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Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
 Posted - 04/03/2002 : 09:43:56 AM
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Singing while playing seems like a common challenge for beginning guitar students. Like rubbing your stomach while patting your head, you know? Learning hawaiian music adds another layer - learning Hawaiian lyrics, or ideally learning some Hawaiian language so that you know what the words mean.
After 6 years of playing around in taro patch tuning am I ready to give singing a try. I've never been much of a singer, only sang some back up from behind the guitar in college. I'm terrible at remembering lyrics so we'll see what happens.
Any one have good songs with easy to remember lyrics to start with? I know Reid and Sarah, but particularly Sarah has put a lot of time and energy into learning the language to better understand the meanings of songs. Any one else learning the language so you can sing?
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Andy
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Bruddah Chrispy
Lokahi
USA
164 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2002 : 2:57:32 PM
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Aloha kakou,
For me singing while I'm playing is about as easy as cooking an omelette while I'm surfing. I can do either, fairly well, but can't seem to combine the two. I've decided I'll need to persue a Jerry Garcia approach: Play the guitar, then stop playing to walk to the mike and completely mangle the lyrics, then go back to playing. 
I've made a half-hearted attempt to learn `olelo. I found a wonderful book: 'Olelo O'iwi ke Kahua: He Puke A'o 'Olelo Hawai'i by Hokulani Cleeland the last time I was home. Unfortunately, I've not had the self-discipline to really get going on it. I should find a kumu here in Seattle, and just do it.
Aloha a hui hou,
Chris P. |
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Russell Letson
`Olu`olu
USA
504 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2002 : 4:30:19 PM
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The matter of singing has been bothering me for a while--I feel like I'm only doing half the job if I can't sing the words. I can't imagine just *playing* much of Rodgers and Hart or Gershwin or Razaf and Waller, and it's clear that Hawaiian music lives in its lyrics as much as great mainland music does. In addition, I've always found lyrics very helpful for recalling how melodies and changes work, though slack key demands less in that department than something like "Makin' Whoopee."
I haven't been able to get to it yet, but I can tell you what I plan on doing when I have some time: learn from Sonny Chillingworth recordings. I'm never going to have the grasp of Hawaiian that I do of romance languages, so I will settle for decent rote-learned lyrics, and I'm told that Sonny's pronunciation is correct--I certainly find his singing so clear that I can already hear the words. Fortunately, learning to sing in a language is not the same as learning to speak or understand it (it's more like learning melodies), so I won't have to worry so much about the fact that I'm a half-century past the age of easy language acquisition.
Once my ear/mouth connection is working, I'll take on the rest of the standard repertory. I'm also thinking of working on something I've heard in lots of contexts, like "Hawai'i Aloha." This will have the added benefit of giving me something more to do at the end of a concert than humming and swaying.
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Pauline Leland
`Olu`olu
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2002 : 5:48:12 PM
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I have my doubts about ever memorizing the Hawaiian lyrics let alone learning the language. So, are there any translations or even brand new lyrics available that come at least close to the original lyrics in rhythm? I think I know the answer, but I'm hoping.
Pauline |
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Bruddah Chrispy
Lokahi
USA
164 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2002 : 08:50:24 AM
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On one of Keali`i Reichel's albums he does a song called, I think, Nematoda (don't have the CD here at work). It's a really fun song, and the liner notes include versions in both English and Hawaiian. I was really struck by the effort it must have taken to create this song in two languages i.e., it's cadence and rhyming work in both.
I'll try to bring the CD with me the next time we kani ka pila.
