I find it interesting that a piece I wrote to talk about a silenced culture has a comment section populated by those wanting to further silence those voices. The words were included in the video so that you could read along. Tanya's throat singing is meant to carry the emotion of the piece. Pain, frustration, fear, anger, and every other complex feeling that stems from the devastating trials endured by the First Nations. Tanya and Kym's voices carry more emotional weight than my words do. I'm glad this conversation is happening. Thanks to everyone who is sharing the poem. Listening isn't always meant to be an easy or relaxing practice... it should also challenge us.

@connissia

7 жыл бұрын

That was exactly what I thought when I watched this. This video as a whole with the spoken words, the chants and the pictures combined is ART. I LOVED the chanting it adds a layer of tension to your poetry. I empathize with the chanters emotions as I listen to their story. I encourage people to listen to it again with an open mind. It's fabulous!

@noom6272

7 жыл бұрын

Shane Koyczan that people don't like the background noises going on is not so much about wanting to silence voices, but more about taste. I really think the poem is good, I'm from the Netherlands but the background stuff is just unpleasant for ME. No offense to anyone but it's my taste and it can be beautiful in others eyes

@muderbuder

7 жыл бұрын

Shane Koyczan I understand about this but you should do more poems again they have inspired me to start writing I and another friend have actually gotten decent at writing songs and poems about different things and we hope we can change as many people's lives for the better as possible ......and I'd even like your honest opinion of some of our poems and songs we have written so far and see what you think no crap of saying we're good if were not just honesty

@ilikewaffles889

7 жыл бұрын

Shane Koyczan I loved it, any new work that we can look forward to?😀

@theprince1154

7 жыл бұрын

Shane Koyczan i fucking love you man you habe saved my life

Important for many of you to know, I think: the "background sounds" in this video are made by an Inuit throat-singing artist named Tanya Tagaq. This artist is an Indigenous woman and the sounds she makes are a virtuosic musical form she has evolved from her cultural roots. If you have never heard Inuit throat singing before, your ears may need some exposure and time to adjust and learn how to appreciate the nuances of her music. I encourage everyone to do some research and listening beyond this piece to familiarize yourself with the art form and culture represented here, instead of judging them with ears that have not been raised to appreciate it. Personally, I hear her work here as telling a part of the story that Shayne's words do not. Like any good work of art, the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. ❤️

@badbehavioursage

7 жыл бұрын

Joanna Chapman-Smith Well said!

@kfoxoimaok

7 жыл бұрын

I don't think the problem was that the throat singing is bad, rather it was poorly balanced with him talking. Also if you say it was more important than his words, why have him speaking at all. I feel it would be more powerful and help those who don't understand the culture understand better. That is like telling someone to understand a language that they do not know how to speak. I appreciate the message and it is disappointing the and disgusting that colonists arrived and caused such a genocide. I really don't appreciate being told I'm trying to silence a culture due to poor understanding of balance, making something disturbing to get a point across is fine as long as it isnt distracting and makes the core message harder to understand. I have dyslexia so this was hell to get through because I couldn't concentrate on what the message was. It was obnoxious and with better sound balancing this would be more accessible to people wanting to learn about the dying culture and try to preserve it.

this is beautiful, and the throat singing is beautiful, no matter what anyone says, those who understand the sacred traditions of the north american natives are smiling, and we are happy that you chose to expose the world to us in such a beautiful and yet still bluntly honest way. Thank you, Shane.

"What value does a word have if all it ever does is break?" None. But hardly anyone understands that. Amazing, as always.

Everyone is completely missing the point of the background music. It's there to add depth and, assuming it is native singing, give you a taste of the lost culture he talks about. All these rude comments are proof that the message went over your heads

@fireblaze215

7 жыл бұрын

patronsaint yes. It is native throat singing. I believe it originated from Canada. It doesn't bother me because I grew up hearing native customs and it brings another level of depth in the poem. Love ya Shame. You always have something inspirational.

@leximatie7279

7 жыл бұрын

patronsaint it's not that we don't miss the point of it, it's just overwhelming. I was having issues hearing what he was saying over the singing, and when I turned it down I could only hear the singing and couldn't even hear the poetry to explain it. I don't want to blast this so I can hear it because then my family will give me very weird looks. Understand the situation before looking at everyone else and basically saying they are ignorant

@Sqmsh_Patricia

7 жыл бұрын

Yes, Shane is Canadian and this was about our history, about how our first nations' children were ripped away from their families and put into residential schools and how so many of them were abused at these schools. It's also about the huge number of first nations women who have gone missing over the last 20 or so years and little to nothing has been done about it. Truly shameful.

