Yes, Tin uses different texts in different languages, using the syntax and phonology of different languages as instruments in their own right. He has many which utilise the unique phonology and musical traditions to great effect, such as incorporating a haka into “Kia Hora The Marino” (based on a traditional Māori farewell haka), using a traditional Bulgarian choral tradition in “Temen Oblak”, or Mongolian throat singing in “Tsas Narand Uyarna”.
After being a huge fan of his for over a decade, though, I’ve realised that, while he has a unique talent for turning phonemes into musical instruments, he almost completely ignores the natural rhythm of the native languages. I realised this when I listened to his third album, in which the final song adapts Kennedy’s “We choose to go to the Moon” speech. In that song, the rhythm of the lyrics sound painfully syncopated with the natural flow of the language, in some cases holding really weird syllables. I have to wonder if, to native speakers of all of the other languages he’s adapted, his songs also sound like they’re ripping the flow of the language limb-from-limb.
I’ve been using this song as my phone alarm for the past 20 years because of its stepped increase in intensity at the beginning. Usually I wake up before the shakers come on. I know I was in a deep sleep if the first “Baba Yetu” hits.
I’ve heard that doing this can condition you to be anxious when you hear a song.
Yeah I would, but this song literally never plays anywhere so I’ve been safe so far.
Yeah I used to use Baba O’Reilly as a ringtone (what is it with baba songs and ringtones?) but if the song came on the radio I would get tense. So now I just use something generic that came with the phone so I can enjoy the song again.
I got around this by using a song that already made me anxious. I used the drowning music from Sonic the Hedgehog. Let me tell you, it fucking woke me up without fail. I was up and ready to go after the first six notes.
All of my rings exploded from me just thinking about using that to wake up.
It’s true. I’ve stopped using sounds and songs that I enjoy as my alarm because of this. I haven’t used an actual alarm clock in years, but the sound of a circa-2000 electric alarm clock buzzer going off instantly activates my fight or flight mode.
If you like this music, Christopher Tin has some amazing classical crossover albums. My favorite is The Drop That Contained the Sea.
‘Did you know that the 1971 hit ‘Stairway to Heaven’ by Led Zeppelin contains religious connotations.’
Pfft, yeah never listening to that Christian propaganda again
Some Lemmy probably
Even if I am an atheist, I actually love the song, not for what it means, but how it is expressed.
Same here, also an atheist, but you’ve got to be kidding yourself if you don’t think that that song is an incredibly impressive piece of music, vocal performance, etc.
ding!
“If music be the food of love, play on.”
– Spock
Incredibly powerful music.
I never paid it any thought, I assumed they’d got some village somewhere in Africa to sing something traditional.
What little ive just learned makes it work on so many levels
wow more christian hegemony great 👏👏👏
thanks for bringing this little known award winning christian music to light, OP
Isn’t it also racist?
Explain how.
It’s a Swahili translation of the Lord’s Prayer, arranged and translated by a native speaker, arranged as traditional African music (which the composer studied academically), and performed by a choir made up of native speakers.
And it won a Grammy (the first piece of game music to do so).
I’d say it celebrates a cultural corner of the world. Why do you say its racist?
There are two races. White and Political™.
On the one hand, many people in Africa are Christians. But on the other hand, much of Africa did not have any contact with Christianity until colonialism. So I can definitely see how it could be seen as celebrating colonialism.
Ethiopian Coptics are some of the oldest Christian groups in the world. You could (and I think they do) argue they predate Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox.
Founded only 5 years after the Council of Nicea in 330 AD. Prosecution of Christianity in the Roman Empire under Emperor Constantine had only ended 12 years before, with the Edict of Milan decriminalizing open worship of Christ.
(To continue to play devil’s advocate here:)
True, but is Swahili spoken much in Ethiopia? If the song is an homage to the Coptics, why not sing it in Coptic, or even Amharic?
He didn’t say colonialism. He said racism.
Don’t move the goalposts. This isn’t defending the point, its making the whole argument look bad by deflection.
Look, I’m not saying the song is racist, just pointing out why someone might believe that.
Besides, colonialism and racism go hand in hand. One necessarily leads to the other.
When the Rus founded Kyiv, did they do so because they were racist against the Slavs or because they wanted a trade route on the Dnipr?
When the Phoenicians settled in Carthage, was it racism or did they want to control trade access to the Mediterranean?
When Hrolfr settled in Normandy, was he racist against the Franks? Why then, did he immediately marry a Frank and join their kingdom under their laws?
deleted by creator
Here it is. I don’t see anything racist in it.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Sounds pretty generically Christian. Not the most hateful thing I’ve read today.
True Christianity is beautiful. It’s what people have done with it that have made it otherwise. Read the teachings of Jesus.
Matthew 10:34-36
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.
Truly beautiful bro.
It’s funny you pick this line because I was just thinking about it recently. Many of Christ’s words are not meant to be easy to understand, in fact they often perplexed his own disciples.
My own take on this passage is that following Christ’s message, truly following it (such as love your enemies for example) will not be something everyone can do. When some in a family can truly love someone society tells them to hate (i.e. commonly discriminated group of people) and the rest can’t, this will sow division.
Sometimes we have to stand up to our own families in order to truly love others. It’s much easier to just keep things “peaceful” in the family, at a cost of your slowly deteriorating soul/spirit.
That’s my take.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5: 1 - 10
Stop talking to me :) you vile book concerns only you, not me.
“Stop replying to my public comments on a social media platform!”
…seriously?
