Presentation : Music of the Amis People’s
FALL SEMESTER 2018
Eugene Yuen
Background of the Amis
- One of the sixteen officially recognized Native tribes in Taiwan
- Income mainly derived from Farming
- Distinct language, culture and history from the Chinese
Elder’s Drinking Song
- Sang by the elderly couple Kuo Ying-Nan and Kuo Hsin-Chu
- Chanted with a broad and open voice, lead by one voice lead followed by others
- Expressive song that is sung by elders in the tribes while drinking
- Recorded by the World Cultures Institute of Paris in 1988 for archival purpose
Copyright Infringements
- German Pop group Enigma most popular international single - Return to Innocence
- About half of the song is directly mixed from Elder’s Drinking Song
- Theme further popularized across the world by commercial of Atlanta Olympic 1996
- The Kuos was totally oblivious
- No permission given, no credits as creators and performers, no royalties
- Lawsuit filed in 1997 in Federal Court in California
International Recognition
- Lawsuit concluded after 3 years through settlement of an undisclosed amount
- Re-recorded songs from the Amis by the Kuos in 1998 by belgium musician Dan
Lacksman . Album named Circle of Life
- Both of the Kuos passed away in 2002
1
Map of Taiwan - the green area indicates where the Amis people lives
Audio and Video References :
Elder’s Drinking Song w/o accompaniment - Original Recording Acapella
1996 Olympic Brings the World Together Commercial
Enigma - Return To Innocence
Elder’s Drinking Song with accompaniment - Studio recorded
2
