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Lecture 1 Voodoo Children

Lecture 1 Voodoo Children. Vesa Matteo Piludu Helsinki. Department of Comparative Religion and Institute for Art Research University of Helsinki. Influence of Afro-American religions on popular music.

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Lecture 1 Voodoo Children

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  1. Lecture 1Voodoo Children Vesa Matteo Piludu Helsinki Department of Comparative Religion and Institute for Art Research University of Helsinki

  2. Influence of Afro-American religions on popular music • This lectures tells about the relationship between Afro-American religions and popular music • The Afro-American religions has a significant influence on popular music • 1. The influence could be musical • In popular music could be used same instruments, rhythms, time-lines in a different contest: profane, not sacred • 2. The influence could be at the level of the lyrics: the songs have words that mention directly or indirectly Afro-American religions’ features • 3. The influence could be both musical and lyrical

  3. Similarities between Afro-American religious and popular music • Rhythms, dance, collectivity • Antiphonal choruses: solo question and chorus answer • Vocal – instrumental dialogue • Relevant use of time-lines: short rhythmic patterns • Importance of the song and lyrics: songs should tell something relevant about life, should have soul, content mystery and passion. Bad lyrics aren’t considered. • The music is not only entertainment, it’s a lifestyle, a philosophy. • Mystic role of the singer similar to the preacher’s one • Relation to music that is quite similar to trance state • Respect revered to the great musicians similar to an “ancestor cult “

  4. Santana: Black Magic Woman, 1970 Album: Abraxas, Author: Peter Green • Got a black magic womanGot a black magicwomanI’ve got a black magic woman Got me so blind I cant seeThat she’s a black magic womanShe’s trying to make a devil out of meDon’t turn your back on me babyDon’t turn your back on me babyYes don’t turn your back on me baby Stop messing round with your tricks Don’t turn your back on me babyYou just might pick up my magic sticks • Got your spell on me babyGot your spell on me baby Yes you got your spell on me babyTurning my heart into stone I need you so bad, magic womanI can’t leave you alone • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WCc025HH0E&feature=related

  5. Black Magic Woman • The black magic woman has the features of a dark lady (fascinating, but dangerous, as an expert of hoodoo love spells) • Dark ladies are frequent in American popular culture, they aren’t necessarily Afro

  6. Dark ladies sells incredibly well(from Hollywood to gothic rock)

  7. Joe Cocker: Civilized ManSongwriters: Alter, Louis / Delange, Eddie • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEFA31Gt8T8&feature=related • You made me need youNeed you so badWould you believeAnd never so mad, oh yeahDouble cross me once, and never cross me againNow you're running 'round looking for some sympathyWell you know as well as I that we're history You're lucky, I'm a civilized manYou're lucky, I'm a civilized manOh yeah, a civilized man • A poison arrow, right from the startRight down to zero, you went for my heartOh yeahYou've been hoodoo, voodooStart the fire again • Now you ask me to forget all you've brought me toWhen you know as well as I you've got it coming to youYou're lucky, I'm a civilized manYou're lucky, I'm a civilized manOh yeah, a civilized man

  8. Both songs refers to hoodoo love spells In the photos: symbols of Erzulie - Ezilí Dantó - Ezili Freda, goddess of love in vodoun pantheon

  9. Almamegretta (Italy): Black Athena • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mctUU9_Ck00&playnext_from=PL&feature=PlayList&p=544561EB07C8678B&playnext=1&index=29 • Original man you got to understand we were all Africans • yes the knowledge of myself makes me a better self • so pick that dusty book up off the shelf and read the truth • read the truth • science was created in Timbuktu • center of the world is Africa • the rhythm of the drum comes from Africa • Look back look back • Athena was black • Athena was black • If you look back realize visualize open your eyes truth and lies we will despise oppressed must rise

  10. Jimi Hendrix, Album: Electric Ladyland (1968)Voodoo Child (Slight Return). Part 1 1. Well, I stand up next to a mountain And I chop it down with the edge of my hand YeahWell, I stand up next to a mountain And I chop it down with the edge of my hand Well, I pick up all the pieces and make an islandMight even raise a little sand Yeah, 'Cause I'm a voodoo child 2. Lord knows I'm a voodoo child BabyI want to say one more last thingI didn't mean to take up all your sweet time I'll give it right back to ya one of these days Ha ha haI said I didn't mean to take up all your sweet time I'll give it right back one of these days Oh yeah

