World Music Wednesday

Angélique Kidjo represents a beautiful fusion of world cultures, and her music is not easily pigeonholed. While her native African culture flows beautifully through all of her releases, each phase in her life and in her music represents different influences.

Kidjo lived her childhood in the West African country of Benin, where she sang with her family and, in addition to her native culture, her brothers taught her to love soul music and R&B. By the time she reached her teens she was a local star, and knew all the lyrics to James Brown’s greatest hits catalog.

When she was 23, Kidjo moved to Paris, and was immediately embraced by the city’s thriving Afro-Caribbean music scene. During these years, she focused on her songwriting, and supported both American jazz legend Nina Simone, as well as South African star Miriam Makeba. Since then she has worked with artists as varied as Carlos Santana (wait, who hasn’t worked with Santana?), Prince’s personal producer David Z (during her Afro-funk dance phase), and sax-player Branford Marsalis.

My favorite disc, I think, from Angélique Kidjo is her 2002 release Black Ivory Soul, which fuses Beninoise music with a Brazilian sound from the Salvador de Bahia region. You may have heard the track she does with Dave Matthews, Iwoya, which I think is excellent, but there are a number of very good tracks on this disc.

- “Afirika“
A playful and harmonic song. Don’t you wish you knew what they were saying? It just sounds jubilant.

- “Okan Bale“
This reminds me of water. Kidjo wrote it in Brazil, “facing the sea.”

- “Iwoya“
Angélique and Dave (who was born in South Africa) go head to head, complementing each other’s voices. When Kidjo asked Matthews to sing with her, he first said, “I’m not singing with you. You scare me to death.”

- “Ces Petits Riens“
Another Serge Gainsbourg cover! This one shows how beautifully her time in France has influenced her music.

As Nigel Williamson from UK’s The Times said, “File under Africa? File under Caribbean? Just file it under superb.”

“And everything’s cooool, and everything’s smooooth (hey, that’s smooth)”

Must be the repressed club-kid in me, but lately I am lovin’ me my mash-ups (when an artist lays two different tracks over one another to mix them seamlessly together). Soulwax (aka 2 Many DJs), the Belgian pioneers of the mash-up sound, have combined some diabolically opposed songs and artists, but somehow it sounds great. Following the success with y’all of the Beatles/Beasties mash-up that I posted last month, some of you are into this action as well. Admiiiiit it.

Most of these are off of their albums As Heard On Radio Soulwax, which, as one reviewer put it, “From start to finish, this album contains those moments where you have to check the tracklisting to find out if what you are listening to is ACTUALLY what you think you are listening to.” Check out Soulwax/2 Many DJs albums on Amazon.

I find it superb for dancing around the house, if nothing else.

- Beatles (Eleanor Rigby) vs. Kraftwerk (Number/Tour De France) – one of the earliest Soulwax mash-up efforts. It’s the strings, and then here comes that industrial beat…

- Loveshack vs. Uptown Girl (B52s and Billy Joel)

- God Only Knows vs. Billie Jean, Part One and Part Two (this one comes in two parts, Beach Boys meet the gloved one. Hilarious!)

- No Fun/Push It (Salt ‘n’ Pepa – did I spell that right? – and The Stooges. Really.)

Bah

Luce update for those of you who read my post a few days back: The Colorado Springs show is just for cadets at the AFA. I called today and asked the lady if I could come *with* a cadet, or volunteer to lift boxes or set up the stage or anything, and she laughed at me (in that friendly Colorado way). So, northerners, stay put. Short of pulling a Sydney Bristow, I don’t think I’ll be at the show. Although I can offer my backyard if they would like to do an alternate venue the next night.

Luce did just announce two California shows in April in Redwood City, as luck would have it. Good for all you Nor-Cals! Boo for us.

Monday Music Roundup

Happy Monday, kids, from snowy Colorado. Yesterday was 60 degrees and I went for a nice run in the sunshine. Then the snow came last night and it is a balmy 20 degrees. Makes everything pretty (but a little harder to run!). Anyway, since it is a new week, that means that I’ve got some new songs for your consideration. Comments, concerns, reactions welcome.

