is for yodel
I am oddly fascinated by yodeling.
Weird I know. But you can’t help things like that. They appear on your radar and boom, something connects and there you are. Helplessly mesmerized.
It started with a dream.
Well, the dream started with something else, so let’s back up a bit.
Back in the late 90s there was a computer game call Grim Fandango. It was an amusing noir-ish adventure game about the land of the dead populated by calaveras characters – Day of the Dead skulls. The art was fabulous and fascinating – cool cigarette-shaped skull-headed characters on travel adventures to make it to their destination to the ninth underworld. You can read more about it here where you get to see a picture of one of the characters, or you can view a trailer clip here.
One night my dreams were populated by Grim Fandango-ish characters. It started out with dramatic fandango music and the characters were all gathering on the outskirts of a ballroom floor. I had a sense there was going to be a dance completion and the excitement was building. And then it began. Two characters, one male and one female entered from opposite sides of the stage, do some wonderfully complicated utterly amazing dance steps across the stage to meet in the middle. There’s a dramatic pause… and then they begin yodeling. It was hilarious. And perfect. And it set the stage for my yodeling fascination. Because this had to be seen to be appreciated. This wasn’t cowboy yodeling or Swiss mountain yodeling but uniquely Calaveras-style yodeling.
Which begs the question, why aren’t there really cool new yodel styles and fabulous yodelers? Seriously. Wouldn’t that be fun? Now that I’ve experienced what it could be like (or rather is, via my dreams), old-style yodeling is pale by comparison. And so I’m on the lookout for new stuff.
Alas, I haven’t been successful in finding anything. Occasionally someone young and unexpected breaks out into a yodel, but it’s always cowboy-ish which is somewhat disappointing.
I’ve had to settle for this one Jimmy Fallon clip.
So in honor of my dream yodeling experience, here’s today’s index card for the ICAD challenge.
And because it’s Tuesday and that means the Artysville Glue It Tuesday salon has convened, here’s a journal page.
So what about you? Who is appearing in your dreams? Ever got excited about a musical genre (or anything) because of a hedz up from your dreams? Would we count you as leaning more towards the cowboy camp of yodeling or the Swiss mountain callers? Love film noir? Dia de los Muertos? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
I can never remember my dreams these days…however, I am obsessed with anything Dia de Los Muertos! I love those quirky little skeletons adorned with their bright, bold flowers & their very own skull jewelry. Love walking into a Mexican Restaurant & seeing those happy skellies around :). Great ICAD! And thanks for visiting my little corner of blog land 😉
Here’s to happy skellies and honoring our ancestors and bright beautiful art everywhere! Thanks for coming by Patricia.
When I remember my dreams and they keep repeating very often, it is an evidence of something to happen in the future. That is not always nice. I really like Dia de Los Muertos and the culture behind it. I love film noir, it has a big tradition in Europe, but yodeling? Sorry – no. But I love you ICAD and your journal page.
Deborah, thanks for looking into my blog and your nice comment.
Thanks for stopping by Gabriele. Dreams are amazing things. And while I would wish only those that felt positive to you, it does seem like you have a recurring message system in place. May that serve as a blessing and not a burden.
I saw that Jimmy Fallon/Brad Pitt thing the other day and thought it was pretty funny. Dia de Los Muertos…love it!!!!!
Yay for Dia de Los Muertos!
Wow, Deborah. I want YOUR dreams! How fun! Yodeling, dancing and Grim Fandango characters? Your creativity astounds me! I love how you are weaving your dreams into your work here and honoring them. So beautiful!! It is always such a treat coming to your site. Truly one of my favorites!
Aw, thanks Amy. I love dreams. It just seems so utterly cool to me that we speak to ourselves in a different language at night.
Eeeeckkk… yodling, really?? I don’t like it… not a bit. We grew up here in Europe with knowing only the ‘Swizz mountain yodling’ and the image it has here is not good… I think I understand what you mean by ‘cowboy yodling’ (John Denver style???) but naaaahhh… I’m just not a yodling-lover-kinda-gal. I cannot view the movie (for it says: “it only can be streamed in the USA…”) Brad Pitt yodling? I better stick to listening to my fave ‘sixties music’ (Neil Young, Leonard Cohen… )
Oh, did I mention I do LOVE your art journal page? No? I LOOOOVEEE your art journal page!!! Happy ~ belated ~ Glue it Tuesday. Hug from Holland
LOL Marit – I don’t exactly like yodeling either, but I’m fascinated by it. And I’m telling you it’s an entirely different experience when skeletons break out into it in a dream. 😉 But I’ll join you in a listen to some of Neil Young’s songs. Thanks for hopping over from Holland.
that is a very weird, but exciting dream. At least it wasn’t a nightmare or anything. So that’s good and should be important. Haven’t heard any yodeling recently… {:-Deb
LOL Deb – keep those ears tuned – you never know when some yodeling might turn up.