Batucada!!!! <3

[amphigori]

Went to the Sevens parade yesterday. First time I've seen that - and it ruled! The boys from Kenya were *SO* chuffed to be here. Huge smiles and lots of audience participation. The boys from Niue were adorably sweet and shy. The Samoans were tossing mini rugby balls and candy bars up to construction workers two stories up. The Americans looked white, skinny and scared. Heh!

What drew me to the parade was hearing this *amazing* rhythm. I heard it at work and it drew me outside and down to Lambton Quay, whereby I ran along the parade route until I found the source. Man, that *crazy* beat just rocked my world. I followed it as long as I could, then went back to work. Had no idea who they were or what that kind of music was, despite my Googling.

Bless Stuff for their coverage of the parade. I know now the band is Wellington Batucada is, and I now know what batucada is. So I contacted them post-haste, and I'm signed up for lessons in mid-May when they start teaching again. In the meantime, I'm counting down the days 'til I can see them again at the Cuba St Carnival.

I'm such a percussion junkie. Everything from African drums to Taiko drums to Highland Drumming. But batucada? Maaaaaaaan. This really gets me going. Pushes all my buttons. So I've been goggling batucada like crazy. This is a good example of classic batucada. Love how it gets all slinky at 5:54 min into it :

Then I found this video by an Auckland outfit called Batucada Sound Machine. It's not a great example of batucada, but the influence is particularly obvious at 2:49 min into the video. Che Fu features on vocals. Extra points for it being about voodoo:

Heh...man if *anyone* cares about this post I'm gonna be real surprised. Mmmmm rhythm. I find batucada as melodic and rich as any other type of music. But it sure taps something visceral inside of me. Rowr!

Comments

[jexia]

Ha, I totally watched that whole video with a big grin on my face before I scrolled down to "if *anyone* cares about this post"! I'd love to be in a percussion group.

[amphigori.livejournal.com]

Aw yay! <3

I guess that's fair play for me watching (and loving) your Tuba videos!

Here's a really great video that shows the 'call and response' aspect of batucada. You can see the leader giving all kinds of clues to the rest of the group as to what they should do next:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGFyTO9Wudw&feature=related

Oh, and super belated congrats. Counting down the weeks 'til 2nd trimester for ya. So happy for you and M, and so chuffed at how sweet X is being. It's even making *me* broody!

[jexia]

Thanks! It didn't ease until 22 weeks last time :o/

[amphigori.livejournal.com]

Well then! Bring on 22 weeks!

[mike-grizzleby.livejournal.com]

Yeah man! Batucada Sound Machine played the Cuba Carnival last year; it was freakin' awesome live.

[amphigori.livejournal.com]

Awesome!!! I wish they were playing this year!

[drcuriosity]

When I had an acquaintance from Wellington visiting me back in December, we just happened to meet up in Cathedral Square when they were starting a Taiko performance:

From Chch - Reference photography, taiko drums

[amphigori.livejournal.com]

How lucky for you guys! Taiko drumming is so awesome!

[sproke-ina-can.livejournal.com]

Lol, Are you taking lessons to be a drummer, or are you going to be a crazy dancing girl *grins*

[amphigori.livejournal.com]

I'm going to be a crazy dancing girl *with* a drum!!

You shoulda seen those guys strutting down the street. The dancers were cool - such pretty costumes too. But the musicians had this awesome attitude. Full of fire and spirit. So awesome.

[dianavilliers.livejournal.com]

You forget the dancers on your friend's list. I was doing Latin dance before the Middle Eastern stuff, and the rhythms are still more natural to me. I find myself doing bellydance moves to Latin music now.:|
Wellington Batucada sometimes do public workshops - I went to one once. You should look out for one.
ETA - you already have contacted them - reading comprehension fail.

[amphigori.livejournal.com]

*Grins*

Too true! I love Middle Eastern music, but Latin stuff is just electric.

And yep, I have. Right now is when they're at their busiest so they don't have any workshops. I've been invited to poke my head in at a practice this Sunday, which I may do if I'm brave.

[dianavilliers.livejournal.com]

Be Brave! :)

[sarahdotcom.livejournal.com]

Yup, I've heard them live before (at the Jambalaya festival) and they're awesome.

[starlajo.livejournal.com]

I had the same reaction after the Cuba St carnival parade in 2007. I did the workshop in winter '07 and enjoyed it a lot.

[fringekitty.livejournal.com]

The hubby and I enjoyed this with our morning coffee. What a great way to wake up! We're a couple of drumming geeks ourselves. We host a big drumming circle at least once a year and drum with our friends whenever we get a chance.

[sokky.livejournal.com]

Wheee! It made me shake my tailfeathers all around the room!

Now I'm puffed.

[rivet.livejournal.com]

batcuda are foot-tapping, bootie-shakingly AWESOME!