some Alfred Apaka. It's out there, just go use Google. I am appalled to think the Creepy Creeps or Ding Dong Devils are regarded as Tiki - once again, why? Because they said so? Because they put "Tiki" words in their titles? Balls; cf. my previous posts. Not good enough. Egotism, coattail riding, 21st century ME-ism. And not to put too fine a point on it - they sound like adolescent garage bands, their musicianship is nothing to write home about. The truth hurts, don't it?

You wonder why so many long-time members, the real rediscoverers of Tiki, have fallen off? Are we "old and in the way", no longer relevant? Think about that, boys and girls. Tiki is ABOUT old, it is NOT a new thing but a nostalgic trip into the past. If the past isn't good enough, maybe find a different lifestyle niche to try on. Once you've trashed that out of recognition, you can try another.

See, now I really AM pissed. And I regret rejoining if this is what has become of what even so-called Tiki people have made of the Tiki scene. Aloha, y'all. And this time it means goodbye.