@lamp2323

5 жыл бұрын

I understand it but it was terrifying to hear at 10:39 at night in my dark room-

to the people who think the singing is too loud and distracts from the message: the music is the message of the poem. their screams and cries and voices are so loud because they have been silenced and suppressed for so long. They tell the story Shane is trying to tell. It's not comfortable to listen to because it's not a comfortable thing to discuss. It's not pretty, it's raw and real.

@calliebennett7261

2 жыл бұрын

Hi there. I completely admire and applaud the music and background noise as a method to add to the meaning/message of this amazing poem. However, I would not think it unreasonable to release a version without the background noise(?). I cannot speak on folks without conditions such as I, but with some differences/“difficulties” in hearing (at least being able to hear the spoken words, or at least even especially when reading the written words to match the spoken words is distracted by the musical sounds because of (personally) an attention-deficit disorder; it makes it hard to understand anything being said or written without putting the video on mute and pausing for section to read). I realize this may seem ridiculous, but as a huge fan for Shane, I’d hope there could be some accommodation be made for people who may feel the same struggle. Perhaps, it may only be me; and I do realize you’re comment is 4 years old - however, I had figured that my comment would have greater attention if I tacked it on to comment very high up. No malice or animus meant to you at all. Just suggesting another form of video producing the same poem without the sounds so we can actually hear it (without such stop & pause). Marvelous life to you!

@trinityfrank2526

2 жыл бұрын

@@calliebennett7261 as a fellow auditory-processing difficulties person, I completely see where you're coming from. I could understand not wanting it to be as loud in the background, but I personally think its presence in the background adds to its meaning :)

The music isn't distracting at all once you actually start listening the words. I have ADHD but once I started reading along I could listen without even having to look, it just takes a little effort at first but it's so worth it because it all falls together so nicely with the message. It's alright if you don't like it, but don't say that it's bad or make fun, this is art for the mature.

Loved every word, every image, every chant. For those who are saying they liked it but didn't like the background sounds, you need to look deeper and listen deeper. They emphasize the spoken word, they are a complementary and counter voice. This is not just the exquisite poetry of Shane, the video as a whole is a work of art! At times the chants are supposed to grate on you, irritate you, distract you, draw your attention. There are so many layers to this and I am a very poor wordsmith. It's a feeling deep in my chest, in my brain that I can't convey with words. Please listen to it again not just for Shane's words but as a whole.

@gabrielpena4687

7 жыл бұрын

Connissia agreed!

@swiftswalow

7 жыл бұрын

Connissia the problem is that shane voice does not complement well with the background voices, they are like the oposite: either shane should've used a more sweet melody or shane's voice should be more loud and istrionic. It's okay to critisize the work of an artist you love and not applaud to everything they do as if it were a masterpiece. That's how an artist grows: by noticing what failed last time.

@sarahjo5570

7 жыл бұрын

Connissia it relates to the poem and I entirely get that and find it amazing, but it's extremely distracting

@swiftswalow

7 жыл бұрын

exactly, i get what he was going for... but it ends up distracting the listener, damaging the impact of the words.

@Ren_out_of_Ten

7 жыл бұрын

I ended up watching it again because if you... thanks, I've decided I do like it, I was turned off by the music at first, but it does add some depth in its own unique way

I find the throat singing beautiful and meaningful. It is apart of Indigenous peoples culture and that's what this is about. It's about not hiding and forgetting their culture. I love it and the poem is beautiful thank you!

Miigwetch Shane. I am First Nations and this beautiful verbal tapestry sent chills down my back. Miigwetch 💜

intense chants throughout. really packs a punch

The collaboration of a speaker that helped me endure bullying when I was a kid and one of my favorite authors/artists as an adult, raising awareness of a historical and contemporary oppression of my indigenous brothers & sisters of North America, years before the schools that murdered children became mainstream information. I'm sorry I'm years late hearing this, but I'm glad I'm here now

There's a strong message in listening to this work as a whole - not just the poet's words. The voices in the background are uncomfortable to hear against the poetry, and I believe that's the point. We want to hear what's familiar to us. What's easy to understand easily evokes our empathy. And yet, the voices we claim to defend are not easy to understand. Their very sound reminds us of what we haven't done for them, of how we failed. The challenge of this work is to listen to the poet's words while trying to internalize the pain and anger of the voices in the background. They ARE uncomfortable to hear, but they are also a part of the poem.