  11. Jimi Hendrix, Album: Electric Ladyland (1968)Voodoo Child (Slight Return). Part 2 • 3. • If I don't meet you no more in this world then uh I'll meet ya on the next one And don't be late Don't be late 'Cause i'm a voodoo child voodoo child Lord knows I'm a voodoo childHey hey heyI'm a voodoo child baby I don't take no for an answerQuestion no Yeah • Hendrix refers to the song as the Black Panthers' national anthem • Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Chile Atlanta • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7yPRYL_Oq0&feature=related

  12. Analogies in Voodoo Child • Voodoist • Afro-American • Expert of religious trance • Uses hypnotic music • Said to be able to control the forces of nature with his or the divinities’ powers • Black Power • Afro-American • Movement in ascension (at the time) • Related to Afro-American music • Radical: • I don't take no for an answer • If I don't meet you no more in this world then uh • I'll meet ya on the next one • Rocker (Jimi Hendrix) • Afro-American • In musical trance • Uses hypnotic music • His music have relationship with Afro-American religions • Had power of influence on the masses via music • Politically radical

  13. Angelique Kidjo,Voodoo ChildLP: Oremi. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9ACprQXFwI • In the video it is possible to see classical Benin sculptures on the background

  14. The origins West Africa, Benin, Nigeria, Congo

  15. The slave ship Brooks of Liverpool, 1791

  16. Sade: Slave Song, part 1LP: Lovers Rock • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym5zjRRTqU0 • I see them gathered, see them on the shore I turned to look once moreAnd he who knows me notTakes me to the belly of darknessThe tears run swift and hardAnd when they fallEven, even the comfort of a stoneWould be a gainThere was a time when I thoughtI would have to give upBut I'm thankful that I'm Strong as I am and I'll Try to do the best I can • 1 - Tears will run swiftAnd tears will come that fall like rainI pray that it's swift thoughTears will fall as cold as painI pray to the almighty Let me not to him doAs he has unto meTeach my beloved childrenWho have been enslavedTo reach for the light continually • So many times I prayedSo many times I've prayed for youPrayed for you

  17. Sade: Slave Song, part 2LP: Lovers Rock • The tears run swift and hard and cold as painEven, even the comfort of a stone would be a gainHad I not had the strength and wisdom of a warriorI would have to give upBut I'm thankful that I'm Strong as I am and I'll Try to do the best I canRepeat 1I pray to the almightyLet us not do as he has unto usTeach my beloved children I've been a slaveBut reach for the light continually • Wisdom is the flameWisdom is the brave warriorWho will carry us into the sunI pray that it's swift though Tears will come that fall like rainSo many times, so many times

  18. Cidade negra (Brazil): Mucama (as the new slave)LP: Sobre todas as forcas. • Mucama • Na cama do patrao • Me chama do negao • Me paga • Salário di bufao • Mas come • Como a populacao nao come • Servant • In the Lord’s bed • He call me ”big nigger” • He pay me • A ridiculous salary • But he eats • What the people doesn’t

  19. Slave trade

  20. Brazil: candomblé, tambor de minas, macumba, umbanda, others Haiti: vodou, others Cuba: santeria, others Usa: hoodoo, others Afro-American Religions

  21. Haitian vodou

  22. Superficial syncretism • In Latin America the African divinities were ”fused” or identified with Catholic saints … • But the syncretism was quite superficial … as the logic of the possession ritual is deeply African • Syncretism was a useful strategy for the survival of the African beliefs

  23. African and Afro-American possession religion • The finality of the rituals is the possession itself, the descent of the divinities and their embodiment … in the “heads” of the possessed • The possessed dances in trance, acquiring the voice dance steps and behaviours of the spirit. The beliver has the dress and the symbols of the divinities • the trance is extremely ritualized • The divinities enjoy to dance, the offers, the sacrifices, the ritual itself • The possessed enjoy the bodily communion with the divinity

  24. Haitian vodou: please, forget zombies

  25. "I Walked With A Zombie"1943 • Trailer full of Hollywood stereotypes • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT_JnFXC6UA • R.e.M. I walked with a zombie • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIptH1awUNI&NR=1 • I walk with a zombie • I walk with a zombie • I walk with a zombie last night

  26. Haitian vodou:please, forget black magic’s puppets

  27. Haitian vodou is much more connected with healing • A vodou priest treats an ill woman with mud from the sacred pool in Plaine du Nord • 300 kilometres north of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, during the annual festival honouring the spirit Ogou

