Comments on: Laurel and Hardy Meet Santana

By: Morris Keesan

Morris Keesan — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:35:36 +0000

Tuva or Bust is an interesting book. The trip to Tanu Tuva was inspired not only by their odd-shaped stamps, but also by Nobel-prize-winning physicist Richard Feynmann. For an alternate approach to Tuvan throat singing, see Genghis Blues, the 1999 documentary about blind American blues singer Paul Pena, who taught himself throat singing after hearing some on the radio, and traveled to Tuva to participate in one of their competitions; also his 2000 CD of the same name.

By: Lola

Lola — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:26:05 +0000

I first heard of the Tuvan throat singers about 20 years ago I guess. NPR was interviewing a guy who I think wrote a book called “Tuva or Bust” or something like that. IIRC he was a stamp collector as a child and someone had given him a Tuvan stamp and he wanted to visit there. It’s somewhere remote in Asia I think and he had difficulties getting there because it was communist controlled and we didn’t have very good relations with them at the time. I’ve since actually heard them several of times. Sometimes they will show up incognito in background music. I heard that the singers die early, that the vibrations cause blood vessel damage.

By: Morris Keesan

Morris Keesan — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:56:02 +0000

Nicole (#10), yes, that’s Albert Kuvezin and Yat-Kha, and that’s the recording I was thinking of.

And chuckers #12, if I hadn’t recently come across that Albert Kuvezin recording, and before this discussion, I would have known vaguely who Santana was, and would have probably thought “weren’t they the group that did the soundtrack music for that film about Ritchie Valens?”

By: Nicole

Nicole — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:52:51 +0000

Kamino Neko @9
“Once Santana has passed out of the general public conciousness, it won’t be AGE that determines people remembering him, it’s interest in music.”

Of course both are true … people who have an interest in music will know who he is and his talent. Then there are people af a certain age that remember Santana from early in his career.

By: chuckers

chuckers — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:08:04 +0000

And there are those of use who recognise the name “Santana” but can’t name a single thing he has done.

By: Cidu Bill

Cidu Bill — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:53:47 +0000

I think a lot of people for whom the name “Santana” means nothing are familiar with Oye Como Va.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:48:59 +0000

Let’s see a show of hands … how many people beside Morris Keesan and myself know what tuvan throat singing is ?

I don’t know if this is who Morris is referring to … but it is Black Magic Woman” done in Tuvan throat-singing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6DP1aFeHbs&feature=PlayList&p=7E9FDFEE13A16AD7&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=31

By: Kamino Neko

Kamino Neko — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:46:42 +0000

My point is arcane is different than geezer.

Once Santana has passed out of the general public conciousness, it won’t be AGE that determines people remembering him, it’s interest in music.

Shortpacked is an example of a comic that trades in arcane humour a lot - but nothing even vaguely geezery. This is quite the same situation.

By: mitch4

mitch4 — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:44:20 +0000

Mexican general? Nah, he was the Harvard philosopher who told us what happens to those who forget the events of history.

By: Morris Keesan

Morris Keesan — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:39:10 +0000

Santana? wasn’t he the Mexican general who won the battle of the Alamo?

(And for a really chilling rendition of “Black Magic Woman”, listen to Tuvan throat-singer Albert Kuvezin, on the album Re-Covers).