“Yeha-Noha”

“Yeha-Noah” is the song which catapulted Sacred Spirit—a musical project by German musician Claus Zundel—into the limelight. It was the first single released off the album Chants and Dances of the Native Americans (1994). The aim of this music is to convey the stories, legends and plight of the Native Americans. It combines sampled chants of the Navajo, Pueblo and Sioux tribes and Sami people “yoik” with synthesiser backings, all driven forth by a combination of traditional drumming and electronic dance-beats. The Sami—for those who don’t know anything, or much about the subject (myself included!)—are an indigenous people of northern Europe inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of northern Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Kola Peninsula of Russia, while the yoik is a traditional Sami form of song, whose sound is comparable to the traditional chanting of some Native American peoples.

Since the single reached the number 1 position in a number of countries, while the album garnered sales of more than 7 million units worldwide, at the time I was in good company among those who were enjoying the song. But since then, fourteen years have gone by, and in the meanwhile I happened to forget the song. Until yesterday, when a FaceBook friend of mine (thank you Katharine!) unexpectedly reminded me of it. I thought that “Yeha-Noah” (Wishes Of Happiness And Prosperity) was a very well-wishing way to say goodbye to the lazy days of summer and to greet the upcoming arrival of autumn. Enjoy it!