Yes ! They yodel in Cambodia ! Sinn Sisamouth does !
Sinn Sisamouth was one of the biggest stars of pre-Khmer Rouge Cambodia, in the sixties and seventies, at a time where the Cambodians were into different kinds of musics inspired by occidental styles, french chanson, psychedelic rock, Beatle tunes and some cha cha cha and mambo. I could write pages and pages about Sinn Sisamouth but others have done it already. I just give you some links at the end of the post.
I found only two songs where he yodels and I have no idea why he yodels. A search on the internet hasn’t given me any answer. And my Khmer doesn’t go further than “suasaday”.
I hope you’ll enjoy these songs as much as I do and that you’ll dwell deeper into this style, there’s a lot to be discovered. And listen to Dengue Fever !
Nak Neang Kraw-Mum (Miss) (mp3)
Nak Neang Kraw-Mum (Miss) (youtube)
Bong san rethrere (youtube)
Link 1: his biography on wikipedia
Link 2: his last days
Link 3: a documentary in the making
Link 4: great site with songs, from the other singers like Ros Sereysothea too
Link 5: myspace, with interviews of his family in Khmer and a wonderful excerpt of a movie, with typical dancing.
Link 6: about the Cambodian scene, with discography
