A Moment of Tiki Ep 53: Music for a Dark Tiki Bar
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- Опубліковано 2 кві 2023
- Picture this: You walk into a dimly-lit tiki bar. The decor is lush and immersive. The cocktails are on-point. Everything is perfect except... they're blasting dance mix over the speakers. Or boy bands. Or 80s hair metal. Nothing ruins an escapist vibe faster than poorly-considered, inappropriate music for a themed space. In this episode of A Moment of Tiki, I climb up on a big ol' soapbox to explain why the selection of appropriate music for a tiki bar demands careful attention and offer some musical history and suggestions for the beginner to start building a diverse and respectable tiki playlist.
The list below is a sampling of artists mentioned in this episode. It is meant to be a starting point and is by no means comprehensive. This list contains some affiliate links. If you purchase any of the great music linked to below, I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. If I've left off any artists you think are essential for a proper tiki playlist, let me know in the comments below!
Les Baxter's - Ritual of the Savage: tinyurl.com/44kf5awc
Les Baxter's - Tamboo! tinyurl.com/383nb4ra
Les Baxter's - African Jazz/Jungle Jazz tinyurl.com/mvbxv37c
Les Baxter's - Sacred Idol tinyurl.com/e3u9hj3h
Martin Denny's - Exotica tinyurl.com/3r97tdma
Martin Denny's - Primativa/Forbidden Island tinyurl.com/2vmxcu9v
Martin Denny's - Quiet Village/The Enchanted Sea tinyurl.com/ynt9a95u
Arthur Lyman's - Hawaiian Sunset tinyurl.com/bdfazzkf
Arthur Lyman's - Latitude 20/Aphrodesia tinyurl.com/y5m2zjrf
Arthur Lyman's - Bwana'a/Bahia tinyurl.com/36v5k8n3
Arthur Lyman's - Leis of Jazz tinyurl.com/2p8p29h5
Don Tiki's - The Fobidden Sounds of Don Tiki dontiki.bandcamp.com/album/th...
Don Tiki's - South of the Boudoir dontiki.bandcamp.com/album/so...
Don Tiki's - Skinny Dip with Don Tiki dontiki.bandcamp.com/album/sk...
Waitiki 7 - Adventures in Paradise waitiki.bandcamp.com/album/ad...
Waitiki 7 - New Sounds of Exotica waitiki.bandcamp.com/album/ne...
Waitiki 7 - Rendezvous in Okonkuluku waitiki.bandcamp.com/album/re...
Waitiki 7 - Waitiki in Hi-Fi waitiki.bandcamp.com/album/wa...
Kava Kon - Virgin Lava kavakon.bandcamp.com/album/vi...
Kava Kon - Departure Exotica kavakon.bandcamp.com/album/de...
Kava Kon - Maritime Mysteries kavakon.bandcamp.com/album/ma...
Kava Kon - Tiki for the Atomic Age kavakon.bandcamp.com/album/ti...
Alfred Apaka - The Best of Alfred Apaka tinyurl.com/4zpxstbc
Alfred Apaka - Broadway Wears a Lei tinyurl.com/3u7z2ssv
Alfred Apaka - Hawaiian Paradise tinyurl.com/yck3m7hc
Hilo Hattie - At the Tapa Room tinyurl.com/sez6v5vs
Hilo Hattie - Hilo Hattie tinyurl.com/mwkrkk6d
Jerry Bird - Master of the Steel Guitar tinyurl.com/5n6n99th
Jerry Byrd - Byrd of Paradise tinyurl.com/2byh9vfy
Sol Hoopi'i - King of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar tinyurl.com/msyemd3y
Sol Hoopi'i - Master of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar tinyurl.com/2tmhv4y8
Betty Boop's Bamboo Isle (note: animated brownface is a major plot element) - • Betty Boop: "Bamboo Is...
