Blessings to Andrew Sullivan’s blog, and to the vast and glorious YouTube, without which I would never have discovered Russia24-TV’s ethnic-themed Olympic tributes…
Altai
Yamaal
Yakutia
Seriously… I really enjoy these singers. I would actually pay cash money for a professional compilation (there are others, including some done for the Beijing Summer Olympics). Also, for a clean high-def copy of Johnny Weir’s programs, because I don’t know from skating but that version of “Fallen Angel” was one of the most amazing performances I have ever seen, and it took hella athletic skillz to make it look so easy. I’d add the link I re-watched on YouTube last night, but it’s been removed by the IOCC spoilsports.
Yutsano
That first one is so insanely bizarre and yet IT WORKS!! Maybe there’s some universality to Queen that I was heretofore unaware of. I also like it when I have to guess the ethnicity of the relative entrants there. Yeah I’m pretty much clueless.
asiangrrlMN
This Queen/Russian ethnics connection just tickles me to no end. Delightful! Too bad for Russia that they aren’t the champions so much during these Olympics.
P.S. The third one is VERY DRAMATIC!
Bill E Pilgrim
What?
It’s just Queen in their fur period.
NB: This is a very strange blog.
Bill E Pilgrim
@Yutsano: Many people aren’t aware that the digital electronic synthesizer actually predates the Czars.
inkadu
Choirs full of smiling people creep me out.
Cathie from Canada
Thanks, these are terrific.
OriGuy
@Bill E Pilgrim: We Are the Champions was recorded before Queen started using synthesizers.
My Russian is pretty bad, but the first video is from the Altai Republic, so it could be several ethnic groups. The throat singing makes me think they are Tuvans. The costumes look a lot like the ones I saw on Huun Huur Tu, who I saw last week.
I think the second one is by a Nenets group, who live in the Yamalo-Nenets Okrug. I liked the reindeer accompanyment.
The third one is from Yakutia, so they must be Yakuts.
Yutsano
@OriGuy: The beauty of Balloon Juice. I knew someone would be able to identify the various ethnicities shown here. And reindeer are always cool, even on Nordic sweaters.
Cheryl Rofer
Here’s a group that you might like: The Karelian Folk Music Ensemble. They’re a bit more European-influenced, but the language, particularly in their “Ingrian Folk Songs,” is very like the group with the reindeer, who I think are more likely Khanti-Manti, in the same Finno-Ugric language group as the Ingrians, Estonians, and Finns.
The Main Gauche of Mild Reason
Anne, if you like the first video, you’d really like this film (http://www.genghisblues.com/film/index.html)
Bill E Pilgrim
@OriGuy:
No I was referring to the one in the video here. The traditional instrument from the Altai Republic.
SiubhanDuinne
Not music-related, but this *is* an open thread:
Ross Douthat *still* makes the most blatant, elementary factual errors — today it’s a reference to Arizona Senator John Ensign — and the NYT *still* doesn’t bother fact-checking him before his column goes to print, or at least pixel.
/early-morning rant
Rafael
You can see Johnny Weir’s programs at NBC’s website.
Morbo
Russian pairs figure skaters, on the other hand, deal with ethnic tributes… rather badly.
akaoni
Throat singing FTW!
Booger
“We Are The Champions?” ((Snort))…let’s see them do BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY and then I’ll be impressed.
Pikers.
El Cid
The newest phase of capitalism: “The Billionaire Bailout Society“.
Brick Oven Bill
Well, today is George Washington’s birthday. We will address it at Balloon Juice.
In a previous segment, we learned that Washington’s first lesson of his 21st year was that Indians can go from zero to bat-shit crazy in about one second, when Tanacharison cut the head of Washington’s French negotiating partner in half and pulled out his brain.
Washington was very smart, and realizing that there would be consequences for pulling out this brain, established Fort Necessity for his 180 men. Here, he made an error, learning the hard way the 2nd lesson of his 21st year, clearing the trees for only 60 yards beyond the walls of the Fort. This was in the range of French muskets, and Washington’s men we slowly slaughtered before his eyes over a period of nine hours.
In his surrender, he took personal responsibility for Tanacharison pulling out the brain of the French commander, and thus personal responsibility for the beginning of the French and Indian War. In exchange for this concession, the French promised to control the Indians under their control ‘to the best of their ability’.
Well, the French came through, and Washington and what remained of his men made it back to Virginia. His government disbanded his military unit, and reduced him in rank. Washington was dejected, writing his brother:
“What did I get from this? …I went out, was soundly beaten, lost them all, came in, and had my commission taken from me.”
George, what you got from that, in my opinion, were valuable lessons which would serve you well at Monongahela, and provide for all of us wonderful opportunities. Thank you and we remember. Although Anne Laurie says you have no ethnicity.
The Grand Panjandrum
@SiubhanDuinne: Ensign is from Nevada.
The Grand Panjandrum
Joementum actually trying to do the right thing for once:
Good for him. Even a ratfucking self-important prick can get it right every now and again.
MikeJ
@The Grand Panjandrum: When everybody is marching in one direction, a smart politician will try to get in front and say he’s leading them there. If there’s one thing Lieberman cares about it’s making Lieberman look good.
Morbo
I was listening while doing other things, so the improvised reindeer snort in the second video made me lol.
SiubhanDuinne
@The Grand Panjandrum #20: Yes, I know Ensign is from Nevada. That was my point, that Douthat identified him as being from Arizona and nobody at the NYT caught the error.
flounder
Anyone see Ryan Miller’s helmet last night during U.S. vs. Canada?
http://www.burnmonkeyburn.com/2010/02/ryan-millers-uncle-sam-hockey-mask.html
My wife started rooting for the Canucks after I explained the significance of the graphic.
Punchy
Yup, pit bulls are safe
Totally normal for a girl to fall down, then have a pit rip up one’s throat.
Yup, they’re safe.
JGabriel
flounder:
Er, uh, what is the significance?
.
Ash Can
What great videos!
@Booger: That second group would be able to bat out “Bohemian Rhapsody” in a heartbeat.
lol
@Punchy:
It’s great to see you here, Dan Savage!
MikeTheZ
Can’t fix health care, can’t fix the financial systems, can’t get people jobs, but what the Hell, we can put warning labels on food that it could cause you to choke.
No, really.
Punchy
Holy Jesus on a stripper’s pole…
Shorter Yoo — War crimes? No such thing. Hell, a Prez can GAS an entire village……encamp them first, even….when at war. Anything (and I mean anything) goes!
This is some fucked up shit. And now the precedent is set.
bjlefebvre
Those video’s bring the awesome. I, however, prefer the cover skills of our neighbors to the south: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go2ZrVLfe_I&feature=related
flounder
@ Jgabriel,
Have you never seen this picture:
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blbushunclesam.htm
Allan
Best. Reindeer. Solo. Ever.
Comrade E.B. Misfit
You missed the Tartars.