TM
Joined: May 12, 2004
Posts: 4094
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TM
On 2012-12-31 19:11, bigbrotiki wrote:
Lucas, but we do associate the Hula girl and Hapa Haole with Polynesian pop! Just not with Tiki :)
Many outside folks associate the above things with the Tiki revival today for similar reasons than not recognizing Tiki as its own style in the mid-century: The lack of perspective (and lack of interest) to differentiate between the two. I love that you are a fan of Hapa Haole, and it was indeed the most prevalent music played in Polynesian supper clubs in the mid-century - but that does not make it as interesting and unique phenomenon as Exotica was. Just like the tropical bamboo hut decor that existed since the 30s in America. All fine and quaint and romantic in a South Seas manner, but artistically not quite as edgy as Tiki decor and Exotica music.
Steve Crane's designer Florian Gabriel himself wrote to me that by the mid-50s, Polynesian pop had become a tired cliche - until Tiki came along and gave it a creative shot in the arm that made it last another decade before it gloriously crashed and burned. Yes, Tiki NEEDED the grandiose stage created by Polynesian pop in previous decades to fully realize its potential. And yes, Exotica music was too rarely played in Tiki lounges, but here is where I come from:
I see myself more as an art historian, not a social historian, so what counts for me is the fact that the evolution of the genre of Exotica absolutely paralleled the development of Tiki Style, chronologically and stylistically. Both united the two opposites of modern and primitive. This was not a coincidence, but happened because both were born out of the same Zeitgeist: The modern primitive mindset of the folks who bought Martin Denny records was the same than the ones that went to Tiki Bob's for cocktails. They were jet age Mad Men, not Matson Line old folks. The former are the ones that interest me more than the latter.
Many Tiki followers especially here in California have personal memories of their exposure to Polynesian pop which created nostalgic attachments to various aspects of it. I have no intention to discount these. Everybody is free to favor Don Blanding or love Don Ho, they all are part of the rise and fall of Tiki. But that does not change the fact that viewed from my definition of Tiki style, one was an old hat and the other a post-Tiki pop star. I am the outsider who is looking at all it with a cold hard stare. :)
As usual, Sven, I agree with almost all of what you say...and I think how you compare the modern primitive mad man to the matson line old folks is basically true.....I guess where I find the "sad irony" is in what "tiki" music has devolved into. I say devolved, because whether you use Hapa Haole or exotica as your base, it is still music that had a heavily jazz-based attitude and pedigree...and the music that sometimes is very popular on this forum has little do do with any of it. I may be an old fogey, cranky, on a soap box but I still can't figure out exactly what tatts and punk and all that stuff has to do with tiki, then or now...and before anyone says that I am biased because of the type of band I play with, I was into hapa haole music long before I ever played it. Frankly, I love it...BUT, I love the style of hapa haole that was a bit more modern, say, the 60's and 70's version of it...not quite the real old style that bands like the sweet hollywaians play...I like it with a bit of a sheen and production to it....Hukilau Hulas being what I think is the finest example of what I am talking about.
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