Shakira - It's called ululation, and here's some actual information:

[MineralMan]

I'm not sure what people are worked up about. It's one of the sounds humans can make. Learn more about it here. Educate yourself:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ululation

And here's a video with people doing all sorts of variations on it:

Maybe objections to it have some sort of racist or culturalist elements?

Note: I also posted this in the other thread.

[nolabear]

1. As the great John Waters said:

“Every day I thank my mother for raising me Catholic because sex is REALLY dirty.”

Americans love their Puritanism. They can look down on others’ sexuality not realizing they’re the ones doing the sexualizing and are titillated by it.

Getting out of that bubble would deny them some of their greatest pleasures, hate and lust. It’s a damn shame. But then, I’m an elitist.

[MineralMan]

2. Yes. If other cultures do something we don't, that's automatically bad.

It's one of the ugly things about US caucasion/christian culture.

I've heard ululation at weddings and funerals in many parts of the world. I learned what it was called over 50 years ago.

Objecting to Shakira doing it at the Superbowl halftime show is just ignorant, racist/culturist nonsense.

I hate that about American culture. It's so fucking narrow.

[chowder66]

16. This quote is perfect! nt

[ismnotwasm]

3. Went to a Eritrean wedding at a Greek Orthodox Church, where the service is sung.

Many of the women had gold woven in their hair and did this after the service. The combinations of cultures was very compelling and the sounds were powerful and beautiful.

[MineralMan]

5. Yes, exactly.

Some cultures also use it as a mourning sound at funerals. I can't believe that it's possible to live in modern society and not to have encountered ululation in films, on TV, or elsewhere.

I learned the word in high school back in the early 1960s when I asked about it after hearing it being used on a television program. I'll admit that I had to ask several people before someone knew that word.

[Claritie Pixie]

4. People are making fun of it because the don't get it. Typical human behavior.

I was delighted when Shakira did that!

[MineralMan]

6. Yes, I agree. It's part of her extended cultural heritage.

So, Brava! to her.

But, it's just not that uncommon. I'd think everyone would have encountered it before.

[Polybius]

7. Who has objected?

Any link?

[MineralMan]

11. Sure, Here's another thread with content from WaPo

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212944842

Some people, according to the article ridiculed and otherwise reacted negatively.

However, the WaPo mentioned ululation only within a paragraph and not prominently. As a word-lover, I thought I would focus what that vocal sound is called.

I don't post links to the Washtington Post because of their paywall.

[FirstLight]

8. Not just from other continents...

Native Americans and other tribes use it as well.

I'm actually pretty good at it

[yellerpup]

10. Beat me to it.

I'm jealous!

[yellerpup]

9. Ululation is practiced among Native tribes in the US.

It is abbreviated by native FB users as: lulu as verbal atta girl or yay, usually. I've only done it once perfectly. It's uplifting to hear it run through a crowd.

[FirstLight]

12. one of my fave singers ...

Nahko...you can hear it at his concerts through the crowd!

You hear it a few times just in the first 10 seconds here:

[bronxiteforever]

13. To me it's the sound of ancient rites from so many peoples

It can be happy or sad or angry. It is from a time out of mind and I love anything that connects me to generations and cultures that have gone before. The cultures that still use it carry on the tradition and are keepers of the ancient sound into the present day. The average American is so removed from human history that they fail to enjoy the wonder and gift of this voice.

“In Ancient Egypt, reference to ululation appears on the inscription of the pyramid texts of Unas, on the West Wall of the Corridor (section XIII),[18] and of Pepi I, in the Spells for Entering the Akhet.”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ululation

Or in Sophocles play Electra, Electra mourns by ululation. Here is a vase depicting her mourning

[MineralMan]

14. Thanks for that information!

[bronxiteforever]

15. Thanks for the post. You do good service breaking down prejudice!

[gratuitous]

17. Is it wrong of me to wonder . . .

I wonder how many folks objecting to Shakira's ululation are 100% comfortable with the tomahawk chop practiced by fans of the Chiefs, the Florida State Seminoles, the Atlanta Braves, and other sports teams with First Peoples mascots?

[Talitha]

18. I heard it on tv when Harry and Meghan emerged from the church after their wedding.

There was a glorious chorus of it coming from the crowd on the street, and it sent a chill down my spine it was so beautiful!

Also - if anyone has seen Lawrence of Arabia (one of my all-time favorite movies), there's a scene where hundreds of people make the sound echo through the hillsides as a tribute, when Lawrence and his group pass.