Tiki Music Defined - Tiki Music

E emspace Member Vancouver Joined: Jan 05, 2003 Posts: 879	E emspace Posted posted on Fri, Oct 14, 2011 9:18 AM There IS no Tiki scene in Vancouver, just as in the rest of North America. The Tiki scene is in my head and heart, exactly as it ought to be for everyone; when those of us have it in their heads and hearts come together and celebrate, that's a Tiki party. Creating posters and advertising a Tiki "event" with rockabilly bands isn't a Tiki party - it's a coattail-riding cash grab. I am not a club-joiner, that's not what drew me to Tiki; I am not gonna Tweet about Tiki or post about how I'm going to a "Tiki" event in my Facebook page. Vancouver has one famous Tiki bar, and the DJ plays, among other things, The Carpenters and Andy Williams. Why not? That's Tiki, isn't it? Yes, it's neophilia when you call punk with "Tiki" song titles Tiki, just as it is if you form a band like Afro-Celt Sound System. And no, the Ding Dong Devils and Hula Girls aren't Tiki - sorry Bong, if you're reading this. But as I've always known, working musicians want paying gigs, and as many as possible. I know a great funk-jazz bassist who has said he would play for Madonna in a heartbeat, simply because it would pay buckets of cash, and never mind that her music would make a vulture retch. Chuck Tatum, yes, fun is the thing of course - but as I've tried hard to explain, we don't all need to have EXACTLY THE SAME KIND OF DUFUS ADOLESCENT FUN. Cultural homogeneity SUCKS, and it needs to get called out and mocked at every turn. JOHN-O, your points are well taken - if the scene really is the Tiki Revival - including the Creepy Creeps - then I'm not part of the scene at all and don't want to be. komohana, your turn. When I said didgeridoo is played by hippies, I meant here in North America of course. And the reason I won't e.g. take up hula or Hawaiian chant no matter how cool I think they are is precisely the reason you've described: not the fear of getting beaten obviously, but respect. Next: Tiki music was well-defined by the people who played it and the people who listened to it and partied to it - because Tiki is over half a century old - so your suggesting that Hawaiian and exotica defines it is exactly on point, as I've been saying. Finally on the subject of steel: I took it up in June of THIS YEAR. I have played percussion, drums, guitar, bass, and voice for over 30 years. Been collecting and listening to Hawaiian music seriously for about 15 years. Hopefully that explains why I haven't formed a Hawaiian band yet? You know, there are Hawaiians who say that the word "haole" means "no soul". Whether or not it's actually linguistically true makes no difference - it's being said. Think about that.

There IS no Tiki scene in Vancouver, just as in the rest of North America. The Tiki scene is in my head and heart, exactly as it ought to be for everyone; when those of us have it in their heads and hearts come together and celebrate, that's a Tiki party. Creating posters and advertising a Tiki "event" with rockabilly bands isn't a Tiki party - it's a coattail-riding cash grab. I am not a club-joiner, that's not what drew me to Tiki; I am not gonna Tweet about Tiki or post about how I'm going to a "Tiki" event in my Facebook page.

Vancouver has one famous Tiki bar, and the DJ plays, among other things, The Carpenters and Andy Williams. Why not? That's Tiki, isn't it?

Yes, it's neophilia when you call punk with "Tiki" song titles Tiki, just as it is if you form a band like Afro-Celt Sound System. And no, the Ding Dong Devils and Hula Girls aren't Tiki - sorry Bong, if you're reading this. But as I've always known, working musicians want paying gigs, and as many as possible. I know a great funk-jazz bassist who has said he would play for Madonna in a heartbeat, simply because it would pay buckets of cash, and never mind that her music would make a vulture retch.

Chuck Tatum, yes, fun is the thing of course - but as I've tried hard to explain, we don't all need to have EXACTLY THE SAME KIND OF DUFUS ADOLESCENT FUN. Cultural homogeneity SUCKS, and it needs to get called out and mocked at every turn.

JOHN-O, your points are well taken - if the scene really is the Tiki Revival - including the Creepy Creeps - then I'm not part of the scene at all and don't want to be.

komohana, your turn. When I said didgeridoo is played by hippies, I meant here in North America of course. And the reason I won't e.g. take up hula or Hawaiian chant no matter how cool I think they are is precisely the reason you've described: not the fear of getting beaten obviously, but respect. Next: Tiki music was well-defined by the people who played it and the people who listened to it and partied to it - because Tiki is over half a century old - so your suggesting that Hawaiian and exotica defines it is exactly on point, as I've been saying. Finally on the subject of steel: I took it up in June of THIS YEAR. I have played percussion, drums, guitar, bass, and voice for over 30 years. Been collecting and listening to Hawaiian music seriously for about 15 years. Hopefully that explains why I haven't formed a Hawaiian band yet?

You know, there are Hawaiians who say that the word "haole" means "no soul". Whether or not it's actually linguistically true makes no difference - it's being said. Think about that.

Post #610192 by emspace on Fri, Oct 14, 2011 9:18 AM