Mountain Apple Company - www.mountainapplecompany.com/
Brothers Cazimero - 20 Years of Hoku Award Winning Songs tinyurl.com/5bftv4w4
Brothers Cazimero - Best Of tinyurl.com/4cfy68p7
Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau - Pauna Hou Me Ke Aloha tinyurl.com/2fahtuxf
Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau - Ho'oluana tinyurl.com/24ybpkut
Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere Over the Rainbow tinyurl.com/bdj67mrh
Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole - Facing Future tinyurl.com/2p8zvm3m
Kuana Torres Kahele - Music for the Hawaiian Islands 2: Kahelelani tinyurl.com/5b5kadeh
Kuana Torres Kahele - Music for the Hawaiian Islands Volume 4 Manookalai tinyurl.com/2p8cfhp7
Kuana Torres Kahele - Music Hawaiian Islands Vol. 6 Aina Momona Molokai tinyurl.com/yxm2xrbu
Dancing Cat Records- www.dancingcat.com/
Moses Kahumoku - Ho' okupu "The Gift" tinyurl.com/bddaxtp9
Cindy Coombs - Slack Key Lady tinyurl.com/msw69p8s
Ozzie Kotani - Kani Ki Ho'alu tinyurl.com/k2bd4637
Ozzie Kotani - To Honor a Queen: the Music of Lili'uokalani tinyurl.com/mudacfjk
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Nothing gets under my skin worse than inappropriate tunes at a tiki bar.
Tell me about it! You never hear anyone complaining of inappropriate music in a dive bar! 🤣
Totally agree, I’m a huge believer in being transported through time due to the setting and music. It’s the reason mom and pop diners usually play 50’s and early 60s hits it’s a way to transport the customers to maybe to the time of that establishments opening, a time far gone but not forgotten, the same should go for tiki bars and culture. I have recently really gotten into the tiki lounge and bars of the 50’s and 60’s it’s amazing and it definitely has a mood of its self and an identity. I wouldn’t want to listen to 50s rock & roll hits in a tiki bar even though I love that kinda stuff it’s just not the right time or place for it.
I know I'm late to the party, but I've got to shout, AMEN BROTHA! The music is what makes the magic. My wife and I are building our own Tiki Gataway, and Martin Denny is a quintessential part of it. We're expanding our adventure and we love your videos as a guidepost!
Thank you! Tiki music should be intentional and escapist. Martin Denny certainly fits the bill, but there are so many other genres and subgenres out there that work as well! 😁
I mean...he's not wrong. Music needs to match the intended environment.
I personally like the music at Frankie's Tiki Room ... its a mix of Rockabilly,Exotica,Surf , Classic Punk... I think it works well for there vibe. Not sure if i could go full Exotica.. I need some Gretsch guitar in there every now and then.
See? Frankie's puts thought into it. I don't quite get the punk angle, but a good percentage of tiki folk do. And that's cool--it's not something you're going to hear at your average club/bar. Rockabilly makes a bit more sense, because it's evocative of the late 50/early 60s when tiki was in its heyday. You don't need to play exotica at all, just a playlist that's escapist and transportive.
Old School Tiki. Yes Dark Surf, Rockabilly, and Certain Classic Punk works 100%. I would submit Deadbolt for Dark Surf Psychobily, and what about Budos Band? They are Afro beat music, but 100% 60s spy sounding and exotic as hell.
@@BossaNovaLife My main criteria is that the music should be transportive. If any other bar/club in town is playing the same thing, your tiki space is playing the wrong music. All those you list fit the bill, depending on the owner's personal tastes.
Aloha, Jayme, good video. I agree with you about how essential the music is to the mood of tiki bars. I don’t agree with you that Les Baxter (despite creating a definitive cornerstone of exotica with “Ritual of the Savage”) is the father of exotica. Karla Pandit is often considered the “godfather” of exotica when he began playing background music for television programming in 1948 and as billed as Korla Pandit on his own television show in 1949 - particularly noted for introducing American listeners to the iconic tune, “Miserlou,” when he first performed it live in 1951, well before iconic surfer guitarist, Dick Dale recorded this same iconic tune in 1962.
No ONE artist created exotica. Esquivel was coming of age with his own style of “space-age bachelor pad” sound at the very same time that Les Baxter was working his orchestrations, and also providing sound effects for Hanna-Barbera cartoons, which would soon further define his own style. Henry Mancini was wildly productive with Hollywood soundtrack music and would soon be making his contributions to the genre of “exotica” with fringe songs like “Lujon,” and “Hatari!,” among others. Even Yma Sumac, who was discovered by Les Baxter, was recording exotic, foreign sounds in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s that would inspire and fuel the genre of exotica. Her single Mambo! (1954), is still played in tiki bars and on Exotica playlists and, outside of Martini Denny’s album Quiet Village reaching #1 on Billboard, was one of the most successful charting singles in exotica.
My point???
No one artist invented, or defined, exotica. It would be Martin Denny who created the animals sounds on his recordings. Esquivel created the sound effects to his orchestrations. Many artists contributed quirky interpretations to what we now call exotica…Les Baxter and Ritual of the Savage, certainly helped!!!
Korla Pandit was certainly creating music which, in hindsight, is a clear forerunner of what we think of today as exotica. I agree with many of your assertions. Suffice to say I wasn't able to go down every rabbit hole--I left out SO MUCH and it still turned into a three part series!
You can even reach out and go a bit further than exotica, surf, bossa nova, etc; there's a lot of new wave, coldwave, psychobilly and vapourwave just for example that absolutely leans into the tiki feeling and hits that escapist feeling. Just need a bit of care and curation and as someone who doesn't live near a tiki bar, if the music isn't right, then I'd be disappointed if I made the trip.
Yes, I tossed out a wide net with this series but it's not comprehensive. I think intentionality is the key. Choose your music with purpose and thought to achieve the aesthetic you want in your bar. Nobody wants careless music selection.
We had a similar experience at Hugman’s on our last trip to San Antonio. We kept saying that they had “angered the tiki gods.”
They are *so close* to being great, but just don't get it.
I’m so glad there’s a fellow Texan into Tiki, everyone always looks at me strange when I were my Hawaiian shirts, and listen to exotica music, surf music etc. I still listen to my old hard rock and metal bands I grew up on but I listen to a lot of jazz, bossanova music, surf etc. I buy most of my vinyl from Hi Tide, and always get a strange look when I’m at a record show, and I ask for Les Baxter and Martin Denny.
I'm a relative latecomer to the party! You'll find active tiki communities in Austin, Houston and DFW--check out the Texas Tikiphiles group on FB to connect with them!🙂
@@LagoonofMystery Awesome! Thank you!
@@Vinylrebel72 My pleasure! Given your screen name you might also enjoy the FB groups "Music of Tiki," "Exotica... and other Cool, Unusual Music" and "TheExotica(Music)Ring."
Awesome topic. In general i like any 50's instrumentals, light easy sounds of favorites. Bert Kaempfort, Billy Vaughn, Mancini, nice moods. But exoticas hard to beat for the tiki space! 'Martini' music fun too.
Yes, period music--the lounge and cool jazz of the tiki era--can certainly work. I'll touch on those soon!
Thanks for schooling the newbies here!
Just giving some hard-earned guidance. After the next episode, folks should have plenty of options to put together their own tiki-appropriate playlist and not even worry about including exotica. I *like* including exotica, but it's not entirely necessary. 😉
Thank you for posting this very informative history about exotica music. I've just started designing my home Tiki Bar. You have shown me that it's an environment that needs to address the all the senses. Visual, audio, taste and smell. I look forward to your posts.
Thank you! There is a LOT of flexibility in a tiki playlist, one just needs to assemble it with intent!
Your answer is Hi-Tide Music Records for people who just don't want to dig deep and understand the scene. They do it for you. Hundreds of albums and bands... all modern from Tikiyaki Orchestra, The Black Flamingos to Blood Shot Bill and the Hula Girls. Problem Solved.
I do indeed have a selection of Hi-Tide releases in my regular rotation!
This video was very useful. I've been making my list and once I have enough of a collection, I'll create my own compilation "mix tape" of my favorites! I'm looking forward to Part 2!
Thank you, Michelle! Hopefully I can carve out enough time to finish the edits on part 2 this weekend!
It's funny that I had exotica music way before I knew Tiki was a thing, thanks to my love for the Ultra Lounge series! And discovering Tiki has put me onto these other groups! Thanks for the video -- can't wait for part 2!🥰🌺🏝️
We all come to the end destination by different routes! When Les Baxter came up with it, the sound was just a riff on orchestral jazz. It wasn't until 6 years later, after Martin Denny stripped it down for a combo, that it got an actual name. That Ultralounge series did a great job of introducing a lot of forgotten artists to a new generation.
Thanks for the good stuff
You are welcome!
100% agree, and well-said, Jayme. It's amazing and distressing that so many tiki bars don't give a crap about how important the music is to the experience! As a professional musician (and someone who got into tiki THROUGH listening to exotica music), that always bugs me haha. Thanks for another great video, looking forward to part 2!
It strikes me as a penny wise, pound foolish mindset!
@@LagoonofMystery It absolutely is, yeah! It's essentially the cheapest way a tiki bar can add to the immersive atmosphere; it seems a real waste of an opportunity to mess that part up.
I love your realness on this one! Your story made me laugh 😂 I’m right there with you!
There's only so many excuses one can stomach! 🤣
Well done. I’ve heard a lot of these but you’ve given me a bunch of new to me music to look for. 👏👏👏👏🤙🏽
That's what I'm hoping for--there's LOTS of great music for tiki out there. Folks just have to go out and find it! 😁
I'm a huge fan of Santo and Johnny for Tiki, also gotta check out The Outriggers. When I watched Mad Men there was a Tiki bar scene and the song was Sukiyaki by Kyu Sakamoto, I've been looking for more songs like that one!
Exotica has a long history of drawing from Asian/Japanese/Chinese musical motifs. It's superficial, sure, but I think of it as a bridge. And it fits with the "exotic" sound. I have some albums of Japanese koto music I include in my tiki mix at home. It works well.
Very informative video! Martin Denny and Les Baxter have been my go to artists. Many of the others I had never heard of! I will be checking out a lot of them. Also, if I walked into a Tiki bar and they were playing Top 40s or 80s music, I'm not sure if I would stay. I would not trust their mixology skills to give me a proper Tiki cocktail.
Baxter, Denny and Lyman are just scratching the surface. If I'd gone into Frank Hunter, Robert Drasnin and Gene Rains the exotica section alone would've been an hour long as least! I'm mulling the idea of a deeper dive into exotica for the future, tho...
@@LagoonofMystery I'm definitely interested in learning more!
Agreed! Hate to walk into a tiki bar and the music is totally off the mark! Makes it extremely tough for me to ever go back.
The first (and only) time my wife and I visited Kanaloa in Houston they were playing boy bands! NSync, Justin Bieber, etc. The bartender grumbled that the owners made them play it, thinking it would draw a younger, hipper crowd. Kanaloa is no longer with us. Coincidence or not? 🤔
I'd say not a coincidence. Lei Low in Houston is a great spot and when we visited in Jan, music was right on point. Great drinks as well! On a side note, High Tide Recordings has a great selection of surf bands, etc! With all the different bands and styles of hawaiian, surf, and exotica, any tiki bar could do a good mix and not hear the same songs over and over in a night.
@@juliegrey5280 We love Lei Low! They've achieved the remarkable feat of being both a tiki bar AND a neighborhood bar. Houston is big enough to support multiple tiki bars, and Kanaloa was in a solid location with a distinct aesthetic. If the owners hadn't obsessed over attracting non-tiki fans at the expense of alienating tikiphiles, things might've ended differently.
I'm so happy that I found your channel. This was exactly what I was looking for regarding music for my tiki bus! I see that you are very passionate about the atmosphere necessary for a tiki bar, something that is so neccessary for setting the mood. You have a new subscriber here!
Welcome and thank you! There is a LOT of room for varied and unique tiki playlists. The main element is intent--have a reason for the music you include, rather than just picking the path of least resistance. 😁
Wow, appropriate music to ambiance. A concept. Glad to see you cover it.
Whoda thunk it, right? 😉
oh. dont be so hard on them. they're paying to be there too, right? oh, wait.
You constant never ending background music has me thinking I am watching House on Haunted Hill!!
I confess I have never seen that.
@@LagoonofMystery You have really missed out! The famed William Castle film with Vincent Price? Yes, the wailing woman music all through the movie is the same as in your background music. You must check it out.
@@Wisdom-Nuggets-Tid-Bits Ah. That's not the same music. The vocal elements are similar in some regards, but the opening and closing themes are "Secret of Tiki Island" (ua-cam.com/video/rG5RtLikC7k/v-deo.htmlsi=thPiqin8P8fFT_bd) and the music used during the episodes is "Bossa Antigua" (ua-cam.com/video/A25zUqFEJr4/v-deo.htmlsi=NXsAXikUQ4ifFRCE) both by Kevin MacLeod.
@@LagoonofMystery Love Tiki Music.
So good, thanks I know a bunch of time goes into these!
Thanks for the kind words! 😁
Nice, big up!
Thank you!
Great video!
Thanks for the kind words, Lisa!
Great video. I applaud all your suggestions. Nothing worse than "wrong music" at a tiki bar. Personally, if I owned a tiki bar the music system would be under lock & key and only the manager-on-duty would have access. I know how employees are about "themed" music, but if you're gonna work there, you gotta deal with it. I would go further and say I'm not even opposed to a variety of other music being thrown in the mix in a tiki bar...there's a good amount of downtempo lounge electronica that has a very exotic "resort" feel to it, some classic lounge singing, a bit of strange "world music", drumming, ...heck, I'm not even going to complain if they throw a little reggae (not my cup of tea) , steel drum, or Jimmy Buffet in (I know some will cringe). Oh, and I wouldn't complain if someone wanted to stream my hobby online station "Hawaiian Hi-Fi" on Live365 into their tiki bar, lol.
Yes, very much so! And for my thoughts on some of those other genres you mention, well, part 2 is coming soon! 😉
loving The Hula girls" right now. Hulabilly rock.
Hula! Hula! Bang! Bang! 😆
Very interesting. On a slightly different note, what about Glen Miller and other Big Band artists. I say that because of the service men playing Big Band in tiki bars on the islands and the west coast during the 30s,40s and 50s?
Certainly if your tiki space has a WWII theme to it then the whole Miller/Shaw/Goodman/Ellington/Basie approach could work. But for the most part those are mainstream jazz and not closely associated with tiki. If you mix them in with hapa haole and such I think it could work well. I'm not as convinced it would work as well if that was the exclusive soundtrack.
Such a great video, love it. I've been going through a rough time, and I've found that Exotica takes away my stress and anxiety when nothing else would. So I've been listening to it A LOT lately. It's also inspiring me when I'm planning what I want to do with my tiki shed I'm going to build when the weather clears up.
Thank you! I hope life starts treating you more kindly in the near future!
100% Music matters.
I went to Hugman's as I'm a tiki fanatic to experience my birthday escape. The decor , lighting, drinks great 👍 BUT the music was not giving the vibe of an exotic tropical getaway. BARTENDERS...ITS NOT YOUR NIGHTOUT.
So say we all.
Fascinating viewing 😊
Thank you!
Never seen you so amped about a topic, but 100% agree with your thoughts!
I gots a bee in my bonnet! 🤣
Such a great intro to those who may not know what to play or even what musical definition to look for. I'm definitely no expert and you brought up some artists I need to check out. One thing I will say is, with the cocktail and rum connection, I'll add some Caribbean tunes to my personal playlist. It is still "tropical escape" music just not polynesian. And I have been to some professional tiki bars and heard ska, reggae or calypso and felt it fit in just fine. Keep up the good work!
Thanks, Chris! In part 2 I venture into the Caribbean a bit!
Thanks for this! I live in Hawaii (born and raised) but now only getting into the Tiki lifestyle, really love your list of music to look for...didn't know there were so many diverse artists from all over the world making Tiki music!
You didn't need to "get into tiki" because you freaking live in Hawaii! 😅 The rest of us are trying to build make-believe paradise but you actually live in the real thing! That said, thanks for the kind words! I've barely scratched the surface with my three episodes on tiki music--there's so much more great stuff out there to discover, and that's where the real fun lies, in the discovery!
I completely agree with everything you say in this video! Great video!
