As you leave the cities behind, the music scene becomes decidedly more and more local. I mean, they listen to salsa and vallenato and cumbia in Colombian cities, but at least they are also aware of other music. They probably know who Lady Gaga or the Beatles are. But in the villages of the back-country, the musical tastes are as narrow as their gyrating waists.
And the themes of said music are even narrower. Some of the songs we've heard repeatedly on busses, in homes, or in bars have titles (or refrains, can't tell which) such as Baila, baila, baila ! or Feliiiiz, feliiiiiz, feliiiiiz. Everything you hear is upbeat, about love or dancing or, even, the love of dancing. And they play to it the eleven, 24 hours a day.
And so I wonder if there are any songs made or listened to here that are sad or depressing. Are there any that are angry or absurd or funny ?
I'm pretty sure Everybody Hurts by REM would be a major commercial and critical failure here...unless they change the beat and called it Everybody Hurts, So Let's Go Dancing ! If the Colombian counterpart of Thom Yorke sang the song Exit Music, he most certainly would not "hope that you choke." That is, unless 'the Choke' is the newest dance craze sweeping discotheques from Cali to Barranquilla. Perhaps a cross between Merengue and the Hustle.
Even the Beatles, who may have been applauded for the themes in their songs I Want To Hold Your Hand and I'm Happy Just To Dance With You, would have been met with raised eyebrows when Norwegian Wood was released and absolute horror at the first listening of Eleanor Rigby....bu' bu' but, she's lonely...she's not even dancing ! I'm guessing these Colombians stopped listening before ever getting to I Am The Walrus.
I'm sure that if I dig, that one day I'll find some great Colombian songs with something of a raaaange of emotions. And like Elton John said, ironically without a tear of sadness or sigh of melancholy, "sad songs, they say so much." So turn them on, Colombia.
 |
| Pretty sure this isn't the song I'm hearing on the radio... but apparently every Latin singer has sung a song called Baila Baila at one point or another |
And the themes of said music are even narrower. Some of the songs we've heard repeatedly on busses, in homes, or in bars have titles (or refrains, can't tell which) such as Baila, baila, baila ! or Feliiiiz, feliiiiiz, feliiiiiz. Everything you hear is upbeat, about love or dancing or, even, the love of dancing. And they play to it the eleven, 24 hours a day.
And so I wonder if there are any songs made or listened to here that are sad or depressing. Are there any that are angry or absurd or funny ?
I'm pretty sure Everybody Hurts by REM would be a major commercial and critical failure here...unless they change the beat and called it Everybody Hurts, So Let's Go Dancing ! If the Colombian counterpart of Thom Yorke sang the song Exit Music, he most certainly would not "hope that you choke." That is, unless 'the Choke' is the newest dance craze sweeping discotheques from Cali to Barranquilla. Perhaps a cross between Merengue and the Hustle. 
Even the Beatles, who may have been applauded for the themes in their songs I Want To Hold Your Hand and I'm Happy Just To Dance With You, would have been met with raised eyebrows when Norwegian Wood was released and absolute horror at the first listening of Eleanor Rigby....bu' bu' but, she's lonely...she's not even dancing ! I'm guessing these Colombians stopped listening before ever getting to I Am The Walrus.
I'm sure that if I dig, that one day I'll find some great Colombian songs with something of a raaaange of emotions. And like Elton John said, ironically without a tear of sadness or sigh of melancholy, "sad songs, they say so much." So turn them on, Colombia.
No comments:
Post a Comment