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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
 Posted - 04/08/2010 : 05:24:56 AM
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Mountain Apple has posted a tantalizing taste of an upcoming collaborative release of Keola Beamer and Raiatea. It is entitled Ina - Imagine. It is John Lennon's Imagine in Hawaiian language.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC-KYMz55iw
I would be interested in comments on this. It is nice to be able to have a listen before the CD is released.
I'll put in my two cents after I decide if I like it or not. I've got to listen to it a few more times.
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Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2010 : 08:37:42 AM
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| I think it's great Wanda. It uses so many different aspects of Hawaiian Music, ancient instruments, chant, ha'i (female falsetto) all wrapped around a beautiful lyric sung in Hawaiian. For me it works big time. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2010 : 12:48:00 PM
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Well, Norman. I do agree with you that it showcases many aspects of Hawaiian music, but it seems empty, no mana. It is pleasant to the ears. It is creative, but somehow it is not touching my soul. I suppose that is because I never really thought it was a powerful song on John Lennon's part, either. Some of the sentiments expressed are good - I, too, would love to see the world living in peace. But if the idea was to showcase Hawaiian music aspects, I think that aspiration would have been better erved by using a true Hawaiian mele. If the idea is to introduce Hawaiian music to those who know nothing of it, well, they might think it was quaint or exotic I suppose with the chanting. Raiatea's voice is still so very beautiful and Keola's -- wow, I really liked it so rich and full. I wonder what else is on the CD. Maybe other stuff could redeem it in my eyes (or ears).
I don't dislike it. I am kind of ambivalent about it.
But if it brings Hawaiian music to people's attention, I'm all for it.
Is it Jon De Mello's thing to take classics and fancy them up? Like he did with the Iz stuff? |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2010 : 1:29:57 PM
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| Wait until you get the CD and see how it plays on your car stereo. That's the true test.;) |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2010 : 2:00:43 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by wcerto
Is it Jon De Mello's thing to take classics and fancy them up? Like he did with the Iz stuff?
Sometimes the classics need to be dressed up a little. Kinda like what you and Paul did for your anniversary dinner.
Seriously, I think the song itself called for some orchestration. I don't think it would have the same impact with the normal configuration of instruments such as guitar, steel, and bass. As for not enough mana.... if chant, ancient Hawaiian instruments, ha'i, and lyrics sung in Hawaiian don't get you there, I'm hard pressed to feel what may be lacking. I'm very anxious to hear the rest of the CD. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2010 : 2:07:19 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by wcerto
Is it Jon De Mello's thing to take classics and fancy them up? Like he did with the Iz stuff?
How much of it is De Mello's influence, and how much of it is Beamer's? Keola is notorious for gently pushing aside attempts to easily define and classify his music; just two examples would be the Classical music takes on "Ka Hikina O Ka Hau" or his work alongside R. Carlos Nakai on "Our Beloved Land."
e.t.a.) Looking at the listing Ed linked us to, I don't think Jon De Mello had anything to do with the project - Mountain Apple is just handling distribution. |
Edited by - Retro on 04/08/2010 6:28:32 PM |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2010 : 2:30:20 PM
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Keola & Rai, along with oboist Marsha Schweitzer & Moana, performed this at the last Aloha Music Camp. It was stunning and brought a number of people to tears..
They'd also performed it earlier in the year at a huge Lantern Floating event in Oahu--didn't hear that one.
One thing I have always admired about KB is that he is first and foremost a creative artist. He takes chances... like the Nakai thing, or his work with jazz pianist Geoffry Keezer, or his pop albums Maui Moon & Mohala Hou.
I don't always care for what he does--and I have told him so -- but I sure respect the fact that he follows his heart.
I don't think this is anything other than what it is: a couple of artists interpreting a classic pop song. Seems to me this sort of thing is pretty common, and not just in Hawaii.
I have a great recording of Caetano Veloso interpreting Billy Jean/All the Lonely People as a bossa... of all things.
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2010 : 2:41:32 PM
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Maybe it would strike me differently if I heard it live. There is always a lot more heart intor some other indefinable thing when you hear music live.
By the way, thanks Ed for the link to Mountain Apple. I don't know why I didn't think of that. (Yes I do know why I didn't think of that, 'cause i ain't got half a brain in my head, az y hahd.)
There's enough "old" style stuff that I would be willing to give it a chance. I might have to buy it just to see. I do enjoy both of their voices very much.
So here's what I am thinking. What if it was up for a Grammy next year. Does it count if they take songs from other languages and sing them in Hawaiian? I suspect that would probably qualify, no?
And Norman, the dressing up part....it's always Paul kicking and screaming. But we wended up not going out, I got a bit under the weather from my shot that day. He went there and got take out for me. Now ain't that sweet. Takeout from a fancy restaurant. Was ono, too. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2010 : 6:51:07 PM
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| Paul needs to give you a rain check then. Gotta be able to take in "the ambiance" of the place. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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sm80808
Lokahi
347 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2010 : 9:50:39 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by wcerto
Well, Norman. I do agree with you that it showcases many aspects of Hawaiian music, but it seems empty, no mana. . .