Wicked Game (Isaak cover)
Giant Drag
Tanner from Rodeo Town was so very kind as to post this Giant Drag cover that I mentioned I was looking for. The intro is hilarious (a little Fatal Attraction, but still hilarious).

Damn that Chris Isaak! He’s no good, I tell ya.

I Can’t Look At Your Skin
Graham Coxon
Lots of buzz lately about the new Graham Coxon album Love Travels at Illegal Speeds, coming out March 14 in the States. The former Blur guitarist has released several solo albums since leaving Blur in 2002. This cut is a feisty, jump around rocker with the defeatist lyric “I can’t look at your skin, cos it’s doing me in.”

Drinking Again (link fixed now)
Haley Bonar
Thank you so much to Chad for posting about this songstress. I completely love this song, nice laid back alt-country/folk vibe. Her voice resonates with a sweet sadness, a powerful set of pipes. She kind of reminds me a touch of Lucinda Williams. I have decided I need to listen to more good female artists; you know, represent the gender. If you have any suggestions let me know. Haley is touring this February with Andrew Bird. This song is from her 2003 album The Size of Planets.

Somebody Loves You (Demo)
Eels
Lately Eels have been updating the download section of their site with a lot of goodies, demo versions of songs, interviews, etc. All in preparation for the obvious spike in internet traffic once their new live album, Eels With Strings: Live At Town Hall, is released on CD and DVD February 21. Here is one of the downloads from there, a demo version of “Somebody Loves You.” A little rough, but that’s the point, I suppose. It’s nice.

Gone
Pearl Jam
So I was all set to post something else in the #5 spot, but then I found this new Pearl Jam song and that, of course, blows everything else out of the water. According to MusicCherry, this is one which was announced as likely not making it onto the new album (2006?), unfortunately, but we will see. It has the proper amount of smoldering political angst, and a soaring & melodic chorus. Premiered live in Atlantic City at the Borgata Casino (below).

Let’s get Luce

I nearly just fell out of my chair when I stopped by the Luce website. Their sole tour date currently scheduled is a free show next month at the Air Force Academy, here in beautiful (but quiet) Colorado Springs. How’d I get so lucky? I am by now well-versed in the drive up to Denver or Boulder for shows. Now all you northerners can come down here!

Luce is the band of indepedent singer/songwriter Tom Luce, homegrown in the soil of local San Francisco radio station KFOG. Luce once said that he would feel successful if someday he could hear one of his songs on the radio while he was driving across the Golden Gate Bridge. He’s there. Luce songs “Buy A Dog” and “Good Day” have been getting quite a bit of airplay on radio stations across the country, and for good reason. They’ve also been featured on The O.C., which I guess, you know, means that they’ve like totally *arrived* (or something like that).

Luce makes catchy, clean, sharp, melodic guitar rock, with just the right blend of ebullient brass & harmony. Luce cites Lennon & McCartney as influences, and it’s hard to feel blue while you listen to this stuff. Luce has two albums out, their self-titled 2003 debut album, and their 2005 sophomore effort Neverending.

- “Amsterdam“
- “The Sweetest Smile“
- “Good Day” (acoustic)
- “In The Middle There” live at Slim’s in SF, 6/5/02

Check them out. And come to Colorado Springs next month, we’ll all dance with the Air Force cadets to the sweet grooves.

Misheard lyrics

I was ruminating the other day on the topic of misheard lyrics, spurred along by hearing a little AC/DC on the radio. A good friend of mine, who shall remain nameless to preserve her dignity, thought that You Shook Me All Night Long was actually:

“You….showed me ALL I KNOW…”

She was a fast machine, she kept her motor clean, and she showed me all I know. Isn’t that nice?

Then I laughed recently over listening to a Pearl Jam live show where Vedder reveals that Mike McCready (aka guitar wizard for Pearl Jam) thought that the actual Kiss lyrics were, “I wanna rock and roll all night, and part of every day.” That sounds about right. Just part of every day.

