Every week Michal Shapiro, Link TV's Associate Director of Music Programming, gives her insight into our weekly world music video premiere and other music videos and documentaries. Check out the World Music page on Fridays for the latest premiere and Michal's note, and look for past gems here.
Women of the World
We're showing two of my favorite blocks this week, Songbirds (#50) and Ladies, Sublime and Ridiculous (#62). They all feature women as either the central singers, or as the focus of the video. It is amazing how much strength runs through both blocks. The Nordic lands weigh in with Groupa and Garmarna, each with straight-as-an-arrow vocals, and both sets contain entries from Eleftheria Arvanitaki: "The Bodies and the Knives" is a searing look at the perils of relationships, while "Dynata" asserts the power of the Female. Even Yungchen Lhamo's ethereal vocals cannot disguise her core of assurance - she might be praying to her teachers, but she is still the woman who trekked over the Himalayas to freedom. Our longer offerings keep this motif flowing: watching Mariza and the story of Fado we feel the passion of a diva's commitment to her music, and in Vanaja (on Cinemondo this week) we are witness to the things in life that give a woman an iron will.
-Posted August 15, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
Cultural Focus on China
The controversial Olympics in Beijing are about to launch, and it's no coincidence that Link TV has rolled out several eye (and ear) opening programs for this week. China is an endlessly fascinating subject, and our programming department has chosen some compelling stuff for you. Mosuo Song Journey is a loving look at a remote part of China that is trying to adapt to an influx of tourism. The area is known for its matriarchal culture and its passionate songs, but "progress" is taking its toll. For a look to the past, Yang Ban Xi resurrects the Maoist years with some pure propaganda that took the form of highly entertaining musicals. Moving from music into the movies, we present an encore presentation from our first season of Cinemondo, with a harrowing tale of betrayal in Beijing in the film Stolen Life – a recent Tribeca Film Festival winner for Best Narrative Feature. And while I'm touting our cultural programming, don't forget our series Chinese Restaurants which is a tasty look at how Chinese culture survives in diaspora, through the lens of one of its most well known aspects: food.
- Posted August 8, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
My Raison d'Etre
I am a bit of a proselytizer for world music. I remember a several years ago someone telling me rather smugly "I would NEVER listen to music that isn't in English!" and thinking "and you aren't ashamed?" I rather love listening to songs in other languages-- it's like one kind of music on top of another…a musical sundae. With all the different kinds of music there is out there, why not be open to it all -- the whole smorgasbord! (You may have guessed that I'm a foodie, too.) This brings me to a documentary we are showing this week. It's called Jupiter's Dance and in it Jupiter, Kinshasa's ever optimistic entrepreneur says time and again that the musical riches of Congo could be its economic goldmine. And the variety and sweetness of what is there is indeed compelling, from rhythms that get your hips shaking to harmonies that seduce your ears. I recommend Jupiter's Dance to you, and hope it gives you a craving for Congolese music that compels you to buy some. And maybe next time a friend comes by whose tastes are totally mainstream, you'll can slip them an exotic musical hors d'oevre and create another convert!
- Posted August 1, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
A Concert To Remember
A few years ago I was invited to attend a musical awards ceremony for the World Culture Open. It was held at Avery Fischer Hall in Lincoln Center, but what drew me there was the roster of artists that were to perform. I already knew some of them, like Misia the fado singer from Portugal, the Rustavi Choir from Georgia, and of course, Youssou N'Dour, from Senegal. But I found myself stunned by other artists I was not as familiar with. The oud duet of Yair Dalal from Israel and Nasser Musa from Palestine was riveting. Omar Farouk Tekbilek from Turkey was ecstatic, singing Sufi poetry; so much so that the elderly Jewish couple sitting next to me said "Oh, our cantor would LOVE this!" But what probably blew me away the most was the opening performance - a troupe of Korean women who played an array of drums in perfect unison. Gorgeously attired, they did not seem to even break a sweat as they executed complex rhythms and demanding choreography. You can imagine my excitement when I learned that the entire concert had been videotaped and was available for Link TV. And it's playing this week. Check it out!