I agree Aunty. Despite all the elements, I think the orchestration is nice and full sounding, maybe a bit too much for me, but overall I just can't really get into it.
That is a good question that you raised regarding the Grammy's.
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2010 : 10:05:52 AM
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| Keola and Raiatea performed together at her "Birthday Party Concert" last summer. Their perfromances were outstanding and a real treat, live. I think their voices complement each other well and I have always loved Keola's ki ho'alu and Raiatea's Leo Ki'e Ki'e. Like any album, there will be songs some people like and others love. I look forward to listening to the entire album. |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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Johnkeanaaina
Aloha
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2010 : 1:27:24 PM
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| I listened to the song and it felt a bit empty, maybe because these two great artists have not yet formed a bond of singing the song mutualy together. Being individual artists in their own right may be hard to accept a neutral stance. These two artists are at the top of this Mauna of Hawaiian music and it seems to me that when you have this creative talent(which I will probably never ever reach) I don't think you need to settle for material that is a good marketing move by reaching the masses with a pop classic transposed to Hawaiian. Your resposibility to yourself and your fans, in my opinion would be to be creative with what you know best. I hope i'm not being too critical about my opinion because I do love them both. In my elementary years Kapono and Keola was my play pals in Kona we would always meet at the Hulihee palace grounds and did what all kids do, play, get in trouble and play again. Nona beamer, Lokalia and Timmy montgomery, Aunty Luahine, George Naope, my mom and dad would be making hula implements and practicing hula while we played. when I worked on Moloka'i building a cable Tv system I had several great kanikapila's with Zack helms when Raiatea was little. They were fun times. |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2010 : 2:52:26 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Johnkeanaaina
I don't think you need to settle for material that is a good marketing move by reaching the masses with a pop classic transposed to Hawaiian.
Aloha John, wonderful to have you participate in the discussion. Even if it were just a marketing ploy to attract the masses.....well I say do whatever you can to attract the hell out of them. Hawaiian music and wonderful artists such as yourself can only stand to gain from a wider audience. Once a newcomer takes a first nibble then they start looking for other juicy bits of Hawaiian Music to devour. A little crossover can be a good thing. No need to point out the obvious example of Iz's "Over The Rainbow". Anyway, It really is just one cut. I'm still anxious to hear the rest. I have enough faith in both Raiatea and Keola and don't think I'll be disappointed in the CD. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2010 : 3:59:06 PM
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What Norman said above about showcasiing many elements of Hawaiian music in this one song, such as chant, etc. really doesn't hold true for this example. Those implements, the chanting, the instruments are all used for very specific purposes for very specific reasons in Hawaiian music of old. I mean kahiko stuff. You wouldn't dare use `uli`uli when the kumu taught it to you with `ili`ili instead. You wouldn't wear ti leaf skirts for something like Andy Cummings "Waikiki". I don't know if i am saying what I want to say, but just showing off na mea Hawai`i in John Lennons song doesn't make it authentically Hawaiian. However, I am jumping the gun, because I have no idea how this album will be marketed or presented to the public.
I am sure other stuff on the CD will be more to my taste.
Everyone, thanks for sharing your mana`o. It is so very interesting to me to see how we all interpret the same thing a bit differently. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2010 : 4:43:48 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by wcerto
You wouldn't dare ...
Sorry, my dear Wanda, but these are the kinds of words that make me a bit twitchy when anyone says them in regards to any form of creative expression, such as music.
Classical music is one of those worlds (as we have often discussed here) where diverging from the composer's written work is frowned upon. "You wouldn't dare" play classical music in a slack key guitar style - yet the artist whose name is first in this thread did just that, with marvelous results.
"You wouldn't dare" take a song about Nanakuli and instead substitute the town of Waimanalo, would you - like, say, "Nanakuli Blues"?
"You wouldn't dare" take a beloved traditional kahiko chant about one of the most revered of Hawaiian monarchs and fancy it up into a popular song, would you - like, say, "Kawika"?
Let a creative artist do what a creative artist "dares" to do, even if it shocks your personal sensibilities. If you don't like the finished product, no one forces you to buy it or listen to it, and it in no way diminishes an already-existing / more traditional sound.
Someone else might really enjoy the iconoclastic results, however, and "you wouldn't dare" to prevent that from happening, would you now?
"You wouldn't dare" is the kind of phrase that kills creativity. |
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rendesvous1840
Ha`aha`a
USA
1055 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2010 : 8:59:29 PM
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I'm not in complete agreement as to the value of "crossover". Do we really want to return to the 1920's, when "Hawaiian" music was one of the the most popular music styles in the world? When the big hits were written in New York, by people who had never left the East Coast? And the big hits were songs like "Wicka Wacka Woo"? And jazz pushed Hawaiian music and musicians out of the clubs, so they couldn't get a gig? Crossover scares me. I don't like any of it. Haoleization has done enough damage. It's time to stop the madness.
Unko Paul |
"A master banjo player isn't the person who can pick the most notes.It's the person who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello |
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Keola Beamer & Raiatea
