Snowdon - 4/26/22 - The Discography of Yothu Yindi

 4/26/22


Looking back through the discography of Yothu Yindi, and reading up a bit about their history, has me in a spirit of reminiscence. The significance of music in many oral cultures has been a recurring point throughout our time in this class, whether it be connected to ritual or storytelling. Yothu Yindi offers a shining example of traditional indigenous cultures being preserved through music, even when the very band that they’re in is a physical example of Western influences. The beauty of this example is that it goes both ways; traditional Aboriginal instruments feature prominently in several melodies, the Aboriginal members will, when duty calls, shred on electric guitar a la Jimi Hendrix in a pair of blue jeans, but in other songs, they will take center stage with traditional body paint. Furthermore, even when a more Western-style tempo takes over in a song, fitting into the alt-rock genre which they place themselves in, the lyrics detail elements of contemporary Aboriginal culture, and encourage the listener to do their part in its preservation. This sort of positive cultural intersection is a great example of traditionally oral cultures surviving and thriving into the modern day.

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