Ok, the Vuvuzela….

June 14th, 2010 | by: ChrisS | View Comments

A Certain Ratio

To some, the fact that I have impaired high-frequency hearing and also play trumpet and flugelhorn with the Duke Ellington-influenced avant garde ensemble Daniel Popsicle, who have been fairly accurately self-categorized as playing “the music of the hill people of El Cerrito” may render me unqualified to comment on the long, plastic intrument that has been called the scourge of World Cup 2010, La Vuvuzela. To others, it may serve to explain why I can withstand extended in-depth analytical exposure to this subject. I choose the others, as always…

They don’t bother me too much. Having lived in Greece for a time, the ambient noise level does not seem that different from matches I had viewed there as well as elsewhere in the Mediterranean and Mexico. I actually rather like the air of unhinged menace they lend to the background of the games, especially those at night, where the decibel level seems to bump up even another 50%. Perhaps this could encourage more musicians to get out there, and direct proceedings in a subliminal way…I did see a few true brass at the Ghana-Serbia game, nice to see the cameras singled them out….

More of these, please?

Those who complain need a sense of perspective. Could this be partly because popular obscene chants (or a few charming innocent ones) are not being heard? At least it isn’t 40,000 ululators, gunfire or hovering billboards with shilling geishas a la Blade Runner…yet. Also, I gather that there is a Brazilian version of the vuvuzela known as the “cometa, ” so I don’t think there will be much “buzz-kill” in the near future.

To end on another musical note of perhaps some debate, here is a link to a video excerpt of the unofficial New Zealand 2010 World Anthem “We’re All Whites“ by The Red Sea Buoys, and here also is a link to the full version of the music…