Have you heard about the country music band (in the United Staes) named after our country? Yep! This band’s name is: “Maldives”.
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The band makes foot-stomping, sing-along Americana with a bevy of traditional instruments (banjo, pedal steel, dobro, violin) and a few rock instruments (bass, drums, electric guitars). Centered on singer-songwriter Jason Dodson, the group is Kevin Barrans, Jesse Bonn, Tim Gadbois, Ryan McMackin, Tomo Nakayama, Chris Warner, Seth Warren and Chris Zasche.
CAREER DEBUT: "With the members as we play now," Dodson says after admitting to many lineup changes over the years, "the Tractor, August 2007, with Tim Seely and the Crying Shame. That show was the kick-off to our first West Coast tour, making our way down to San Diego and back in a family RV we call 'The Beaver.' "
MONIKER: "Our friend and old guitar player, David Wingo, was trying to come up with a name for the band, so he and his buddy were looking at the answers on the back of Trivial Pursuit cards, and The Maldives stood out as an interesting name. The name grew in significance, as we grew in size, seeing how the actual Maldives are a group of islands that comprise a country, and we are a group of musicians that comprise a country band."
RELEASES: "The Maldives," an EP that Dodson describes as "over 45 minutes worth of slow jams and low-fi folk-rock," as well as the upcoming "Listen to the Thunder" (Spring 2009).
I have seen cups and plates made in Turkey with "Maldives" as a a brand label. There is also a famous horse named "Maldivian" that competes in the famous Australia's Melbourne Cup.
ReplyDeleteHow about registering the name as an international trade mark so that people can't take free-advantage of our name without us getting any benefit from it.
ReplyDeleteIt's not that big a deal, there are many commercial products named after countries... In a way it is promotion for the Maldives...
ReplyDeleteThere are also several range of outdoor wooden furniture branded 'Maldives' being sold by major outlets in UK, like Tesco and Argos!
There is a hotel in Australia named after Maldives, one of my friends Son is called Maldives (from Swiss) as a middle name...there is a bikini line named after Maldives, I actually talked to them to buy out - as I think its a great tool for Nation Branding..since we are so heavily dependant on tourism. Bush, do you want to have a chat so we can work together on this venture? Sorry our country comes first only when we talk :(... N
ReplyDeleteThe "Maldives" name is certainly being marketed as a brand name for different products in different countries. However, I do agree with Bushry's suggestion that we do need to protect the "Maldives" as a product especially at a time when we too sell the "Maldives" as a product. If not full protection, then there is a need to give at least some protection to the "Maldives". As a Maldivian,I certainly wouldn't want a cigarrette company to produce "Maldives" and market it worldwide. However, I have certainly no comments on the "Maldives" bikini line products. But, I am certainly of the view that there are many more harmful products that we wouldn't want the "Maldives" and the "Maldivians" to be associated with.
ReplyDeleteImagine if an international company decided to register "Maldives" as a brand name. If that happened, could we as Maldivians anymore sell "Maldives" as a product, even as a tourism product? I do make a distinction here that marketing Maldives as a country, as a holiday destination is not same as marketing "Maldives"
as a tourism or as anyother product.
With regard to the above paragraph, here is a thought on what recently had happened to Champagne as a product. The name Champagne is protected. In the whole world, only Champagne region in France can produce Champagne. Other countries can grow grapes and produce wine instead and no matter how similar their produce is to Champagne, still none other than that region in France can produce Champagne. Recently, an Australian wine maker was successfully sued and consequently ordered by court not to produce Champagne in Australia as Champagne could not be produced there even if their "Chamagne" was 100 per cent same. So, the Aussie company is now selling it as sparkling wine.
By the way, the Aussie horse and its name "Maldivian" is older than the brand name "Maldivian" given to our national airline.
yeah i just heard about this band today morning.. i just wish they played different kinda music. cos this one is totally country style.. =) tats my concern. -fathu-
ReplyDelete