- Posted July 25, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
After Cinemondo, See a Special Collection of World Music Videos
We had some time to fill between the end of Blind Shaft this week's Cinemondo offering, and the next program. I love this sort of challenge; it's a programmer's delight to sequence videos that relate to a theme. So after Blind Shaft's dark tale of greed you can settle back for a sampling of videos about our relationship to money: Aterciopelados' sarcastic Don Dinero makes fun of our obsession with the stuff. Control Machete delivers a cautionary tale about gambling, and Bisso Na Bisso gives us a whimsical - yes, it's possible -look at corruption. Taiwan's Kou Chou Ching rap about the perils of runaway capitalism in China, and we close with a sweet song about generosity, from Davy Sicard. Hey, we couldn't leave you depressed, could we?
And if you're having trouble making out this lyrics of this week's video premiere, Hard Times of Old England Retold, we've got them here for you:
Hard Times of Old England Retold
For 5 generations my family have farmed
By hoofs and by tractor by hoe and by hand
But that won't stave off the bank's last demand
Singing all the hard times of old England,
In old England very hard times.
Time was I could sell what I grew at the shop,
Then Tesco turned up all of that had to stop
Now I can't make a living out of my crop
Singing all the hard times of old England,
In old England very hard times.
More and more of our village gets sold every day
To folks from the city who're happy to pay
For a holiday cottage to stay empty all day
Singing all the hard times of old England,
In old England very hard times.
The countryside alliance expects I suppose
My support when they march down
To bloody Blair's nose
But they said not a word when our post office closed
Singing all the hard times of old England,
In old England very hard times.
The hedgerows my grandfather tended are gone
And with it the Lapwing and the Cornquake's sad song
I fear I'll be carrying on before long
Singing all the hard times of old England,
In old England very hard times.
And now to conclude and to finish my song
Let’s hope that these hard times they will not last long
And I may soon have occasion to alter my song and sing
All the Good Times of Old England
In Old England very good times.
- Posted July 18, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
India Dances
This week we have a wonderful film on Cinemondo, called Vanaja. Why am I mentioning this on our world music page? It's because Vanaja has some wonderful music and dance in it. It opens up with an almost extinct art form, called Burra Katha, a kind of storytelling entertainment once common in Andhra Pradesh, where the movie was filmed. As the story progresses, the main character, a 14 year old girl takes up Kuchipudi dancing, and I personally think this stuff is utterly mesmerizing. The precision of each movement, as it relates to the complexities of the musical accompaniment is a pleasure to watch. There are many different kinds of Indian dance (as demonstrated by the video by Sona Mohapatra "Ishq Nachaya" and Vanaja gives us an opportunity to gain insight into one of them - and it's a great story, too!
- Posted July 11, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
A Happy 4th to All, from Link TV
As we head into the big Independence Day celebrations, Link TV is brimming with great music programs to enrich your holiday. So if "scattered thunderstorms" are keeping you indoors, why not curl up in front of your TV and party down with Amadou and Mariam Live at la Gout D'Or as they serenade a rain-soaked, blissed out crowd. Or if all that partying has got you seeking a bit of serenity, commune with Maria Bethania, and be seduced by her rich, laid back vocals. If the commercialization of the holiday makes you wonder what it's all about - check out Sufi Soul, and get CENTERED! And finally, if you think that music can't change a life, tune in for Soweto Strings and get carried away by its upbeat message. Happy Holiday!
- Posted July 4, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
Shake a Leg
This week we are showing - quite by coincidence - the debut of block 110 "Dancing" and the wonderful music documentary Dame La Mano, a film about dancing.
Dame La Mano centers on a Cuban community in New Jersey. The various protagonists all are hard working folks who can't wait for Saturday nights at their local hang, where they can literally give body and soul to music. It keeps them young, it keeps them centered, and it helps to make life joyful. Not bad for something you don’t have to buy!
Block #110/"Dancing" is full of great grooves to get your feet, arms and hips in motion. Sona Mohapatra provides some swinging bhangra, followed by Hard Kaur RAP-sodizing about Bollywood. Madagascar's Namavao, Marina and the Magic Powers follow with what feels rather homespun by comparison, but is full of charm and cool moves. Next we get two takes on Balkan Brass dance music; one from deejay Shantel and another from the ever strange Magnifico. We then head south to Brazil for a rendition of the forro classic "Asa Branca" and finish with Manu Chao's award winning ode to the street and those who work it, "Me Llaman Calle."
Get those endorphins going - cut the rug!
