<6 degrees of separation: Debora Iyall & Chinook Jargon

[Mike Cleven]

The McDonald Family wrote:
>
> At 12:11 AM 5/2/2001 -0700, you wrote:
> >ddr11 at COLUMBIA.EDU wrote:
> >>
> >> Klahowya!
> >>
> >> Please read the subject line as "Less than six degrees..."
> >>
> >> This email is another that emerged from frivolity into edification.
> >>
> >> New Wave singer Debora Iyall, of the San Francisco band Romeo Void, is
> >> descended from the Cowlitz tribe of Washington State.
> >>
> >> The Iyalls are apparently one of the major Cowlitz families.  (When
> >> Mildred[?] Iyall of the Coeur d'Alene tribe died this winter, I wondered
> >> whether she was related to Debora.  In the 1980's, MTV would mention from
> >> time to time that Debora was "from Spokane, WA".)
> >>
> >> At any rate, I'm guessing that this musician is closer to Chinook Jargon
> >> than 6 degrees of separation.  It'd probably take just one link.
> >>
> >> I'll now post a separate message about Cowlitz people and the Jargon, to
> >> atone for my lollygagging.  I've got boogobs of info for you.
> >
> >Boogobs?  Which dialect of English is that?  Spokanese?
> >
> >Sounds like you're subliminally guilty about "lollygagging" over Debora
> >Iyall, who I hope might be at least flattered for your appreciation, if
> >only she knew.  Only having MuchMusic instead of MTV, I don't think I've
> >ever seen her, as if I watched MuchMusic at all (it's far better than
> >MTV, but that's not saying much); but the TV pop lists are pretty
> >different on either side of the border.  What do you mean by "New Wave";
> >was she around in the early '80s or is this a postmod rehash of same?
>
> I saw the video of "Never Say Never" on an 80's weekend on Muchmoremusic.
> Basically, Romeo Void was an early 1980's group that played pop music with a
> punk edge to it, hence New Wave. Blondie and early U2 were also New Wave, if
> that means anything.

I'd forgotten Romeo Void; they were about fourth or third-and-a-half
wave, in the time once producers got hold of things and started turning
it all back into bubblegum (Duran Duran, Fixx etc.); First Wave was
Blondie, XTC, B-52s and so on; U2 wound up with a New Wave tag although
I don't think it's quite accurate; it all had to do with their timing.
Same with when Bowie and the Stones and other old codgers started
imitating Wave's backbeat and taking over the new sound.  Wave went from
radical experimentalism to lip gloss _way_ too fast....

Sorry to be off-topic for Chinook....

MC