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April 30, 2007

YouTube Musician of the Week: Out of Mongolia

 

This week's YouTube Musician of the week is a little ummm, different. This week we are actually featuring three different performances and styles out of Mongolia. Mongolian music will surprise you; it in fact seems to elicit an enthusiastic response among those newly acquainted with it, as it certainly did me. How is it that music from such a secluded and ancient nomadic people can seem so exotic and yet so familiar?

 

This first piece “Davalgaa ijii Mongol” by Altan Urag (below) is described as Mongolian Folk Rock. It is intense and driving. In parts you wonder if perhaps the music had been influenced by a mixture of Celtic, Western rock, and Indian styles; and indeed, the drums are certainly Western; however, the rest, if anything, is influenced by what influences all Mongolian folk music: nature. This most notably is true with the throat singing (along with other vocals).

 

 

A little more familiar for obvious reasons, rap is something that seems to be catching on in Mongolia. While not exactly the best specimen of rap music out there, the song below does succeed in making a powerful political statement. That statement conveys a deep-seeded resentment to Communist Chinese influence over the freedom-loving Mongolian people. This group, L.A. Face, sings of its resentment for China (warning, strong – albeit difficult to understand – language), in its bluntly titled track, "F*** Them Chinese". Read an interesting account of Chinese oppression next to this video at YouTube. Of course this piece is interesting because it brings to us a not too frequently heard but important human perspective:

 

 

Finally, we’ve saved the best for last: The most traditional of Mongolian folk music performed by Altai KhairKhan, a group of five musicians and throat singers performing rather humbly on the streets of Paris. You might swear at times it came out of the Appellation Mountains by way of Louisiana, and just as you are fairly certain that this is where early American music came from, suddenly you’re thrust unquestionably into the heart of the Orient. Embedding is unfortunately disabled for this video, so click here to view and listen!

 

 

   

Posted by Martin at April 30, 2007 05:59 PM

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Comments

Really rather interesting. I enjoyed your commentary and the music! Thank you. :)

Posted by: Layla at April 30, 2007 10:15 PM

u sure do have ecclectic taste in music Martin!..:)

Posted by: Angel at May 1, 2007 01:28 PM

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