What is the origin of the chanting at the end of “Goodbye Sober Day?
It is Mr. Bungle’s version of a Balinese chant that is part of a performance conceived specifically for tourists known as “kecak” or “ketjak.” It is based on the Indian epic of the “Ramayana,” and parts of the story are acted out while up to a hundred men play the part of a monkey chorus. Trey explains: “It started as a form of exorcism – cak singers would be brought in when a village or town was hit by a plague or some such malady… in this century, groups of cak singers were absorbed into the Ramayana epic, where they are referred to as the “monkey chant” singers – this is a newly constructed operatic drama based on the Ramayana. It’s a pretty touristy affair. It was concieved by a GERMAN – how exotic! But amazingly enough, it’s INCREDIBLE. The Kecak stuff isn’t even the best part. The speaking in tongues and screaming is what gets me.
