Kuduro
February 16, 2008 6:54 PM Subscribe
There was a time when it seemed that groups like Frederic Galliano presents Kuduro Sound System and Buraka Som Sistema would do for kuduro what groups like Diplo and Bonde do Role did for Funk Carioca: make it popular with hipsters in the United States. But it hasn't happened yet. Why?
But it hasn't happened yet. Why?
I really don't mean to be snarky here, but perhaps because it's being championed by a French DJ/producer. Or more likely, because the videos are kinda goofy. But more likely still, kuduro just doesn't have enough of an American dance music aesthetic going on. It's pretty hard to imagine that this stuff would become some kind of Next Big Thing anywhere other than where it's from and, well, dance floors in France.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:41 PM on February 16, 2008
I really don't mean to be snarky here, but perhaps because it's being championed by a French DJ/producer. Or more likely, because the videos are kinda goofy. But more likely still, kuduro just doesn't have enough of an American dance music aesthetic going on. It's pretty hard to imagine that this stuff would become some kind of Next Big Thing anywhere other than where it's from and, well, dance floors in France.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:41 PM on February 16, 2008
I don't think hipsters can pull off that booty dancing.
posted by Wanderlust88 at 8:47 PM on February 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Wanderlust88 at 8:47 PM on February 16, 2008 [1 favorite]
The Funk Carioca stuff, on the other hand, is (as its name indicates) is based on a funk groove, which is quintessentially American. They simply sprinkle a lighthearted dash of Brazilian percussion and some charming vocal on top, so I can see where it would get more play in the states than Kuduro.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:55 PM on February 16, 2008
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:55 PM on February 16, 2008
I would say Funk Carioca is more based on Miami Bass/80s Booty Shakin/2 Live Crew...
And maybe kuduro will become popular, at least among Metafilter (hipsters).
posted by iamck at 9:26 PM on February 16, 2008
And maybe kuduro will become popular, at least among Metafilter (hipsters).
posted by iamck at 9:26 PM on February 16, 2008
I dig it. I have a gig coming up in Baltimore in a couple of weeks. I'll play it and report back with results.
posted by empath at 9:57 PM on February 16, 2008
posted by empath at 9:57 PM on February 16, 2008
flapjax at midnite: I really don't mean to be snarky here, but perhaps because it's being championed by a French DJ/producer. Or more likely, because the videos are kinda goofy. But more likely still, kuduro just doesn't have enough of an American dance music aesthetic going on. It's pretty hard to imagine that this stuff would become some kind of Next Big Thing anywhere other than where it's from and, well, dance floors in France.
I think you're being unnecessarily hard on your compatriots there, flapjax, I've seen a US party jump and bump to Konono No1 and that certainly isn't based on any indigenous American beat.
I wish I had some Kuduro, but alas and alack...
posted by Kattullus at 11:00 PM on February 16, 2008
I think you're being unnecessarily hard on your compatriots there, flapjax, I've seen a US party jump and bump to Konono No1 and that certainly isn't based on any indigenous American beat.
I wish I had some Kuduro, but alas and alack...
posted by Kattullus at 11:00 PM on February 16, 2008
As someone who likes the funk carioca stuff, I really dig this as well, thanks. If M.I.A. can be such a big deal, I don't see why "hipster" Americans couldn't get into this (the Som Sistema track linked here sounds like it could be a B-side from Kala).
posted by Falconetti at 11:55 PM on February 16, 2008
posted by Falconetti at 11:55 PM on February 16, 2008
Surprising, I guess, since this pretty well takes the cake for inside baseball, that is hasn't caught on with a demographic that lives for inside baseball.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 2:35 AM on February 17, 2008
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 2:35 AM on February 17, 2008
Maybe kuduro hasn't caught on in the US because we already have tons and tons of performers who are really good at reciting hollow doggerel over sterile electronic rhythms, doing twitchy dances, and gyrating in vulgar, ape-like mating displays.
posted by Faze at 6:47 AM on February 17, 2008
posted by Faze at 6:47 AM on February 17, 2008
I don't understand why the question is important. Wouldn't a better question be related to why it hasn't caught on in general? Maybe the premise of the assumptions inherent in the post is flawed. As funk carioca doesn't seem particularly popular in the United States, what did being popular with trendniks do for it?
Which I suppose leads to another question: what's the point of appealing to that specific demographic (if that is, in fact, an identifiable demographic)?
posted by Captaintripps at 6:58 AM on February 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
Which I suppose leads to another question: what's the point of appealing to that specific demographic (if that is, in fact, an identifiable demographic)?
posted by Captaintripps at 6:58 AM on February 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
"Maybe kuduro hasn't caught on in the US because we already have tons and tons of performers who are really good at reciting hollow doggerel over sterile electronic rhythms, doing twitchy dances, and gyrating in vulgar, ape-like mating displays."
Crypto-racist bullshit aside, your logic fails when those mating apes already do sample and appropriate from around the world. With the ever-present pull of novelty, there's essentially no reason why this shouldn't be incorporated into the American dance experience.
Which I think is one of those central truths, borne out by semi-recent MIT research—there is essentially no good reason why one thing becomes popular over another that can be drawn from its inherent quality.
posted by klangklangston at 2:25 PM on February 17, 2008 [3 favorites]
Crypto-racist bullshit aside, your logic fails when those mating apes already do sample and appropriate from around the world. With the ever-present pull of novelty, there's essentially no reason why this shouldn't be incorporated into the American dance experience.
Which I think is one of those central truths, borne out by semi-recent MIT research—there is essentially no good reason why one thing becomes popular over another that can be drawn from its inherent quality.
posted by klangklangston at 2:25 PM on February 17, 2008 [3 favorites]
doing twitchy dances, and gyrating in vulgar, ape-like mating displays
Is that you Steve?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:57 AM on February 18, 2008
Is that you Steve?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:57 AM on February 18, 2008
well from the couple of examples I just heard - I'd say it hasn't caught on becuase it is rubbish.. that baile funk stuff is no better and really I hope it disappears sooner rather than later.
amateurish rubbish.
posted by mary8nne at 3:31 AM on February 18, 2008
amateurish rubbish.
posted by mary8nne at 3:31 AM on February 18, 2008
I saw Bonde do Role live in support of Junior Boys (same record label) and couldn't believe how bad they were. Seems very odd to me the amount of attention they have received when they make such shitty music.
posted by Onanist at 5:53 AM on February 18, 2008
posted by Onanist at 5:53 AM on February 18, 2008
"well from the couple of examples I just heard - I'd say it hasn't caught on becuase it is rubbish.. that baile funk stuff is no better and really I hope it disappears sooner rather than later."
Why do you hate fun?
posted by klangklangston at 12:30 PM on February 18, 2008
Why do you hate fun?
posted by klangklangston at 12:30 PM on February 18, 2008
Yeah, but Bonde do Role has that Ramones thing going on, where the shittiness is part of the appeal.
(If 'that Ramones thing' strikes you as too strident, please substitute 'that Shaggs thing,' or 'that B-more club thing,' or just make your own damn metaphor.)
posted by box at 4:05 PM on February 19, 2008
(If 'that Ramones thing' strikes you as too strident, please substitute 'that Shaggs thing,' or 'that B-more club thing,' or just make your own damn metaphor.)
posted by box at 4:05 PM on February 19, 2008
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