Aloha a hui hou,
Chris P. |
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Sarah
`Olu`olu
571 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2002 : 09:57:27 AM
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Aloha e Pauline,
Your question immediately brings to mind that Keali'i Reichel does a song called "The Toad Song" (maybe this was what Braddah Crispy was referring to?), composed by Puakea Nogelmeir. Puakea, an expert in the Hawaiian language, created bilingual versions of the lyrics: the best matched in cadence, rhythm, and spirit, that I have ever seen. It *is* a fun song, and the Hawaiian, which I am morally certain he wrote "first", runs along like a tonguetwister ;-) while the English, which I admit I never memorized, bubbles along with something like a nursery rhyme- like feel to it. The English is never sung on the CD, but you can parse it out yourself and see how it fits perfectly. The melody is very straightforward. You could try it in English, or if you're game, it'd be a fun song to work on in Hawaiian. Keali'i pronounces all the lyrics quite clearly and accurately -- and fast (which is part of the fun of it, too).
aloha,
Sarah
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Pauline Leland
`Olu`olu
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2002 : 12:56:20 PM
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Chris, please do. (Which day of the week is the winner?)
Sarah, a tongue twister in a foreign language? Preserve me! Well, maybe I'll try a little.
Thanks to you both.
Pauline |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2002 : 1:01:01 PM
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Russell,
While Sonny was about the best mimic of the older generation that did not know Hawaiian well, he is not really someone to emulate. His pronounciation is often flawed. Keali`i, while not a slack key player (actually, he said he does not like slack key)is one of the best Hawaiian speakers/singers. In the slack key area, we were impressed with Brother Noland's language (and musical) skills on his CD "Hawaiian Inside". Noland had not been known for slack key in the past, but does super work on this CD. He was advised in the language by Tony Conjugacion, who is an expert. Keola Beamer is also a good speaker/singer.
You do not want to perpetuate the flaws that passed for Hawaiian. It is not just a matter of not making the correct sounds, as it might be in English. Since Hawaiian is made up of consonant-vowel pairs, and there are so few consonants in the language, (therefore few distinct pairs), if you even take a pause for breath at the wrong time in a song, it is possible to change the meaning of the words or create gibberish. An example is one that happened to me. When I first came to Maui, I thought that the village, Waikapu, meant Sacred or Forbidden Water: Wai-kapu. However, it really is Wai-ka-pu' (the ' will have to suffice for a macron, or kahako, denoting a long, stressed vowel) which means Water of The Shell, because a conch shell used to be sounded in the stream's valley.
I will also bet that, being a native American speaker like me, you won't hear, let alone pronounce, the pure Hawaiian vowels or sound every vowel in a dipthong, or put in the glottal stops, from listening to any of the older singers, except for Auntie Alice and Vicki I`i Rodrigues (both of whom were reccommended by Ron Loo). BTW, Ron is an expert speaker/singer and you can get his slack key CDs.
me ke aloha,
Reid
PS: Sarah is the only Haole that I have ever heard sing the Toad Song in Hawaiian, except for Puakea himself. It is a hoot, as is the hula that was based on it, which we saw at Carnegie Hall.
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slackkey
Lokahi
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2002 : 1:28:46 PM
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Andy! Bruddah C! Russell! Sarah! and Pauline!
Aloha kakahiaka! (Good Morning!) Okay, say it like this: aloha kah-kah
hee-ahkah. Okay did you get it?
The basic thing to know as far as the Hawaiian Language (olelo) is concerned are the pronounciation of the vowels A-E-I-O-U. For those of you who have picked-up a Hawaiian Language Book probably already tried it. (A)has a stressed and unstressed beginning. ("uh") as in above (unstressed) and ("ah") as in father (stressed). (E) also has two beginnings. ("eh") as in bed (kept soft). ("ay") as in they. You should be able to hear and feel the differance when saying it. (I)is ("ee") as in the (i) in police. (O) is ("oh") as in the (o) in vote. Finally, (U) is ("oo")as in (u) in true.
No I don't olelo, but I do enjoy listening to it being spoken. In my truck and at home I only listen to a combination of "Slack Key" and Hawaiian Language Music. They really make me feel soooooooh good. As I listen, I also try to sing along with my favorite Hawaiian Slack Key Artists.
However, I do try an sing the music in Hawaiian properly. As far as singing and playing slack key guitar at the same time, heh...just put some Hawaiian Sheet Music in front of me, and I do pretty good! But when in the presence people and freinds who fluently Olelo the Hawaiian Language, I try to pronounce the words properly...or they'll deffinitely let me know!
