Kupuwale Music Garden

Victor Jara was a beautiful musician, poet, stage director and activist from Chile. He came from a peasant family, and wrote songs of the struggles of people in Chile and around the world. He was brutally executed by the U.S.-backed Pinochet regime after weeks of torture in the very stadium where he often performed as a musician for peace. His hands were smashed before he was killed by machine gun fire...in these videos, his beautiful guitar playing really shows, which was apparently something the government couldn't stand. He inspires young people in Chile much as Che Guevarra does elsewhere.

El Derecho de Vivir en Paz (The Right to Live in Peace)

This song is about Viet Nam, the horrors of the war there, and the feelings of the people for Ho Chi Mihn and their land (Jara supported communism in general, but was not a hardliner -- he tended to express the feelings of the people, whatever they may be). Note: There is a video posted below of Soul Flower Union performing this song, in Japanese.

Te Recuerdo Amanda (I remember you, Amanda)

Amanda was Victor Jara's daughter. Her mother was British, and had to flee with her when he was captured. Obviously, this was made before all of that...sad, beautiful and kind of chicken skin...


Christy Moore performing "Victor Jara"

Christy Moore is an Irish baladeer. I believe that this song was actally written by Arlo Guthrie. It tells the story pretty well.

Lennon & Jara

This is an interesting & musically beautiful imaginary puppet theatre piece. Makes me wonder, would they actually have got along? I wonder. Anyway the vision is awesome. And I love the puppeteers singing in the end.

Here are some pop songs I really like. Embedding on some is disabled, but clicking the link will give you the video.

Good Charlotte -- WE BELIEVE
Good song, beautiful video. Sweet!

Jason Mraz -- 10,000 MOTHERF***ERS

This totally unplugged solo performance is an example of why I believe that this guy is one of the few who truly deserves the term "star"! This is true talent -- spirit and skill together.

Angels and Airwaves -- WAR
To tell the truth, I like the song more than the video. But it's still worth watching!

Green Day -- When September Ends

Well, no conscious music video garden can be complete without this one. One of the more powerful music videos ever made.

I love this downtown jam!

Native musician from the Bunun tribe of Formosa. I love his voice!

And, um, did I mention that he also gets the award for "Most Ridiculously Good-Looking Native Musician on the Planet"? No, I'm, uh, sure I wouldn't have said that...but...

Legendary protest musician of Indonesia.

"Bento" is about the rich who screw the poor, basically. This "fan video" has English subtitles.


This is another Youtube "fan video", made by the same guy, Augustinus, about problems in the education system in Indonesia.

Nobody tells it like it is like Skippy -- Kanaka Maoli songwriter, longtime front-line warrior and 'aina-roots prophet (not profit!)...

Here's two of him playing with Liko Martin (there's a separate post on Liko), filmed by Lynette Cruz:

Sangpuy Katatepan of the Puyama tribe, Katipul Village, Taitung, Formosa (Taiwan).
This braddah is an awesome voice in "aboriginal" musical efforts in Formosa. He is a traditional musician who also plays modern instruments and styles, and he organizes native musical efforts, too.



This "indigenous news" clip shows his multiple talents...the double nose flute is awesome!!!

Kobe, Japan


This is what I call a real band. They are incredibly hard working -- since they got together in about 1993, they have put out about TWENTY albums (which I can really appreciate since my group is still struggling with number 1!), and play constantly, though I get the feeling they're not really raking in the megabucks for this. The most incredible thing is that they have shown themselves to be truly Spirit-Over-Success, a very rare trait that wins my admiration more than anything. The video below shows them playing for victims of the 1995 earthquake in Kobe. A fast-rising band at the time, they broke their record contract with Sony to play on the streets for the earthquake victims and to speak out about the lack of government support for the ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged in the area. This song, Mangetsu No Yube (Full Moon Evening), was writen for the earthquake victims. Personally, I think it is one of the most beautiful songs ever written, period.



Here's the "studio" version of the song.


Here's a bunch of clips of them playing on a "regular" stage...







Here's a "documentary" news clip (which I cannot understand whatsoever but is interesting enough to watch anyway):


Speaking of documentaries, here's one on the band playing in East Timor. Note that they cover "The Internationale" in Japanese!



& here's another "historical" clip, from when they first got together as an "acid rock" band...



...& I'm just gonna include this one because I love this song so much:


Some Links:
Soul Flower Official Wesite
Soul Flower Union Wikipedia Page

My Hero!
This is the real Hawai'i, and the last of his kind. I do not know anyone who sings with such beauty, soul, feeling and culture. And yes, we're STILL waiting for the record...so Mahalo Akua for Youtube!

"Fantasia" with Abel Simeona:


"Love Letters" to Barack Obama...a Na Maka O Ka 'Aina Classic, based on Liko's song, "Love Letters in the Sand".



Interview at Ka La Ho'iho'i 'Ea -- awesome mana'o: