The aural island idyll of gentle breezes wafting through swaying palms and waves softly breaking onto pristine shores is taking a real battering in Fiji. You can’t go anywhere without being assailed by rock music played at the highest decibels and Grubsheet, for one, has had enough. We want paradise restored – to not only be able to smell the Frangipani but to hear the birds, the other sounds of nature and the occasional strumming of an island combo. And, most important of all, to have a civilised conversation with another human being without having to shout into their ear or look blankly as they shout back, not being able to comprehend a word they say. We keep running into people who say “Remember, I told you that story when I saw you at such-and-such a function”. It’s usually accompanied by a look of mild pity at what they clearly regard as our early onset dementia. Yes, you might well have told us that story. But all we saw was your mouth moving energetically while we feigned interest, unable to admit that we couldn’t hear a word you said because of the din consuming the entire proceedings. Doof, doof. Blast, blast. Blare, blare.
Now this is not an attack on anyone in particular and especially the country’s better musicians, who struggle enough to make a decent living without old fogies like Gubsheet making it any harder. Never mind their great musical skills. People like Ken Jansen Ho and Knox Kalounisiga happen to be smart, interesting people and we don’t fancy our usual friendly discourse being replaced next time we meet with a guitar planted on our head. The point is that there’s a time and a place for everything. If you want to hear loud music, you should be able to find it in our bars, clubs and concert venues. It shouldn’t be coming to you, especially at public events when the whole idea is for people to meet and have civilised conversations.
What is the point of getting every mover and shaker in Fiji into a room and then turning up the volume so all they can do is look at each other? And yet that’s precisely what happened at three of the biggest and most prestigious events of the last few months – the launch of the new Fiji Airways, the opening of Tappoo City and the extravagant function that heralded the arrival of Bred Bank. Once the music started, the conversation died. And when that happened, is it any wonder that alcohol consumption went up? Wrapping your lips around a glass is – after all -the customary fallback position if forming words is rendered completely useless.
How on earth public figures like the President and Prime Minister cope is beyond us. All that smiling and nodding and pretending to hear what’s being said. Grubsheet has seen the inside of the ears of some of Fiji’s most distinguished citizens on such occasions. We’re resolved, as a result, to at least try to control the tufts of hair that inhabit our own aural crevices. But it’s not only undignified for those involved. These are also missed opportunities for the exchange of ideas. The pounding beat means that only the smallest of small talk is possible. This, of course, may suit some people with much to be modest about in an intellectual sense. But Grubsheet is continually leaving functions in Fiji wishing there’d been more opportunities for conversation before the band struck up and rendered everyone speechless. Doof, doof. Blast, blast. Blare, blare.
Call me old fashioned. Call me Qase. But seriously. We live in one of the most peaceful backwaters on God’s planet. So why on earth do we insist on having the void filled so mercilessly? Get into a cab and the radio is up full blare. Walk into a café or restaurant and the music is up full blare. We were even on the Bula Bus at Denarau last weekend with a speaker right above our heads subjecting us to a full aural assault. Is this what visitors to Fiji come for? To be assailed by the same inane rock music that assails them at home from the time the clock radio bursts into life to drag them into their sorry lives? Haven’t they come here to get away from it all? Has anyone asked them if they’d prefer to have the sound turned down or better still, turned off? Has anyone thought that they might prefer an unamplified Fijian string band to the tortured cries of yet another banshee from the world of rock? Not on your nelly. They’ll get what they get whether they like it or not. Doof, doof. Blast, blast. Blare, blare.
Not so long ago, Grubsheet almost lost it altogether at the Sofitel Fiji – in our experience, a chronic offender when it comes to aural rape. We were at the beachfront restaurant engaged in conversation with one of Fiji’s most senior diplomats. Suddenly, the music came on at a volume clearly designed for the edification of the restaurant staff, not the guests. Why? Because we could no longer hear ourselves talk. Grubsheet went over and politely requested that the music be turned down. Down it went for a few minutes before rising again. This time the request wasn’t so polite and what should have been a pleasant evening was marred by unpleasantness. Yes, we’re cantankerous at the best of times but this kind of thing really sets us off. Of all the Denarau resorts, the Sofitel is easily the worst. At the AON Excellence in Tourism Awards last weekend, the thick doors into the ballroom couldn’t muffle the sound of the band playing in the adjacent lounge. And in that lounge, normal conversation was impossible, any conversation nigh on impossible. For Grubsheet, the Sofitel has become synonymous not for “smooth jazz” French sophistication in an island setting – as one might imagine – but our notion of aural hell. Doof, doof. Blast, blast. Blare,blare.