So inspirational. Shane your work means so much to so many.

As a Canadian, I'm happy you brought up our past not a lot of people are aware of residential schools and the torture we put indigenous people through. And still to this day we abandon old treaties and risk their clean water for oil.

This is a gorgeous poem. So many times this man has inpired me,inspired me to make a change or to reach out to someone who seems to be in need. And the background no matter what it is will never change the fact that the things he is talking about are happening. Talking about what's wrong with the video itself is others way of brushing aside the fact that what he is saying is true. We need to make a change we need to get better. History does repeat itself,and that is not a good thing.

Im so glad I have notifications on

so many peeps complaining about the "background noise" that's traditional native singing. and while it did clash with Shane's voice I feel it was intentional. Shane must have subscribers all over the world so I shouldn't be surprised that people don't recognize what the music is but I still am. it's just my elementary school visited a historic home of the plains people every year and my highschool has frequent powwows so it's not uncommon to me.

Growing up I was given broken promises from my own mothers. My dad's side of the family kept me away from my native background and it makes me wish I knew more about my tribes history. My grandmother is one of few of our tribe but she just says to love one another, understand nature, give back to mother earth, and be willing to lend your ear to your elders.

The “grunting” and “moaning” your all complaining about is our culture, it’s how we sang, how we told our stories. It’s not grunting or moaning. It’s our people’s story.

"What future will they have, if our only gift to them is the lessons we forgot?" *DAMN.*

Such difficult beauty. For me, the issue is not whether I like this or not. This issue is whether I can truly sit and actively listen to it. To sit and truly absorb what it is trying to communicate without preparing a thousand excuses in the back of my head so I don't have to feel ... or be a part of this at all. Healing can't occur without acknowledgement and acknowledgement can't occur without actually listening; with our eyes, our ears and our heart. Thanks once again Shane.

Having just experienced both Tanya Tagaq and Shane in live performance (not together as they are on this video) here in Vancouver at The Drum is Calling Festival, I want to thank the artists involved for this incredible work of art. Shane Koyczan's meditations and thoughts on the impact of residential schools upon all of us is, as all his work is, powerful, intelligent and honest. It is art as TRUTH, and yes that word is shouted. I just saw him and The Short Story Long perform this last night, and am grateful to have this record of it, especially with the lyrics to assist as we try to move forward. Although unfamiliar with Kym Gouchie's work, thanks to them for the piece used here as well. I saw Tanya Tagaq for the first time earlier this week at the same festival and was mesmerized and astounded by her 45 minute improvised set. As a professional in the performing arts world who has seen a few things over the years, it is one of the most phenomenal live events I have ever experienced. To put her voice and chant together with Shane's poetry deepens both messages and gives "Inconvenient Skin" a pulse that needs to keep beating throughout the work that lies ahead for all of us.

Shane, your words put voice to how so many of us feel. No matter how many subscribers or followers you have, you're name will go down in history. you are the only poet off our time that I've heard and connected with. you're the voice of our generation and a hundred years from now students will be studying your works alongside Thoreau.

Thank you Shane for helping bring awareness. "we can be better" - yes, we can. Listen and learn. Thank you again for this jewel, Shane.

To anyone turning this off because of the background sounds/music: the point of the poem is about how you can no longer turn away from something (Indigenous Canadian history) just because you find it inconvenient or disturbing.

It makes me really happy to hear people who aren't Native standing up and speaking out for us, and being aware of our issues. Thank you, Shane.

Incredible. I often wish you were releasing content more frequently... but then you drop one, and it's so.... this.... and I can't help but sit back, stunned thinking.... "pppssshhhuuu... THAT is a well crafted piece of art. It would take me a lifetime to produce what Shane just did in months".

So beautiful Shane 😍

Shane, as a Navajo and Paiute person with little knowledge of my people because of what America did to us, I hear this poem and feel nothing but respect for you. always a favorite poet of mine, sir.

i came as soon as i heard

@ollietramel3746

7 жыл бұрын

percy angelica

@sydneyeason9497

7 жыл бұрын

Bookworm 13 ALL THE WAY FROM LONDON

@bayleeshort3082

7 жыл бұрын

DAMN!

@swiftswalow

7 жыл бұрын

Angelica, thank god, somebody who understands what i'm struggling here to do.

@Reimu8

7 жыл бұрын

I'm not here for you

Absolutely beautiful as always. The indigenous singing was moving and haunting, loved it

Yet again...you have me in tears. Thank you for this beautiful piece ❤

Truth... I am so AWED by this body of work...

