Brood X: This Is the Real World, and We Are In It
By David Rothenberg, Safina Center Fellow
Photo: David Rothenberg
I think it was the moment when I read that the president’s plane was grounded by an engine full of seventeen-year cicadas that I finally understood why the emergence of Brood X has gotten so much attention.
This is not a story about politics.
Or at least not human politics. In the periodic cicada world, there are fifteen separate broods vying for each other’s attention. Every year they do come out somewhere. So what is so important about Brood X?
Well, it does sound like the title of a horror movie. In fact it has inspired a horror movie. But they are not so scary. Actually they’re kind of cute, born celebrities for the social media era. They’re not afraid of us! They’ll crawl right over you and never bite. They’ve got those cute red eyes, and those three basic songs that all fit together as music.
The phaaaaroah sound of the septendecims. The chzzzwwhdsdsdsjk of the cassinis. The chh chh chh chh chh chh chh of the sependeculas. It’s band with three basic parts. Millions of performers.
That’s why they’re not scared of us in the least. Sure, we are a lot bigger. But there are millions more of them. Millions more per acre! And this is one of the biggest broods, mostly concentrated around Baltimore, Washington, and a few states West. In our area, mysteriously they only come out in Princeton.
They’re emerging after seventeen years underground, slowly preparing for those few weeks above ground to sing, fly, mate and die. And we are emerging after seventeen months of lockdown, fear, and uncertainty, ready ourselves to celebrate once more.
I am a cicada and so are you.
Photo: Ben Gottesman
2011, 2012, 2013, 2016—each of those years I followed the Magicicadas and played music with them. Made two films, three albums, and one book out of all of this interspecies music.
But this year there is so much more attention to these critters and the possibility of our singing and playing along with them. Brazilian TV, International TV, and even New Jersey TV all got into the action.
It is nice to see a few billion bugs finally get the attention they deserve. And it’s even nicer to bring along ever more and different musicians to play along with these exceptional sonic insects. I’ve just started mixing the results of you can hear me playing with the Brood X Band here.
Photo: Anna Demetrides
Yes, this is not a story about politics. It’s a story about nature, music, patience, perseverance, rhythm exact and free, the essence of life itself.
And it’s happening now. If you miss Brood X, just hang on, start counting until your next cue—for seventeen years.