You see, in the past as well as in the present, the proper pronounciation of the Hawaiian Language is very crucial to the Kumu (Teacher). Behind every Hawaiian song there is a story being told, and many go way back to Ancient Hawaii. But hey! Don't stop learning! Just remember, proper pronounciation is really important cause you'll be telling that story. Above all else, learn the translations about the story being told.
Have fun! And as we say in HawaiiMusicians.com...."KANIKAJAMMAPILA" 'JUS PRESS! A Hui Hou!
slackkey (Bill)
 
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Sarah
`Olu`olu
571 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2002 : 10:33:10 AM
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Aloha kakahiaka kakou,
Eia ku'u mana'o [here's my thought]: in choosing a song to learn to sing, choose one you really like! This helps a lot -- you love the song, can't get the melody out of your head, are driven to learn the meaning and the lyrics :-)
Eia kekahi hou [and here's another thing]: in addition to the vowels, which Bill slackkey explained so well, the 'okina -- the glottal stop break used -- is critical to the meaning of words. American speakers often have difficulty hearing, or recognizing this sound, since we use it indiscriminately in American. But in Hawaiian, it changes the meaning of the word, which can seriously alter the meaning of the lyrics.
Example: in one song, the singer didn't articulate the 'okina which changes "yours" [kou] to "mine" [ko'u], and so the line came out meaning something improbable like, "you are your love" -- rather than "you are my love". (I forget the song, but the point was that it came out sounding like someone's ego trip! )
aloha no,
Sarah
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slackkey
Lokahi
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2002 : 05:09:43 AM
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Aloha Sarah!
I just want to say that I am very impressed with how you speak the Hawaiian language! I ne'vah know you wuz part Hawaiian! Auwe! You took me by surprise! Well, I gottah go sleep.....I have to wake-up 4:00 in the morning! BTW! Hope to be able to join you and Reid on the 19th! A Hui Hou!
slackkey (Bill)
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Sarah
`Olu`olu
571 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2002 : 10:33:16 AM
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Welina mai e Bill!
'E, I try learn since we saw you at the gazebo! ( Didn't we also meet you and your mom at the plate lunch at the Christ the King benefit Kevin dem played at?) Only thing, I got nobody yet to 'olelo to way over here in Konekikuka! 'A'ohe o'u hoa kama'ilio ma 'ane'i!  Auwe!
Hope we can meet up with you on the 19th!
aloha,
sarah
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slackkey
Lokahi
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2002 : 04:24:37 AM
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Sarah!
Just reading what you have written here in Hawaiian gives me "chickenskin". You just keep on olelo Hawaii...BTW! Try going on HawaiiMusicians.com. Drop-in on Cindy Combs (Ukulele Lady). I believe she speaks the Hawaiian Language. Maybe you guys can have a conversation!
I hope to get together with you and Reid too on the 19th at Bailey House. Yes! You and Reid did meet my Mom at the Platelunch stand. Well, it's getting late and I wake-up early tomorrow morning. You and Reid take care, and hopefully we'll get together on the 19th! A Hui Hou!
slackkey (Bill)
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slackkeylady
Aloha
35 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2002 : 3:09:06 PM
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Aloha! This is my first post here. One of the first songs I learned to sing and play at the same time (slack key) was "Wai O Ke Aniani". The words are all the same except for changing the name of the flowers.....and maybe switching around the huihui and konikoni . I am not sure but maybe it is at http://huapala.org Another easy one is "E Huli". The only words that change are huli, imua, and ihope. Kou maka, kou lima, me kou kino e! It's LOVE!!!!
Aloha Nui Loa, Slack Key Lady |
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slackkeylady
Aloha
35 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2002 : 3:15:08 PM
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E KALA MAI!!! Supposed to be
Aloha Nui Loa, Slack Key Lady |
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slackkeylady
Aloha
35 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2002 : 3:18:03 PM
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My link didn't show......trying again.... http://www.huapala.org
Aloha Nui Loa, Slack Key Lady |
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