Word: koko
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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Originally some press mistakenly reported that Koko herself had penned the songs, but the gorilla’s only active role in the creation of the CD was to indicate her preferences of lyrics and musical styles. Linguistics professor Bert Vaux, who has lectured on Koko in his class, Social Analysis 34: Knowledge of Language, responded to early claims that Koko was a songwriter, saying, “This scheme is consistent with what [The Language Instinct author Steven] Pinker accuses the animal trainers of doing with Koko and the other ‘talking’ animals...
...perfect example is the title track, “Fine Animal Gorilla,” the moniker by which Koko refers to herself. While the phrase clearly bears no sexual connotation in the words “fine” and “animal,” the songwriters take full advantage of these implications. As trumpets blare and bongos thump suggestively in the background, a sultry female voice whispers “I wanna make a baby/And I don’t mean maybe/I’ll say it straight/I need to procreate.” Later...
...Elmo can sing). Highlights of the album include “Even Gorillas Get the Blues,” a slow-burner that actually sets a bluesy mood quite nicely, and the ethereal “Gorilla Lullabye,” a touching number that describes the various friends Koko will see in her dreams, including her late gorilla friend Michael...
There are also a handful of songs that remind one of the loftier purpose this disc serves. “I’m Goin’ to Maui,” written from the perspective of Koko, declares “I’ve been thinking ‘bout wide open spaces/Where my friends and I can roll and play/Oh, Maui’s calling me.” The song refers to the Maui Ape Preserve that The Gorilla Foundation, led by Dr. Francine “Penny” Patterson, is hoping to build...
...Fine Animal Gorilla worth the $14 that it costs at www.koko.org? With the humanitarian cause and serious camp value factors added in, Koko has a lot going for her. Take it from Vaux: “It’s not quite as unintentionally campy as ‘Golden Throats’ or ‘The Shaggs’ or ‘Sketches of my Culture,’ but it could be good for toddlers or tormenting unwanted guests...