Eh Hee
Encyclopedia
"Eh Hee" is a song written and recorded by Dave Matthews
that was released as a digital single on September 4, 2007. An accompanying music video
was also released on the same date, and was available as a free download from the iTunes Store
for one week following its release. The music video was directed by Fenton Williams
of Filament Productions
.
It appears on disc 1 of Live at Radio City
featuring Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, released August 2007. Also appears on TEVAnthology Vol.6 (for promotional use only/not for sale); case advertises Mac Gillivray Freeman's Grand Canyon Adventure-River at Risk Featuring Songs and Music by Dave Matthews Band, showing March 2008.
people of southern Africa. In a story told to the Radio City audience (an edited version of which appears on the DVD version of Live at Radio City), Matthews recalls hearing the music of the Khoisan and, upon asking his guide what the words to their songs were, being told that "there are no words to these songs, because these songs, we've been singing since before people had words". He goes on to describe the song as his "homage
to meeting... the most advanced people on the planet".
Caribbean cruise under the title "Ayhee". It was performed as part of a mini-performance on each individual ship after stormy conditions cut the main show short. Other than a solo performance by Matthews in Manchester a few months later, it was not performed again in full until 2007 at an acoustic concert at Radio City Music Hall
by Matthews and Tim Reynolds
. Beginning with that concert, the title was changed from "Ayhee" to "Eh Hee" on the setlist, and its performance was later released as part of the Live at Radio City
album.
The next performance of the song was performed by the entire Dave Matthews Band
in August 2007 in Noblesville, Indiana and became only the second to ever be performed by the band, as well as Matthews and Reynolds, Dave Matthews & Friends, and as a solo by Matthews. "Eh Hee" went on to become one of the most performed songs by the band during the summer 2007 tour, and a live performances of the song were released on the albums Live at Piedmont Park
and 2008's Live at Mile High Music Festival
.
Dave Matthews
David John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...
that was released as a digital single on September 4, 2007. An accompanying music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was also released on the same date, and was available as a free download from the iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
for one week following its release. The music video was directed by Fenton Williams
Fenton Williams
Fenton Williams is a production designer and video director. He has worked with Dave Matthews Band since 1991. He began as their road manager and has served as Dave Matthews Band's lighting designer and video director for the last 20 years...
of Filament Productions
Filament Productions
Filament Productions is a Production Design & Touring Video company based in Charlottesville, Virginia since 2005, and founded by Fenton Williams, who was the first road manager for the Dave Matthews Band. During the early 1990s Fenton Williams quickly realized he wasn't the best road manager and...
.
It appears on disc 1 of Live at Radio City
Live at Radio City
Live at Radio City is a live album and video by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds. This was the first release by Matthews and Reynolds since Live at Luther College, released in 1999.-Release:...
featuring Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, released August 2007. Also appears on TEVAnthology Vol.6 (for promotional use only/not for sale); case advertises Mac Gillivray Freeman's Grand Canyon Adventure-River at Risk Featuring Songs and Music by Dave Matthews Band, showing March 2008.
Origins
"Eh Hee" was written as an evocation of the music and culture of the SanBushmen
The indigenous people of Southern Africa, whose territory spans most areas of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, are variously referred to as Bushmen, San, Sho, Barwa, Kung, or Khwe...
people of southern Africa. In a story told to the Radio City audience (an edited version of which appears on the DVD version of Live at Radio City), Matthews recalls hearing the music of the Khoisan and, upon asking his guide what the words to their songs were, being told that "there are no words to these songs, because these songs, we've been singing since before people had words". He goes on to describe the song as his "homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
to meeting... the most advanced people on the planet".
Live performance history
The song debuted in February 2006 on the Dave Matthews & FriendsDave Matthews & Friends
Dave Matthews & Friends is an American jam band that was put together for a tour to support Dave Matthews' solo debut, Some Devil. Most of the musicians participated in the album's production...
Caribbean cruise under the title "Ayhee". It was performed as part of a mini-performance on each individual ship after stormy conditions cut the main show short. Other than a solo performance by Matthews in Manchester a few months later, it was not performed again in full until 2007 at an acoustic concert at Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
by Matthews and Tim Reynolds
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds or Dave and Tim is a musical act composed of Dave Matthews, member of Dave Matthews Band, and Tim Reynolds, member of TR3 and a touring member of the Dave Matthews Band.- History :...
. Beginning with that concert, the title was changed from "Ayhee" to "Eh Hee" on the setlist, and its performance was later released as part of the Live at Radio City
Live at Radio City
Live at Radio City is a live album and video by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds. This was the first release by Matthews and Reynolds since Live at Luther College, released in 1999.-Release:...
album.
The next performance of the song was performed by the entire Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
in August 2007 in Noblesville, Indiana and became only the second to ever be performed by the band, as well as Matthews and Reynolds, Dave Matthews & Friends, and as a solo by Matthews. "Eh Hee" went on to become one of the most performed songs by the band during the summer 2007 tour, and a live performances of the song were released on the albums Live at Piedmont Park
Live at Piedmont Park
Live at Piedmont Park is a live album and video release by the Dave Matthews Band from a 2007 benefit concert in Atlanta. The concert was held at Atlanta's Piedmont Park in front of an audience of over 80,000 people to raise over US $1 million of a US $42.5 million project to expand of...
and 2008's Live at Mile High Music Festival
Live at Mile High Music Festival
Live at Mile High Music Festival is a live album by the Dave Matthews Band from the 2008 Mile High Music Festival outside Denver, Colorado. In its first week of sales, the album debuted at #97 on the US charts...
.