Feature Column
Exclusive to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame
Column #44 - published April 6, 2001
WHAAAAAAT, NO ROCKABILLY!!!?????!
Indeed, this Column is gonna take a novel approach.
How so??
Almost all my Columns cover something related to Rock'n'Roll/Rockabilly/The 1950s/Western Wear/American Culture, etc.
This one will talk about ... get ready ... Japanese Music, Greek Music, Italian Music, African Music, Chinese music ... gasp!!
Here's the lowdown: all too often I read posts on the various rockabilly mailing lists on the Internet, where some cats mention how they used to be into punk-rock, Heavy Metal, hip hop, etc., etc. Many still like some of the various Hippie/1960s/1970s derived genres.
I generally intensely dislike all that stuff. Several times I got reprimanded on the Rockabilly Lists for not being more "open minded". Well, I do think I am probably more open minded than most of those critics, except that my "open-mindedness" takes me to soulful types of musics from around the world, and NOT to sexless boring Hippie/Punk type monotone singing with no swingin' beat!
'Nuff chatter, here are some examples of music from around the world which might get your attention:
CHINESE:
Jin Tiang Bu Hui Jia: strong catchy 1950s type melody, sexy female singer.
Chuy Ming: powerful he-man singing, almost Elvisy.
Gu Niang: very feminine typical Chinese melody.
JAPANESE:
Enka- Mori Shinichi- U no Machi No Onna: wow this guy is intense, really hyped, almost a crackpot!! I can dig it!! Mori is a wild-one!
Fuji Keiko- Shinjukuno Onna: warm 1950s type saxophone, emotion-laden woman singer. Try her other stuff as well.
Fuji Keiko
Ishihara Yujiro: try various.
Watanabe Hamako- Shina No Yoru: the classic 1950s hit, "China Golden Moon".
Akira Kobayashi- Atsuki Kokoro Ni: a haunting melanchonic 1950s-style vocal, which is somewhat ruined by the overly slick arrangement.
GREEK:
Teodor Munteanu-Opa, Opa, Ta Buzuki: typical acoustic fare, has a good feel.
Tournas- O Tragoudistis: a somewhat 1950s influenced piece.
CUBAN:
Gypsy Kings: ANYTHING!!!!!
Gypsy Kings
PERUVIAN:
Inkari-Mi Raza: very haunting, very addictive, can't stop listening to it!
Viento De Los Andes- Volume 1- Suenos: typical flute fare, melanchonic stuff!
Viento De Los Andes- Volume 1- Pobre Recuerdo: very catchy ditty!
VENEZUELAN:
Kaoma-Lambada: this huge hit, which was written over 100 years ago, still stands out with its unique melody/rhythm/arrangement. A perfect listening experience!
AFRICAN:
Ladysmith Black Mambazo- Shaka Zulu: from the TV show, strong stuff!
FRENCH:
Edith Piaf cannot be beaten!
Edith Piaf
ITALIAN:
Fred Buscaglione: listen to anything by this guy with the gravelly voice who sings about American gangsters and whisky and wild women and Chicago and Kim Novak and Al Capone. Unique!!!
Adriano Celentano- Il Ribelle: The Rebel digs Rock'n'Roll and Jazz!!
Adriano Celentano
Adriano Celentano- Blue Jeans E Rock'n'Roll: the definitive song for us!! A hymn glorifying Blue Jeans and Rock'n'Roll from the late 1950s!
Bobby Solo: idolizes Elvis, listen to "Una Lacrima Sul Viso", and you'll understand why!
Tony Dallara: plenty of hiccups and belting out from Dallara. Try "Come Prima", "Ti Diro", "Sapore Di Sale", "Julia" and "My Tennessee", where this paesano sings on how much he misses his home in Tennessee!!! For pro-Americam patriotism, it's hard to top the Italians!!
"Tu Vuo Far L'Americano": try it by Adriano Celentano or Fred Buscaglione or Ray Gelato. No matter who you try it by, the message is the same: ".....you wanna be an Americano, but you were born in Italy...!!"
