Windsurfing's Sound Track, Part 2
Since a few a-wipes (I'm looking at you, Gene and webguy) decided to start yakking about the winds from Tropical Storm Isaac, I'm staring out a window at rain and no wind. Apparently these guys didn't get the memo. Like Fight Club, you don't talk about the forecast.
To amuse myself in my depressive state, I decided to reread some of the more entertaining posts on this website, including this one: Windsurfing Needs a Better Soundtrack. It's quite funny, mostly because I wrote it.
The essence of the article was that, to windsurfing's detriment, a number of songs associated with the sport did not hold up well over time. Sure, the Surfer's "Windsurfing" was a minor European hit in its day but doesn't quite hold up as well as Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop Until You Get Enough" (Quincy Jones's production was off the chains and Michael was still a black kid) or the Clash's "London Calling".
So, I decided to dig a little bit more into more recent music related to windsurfing. If you think the pinnacle of modern music was reached by Journey and Whitesnake, this article is probably not for you. (And, no, I'm not going to take the time to link videos to either of those groups.) Enjoy on your day "off".
I briefly alluded to this San Fran group's music at the bottom of the previous article. Okay, it was almost a foot note. But, it's worthy of a listen, especially if you are into chillwave (e.g. Neon Indian, etc.) This video features some of your faves from the 80s including Magnum and Miami Vice.
I missed this last time around: an album and song entitled "Windsurf Nation". Broken Social Scene released this a few years back. MTV.com did an article about its release which was in part due to Lollapalooza being cancelled in 2004 giving the band time to record material.
The meaning of the album title: "With more than 50 songs to choose from, the group had its hearts set on releasing the more recent material, but decided to issue the Newfeld sessions as Windsurfing Nation — a title derived from the "gliding" feel of some of its songs."
There are even some people who have spent time trying to decipher and understand the lyrics.
Okay, this really isn't a song about windsurfing but this is a very nice video to show someone who can't remember what a computer modem sounded like or an AOL cd looked like. The shots are good and, in keeping with our theme, the music isn't a tired old Cowboy tune.
So the old farts don't feel totally left out, I found a good video someone put together that combines a great old school windsurfing video circa 1991 with techno-dance circa 2001. If you are real old, just enjoy the dacron in the sails. If you are sort of old, remember when you went clubbing and heard this kind of music.
This is really is windsurfing music. More of a percussion piece, it's made up entirely of sounds made by or on windsurfing equipment. (Maybe some of you older folks remember "Art of Noise"?
I ran across this video with features Windwatch Magazine's editor's own composition. I'd never heard of Windwatch magazine and my curiosity was piqued. Was this an Australian mag? No, it's from North Carolina, Lake Norman (just outside of Charlotte) and more of a nascent e-zine.
I like all kinds of music but this isn't really my cup of tea.
*College Park, GA as in by the airport. It's been home to a number of artists including Ludacris and T.I.
Windsurf from San Fran again, to, ahem, cleanse the palate. Their myspace page with more music.
Now, for something a little different. A windsurfing school took a season's worth of video and had fun with it. Think windsurfing meets Robot Chicken.
Listen to the soundtrack to the Windsurfing Movie on Spotify
There's a copy of this in our VCR library wherever that is...
http://vimeo.com/7683563
Bill Herderich