From drumming with its roots in Africa, to Spanish-influenced guitar and harp music and the indigenous contribution of maracas, Venezuelan music is largely unknown outside the country. With a blog based on videos of key groups and individuals I hope this music will reach a wider public and get the attention it deserves. Joropo, calypso, tambores, salsa, cumbia, pop, rock, Latin jazz, electronica - even slushy love songs by soap opera stars - Venezuela has it all.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Fauna Crepuscular - Birra
Venezuela is a nation of beer drinkers. At the beach, at home, after work in pubs, clubs and restaurants, wherever you go you'll find people chugging ice cold brewskis to keep the tropical heat at bay.
The Irish of the Americas, Venezuelans drink more of the amber nectar per head than any other South Americans.
According to the 2008 edition of the Economist magazine's "Pocket World in Figures" the top beer drinkers in the world in litres per person per year are:
1. Czech Republic, 81.9 litres
2. Venezuela, 76.7 litres
3. Australia, 69.3 litres
4. Germany, 67.9 litres
5. Austria, 66.2 litres
6. Finland, 65.4 litres
7. England, 62.6 litres
8. USA, 62.5 litres
9. Slovakia, 62.4 litres
10. Denmark, 60.8 litres
This ska-tastic ode to Venezuela's favourite leisure pursuit by Caracas-based band Fauna Crepuscular has become something of a summer anthem this year.
It's got all the ingredients for a top hit: The words couldn't be simpler, the message couldn't be more profound, and the beat couldn't be any bouncier.
So let's all sing along.
Birra. Yo lo que quiero es una birra.
Yo lo que quiero es tomar,
Sin parar!
Beer. I want a beer.
I want to drink,
Without stopping!
Who said the art of poetry is dead?
Russell Maddicks
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Fauna Crepuscular - Silicon Valley
Caracas funk band Fauna Crepuscular inject a little social commentary on the track Silicon Valley, highlighting the growing appeal of plastic surgery among young girls in Venezuela. It's kind of weird, but one of the top requests from quinceaneras, or 15-year olds, for their coming out parties is a boob job. No wonder Caracas has a reputation for being the plastic surgery capital of Latin America.