- Posted June 20, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
Two More New Video Blocks
We love concept videos, but sometimes the best way to really understand what a musician is about, is to see them perform! Block #107, our ninth "In Performance" block, brings you Mamak Khadem a vibrant singer from Iran, Malian guitarist Habib Koite, the Southern Brazilian accordionist Renato Borghetti, Russia's DDT at a massive concert in St. Petersburg, Cape Verdean diva Mayra Andrade at the Africa Festival in Lisbon, and Ojos de Brujo (Spain) with Faada Freddy (Senegal) rocking the house with Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up.".
Block #109, AKA "What a World" shows how world music artists address a variety of serious issues: Michael Franti speaks to the unity of mankind but keeps it all very danceable; K'Naan describes the difficulties of being a refugee in a new country, and Nasjota rap about the Sudanese homeland. Then Aterciopelados sings about the misplaced love of money with "Don Dinero" and El Hadj N'Diaye makes an impassioned plea about third world debt. We close with DDT's animated anthem to the Kursk tragedy, "Captain Kolesnikov."
And of course, these two blocks will both be streaming on our site soon!
- Posted June 20, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
Three New Music Programs This Week
We've been trumpeting the arrival of several new programs, and this week we're rolling three of them out. Soweto Strings is a totally endearing documentary about violist Rosemary Nalden, the music school she founded in Soweto, and her exceptional students. Coming from the impoverished township, their lives have been difficult to say the least, yet all of them show an openness and enthusiasm for learning classical music that Ms. Nalden (and we) find irresistible. On a side note, I showed this documentary to a friend of mine, who used to be the Concert Master for the Metropolitan Opera here in New York, and he thought Ms. Nalden had put together "a damned fine orchestra!"
We are also debuting two new music blocks (and in a few weeks these will be available streamed on our website, too).
Block #106 "Mashups" is a fun-filled block with videos that are musically and visually eclectic. Here's a brief rundown: Magnifico's "House of the Rising Sun" goes Balkan, Mexican Institute of Sound visits the dinosaur room, Rahul Sharma presents a philosophical hallucination, SoCalled deconstructs his head, Ojos de Brujo create a spiritual and cultural collage, Dengue Fever pays tribute to the Road Warrior, and Antiquarks get down on the dance floor - with the hurdy gurdy.
Block #108, aka "Romance" has Ziskakan praising Gypsies in Rajasthan, Sona Mohapatra presenting different styles of Indian dance, Federico Aubele playing guitar a bordello, while Rupa and the April Fishes take us to a Paris Bistro that is not really in Paris. Then Dato brings us a mournful love song illustrated by sand art, and we finish with Kiran Ahluwalia and a contemporary setting of an ancient Urdu love poem.
- Posted June 13, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
A Music Block to Watch Out For: "Road Trips"
What better way to usher in the Summer than with some videos that take us on the road? World Music Block #53 starts out with Spain's Dusminguet packing their instruments for a bucolic outing, then Zdob si Zdub, from Moldova, offer up a retro hommage to state sponsored music. Next we have one of our viewers' favorites, "Manne Ke Manjeere" about the first female lorry driver in India, followed by a rooftop bash in Brazil with Silverio Pessoa. We cap it off with a madcap street chase from Mano Negra, the group that gave Manu Chao his platform to becoming a soloist and superstar.
There you have it - a globetrotting road trip...without using a single drop of fuel!
- Posted June 6, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
Summer Preview
Starting in mid-June we'll be rolling out five new world music blocks, and some great new music documentaries. With themes ranging from "What a World" to "Romance" to "Mashups" and plenty of exciting live performances these new music blocks will be a great way to start your summer off. Faves to watch out for: a spirited Gaucho improv with Renato Borghetti, and some truly great Balkan Brass fusion with Shantel.
Of the new documentaries Soweto Strings is an uplifting true story of a dedicated music teacher in South Africa whose young students are an inspiration to us all. They come from poverty and troubled home lives, but somehow gravitate to classical music, bringing a whole hearted enthusiasm and discipline to their studies. This is the one to watch if you've got the blues!
- Posted May 30, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
Link Features Available as Free Downloads in iTunes U
Have you been to iTunes U? It's the special educational section of the iTunes site, accessible through the first page (in the "iTunes Store" Box) and now you can not only see lots of special Link TV programming, like interviews with foreign film directors and world music artists, but you can download them, free of charge. These features also appear in the regular iTunes display, right along with related music downloads. That's more exposure for Link, and more exposure for World Culture!