And why western music at all in these places – the memory of the tragic Whitney Houston violated by yet another tortured cover version of I Wanna Dance with Somebody? No I don’t. I wanna sit here having a quiet drink and a quiet chat with my companions. And if I wanna hear any music at all, I wanna hear Fijian music. In the old days in such places, there’d be half a dozen guys with ukuleles and guitars and an upturned tea chest for a double bass singing a clutch of local songs – Tagimoucia, Lomoloma, Oi lei Susi – and breaking at decent intervals for a couple of bilo or more before picking up the rhythm again. As they got more and more relaxed, so did the patrons. Now, we’re all reduced to sitting there looking at each other while some reject from Samoa’s Got Talent strangles the nearest cat.
How is this helping to promote Fijian music? Yes, it may be helping to promote the careers of some Fijian musicians. But what our international visitors are getting is invariably what they get at home, only not nearly as good. Let’s get these global wannabes replaced with ordinary local people who can play and sing at conversational level during the conversational hours. And let’s get the banshees banished from our hotel lounges and bars and pushed back into the late hours when conversation has either petered out or is no longer physically possible. Confine them to their gloomy, smoke filled venues where they can scream as loud as they like. And at least give the rest of us a fighting chance to get to know each other properly and better still, to rediscover the joys of the sounds of silence.
Vinaka, Graham. This has been a long time coming. Couldn’t agree with you more.
Bang on Graham. I checked into FJ911 bound for Sydney on Saturday and as I entered the duty free shopping area en route for the escalator to the departure lounge was rather shocked to hear Rihanna and other Hip Hop songs being played over the Terminal’s sound system. I agree that Fijian music should be played and urge the ATS in Nadi to do so. It is much mire easier on the ear and its authentic.
No offence to Rihanna. She is a mega-star in her own right. But if we wanna promote Fiji as a stress free destination, then perhaps the soothing melodoius serenades of Jese Mucunabitu, Ofa Ali et al and the harmony of the Domo Ni Cakau, Dokidoki (the harmony in their Gospel songs are superb) etc, is the way to go. Can someone please tell Minister of Tourism Khaiyum to fix this issue at Nadi Terminal. .
Graham, I agree with the sentiments about the growing decibel problem in Fiji. This is appears to be one of the side effects of marketing, that draws the attention of the masses and this bad habit has found its way to the mentality of staff in prestigious hotels, restaurants, public transport and even church services who erroneously equate bombastic music to exceptional service. On the note of foreign music pervasively dominating the radio waves is another disconcerting aspect, which regulators in Fiji have failed miserably to protect local content, This applies to music and television programs where these media outlets have failed to induce local content and are dumping overseas media (akin to the fatty flaps) and profiting at the expense of local artists. Don’t get me wrong, as I appreciate international talent as much as the next person, but not at the expense of the local industry. A case in point, is the Fiji Television industry where a decade or so with the medium, Fiji has yet to produce a local, self sustaining drama television series. I don’t think these TV companies are fulfilling local content by airing interviews, sports coverage and some mediocre talk radio program simulcasted on TV. Local content means having a drama like a Fiji based Shortland street with Fiji actors. I do understand that Fiji TV 1 used to air a local drama called “Suva City” in the late 90s but this soon was abandoned and with it, the destiny of home grown actors, screenwriters, directors, wardrobe designers etc. I have a dream….
Hahahahaha. Totally agree with your comments, Grubsheet.
Graham, you never cease to amaze me! So many words to say so little. What’s your take on the amended party decree, on the new charges against Qarase, on the delay in the constitutional assembly, on Bainimarama’s education?
My take, Katarina? I’d rather leave it. Sorry to disappoint but I’ve declared a politics-free zone around me this weekend. Life is depressing enough as it is. It’s a wet Saturday night in Suva, I’m having a “dry” weekend and I can’t go out anyway because I can’t hear what people are saying over the din at Traps or O’Reillys.
But feel free to comment on these matters of vital importance yourself. Tell you what. I’ll suspend my usual relevance test if you come up with something interesting. It’s not that I don’t want to discuss these issues. Just that I need a rest. Hope you’re enjoying the weekend yourself.
Graham – You must have realised that there is an inverse relationship between one’s age and the level of music one can comfortably tolerate. Traps and O’s are predominantly under 30’s and if they played quiet background music would soon be empty. Shops, buses, restaurants and hotels are a different matter and too often deserve your criticism – reminding me of Churchill’s description of Golf – a beautiful walk in the countryside…………ruined! Perhaps the reborn GPH will bring back a string quartet for you, although a Tom Mawi trio would do just as well.
Liam, thanks for reminding me about Tom Mawi, who I should have mentioned as being up there with the best. It’s always a delight to hear him on the Holiday Inn terrace, as I’m sure you’ll agree.
I was trying to make the point that I have nothing against loud music when it’s played in Traps or O’Reilly’s. My comment to Katarina was tongue in cheek. If anyone doesn’t like it, of course, they can leave.
What I especially don’t like is having loud music drowning out social events where people are trying to mix. I know I’m over the hill but believe it or not, some of my younger friends agree. I’ve had a lovely message from the even more lovely Michelle Rounds, who says she thoroughly agrees with the sentiment of this posting. I certainly concur with her that we need more jazz in Fiji.
In vino veritas, as always.
@ Katarina
Pull your head out of your chick arse baby!
Coz its so far up and stuck there that you have lost sight of reality.
There is a problem with music in Fiji and the playing and selling of it… that’s the broad subject that Graham in coming from.
But in your cloistered little tight-ass view, we should all be worrying about politics! Honestly. babe you need a little vaseline to relax you …and get you ready for the real world in Fiji!
Let me give you an example of how the music industry in Fiji is ripping people off….you hear so much about artists complaining about ‘copyright’ etc but the merchants who sell and profit their music are the biggeste rip off merchants!
Last saturday ( 2 Mar 13) at the Departure Lounge at Nadi, I bought a “Remix” CD’s of Danny Costello and another Remix CD titled ” Toso Mai Hit The Dance Floor Lewa” (Vol 9) produced by Procera.
Well that CD is a bunghole…you try playing it in any CD player and it wont play!
Agree, I should have got the outlet to play the music before I bought it…but I was about to board and thought I would listen to some Fijian music on my 12 hour flight to LA. But it turned out to be a dud CD!
That’s another area that the Fijian authorities should look at. I mean, you cant be selling dud CD’s and DVD’s at your outlets at your international airport!
Someone should tell the Minister responsible that we, who come to Fiji and want to take an audio momento of Fijian culture and music etc, are being ripped off by unscrupulous music merchants who sell us dud CD’s and DVD’s.
Now babe, go tell your authorities that….pull your head out of yoiur ass and smell the roses of the real world and rip off merchants whio operate in Fiji under the guise of ‘reputable’ brands
Thanks for the advise Komai. And sorry for your little mishap at the airport. Life can be quite a challenge indeed.
Sorry Katrina. I should not have been so harsh in my comments…but I feel ripped off by the music merchants in Fiji…you had nothing to do with it……but really, Fiji politics is so tame compared to Burma and Syria etc…that I cant see why you are complaining so much!
Well said, Graham. It’s noise pollution. It is also a health hazard. I read somewhere that people these days are hard of hearing, if not deaf, by the time they are 30 years old. Ridiculous.
Mr Davis, spot on as usual. I read your column in the Fiji Sun this morning and just had to come here to say how much I agreed with it.
Mr Liam is very true. When you go to O’Rs or Traps you know what to expect.
But when you go to what should be a quiet place and instead the music is blasting away loudly just because the staff like it andyou have to wonder who is running the place.
