#A-TO-Z CHALLENGE – LETTER “X” – SWAMI X

SWAMI X

I honestly had not clue one as to what I was going to write about for my letter “X” when I reached this juncture. So, I did what any good researcher does in a pinch (forget about preparing ahead, I do everything in real-time) I hit Wikipedia up for a suggestion and discovered a little-known boardwalk performer in America. . .

Swami X is an American boardwalk performer and stand-up comedian. Active from the 1970s to 1985, he performed in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, and New York. He was known for bawdy sexual humor and political invective.

His act was a monologue mixing pity sociopolitical observations with poetry, sarcasm and humor, which typically included blasphemy, profanity and attacking the shibboleths of the day – producing “pleased shock and delighted outrage” in observers. His notable lines include”

• “How do we know Jesus Christ was Jewish? Because he went into his Father's business.”
• “Sex is not the answer. Sex is the question. 'Yes' is the answer.”
• “If I had known I would live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.”

                                                                                                        

Swami X's 88th Birthday, I presume with my faboo upside-down reading superpowers!

He was known for appearing on the Venice Boardwalk, at the UCLA and the U. C. Berkely campuses, in San Francisco (probably on the wharf or near Ghirardelli Square), and at Washington Park in NYC. He retired in 1985. In 2009 the mayor of L. A., Antonio Villaraigosa, presented him with an official proclamation.

The fun part of this came when I was looking for pictures. The disambiguation is wide and wonderful in the images; everything from real Swamis to Swami Comedy Acts. Maybe I should have done my whole A-to-Z them on Swamis. On second thought, no. It's been hard enough coming up with entertaining Humorists, or witty observations about Humor itself. I actually believe I would have been better off just writing 26 stories about my crazy family; God knows there's material enough!

Anyway, I found these delightful pictures of some Swamis, but not OUR Swami:

I'm guessing this is some kind of Bollywood Musical Extravaganza-type Comedy. It looks to be a laff-riot!

 Presenting Swami Beyondananda! At the Unitarian Fellowship, of all places. There is so much going on here. Would the Indian defamation league complain? Is there an Indian defamation league? This is so fitting for Unitarians, whose creed seems to be "whatever, whomever, all ever, forever". Or something. The concept of a 2-man, 1-man show has me a little befuddled as well. Does this guy use a sock puppet for his alter ego? Or just put on his Swami hat?

Swami who is a real Swami; alas I couldn't find his name. He also looks like he's ready for his tryout in the latest revival of "Hair", as it was during the age of love and peace and harmony. I miss those days.

 Okay this is OUR Swami, Swami X. He looks like a cross between "Easy Rider" and a parade float! I remember the street performers in San Francisco back in the early 70s. I missed this, because I surely would have remembered him, had I seen him. I'm sorry I missed him.

 

Swami X in his days of retirement, looking rather back-woodsish and Jeremiah Johnson-like.

 

BLOGGING FROM A TO Z APRIL 2013 – LETTER “X”

XYLOPHONE

Xylophone is a natural fit, being a percussion instrument in an orchestra. I thought of X-ray and the “X-Files” which I adore, but ended up with xylophone, as I knew I would; it was inevitable. When I was a kid, playing the viola in the San Jose Youth Symphony, we routinely tackled all sorts of music that we didn't play in public schools, or private schools for that matter. The reasons being, A) the instrumentation was always a bit off, 50 violins, 1 viola no cellos, and 2 string basses. There would be 75 clarinet players, but no sax players. That sort of thing.

A colorful group! They make me happy and I haven't heard a note yet!

Then, there was the matter of talent. Not everyone could afford private lessons, or wanted them. Some of the students didn't even want to be playing whatever it was they were playing. One kid got stuck with a bassoon, because it was all that was left in the band room and he was late the day they handed out the instruments. We had to listen to him carp all year. Better than listening to his playing.

Violins are a special kind of Hell. When you first start out on it, it sounds horrific. I don't care if you're Heifitz, you are going to suck out loud. Your talent and ear determines how long you will suck. That and the forbearance of your parents. I was banished to the garage until I made it non-suckable. About the time I achieved that, I discovered the viola and switched, and didn't pick up a violin for 30 years, until someone offered me lots and lots of money. I still think I suck at it, but no one's complained yet; I still prefer my viola.

It looks like an upside-down piano keyboard; I'm a bit dim about anything non-string in music.

Anyway, back to the Youth Symphony. We were playing things like Brahms' 3^rd Symphony, and Schumann's 4^th Symphony. Franck's D Minor Symphony and Liszt. So, one of our concerts was devoted to playing Camille Saint-Saëns' “Carnival of the Animals.” This piece has 14 movements, each devoted to an animal, or group of animals. There is one called “Aquarium” which is haunting, one called “Personages with Long Ears,” one named “Pianists,” ( Saint-Saëns could be wry) and one called “Fossils.” This is depicted by the xylophone, wooden, but not a marimba, as there are various types. So, the xylophone resembles dry bones.

Of course, now that I've thought of this piece that I played when I was about 14 and have never played again (it's not a hugely popular piece in the symphonic world) I can't get this tune out of my head. It's quite catchy. I'm not a huge fan for French composers by and large, but I do enjoy Camille Saint-Saëns and his compatriot Hector Berlioz. They both knew how to push the envelope for modern symphonies. Hope you enjoy the fossils!