- Posted May 27, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
Another Look at South Africa
Most of the time when we think of the music of South Africa, we think of the immense variety of "indigenous" music, from Maskanda to Township Jive and so much more. We don't hear much of the musical contributions of the Dutch, or even of western music. But lately we have been seeing the impact and interpenetration of cultures that resulted from colonization in films like Karoo Kitar Blues. Another film debuting this week, Beautiful in Beaufort Wes (also located in the Karoo) reflects the popularity of the singer-songwriter idiom. For here in this dusty small town, we find one of South Africa's most noted poets and troubadors, Gert Vlok Nel. As the camera wanders in and out of the lives of the town's inhabitants, Nel accompanies it with songs reminiscent of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen. The songs capture the loneliness, the longing and also, the love that infuses the film. Is it "world music?" Perhaps not, but watch the film, and then decide whether or not you have visited a unique place, and been changed from the journey.
- Posted May 16, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
More about Africa
Last week I wrote about the diversity of music and films coming out of Africa these days. This week, you will notice that blocks #32 and #51 are all music from African countries, and two of our feature presentations are Vusi (Mahlasela) and Friends in Concert and Youssou N'Dour and the Grand Orchestre du Caire in concert. It's just a coincidence, but a good one. In looking back at block #32 (it was one I put together shortly after making contact with Gallo Records, in South Africa) I find it still as thought provoking and informative as ever.
We open with the late great Lucky Dube, who was tragically murdered during a carjacking in JoBurg this year. In his time he was pioneer of African Reggae, and "House ofExile" is a classic that displays his way with a beautiful melody. Next, El Hadj n'Diaye continues with the theme of displacement, with "Thiaroye" a powerful statement about missing one's homeland. After that, KDD presents a truly dynamic (and high end) video. The chorus is a reworking of the French national anthem, as they demand "another color on the flag." In another (and much lighter) vein, Gomes and Tavares gather some of France's hippest rappers and deejays for a spoof on police corruption. Check out the reference in the video to cassoulet - the first time I saw it couldn't stop laughing. Back on African soil we find South African Jabu Khanyile smoothly extolling the hopes of a non apartheid future-- but hard on his heels, we have Phuzekhemisi, the great maskanda musician who never lets the powers that be, be they white or black, forget what is right.
We close with one from Oliver Mtukudzi, from Zimbabwe. His video is about a prodigal son. This video was made in slightly happier days for Zimbabwe, and we can only hope that things get better for its people by the next time we play this block.
- Posted May 9, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
Africa on the Dial
Africa is a continent withover 50 countries, each with a myriad of faces and issues, and as it assumes a more and more important role in the world it is fascinating to see the cultural markers that are coming out of it, in the form of movies and documentaries. This week we are showing three films that represent such markers.
Our music documentary Fangafrica takes a look at a hooked up and urbanized pop culture, specifically a hip hop festival in Burkina Fasso. Karoo Kitar Blues, on the other hand focuses on an insular and isolated community in the South African desert, where music is an hermetic blend of local sensibilities and old colonial pop tunes.
The Cinemondo entry Waiting for Happiness is a reverie about cultural dislocation in Mauritania, as an urbanite visiting his mother's home town encounters traditions and attitudes he can no longer recognize or relate to. In particular check out the transmission of music from one female bard to another. To hear more of this kind of striking music, check out Ouleya Mint Amartichitt at YouTube here.
For videos that showcase some of the many faces of Africa, check out:
Daara J "Boomerang"
Issa Bagayogo "Diama Don"
Wazimbo "Nwahulwana"
K'Naan "Soobax"
Sobanza Mimanisa "Kiwembo"
- Posted May 2, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
Border Crossings
FLASH!! I don’t really believe that music is the universal language. There are too many kinds of music that I've had to learn to understand, and many more I may respect, but not enjoy. Still, there is no doubting the phenomenon of musicians from one culture becoming totally enamored of music from another. Many years ago I participated in an International Bluegrass festival in Southern France. I was surrounded by Bluegrass players from all over the world, and all of them were simply crazy about the music! Why do I bring this up? Because this week we are showing Like a God When He Plays about Irishman Paddy Bush and his love affair with Malagasy music, and the instrument he plays, the valiha. His devotion is real, and it's touching to see him make his pilgrimage to attend the ritual exhumation of a beloved master valihist. Along the way we also get to hear some delightful music, so do check this sweet documentary out.
- Posted April 25, 2008 by Michal Shapiro