Finally, what is UP with Blinded by the Light? Wrapped up like a doucher in the roamer of the night? I am too lazy to even look that one up online and see what Manfred Mann is really singing in their rendition. Plus, I like my version better anyways.

You can also check out Am I Right: Making Fun of Music One Song At A Time. A ton of funny misheard lyrics. Ha! And I just laughed out loud because if you check by song, the number one song with misheard lyrics is…..Blinded By The Light. Looks like I am not alone in my bewilderment.

Another well-designed misheard lyrics site is available at Kiss This Guy, after everyone’s favorite Jimi Hendrix celebration of purported man love.

Guest blogger: Chris from England

Being a music blogger is especially nifty when someone from your readership takes the time, after reading your post on mix tapes, to send you three mix CDs, full of aural delights.

Chris is from Tottington, England, which is in the Northwest and near Manchester (as Chris says, world famous for his beloved Manchester United soccer team, The Smiths, and Oasis).

Today (unbeknownst to him) I am letting him guest blog, with just a few of the many tracks he sent me, plus comments from the letter which accompanied the discs. I think he has a future as a music blogger!

* * * * *
SOME SONGS AND COMMENTS FROM CHRIS

Six O’Clock On A Tube Stop – A
This sounds a little like Sting (when he was in The Police) fronting Green Day. I kid you not.

Back For Good – McAlmont & Butler
They are a guy who sounds like a girl and the former guitarist from Suede doing a version of a hit by an embarassing British boy band (Take That). On paper this does not sound promising. How come it’s fantastic?

Wires – Athlete
This was written about the singer’s experience of his son being born prematurely. If you know the background (as with ‘Elizabeth, You Were Born To Play That Part’) I think it adds to the song – “first night of your life, curled up on your own.”

Oh No The Radio – Owsley
A friend said, “You like Weezer? Try this.” I did and I liked it a lot. The line about ‘singing in a hairbrush and giving Donny and Marie the bum’s rush’ cracks me up.

Mermaid Blues – Tom McRae
Critically acclaimed, zero sales, great song.

* * * * *
There’s lots of other great stuff from Chris that will surely find its way into the Fuel blog in future posts. Thank you sincerely Chris.

Chris also included a song from ‘Manchester’s finest’ (Oasis) on the mix (“The Importance of Being Idle“), and ends with a comment that he went to school with the original Oasis guitarist Paul Arthurs, known as ‘Bonehead.’

Now, I am no Oasis expert, or even a very huge fan, but of the handful of their songs that I like, one of my favorites is an extra vinyl track that a friend gave me called ‘Bonehead’s Bank Holiday.’ I love the drunken riff and sloppy singalong style. It’s just fun.

In your honor, Chris, here is that track about your former schoolmate chum.

Bonehead’s Bank Holiday (extra vinyl track) – Oasis

Wednesdays are for World Music

So, let’s try something new here. One of my secret passions is international music because of the way it opens up our ears, and (if you want to be poetic about it) binds us all together in the universal language of really good music.

Kind of makes you feel like the “Happy Hands” performance to The Rose from Napoleon Dynamite, with all the uplifting hand gestures. But, today, all our uplifting will come from the great country of Italy.

Musica italiana is my first world music love, on account of the fact that I studied in Firenze (Florence) for a semester in college. I loved being immersed in the beautiful language and culture. I lived with a wonderful host family and made some fabulous Italian friends. Through our relentless pursuit of higher culture through clubbing, I was introduced to a variety of Italian musical artists. My Italian teacher Vittoria also used popular Italian music to teach us verbs and expressions and such.

So, without further ado (senza aspettando di più):
(And look! All files are now direct links to mp3s via EZArchive. So right click and save target as. No more Savefile!)

