Musique Pop De Global

Vicki Christina Barcelonamore photos

Let's get right to the task at hand:  

I know it's sweltering hot and that to spend time reading text on a piping hot computer screen or smartphone underneath the blazing sun and humidity feels like you're wading through a bowl of hot pudding inside a convection oven is not your idea of fun. So I'll keep it brief, unlike the previous sentance which should win an award for longest run-on at a future Webby Award show. 

On this week's World Music Show (6/23), you will need to update your passport, because we'll jump all around the globe to hear all sorts of plantery pop music perfect for a summer night. We'll first set our needle down (as on a record player) in Paris, France (because to hear "World Music" in Paris, Texas, though not impossible, would be interesting). The first song to start a long chunk of French music will be a fantastic cover of the Nancy Sinatra tune "These Boots are Made for Walking," done here by Eileen, who made the song a French hit back in 1966. Eileen was an American French teacher who, during a trip to Paris in 1963, was asked to translate some American folk songs into French. She did, also recording her own versions.

We'll transition from that to a few songs featuring the French film star Brigitte Bardot. Bardot recorded many songs--she was quite the cross-over star. She like to collaborate on her songs, too, recoridng a few with another French icon--musician, author and auteur, Serge Gainsbourg. In all, you'll hear three songs featuring Bardot and in all three, you'll hear light, fun pop French tunes. I'll round out the French chunk o' tunes by playing a song from the artistic band Lo * Jo as well by the Portland, Ore. band Pink Martini.

To switch gears or jump continents, we'll head to Africa and hear songs from the Tuerag-Berber musicians in the band Tiniriwen, as well as a cover version of the Paul Simon song "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes," done by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Melissa Etheridge and Joe McBride--it's a really stunning version. Plus, also in this set, I'll play a song from the Broadway cast recording of Fela! That show is currently on tour and if they ever come to Richmond, I'll be sure to let all of you know via Twitter (look me up on Twitter, @wcveworldmusic).

Do you think your passport is full yet? The first hours' break down isn't even complete. From the Woody Allen film "Vicky Christina Barcelona" I'll play a couple of songs from the band Giulio y Los Tellaini, who got very lucky with these songs. They slipped their CD underneath the hotel door of Woody Allen while he was shooting scenes in Barcelona, hoping he would listen to it. He did, even selecting one of thier songs "Barcelona" as the title track. 

From there, we'll jump to Maylaysia to hear a couple of sweet tracks from the lovely and talented Zee Avi, followed by an unlikely sort of crossover World Music/Pop song done by Tracy Chapman. Yep, I wouldn't have found this song, if it weren't for my cousin-in-law Alicia Jones, who suggested I re-listen to it. Alicia has quite the musical tastes, from Punk to 70's pop, and she's a musician, too, so I respect her suggestions. The song uses some "world" instruments on it, so I decided to play it (I love stretching the bounds of what is World Music--thanks Alicia). To close out the first hour, you'll hear a great collaboration featuring Karsh Kale, Anoushka Shankar and her dad, Ravi Shankar. 

I just realized that I said I'd keep this week's information brief, so here's some highlights from hour two. You'll hear a couple more cuts off the CD "Here Lies Love," created by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, about the life and struggles of Imelda Marcos. On the two tracks I'll play, you'll hear songs sung by British singer Alice Russell as well one by B-52's singer Kate Pierson. Like any good Byrne fan, I'll also throw in a couple of tracks by him, too. 

We'll transition from that interesting bit of music to some massive Asian beats done by DJ Cheb I Sabbah, and Karsh Kale. Other good sounds will pour through your speakers from the late Peter Tosh, Seu Jorge and the band Mosquitos.

Phew! I hope you didn't break out in a sweat reading about this week's World Music Show, which aires Saturday night at 10:00 p.m. on WCVE Public Radio, 88.9FM or online via this website. As mentioned, you can follow me on Twitter, @wcveworldmusic. Thank you and keep cool--literally. Ok, and figuratively, too.