Thank you for this powerful poem. The chorus of voices weave together with a particular Power. The polemical with the poetic. The women sound with the women who are here and those who are missing.

honestly shane knocked it out of the park with this piece!!! I personally absolutely love this one and I thank him tons for taking time to make this and recognize one of the biggest and tragic events that has happened in my peoples history that still affects each and every one of us today... The problems that first nations people are still going through to this day...This is beautiful and I wouldnt change one thing about it... the throat singing in this video adds that much more emotion to it i think... wonderful job with this one shane!!

I love your work the first time I heard you was my friend had our teacher in seventh grade play to this day...ever since that I've listen to all of your work and it has changed my perspective so much

The fact that people are putting off by the singing in the background says a lot. I guess it didn't bother me because I've been to native dances and stuff all my life>

I introduced my teacher to you and your work. She loves it. I am proud.

History the greatest prediction of the future...great job

I adored this Shane u are the reason I love poetry so glad ur around

I appreciate the poem and I thought it was very beautiful. The music in the background made it even more vivid, so thank you! 😊

Yes, i love you so much! I'm so glad someone talked about this.

Thank You Shane! just amazing.

Purely fantastic. The throat singing was jarring at first, simply because it's been a bit since I listened to Tanya. But I got really into it, I loved the way that what in most of your poems is background music became the foreground in this piece. How the throat singing in many places overshadowed your voice, because sometimes noise carries emotion far better than any word. I greatly appreciate not only the talent it takes to write a piece this well constructed, but also the selflessness required to allow other artists to cover your voice to build the piece as a whole. After all the piece is the most important part, and what it conveys is more important than individual glory. This is what I consider to be art of the highest form, I loved every bit of it Shane, and not because it was all pleasant. Specifically because it was unpleasant, because this is not a pleasant subject and treating it as such merely trivialize's it. This piece gave me a sense of determination, that I will be a voice of change, that I will try to help rather than hinder or ignore. Thank you for this Shane, I love all of your work, especially how impactful and powerful your work is, and this piece just reinforces that feeling farther.

NEVER CLICKED SO FAST ❤ YOUR A HERO

I agree it's tough to listen to and it should be! Thanks Shane, Tanya, Kym and the artists of the backdrop. Hokaheh!

Amazing. Poetry expresses the undebatable. Poetry is not only made to make people think. It is created for everyone to try for themselves. I highly recommend everyone to try to put words to their thoughts. Express yourself as ClickForTaz expresses herself. As I express myself.

Stirring, brilliant, moving, trying, troubling, crying, testing, blessing...

Beautifully passionate Tanya! Inspirational Shane once again! Thanks for sharing this with us

It's been forever!

This was painful, raw and beautiful. It wasn't relaxing it wasn't 'calming' to listen to but it was amazing and so damn necessary.

It is a blessing to have notifs on

good to have you back

HEY SHANE! You are such an inspiration, thank you!!

I find the production perfect in every way - (as usual Shane). It's compelling and heart wrenching and challenging - as it should be. It's strengthened by each element of the piece. If you have never been exposed to Tanya Tagaq and throat singing, consider yourself blessed. A door/window opens - it's art, like seeing a Picasso for the first time. You may like it or not - that's your choice, your education, your opinion. But should it be different? .... Changed to suit your opinion of today? .... Or perhaps seeing it, you might grow and .... (or not, it doesn't really matter). I cried - it worked for me Shane.

Great piece Shane, Tanya and Kym!!

If you're ever cold, stand in the corner of the room. Because it's always 90 degrees.

@vibes6255

7 жыл бұрын

Garek Brisson im done with you lol

@JackieRoxs

7 жыл бұрын

JacksFilms Dad Jokes

@scoutfamthephoenix

7 жыл бұрын

Garek Brisson but i live in a circle........ the circle of life

@muderbuder

7 жыл бұрын

But that's where your wrong cause some houses arnt built like that what if it's a triangle

Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

Wow, that was amazing. The background music fit perfectly. I wish I knew what to do personally about restoring the dignity of our First Nations people.

TRUTH. As an indigenous descendent who feels called to use my voice to RE-PRESENT & DECOLONIZE the TRUE GOSPEL of LOVE, LIBERATION & REDEMPTION. This piece SPEAKS!

Thank you.

This is beautiful and heart breaking.

Amazing as always shane 💚💚💚

Ohhh. I've found the only thing that makes me feel like a person aka what makes me cry are your beautiful poems. Thank you.

