HAPPY DAYS SCOOTER CLUB
SCOOTER RIDE OUTS & RALLIES
PICS FROM GREAT YARMOUTH
A POTTED HISTORY OF VESPA SCOOTERS
A POTTED HISTORY OF LAMBRETTA SCOOTERS
SCOOTER FUNNIES
PICS FROM TENBY 2005
NORTHERN SOUL
SKA
HAPPY DAYS MEMBER'S GALLERY
WITH GRATEFUL THANKS
VESPA GIRL THE THINKING GIRL'S SCOOTY COLUMN
COMPETITION PAGE
MATT'S VERSION OF : 'THE BIRTH OF A SCOOTER BOY"
PICS FROM EXMOUTH 2005
CLUB MEETING DETAILS
WHY DO WE DO IT??????
PICS FROM ISLE OF WIGHT
NEW WEBSITE.....
Links for HAPPY DAYS SCOOTER CLUB
Message Board
Guestbook
Mail Form
|
WHAT IS SKA
 | SKA (skä) n. a form of dance music, popular in Jamaica in the 1960s, characterized by the use of saxophones and brass, a heavily accented offbeat, and the influence of New Orleans rhythm and blues, jazz, and calypso.
Ska was born in Jamaica in the 1960s, and is most familiar to people as the grandfather of reggae. Influenced by Jazz, Swing, R&B, calypso, and traditional Jamaican mento, its upbeat tunes gained great popularity in the West Indies, Great Britain, and in the States. Ska pioneers such as Tommy McCook, Roland Alphonso, and Laurel Aitken led the way in defining Jamaica's first musical export.
The term "ska" has two possible origins. In Jamiaca, the term "Skavoovie, Man" was a common greeting, and thus, "ska" came about as a derivation of the popular saying. The other possible origin, is perhaps as a characterization of the standard ska guitar lick, played on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th upbeats.
In 1979, ska music experienced a revival in Britain. With bands such as The Specials and The Selecter released on the ska exclusive 2 Tone label, the themes of racial harmony and good, danceable music spread rapidly around the world.
2 Tone receded, and ska was quiet for a few years, until its third and current incarnation, the third wave. However, the current trend of ska today is multifaceted in its own rite. We have an entire spectrum of ska, ranging from Hepcat, whose musical style mimics the "old school" style of the first wave, to Operation Ivy, who blended hard core and ska to form the skacore genre, to the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, who capitalize on the growing swing and ska scenes by blending them both together.
Ska has been creeping into mainstream culture bit by bit throughout its whole life. Everyone knows who Bob Marley is, most people remember Madness' song "Our House", and even Annette Funicello (egads!) did a cover of the Prince Buster tune, "Ska, Ska, Ska". Today, bands such as the Mighty, Mighty Bosstones, No Doubt, and Dancehall Crashers all are knee deep in pop culture, but I highly recommend checking out the smaller, purer, better, ska bands... |
|
SKA & SCOOTERS
 | In the 80's, ska became involved in the Mod movement starting in Britain. Mods were dedicated to attaining the good life through hard work, tasteful clothes, and good music. Their preferred mode of transportation was the stylish little Italian motorscooter, the Vespa.
So, aside from being cool little modes of transport, riding a Vespa is a common interest among ska fans.. I've been looking for a Vespa for a long time now, so if you want to sell me one for cheap, be sure and tell me.
|
|
SKA FASHION
 | Ok, so you're at a ska show, what to wear? The first thing you'll notice is the abundance of (seemingly) strangely dressed people at the show. They're not weird, they're just Rudeboys, Skins, and Rudegirls.. Confused? Read on...
Rudis Masculinus (Rudeboy)
These guys are typically dressed in dark or two tone suits, skinny ties, and pork pie hats. True, they may look like the Blues Brothers, but they are actually dressing to the style of Walt Jabso the little guy on the 2 Tone label design, who was actually emulating the Rudeboy (a group of gangsters in Jamaica) style of dress. Modern day Rudeboys also draw much influence from the British Mod movement.
Rudis Feminus (Rudegirl)
Rudegirls are usually clad in knee to mid-calf length skirts, tight sleeveless shirt or sweater, shoulder length hair, and cool, funky shoes. Black and white are the defining colors for this set. Both Rudeboys and Rudegirls are often seen on Vespas.
Skinus Headus (Skinheads)
Ok, ok, don't be alarmed. True, skinheads listen to ska, but not the skins that most people are familiar with. Not the Nazi ones. They're bad. I'll give you the whole story in a nutshell. The first skinheads were Jamaican, including Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer. Real skins are everywhere and multiethnic. There are British Skins, Malaysian Skins, Native American Skins, etc. etc.. What happened is that the Nazi ones took the image and polluted it. Most skinheads I know are either apolitical, considering themselves a SHARP (SkinHeads Against Racial Prejudice) or Traditional (Trad), Trojan (after the Trojan Records label) or Original Skins - Unlike the other categories, traditional skinheads do not regard attitudes toward racism or politics as essential to the subculture. Instead, they identify with the original skinhead movement's ("The Spirit of 69") music, style, and working class pride.Are we clear?
Good, on to the fashion... First and foremost (obivously) skins usually have a shaved head, or in the case of women, the chelsea haircut (shaved except the fringe). Skins typically wear nylon flight jackets, white shirts, braces, straight tight jeans, and big boots. The preferred brands are Fred Perry, Doc Marten, and Ben Sherman (All hail Ben Sherman for he is God )
So, that's the fashion in a nutshell, truth is, it doesn't really matter how you dress; dress how you like. The important thing is, of course, the music. The music, the dancing, the harmony. That's what it's all about……..
|
|
SKINHEADS
 | | . |
|
S.H.A.R.P
| SKINHEADS AGAINST RACIAL PREJUDICE |  |
|
|
