Diné duo featured in TV ad
WINDOW ROCK
Courtesy photo
Jeneda and Clayson Benally of Sihasin
A punk rock version of “Winter Wonderland” by the rock duo Sihasin, comprised of Diné siblings Jeneda and Clayson Benally of Flagstaff, is featured in a new holiday ad for Hyundai cars.
The ad “cleverly contrasts Sihasin’s ‘naughty’ version with a ‘nice’ big jazz band version of the same song recorded by vocal legend Tony Bennett to show the versatility of Hyundai’s sedans and SUVs,” according to a press release from the company.
“Apparently, Clayson Benally, we are naughty,” joshed Jeneda on her Facebook page.
Sihasin’s version of the Christmas standard was originally released on a 2015 compilation album titled “Punk Rock Christmas” from Cleopatra Records. Sihasin said in a statement the band worked with Cleopatra to allow the song to be used in the commercial.
“Little did we know that it would be a collaboration with Tony Bennett!” the statement reads. “We are excited to further open the doors for Native American artists.”
The notoriety (provided people watching the commercial actually look up the song) is good timing for Sihasin, whose new album “Fight like a Woman” is due for release next spring.
The duo was also recently named one of “10 Exciting Native American and Canadian First Nations Artists” by Flypaper, the digital magazine of online music institute Soundfly.
Here is the original soundtrack before it was adapted for the commercial:
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