Thanks Ray! That means a lot coming from you!
Thank you! You’re speaking the truth and your video is turning me on to some new musicians.
Ozzy Kotani is my ultimate favorite!!!
Good choice! His guitar skills are magnificent!
Excellent video. Thank you for bringing up Slack Key Guitar. It's one of my favorite styles to play at open mics
It's so good! I mean, slack key isn't for those who want to pump up the energy but that's not always the vibe you need. For something chill and relaxing, it can't be beat.
@@LagoonofMystery Have you ever thought about doing something with tiki food? Beachbum Barry has a book on some of the vintage restaurant's dishes, but I've only seen one video about it here on UA-cam.
@@thatblondartist1295 That's an idea worth considering. I have Beachbum Berry's Taboo Table, but have to say it's the weakest of his various books. Apart from Crab Rangoon and a few other dishes, most of the menu items on Trader Vic's and Don the Beachcomber's menus were Cantonese recipes with South Pacific names. That's kinda underwhelming given the wide array of international fare we have access to these days.
Personally, I think tropical dishes from the Caribbean and South America work well in a tiki setting. Jerk chicken tacos and moqueqa (Brazilian fish stew) are great choices. Let me ponder a bit and see if I can come up with anything worth saying on the topic!
]
I don’t hear enough appreciation for Kenny Sasaki! He’s an absolute beast.
Oh, that's definitely a good one! I have several of his albums!
@@LagoonofMystery what format are they on, I’ve been trying to find his albums online.
@@whatsguccivespucci4379 Try this link: www.kensasaki.com/music/
It's a shame they sink that amount of money and then ruin it with poor management. I blame the management more than the bartenders because they don't direct their behavior. I would probably travel to Hugman's Oasis if I knew the music was sympathetic.
My friend Dennis and I were asked to meet with the new twenty something bar manager (as unpaid "Tiki consultants", lol) in the last days of Trader Vic's here in Dallas. He wanted to "put his mark" on the bar area by installing 4 large screen TVs and broadcasting sports on them. (Because apparently there is a shortage of sports bars here in Dallas.) Started Hip Hop Thursdays with a live DJ. No joke. They were out of business in 60 days. Won the argument on TVs with the General Manager but lost on the music. We even tried to suggest Tipsy and groups like that as a music compromise. Drove away the tiki crowd and didn't attract any new customers. I just don't understand how they can't get basics straight in a theme bar.
It's astonishing how investors will spend so much on everything else but act like music doesn't matter. NOBODY has ever walked into a tiki bar and left, complaining "Yeah, the decor and drinks were great, but they were playing Esquivel! Talk about lame!"
A tiki bar playlist does not have to be exclusively exotica to be appropriate. Heck, it doesn't have to contain ANY exotica at all. But it must transport the listener. I'll get into other, more far-flung genres in part 2!
I moved back to College Station, TX not long ago. Are there any Tiki bars in Austin worth stopping by?
Tiki Tatsu-ya on South Lamar is a top 10 tiki destination nationally. It's the best in Texas, and although we're late to the party, Texas now has a solid tiki bar scene. It is a fantastic experience, no joke.
Highly suggest the album Eden’s Island by Eden Ahbez
Indeed, that is definitely a good suggestion. I have the expanded version including additional songs Ahbez wrote that were recorded by others, plus Dharmaland, recorded by Ixtahuele. Excellent music all around!
Would Don Ho be appropriate music for a Tiki bar?
Sure. Don Ho straddles the overlap between classic hapa haole (think Alfred Apaka) and lounge. I wouldn't want Don Ho to be the *only* music played in my tiki bar, but he's great to mix in.
Wasnt Hilo Hattie in Blue Hawaii with Elvis?
Yes! She was indeed!
Yeah the music at Hugmans is not good, such a waste of Bamboo Ben's decor. Also when I was there the Waiter/Waitress seemed pretty clueless and the bartenders definitely didn't seem like they cared all that much, they didn't seem to be tiki bartenders specifically.
I have heard the bartender situation has improved in recent months, so I hope to make it there soon and check on their progress myself.
Good info Daddy-O!
I'm hip to that!