9/11:Hi-NRG Style
I thought this was interesting, an Ecuadorean named Delfin Quishpe, labelled a “superstar” on Youtube. Here he performs an electronic lament for 9/11. Anyone want to give me the lyrics in English? Also, I suppose a more natural question is, what the hell is this guy thinking? Is there a more vivid example of the potency of cultural globalisation than an Ecuadorean singing about America’s most famous tragedy over a hi-nrg backing track?
What I don’t get is that for a track which seems to be trying to say that 9/11 was a sad, deplorable event, the music actually sounds euphorically happy. This also may be the campest disaster record of all time. Perhaps this is just another culture’s way of dealing with tragedy. However I also can’t help but feel that this guy, with all his over elaborate and overacted sympathies for the USA, is just gunning for some kind of mass acceptance. (or was just gunning, no idea when this was released)
Perhaps he has far-fetched dreams of America embracing him as one of their own, of his record striking a chord across the USA, of Americans being delighted with the poignant way he captures their plight in his wonderful jaunty track. It all seems kind of desperate really, and forced.
It’s also interesting to see how even American tragedy is exported to other countries like a desirable commodity. It’s like some lunatic globalisation of grief or actual events. I mean seriously, you’d think Ecuador would have plenty of home-made tragedies to sing about. Of course anyone has the right to sing about whatever they like (I hope), but is Quishpe actually sympathetic to America, or does he just wish he was part of it? Perhaps he’s trying to leach onto America when they’re at their lowest ebb. And of course, it would be wrong of me not to mention his lovely waistcoat.
Cahony wrote:
Haha, that’s some quality stuff. I think Shackleton covered this ground with a little more aplomb
The more serious points you make regarding this video I agree with. It’s becoming more and more the case that nobody wants to pass up a bit of the old mass recreational grieving these days.
I hadn’t thought about the export or globalisation of this sort of phenomenon really before though, it’s interesting.
Posted 11 Apr 2007 at 2:38 pm ¶
nick wrote:
hey ronan–he’s telling a story about how sad he is because his fictional girlfriend working in the towers died.
that’s the explanation i saw here: http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/delfin-hasta-el-fin-bizarre-music-phenomenon-with-twin-towers/
personally i think it’s a nice song–but i’m considering it in a storytelling, lost love, longing for this far off idea of new york kind of way, rather than as a song written as a faux national dirge for america.
here’s a live version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IqagdM__5A
and his wikipedia page (where, interestingly, his genre is described as ‘folklore’): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delfin_quishpe
Posted 11 Apr 2007 at 3:32 pm ¶
Ronan wrote:
Hi Nick,
Thanks for the info, ah maybe it’s totally different as you say. I thought it was just about the Twin Towers. Still quite strange though. None of my fictional girlfriends ever had jobs!
Posted 11 Apr 2007 at 3:36 pm ¶
nick wrote:
yes, but that’s because they were all globetrotting heiresses in love with techno, isn’t it
Posted 11 Apr 2007 at 3:44 pm ¶
Ronan wrote:
my real gf might be reading, so I should clarify, I never had any fictional girlfriends, ever.
Posted 11 Apr 2007 at 3:45 pm ¶
aidan funchild wrote:
The man is clearly a musical genius but yes I agree the tone of the track is in stark contrast with it’s lyrical/visual content. He has obviously been musically influenced by italo disco, maybe he should take a leaf out of their book lyrically also and stick to singing about serious things, like eating ice cream, on a beach, on a neon space station, with sunglasses on etc.
Posted 11 Apr 2007 at 7:55 pm ¶
reuben t. wrote:
Would it be apt to describe this video as a tragicomedy?
Posted 11 Apr 2007 at 9:10 pm ¶
benkirwan wrote:
The man’s got style indeed, i should expect ennio morricone’s looking forward to receiving a big fat cheque in the mail once this track goes platinum.
Posted 11 Apr 2007 at 10:08 pm ¶