  28. Haitian ritual song • Leaf Oh, save my life I’m in misery My child is sick, I run to the healer-priest If he’s a good priest, he’ll save my life I live in poverty, Oh

  29. Haitian mambo priestess

  30. Lakou Souvenance with rada drums

  31. Danças Brasileiras - Candomblé • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dlSVHZtQ_A&feature=related

  32. Danças BrasileirasTambor de Mina • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q23VwCvedmQ&feature=related

  33. Milton Nascimento, Os Tambores De MinasLP: Nascimento (Grammy winner for world music) • Era um, era dois, era cemMil tambores e as vozes do alémMorro velho, senzala, casa cheia Repinica, rebate, revolteia E trovão no céu é candeiaEra bumbo, era surdo e era caixaMeia-volta e mais volta e meiaPocotó, trem de ferro e uma luzProcissão, chão de flores e Jesus Bate forte até sangrar a mãoE batendo pelos que se foramOs batendo pelos que voltaramOs tambores de Minas soarãoSeus tambores nunca se calaram • There was one, two, a hundred, a thousand drum and the voices from beyond Old hill, senzala, full house The sound rebounds, bounces and bounds Thunder in the sky is a candle It was bumbo, surdo and caixa Half-round and one and half Horse track, iron train and a light Procession, soil of flowers and Jesus Hit strong until the hand bleeds Hit for the departed ones Hit for the ones returned The drums of Minas will play The drums that never were in silence

  34. Milton Nascimento, Os Tambores De MinasLP: Nascimento (...)E o futuro nas mãos do meninoBatucando por fé e destino (...) • And the future in the child’s hands Drumming for faith and destiny • Free translation: Vesa Matteo Piludu • Senzala: slave’s houses • Bumbo, caixa, surdo = drums

  35. Angelique Kidjo: Shango • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_VjmiPDZmU&feature=channel

  36. Lord of the thunders and fires King of Oyó, royalty Brave, dominator Masculine, virile Half-human and half orixá Color: white and red Symbols: oxé, double battle-axe Xangô

  37. Cd Festa da Musica do Gantois 2 track 5 Rhythm: barra vento The dance represent royal appearance, the assignation of judgments, thunders Fire dance Kawô kabiesileh! Xangô

  38. Xangó, Brazil

  39. Xango, Brazil

  40. Xango, Benin, Africa

  41. Xango, Benin

  42. Xango, Brazil

  43. Xango

  44. Xango, Brazil

  45. Xango, Benin, Africa

  46. Xango, Benin, Africa

  47. Vinicius de Moraes – Baden Powell:Canto de Ossanha • Amigo sinhôSaraváXangô me mandou lhe dizer Se é canto de OssanhaNão vá!Que muito vai se arrepender Pergunte pr'o seu OrixáO amor só é bom se doer • Friend, old boy • Saravá • Xango send me to say to you • If it is Song of Ossanha • Don’t go! • You will regret it! • Ask to your orixá • The love is good only • if it hurts! • Xango, opposed to the herbalist Ossanha, is here represented as a protector of passionate and brave love, including risks of pain and sorrow

  48. Xangô: justice and wifes • As other gods of thunder, Xango is connected to justice and he is a punisher of thieves and evil-doers • In Africa house stroked by lighting is considered marked by the rave of Xangô • Xangô has 3 wifes: Oia-Iansã (storm), Oxum (river) and Obá (a she-warrior, also connected to a river) • There is a strong rivality between Oxum and Obá

  49. Santana: Jingo • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc4vZHf5iSQ

  50. Galn Costa and Milton Nascimento: Voz do Tambor (Fonseca/Bastos)LP: Aquele frevo axé • Fala por nós a voz do tambor • Voz que trae o meu amor • As cahoeiras • Céu onde está Olorum • Toda a beleza • Agradecer a Oxum • Luz das estrelas • Agradecer a Xango • O bem da vida • O bem da vida vem no bater do tambor • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaNba-3Wy8Y • The voice of the drums speaks for us • The voice that takes my love • The rapids • Sky where Olorum lives • All the beauty • Will please Oxum • Starlight • Will please Xango • The joy of life • Come from drumming • Olorum: God of skies • Xango: god of thunder • Oxum: goddess of • Free translation: Vesa Matteo Piludu

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