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Show LOCAL MUSIC Acoustic Instruments f, Let's not talk trash ... $3/set Phosphor Bronze ~~ Martin Strings No better package, no better price. 7 7 4 East 800 South 539--1439 NEWSPAPER Published twice monthly Current news, Arts & Entertainment Information Pick up one today atone of 550 convenient locations Listen to the Spock-ing Bird A folkie looks at 'Filking' I felt a bit apprehensive as I headed back toward Salt Lake City's Quality Inn, site of 1993's local science fiction convention. Called CONduit ill, the convention, or CON, as fans call them, was my first real entry into the world of sci-fi fandom. All day that Saturday, I had joined fantasy garners, trekkies, and fellow authors to explore the ramifications of this ever growing subculture. There was one ramification I hadn't yet explored, though, and it made me curious. What was "filking," anyway? I had first been introduced to the term by fellow fantasy author, Barbara Hambly. Filking, she told me, was the practice of putting science fiction words to popular songs. "Big deal," I thought. ''Who cares about parodies?" But on reading my CON schedule, I saw so many hours blocked out for filking concerts, filking workshops, and just plain filking, I though these people must be doing pretty good parodies. Either that, or these people are just plain weird. At that moment, a fellow walked by wearing a long, white wig, black cape, laser pistol on hip and black shoe polish for makeup ... Curious despite reservations, I checked out a filking seminar. The professional filkers leading the seminar spent several minute trying to come up with a definition, without success. Then, one of them picked up a guitar and sang a sad ballad based on the classic short story, Flowers for Algernon. "That's a £ilk song," she said. "That's not a parody," I said. "Nope," she said. ''Why don't you join us in the CONsuite tonight? Then you'll understand." So here I was, headed for the aforementioned room, still in my monkey suit from a date, but with my trusty and long-suffering guitar in tow. The CONsuite was the convention's relaxand- have-a-munchie center, a large room from which most of the furniture and been removed. I found about 30 people jamming the place. Science fiction author Larry Niven showed up , along with some of the CON's organizaers and professional filkers, Cat Faber and Kathy Mar. variety was the dress code of the night: a skinny kid wearing a Star Fleet uniform and pointy Mr. Spock ears sat next to a 50-year-old guy in a T -shirt. Cat Faber wore a long dress and late-60s style flowers in her hair. Kathy Mar, a large woman, full of smiles, wore standard blue jeans and a blouse with buttons all over it. "Harmony Slut," one button read ... "I'll Sing With Anybody," another read ... "Sleep Is For The Weak And Sickly'' .. . "These seem like nice people," I thought as I unpacked my axe. Sure enough, the first song was a parody. Called You Bash the Balrog, it was about an elf and a dwarf engaged in a bit of Middle Earth thievery-to the tune of Waltzing Matilda. then Kathy Mar did a gut-buster about cats getting turned into road waffles, and Cat Faber did a Stephen King-is number about murder victims returning from the dead--set to a lilting, eerie Celtic melody. I was having fun, and when someone hauled out a copy of Rise Up Singing, I realized I really was with friends. Waltzing With Bears was requested, and when I got my turn, I did an environmental original I call, Treat Your Mother Kindly. I expressed doubts as to whether it would even fit as a £ilk song ( I had not even hears of filking when I wrote it) but continued next page 1 0 Intermountain Acoustic Musician, June 1993 |