“Per La Vita Che Verra,” Jovanotti
Jovanotti is a little bit of a mixed bag in Italian hipster circles because he has a sordid history as an Italian rapper, but he has lately expanded his reach into all different kinds of musical styles, and he holds a special place in my heart. I attended a Jovanotti concert in Bologna and met him after the show in 1999 when I was studying there. His pop songs “Per Te,” “Raggio di Sole,” and “Stella Cometa” were used in my Italian class to teach me the language. This song, from the 1997 album L’Albero, shows Jovanotti’s fusion with African sounds, with swelling vocals and chants all throughout this song. It is about “For the life that will come,” talking about his future with his woman. Musically, very rich & soaring, with lyrics that are (as my friend Massi once said) molto bello.

“(Storia di un) Corazon,” Jovanotti and Jarabe de Palo
This one is a two-for-one, you get your Spanish and you get your Italian in one smooth dose. “History of a heart,” this has lines in Spanish by Jarabe de Palo, singer/songwriter from Barcelona, alternating with the same lines in Italian by Jovanotti. This sounds like something you would dance around to in a Cuban plaza on a Friday night, drums pounding. From the 2000 album Il Quinto Mondo.

“Sempre di Domenica,” Daniele Silvestri
From the Putumayo Euro LoungeCD, this fast-paced track by Rome native Daniele Silvestri should be the soundtrack to walking down a busy street in a bustling Italian city, dark sunglasses on, looking molto italiano. You will be più ganzo (cooler) *just* for listening to it.

“Sotto Le Stelle Del Jazz” and “Elisir,” Paolo Conte
Aahh, Paolo Conte. The gruff, smoky, imitable Italian legend who sings with a smile on his face. You can hear it in almost every song. Paolo Conte always makes me think of my Italian host sister Elena putting on the record in the apartment where we lived (near Santa Croce church and Michelangelo’s house) and dancing around while she dusted and cleaned. She’d sing too. It was a beautiful thing. You’ll want to do a little two-step too when you listen to Paolo Conte, with his jazzy piano, playful raspy vocals, and Italian scatting. Buy The Best of Paolo Contehere.

“La Noyée” and “Quelqu’Un M’a Dit,” Carla Bruni
Here’s another two-for-one: Carla Bruni is Italian but sings mostly in French. She’s on my Italian list by a generous extension of today’s theme. The first song (“Drowned woman“) makes me feel like I am floating away on a soft river, eyes half closed (but sleepy, not drowned). Originally written by Serge Gainsbourg, this is a beautiful simple melody that will stick in your head. Quelqu’Un M’a Dit (“Someone told me“) is the lovely title track from the album of the same name, which I very highly recommend. It has been getting a lot of attention in the music world, and rightly so – I think it is a great album. Who knew a supermodel could sing so well? She also writes many of her songs. Not too shabby.

Join me next Wednesday for music from another part of the world, and if I have enticed you into my world of Italian music and you would like further translations of any of these lyrics, please let me know. I am a word-o-phile, so for me, knowing the what the lyrics mean help me to enjoy the song more. It is just too long to post here.

Tante buone cose to you all.

Counting Crows live covers

Here are a few excellent covers & live songs that I’ve been meaning to throw out there by Counting Crows, from the exhaustive fansite Anna Begins. This is a band that consistently amazes me with the variety of their covers, tributes, and influences. Good ear.

• Blues Run The Game, Jackson C. Frank cover – this is a beautiful song (open link in new window)
• California Stars, Woody Guthrie/Wilco cover (right click, save target as)
• Outside Chance, The Turtles cover (right click, save target as)

And then one more, not a cover, but a newish non-album track from their best-of CD, Films About Ghosts:

• She Don’t Want Nobody Near (live at the China Club – open link in new window)

I Guess I’m Floating, Too

I have lately been pillaging the I Guess I’m Floating blog and loving every moment of it. Connor & Nathaniel post great stuff *all the time.*

Case in point, head over there today to find some great acoustic mp3s by The Format, as well as tour dates for Rogue Wave, who are heading on the road with Nada Surf for a bunch of shows in great venues. Rogue Wave are also doing some solo shows, including one at the Mecca of Music Lovers in the SF Bay Area, Amoeba Records.

Check them out!