Some of the coffee places seem to be trying to be like Traps rather than somewhere to go for a quiet coffee and talking with friends..
But my biggest dislike is the shops which blast people walking along the street with their so called music and radio announcers trying to sell their products. What is Mr Umaria doing about this.
Oh, I thought we all knew what Umaria was up to…….cleaning up the mess in the City of Suva…….!!.
….well much like the dog licking up his balls to clean him-self.
The noise….oh the noise…tell me about it…..going to a prayer function held in a double garage (approx. 5m x 5m), with bhajan singing and and some smart ass family member with some basic knowledge of installing surround system/speakers…….oh boy. And the bhajan singers shouting on top of their voices…..
And I was told the intense “noise” was to shoo away the cockroachers and machar….
And thank god for Grubsheet…..where people who live on the bright side often go to read and make sense of issues…..and cin cin those who walk the dark alleys.
Can we imagine Graham with a microphone, every week in Sukuna Park…..
…..say what????
No thanks. I love Graham although have never met him, but let’s leave the mikes for the politicians who are about to get going again. That’s where cin cin will be his fascist best! Heil cin cin! Off to the concentration camps go the Indos, Davieses, gays and Others who will not conform to the great racial supremacy mantra!
Not sure why I’ve been dragged into this…fascist, racist?….,you’ve lost me.
Unusually, I agree with Graham 100%, though try spending 5 hours on a Malaysian bus, between the icey aircon and the blaring videos, you’ll be hankering for Traps on a Friday night……..
Hi graham , long time nothing to say as lot of things are changing in Fiji . Very humiliating videos regarding prisoners,
Never in Fiji people were so cruel towards their own country men.
Iif there was a issues , you shape up one on one and then shake hands and drink grog together,
The hate shown by the police towards the prisoners is not the Fijian way , I used to be a very strong supporter of the clean up campaign but I don’t have any faith anymore
Just a reminder , you have my details when I signed up to blog, just be careful about my details as I will be speaking with AFP regarding you releasing information to the Fijian authorities,
Watch yourself mate , you have to be back in auz.
Cheers
Vinny, what on earth are you on about? Are you on some kind of medication? I agree with you about the police video but the rest of your posting is off the wall.
Wazzup Vinny,
Whatever it was, was not state sanctioned…right. Maybe the “cops” got it wrong. And we really don’t know what happened but eventually justice will be done….I have faith in the system.
Wazzup with you mate and all this Qorvis thingi……and the AFP bulls… and the name being released…..
Chill out bro.
Am I , that’s news to me,
Stop judging people , put yourself in others position and think, you work for the America pr firm that works for the gov.
Any ways, what ever you say, final goodbye.
Cheers
Yes, Vinny, I work for Qorvis in Fiji. But the idea that I would provide your “information” – what, your email address? – to the Fijian authorities and you have to inform the Australian Federal Police is nuts. You didn’t “sign up” for anything here, mate. All I’ve got is the email address that accompanies your posting, which anyone has to provide on WordPress. So you are both paranoid and impertinent.
Don’t worry Graham about people like Vinny.
Keep on writing GD for we love your writings.
You are an inspiration and a light in times such as this for our beloved country Fiji.
And we thank you Sir.
Vinny,
You trying to make something out of nothing?
Come on mate…………… go back to where you came from.
You stink man!!!
Couldn’t agree more with this! And not just for Fiji! Maybe I’m getting old as well, but perhaps it’s also because people are getting more and more deaf, having being exposed to louder and louder music. I saw a news item with a specialist predicting the biggest medical expense in the next 50 years to be dealing with deafness!
But in the islands, it’s sadder, as it is generally known as a place to chill out – maybe that’s the tourist in me, but I think a lot is lost if we don’t listen – not least the intelligent and warm benefits of enjoying a conversation!
In Samoa and in some cases in Fiji, I was disappointed when going to church that the singing has in recent years been accompanied by loud keyboards and synthes! Drowned out are the melodic and stunning voices that used to fill the church. Why oh why oh why?? Save the cost on those things and let the talent be heard!
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