Music Break: Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
February 1, 2013
After hearing his music, incongruously, on a video of Greenland history, I had to Wiki this guy:
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (born 1970) is an Indigenous Australian musician, who sings in the Yolngu language.
He was born in Galiwin’ku (Elcho Island), off the coast of Arnhem Land, Northern Australia about 580 kilometres from Darwin. He is from the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu and his mother from the Galpu nation.[1] He was born blind, has never learned Braille and does not have a guide dog or use a white cane. Yunupingu speaks only a few words of English, and is said to be acutely shy.[2]
He plays drums, keyboards, guitar (a right hand-strung guitar left-handed) and didgeridoo, but it is the clarity of his singing voice that has attracted rave reviews. He sings stories of his land in both languages (Gälpu, Gumatj or Djambarrpuynu, all Yolŋu Matha) and English.[3] Formerly with Yothu Yindi, he is now with Saltwater Band.
For a bonus, hear this duet with Sting, below.
February 1, 2013 at 11:26 pm
Thanks for posting this Peter. Geoffrey Yunapingu is one of those rare talents who doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.
February 1, 2013 at 11:35 pm
Foli in the Makinke languauge means “rythm”….
“Life has a rhythm, it’s constantly moving.
The word for rhythm ( used by the Malinke tribes ) is FOLI.
It is a word that encompasses so much more than drumming, dancing or sound.”
February 1, 2013 at 11:42 pm
Malian singer Rokia Traoré performing at the WOMAD World music festival:
February 2, 2013 at 12:52 am
Another Aussie whose music I dearly love:
February 2, 2013 at 3:11 pm
I am Australian :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD3SkTyXzcE
Not an First Indigenous Australian, a naturalised citizen but, yeah this.
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu : A legend and a bloody bewdy! (Ocker – YES!!!)
(Oh yegods don’t tempt me to post so many other great Aussie un-official anthemns from Midnight Oils (so many songs) to Goanna’s ‘Solid rock’ and more!)
February 2, 2013 at 3:25 pm
Cannot resist the temptation :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtgbnmJ7BE8&list=PLF71D3CCA05B9388D
Solid Rock Goanna
&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz3HShQkdd4
One Country – Oils.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPvIH1XQ-uk
Great Southern Land – Icehouse
February 2, 2013 at 3:45 pm
This one :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N5ZsCGjUz0
Midnight Oil & Warumpi – Blackfella-Whitefella & Dead Heart seems particularly apt here too.
Plus :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ-hbpWlXNQ
Yothu Yindi- “Tribal Voice” in addition to :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejorQVy3m8E
Midnight Oil – Beds Are Burning – Oils.
PS. Greenman – have you read David Suzuki’s ‘Wisdom of the Elders’ book?
February 2, 2013 at 3:55 pm
Just one more :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs7AtPqtCI0
Midnight Oil – Who Can Stand in the Way esp. lobe theending there.
Kosciusko by the Oils ain’t half bad either.
February 2, 2013 at 3:59 pm
Ps. Kosciusko = Australia’s highest “mountain” by global standrads not so big. Named by a Polish explorer. (Strezlecki -spelling?)In case that helps.
February 3, 2013 at 12:51 am
Gracious people, there’s a week’s listening from just one post. Fabulous!