two three four ONE, two three four ONE
One of my favorite musicians is Fela Kuti from Nigeria.
I used to play guitar in an Afropop band that did a lot of Fela Kuti songs. The bandleader explained that what we know as the “one” — the downbeat, the start of a phrase — is considered the end of a phrase in West African music. Instead of “ONE two three four, ONE two three four,” it’s “two three four ONE, two three four ONE.” Instead of “How you get to town?” it’s “You get to town, how?”
Most musicians first record songs in the studio, then go perform them in concert. Fela Kuti did the opposite. He performed only new unrecorded songs in concert. Then once he recorded them in the studio, he’d never perform them again. I couldn’t help but notice the similarity. It’s as if to him, the recording was the end of the life of a song, instead of the beginning. It makes just as much sense if you think about it that way.
Which of course makes me wonder about all the other beginnings and endings and things we just take for granted as fact, but make just as much sense as their opposites.
yes.........jazz !
I think this has significance far beyond just the layout of a song or a beat. For instance, all of those programs that allow a musician to collect money from their fans ahead of the recording process flips the whole music production timeline into a 2-3-4-1 format.
More importantly, it changes the entire concept of selling music from industry push to market pull. When a product is selling in pull mode, everything is different. And in a time of experimentation, as the music industry is in now, pull needs to be used more often.
Actually, I guess it would be a 4-1-2-3 format since the paying comes first, but you get the idea. ;)
"Sorrow, Tears and Blood" is what comes to mind...the drums come in and flip the guitar part around to fit.
Hey Derek: Thanks for another cool post. I had never heard of Fela Kuti before I read your entry, so naturally I Googled his name, read his Wikipedia bio, then watched some YouTube footage. I'm really digging it. I love Jazz Fusion, and his style is great - I can see why his music is so influential all over the world. Thanks again.
Makes you wonder... what we take for granted ... make just as much sense in their opposite.
Sure, like we westerners believe in the unities, and a binary of comedy or tragedy. Then if you consume Japanese comics or anime, you find both in one, and cartoons that are serious, and for adults, and cartoons that have to be shown in order, not like American TV used to be. (up until Babylon-5)
It was a man with an Asian name (Joss means luck) who started doing things Japanese style with his Buffy show. Everyone went "wow," but I have lately wondered if he was an anime fan. (At Japanese pop conventions I am among the very few over age 30)
In terms of written prose, the former colonies in Latin America have outdone Iberia. Magic realism is a new world thing.
As artists, we don't have to believe in American "exceptionalism" (or, to call it by another name, "arrogance," especially in regards to ignoring how the rest of the developed world does affordable health care) Instead, as artists, we have the options of looking south and east and west and everywhere for our art inspiration.
As for stage acts, last I heard if you go north to Canada (my home) the French Canadian modern dancers back east were incorporating TV cameras into their stage dancing. (I have seen it, and it works)
Truly, I wonder how what would happen if you and I took Derek's advice, and no longer took "how it's done" for granted.
Interesting. I had to look up Fela Kuti's music. I was wondering, "couldn't they just count one-two-three-FOUR?"... it doesn't work. It doesn't feel right. Very interesting.
Or like the weeks in a calendar. Is Sunday the end of the week or the beginning of it?
This is the same with stand up comedy!
You only perform with the non records jokes, then you film a special and stops preformed with those jokes
Oooh! Good comparison! Thank you. — Derek
In my perspective, the beginning of new work is 0. When someone makes mind to do it, nothing happens yet, so it is 0.
I’ve been struggling with my photography recently. We’re always told to show our work, but what if capturing the frame—one small slice of time—was the end of the process? The thought of that feels incredibly liberating.
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I am reading your book now at the book shop.
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I am having good Friday evening here.
Hichan.