Once more, for pro-American patriotism, it's hard to top those Italians!!
So here we are, full circle, back to ROCK'N'ROLL!!!!!!!!
Always Rollin' The Rollin' Rock,
Rockin' Ronny Weiser
The Rockabilly Rebel Westerner From Las Vegas, The Wild Wild West!
E-Mail Ronny at Rollin' Rock
THE ARCHIVES OF
RONNY'S ROCKABILLY HALL OF FAME COLUMNS
© 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
Col. #43 for 03/01 - VIVA LAS VEGAS 2001
Col. #42 for 02/01 - ELVIS: Never Forgotten
Col. #41 for 01/01 - MACK STEVENS + HIGH PLAINS DRIFTERS + POISON OKIES
Col. #40 for 12/00 - WHATEVER HAPPENED TO COUNTRY MUSIC?
Col. #39 for 11/00 - KATS LIKE US
Col. #38 for 10/00 - JERRY LEE LEWIS IS 65<
Col. #37 for 09/00 - THE STARLIGHT DRIFTERS
Col. #36 for 08/00 - ALVIS WAYNE AT ROLLIN' ROCK
Col. #35 for 07/00 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA 2000
Col. #34 for 06/00 - THE CHOP TOPS AT ROLLIN' ROCK!!
Col. #33 for 05/00 - VIVA LAS VEGAS 2000 PIX!
Col. #32 for 04/00 - DRAGSTRIP77: TEARIN' IT UP!
Col. #30 & #31 for 02/00 & 03/00 - VIVA LAS VEGAS 2000!
Col. #29 for 01/00 - ROCKIN' 2000!
Col. #28 for 12/99 - JOHNNY AND THE BLADES AT ROLLIN' ROCK!
Col. #27 for 11/99 - AN UPDATED IMPROVED SOUND?
Col. #26 for 10/99 - TIME TO RECLAIM "THE ROCK"
Col. #26 for 10/99 - TIME TO RECLAIM "THE ROCK"
Col. #25 for 9/99 - YOUNG ROCK AT ROLLIN' ROCK
Col. #24 for 8/99 - COMETS RECORD AT ROLLIN' ROCK
Col. #23 for 7/99 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!
Col. #22 for 6/99 - FINLAND IS A ROCKABILLY LAND!
Col. #21 for 5/99 - THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
Col. #20 for 4/99 - ROCKABILLY REBEL: A SHORT HISTORY
Col. #19 for 3/99 - PINBALL MILLIONAIRE
Col. #18 for 1/99 & 2/99 - VIVA LAS VEGAS 1999
Col. #17 - 12/98 - INTERNATIONAL ROCKABILLY REBELS MEET & GREET
Col. #16 - 11/98 - GROOVEY JOE POOVEY: Reminiscing
Col. #15 - 10/98 - CHARLIE FEATHERS
Col. #14 - 9/98 - NARVEL FELTS AT ROLLIN' ROCK!
Col. #13 - 8/98 - IT'S WESTERN WEAR!
Col. #12 - 7/98 - THE JORDANAIRES
Col. #11 - 6/98 - ROCKABILLY HOF - 15,000 HITS!!
Col. #10 - 5/98 - MAC STEVENS RECORDS AT ROLLIN' ROCK
Col. # 9 - 4/98 - VIVA LAS VEGAS
Col. # 8 - 3/98 - KAY WHEELER
Col. # 7 - 2/98 - 10 ROLLIN' ROCK CDs
Col. # 6 - 1/98 - SAM COOKE
Col. # 5 - 12/97 - LAS VEGAS IS A 1950's TOWN
Col. # 4 - 11/97 - GOD BLESS TEXAS
Col. # 3 - 10/97 - FATS DOMINO
Col. # 2 - 9/97 - RAB DISCUSSION GROUP
Col. # 1 - 8/97 - 25 YEARS OF ROLLIN' ROCK RECORDS