Very moving work of art!

absolutely beautiful 🌹🌹

Some people get it and some may not ever. Very, very quality piece as always.

I loved this

Thankyou Shane. I have no idea how this can be solved- this is the ultimate Gordian knot. My grandmother was Metis. She suffered it all and more because when she ran away and married outside the tribe to survive, they too abandoned her. So, Shane, with love, I ask why my children, her great grandchildren, should compensate those who actually were the offenders to her, in those residential schools? My kids did not do this. I did not do this. My mother did not do this- BUT WE MUST FIX IT? How do I fix it when no cops were allowed on those reservations by law- until it was SO BAD that it cannot be solved? How do I fix it when "their way of life" must not be interfered with even to save those children? How do I fix it when BILLIONS in compensation to some who were abused in residential facilities makes no improvement in those communities? How do I fix it when deadly products and all their profits (think traditional tobacco) are now free to kill and make profit on reservations. How do I fix it when an entire population pay no taxes on any level to this country I love and yet demand that WE FIX IT? I am not forgetting the history, although my grandmother tried desperately until after her death to hide it from all of us- that label of 'squaw'- so that WE could have opportunities-I just do not know how to solve this except to move forward with ACTUAL LOVE. Money will not FIX IT- not for real- it makes the whitened hearts of greed happy, though.

Currently sending the link to this to all of my friends

Amazing and eye opening as usual.

I clicked this as soon as I saw it but damn that background though..

Beautiful and inspiring and hopeful, thank you for remembering your dignity, we all need to remember our values and disengage from the death cult of capitalism, and find out how to bring life back to the land, and stop the wetiko of greed that has driven so many mad.

Love it

The poetry is amazing

I love this so much Shane, thank you for yet another indescribable poem 💕

This is soooo good👏 Keep up the work and the background music reminds me of a song my great grandma used to play thank you for this great poem👏❤

I love the cultural music in the background. Ots really helped me understand what you were originally speaking of and very much helped drive a message

Its perfect

Thank you for this Shane. I get asked all the time what my nationality is, and when I get asked this I'm always deeply saddened because my culture is silenced. Misunderstood. I don't know where to go to respect their deaths because all Graves were unmarked an built upon. Being Native American tears at your confidence like nothing else, no one respects natives.

shane ❤️❤️

Amazing

the background is reality. open your eyes

YAS MAMA THANK YOU

Incredible...terrifyingly accurate

Great one, once again. The background vocals are unusual, but I'm sure Shane had something in mind when he worked this out.

many times I wanted to kill myself, Shane Koyczan saved me. these poems are healing me.

@Abraham-gf1oi

3 жыл бұрын

I’m glad you’re doing better

This was beautiful 💙💙

People are complaining about the music in the backround but they don't realize that it is a native song called throat singing. I assume Shane wanted to give people a peek at their traditional songs. People are also saying that it made them uncomfortable but this topic is not supposed to be comfortable. I think it is a wonderful piece, keep it up Shane. You are an inspiration to so many people

Once again, a beautiful poem. As for the throat singing, I prefer the Tuvan (which I really wish I could do myself) style, but that is simply a matter of musical taste.

i love this video. while yes, sometimes the background vocals got too loud but if adjusted just a tiny bit itd be perfect. Reading the poem, listening to shanes voice, and hearing the beautiful yet chilling vocals are perfect. Some parts made me scared because of the combination of all three....with the eerie images....just wow.

Continually flawed and honored to be a fan of your poetry

The poem is so good And the music in the background, wow, it's so raw

@yourlocalbi9811

7 жыл бұрын

I agree, the background music carries sincere and raw emotions in a way that Shane's poem cannot. Same with the visual art. Shane articulates the poem so that we can understand the message of the piece better, but the throat singing and pictures are the heart and soul of this video.

INB4 "Saw the notification and clicked immediatly"

AAAAOOOOOOOWWWWWWWW AOOOWWWWWW! TO THE NATIVES! THANKS FOR THIS! FOR THE MURDERED AND MISSING INDEGINOUS WOMAN THE TEEN SUICIDES. thank you brother, this video has moved us all

I have a question! How was this recorded? Like, did the singers read the text and recorded it first then your monologue or was the monologue recorded first then the singers recorded what they felt like it was supposed to sound like, according to the monologue instead of the text? Or did the three of you record it all together? This is a masterpiece

I got the email for this and instantly flew over to it lol

YesSSSSsSS

Hello Shane!