Music Blogs

Sometime in the mid-'90s while on assignment to interview Oasis in England, I visited a McDonald's bathroom in London purely to use the facilities. Attending to business, I happened to strike up a conversation with a fellow urinator. Upon hearing my American accent, a homeless man apparently living in a nearby stall shouted out in a drunken slur, "Fooking yanks! Think you own the bleedin' wurl!" Luckily, the friendly Londoner hussled me out of the bathrooom and I kept my appointment with Greatness.      

We Americans think we rule the world, right? Of course, as our financial house is realigned and our place in the world becomes smaller, less defined, hopefully less arrogant, and certainly less powerful, we'll see the world from a more global perspective, if you catch my drift.

So in an attempt to broaden our horizons before the decision is thrust upon us, here are the top five world music downloads available from our friends at IODA Promonet. "Rock The Casbah"!  

Eric Fernandez's Verdine Tempo: Once upon a time, a 14-year-old boy discovered a record by Paco de Lucia called Entre Dos Aguas. It was a revelation. Eric Fernandez was hooked! He picked up his father's guitar and playing entirely by ear, soon knew the whole album by heart. Very soon he was also playing along to Villa Lobos, Fernando Sor and his favorite, J.S. Bach: "I'm crazy about Bach!"

Eric Fernandez, Eric Fernandez
"Deliciate" (mp3)
from "Verdine Tempo"
(Sounds)

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Oum Kalthoum's Tebe'ini Leh: This Egyptian singer, songwriter, and actress is known as "the Star of the East" (kawkab el-sharq). More than three decades after her death, she is still recognized as one of Egypt's most famous and distinguished singers of the 20th century.

Oum Kalthoum
"Tebe'ini Leh" (mp3)
from "Tebe'ini Leh"
(Jasmine Music)

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Sambistas!: The seeds of the Sambistas project were sown some six years ago by Ady Harley--a French born Brazilophile, who had lived in Brazil for four years in the mid 90s. During this time he immersed himself in the local music scene, built an enviable network, produced a host of contemporary Brazilian records and developed an enduring passion for the culture, music and people of Brazil.

Sambistas
"Falsa Baina (feat. Luciana Mello)" (mp3)
from "Sambistas"
(Solid Air Music Ltd.)

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Beto Villares: Listeners outside of Brazil may not immediately recognize the name Beto Villares, but with his self-titled debut album for Six Degrees Records and top selling album credits, Beto has become a sure bet to world music fame and fortune...

Beto Villares
"Rio da Bossa Nova" (mp3)
from "Beto Villares"
(Six Degrees Travel Series)

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Miguel Poveda's Tierra De Calma: Miguel Poveda had already won four prizes by the age of 20, including the "Lámpara Minera" (one of the most prestigious prizes in Flamenco) in a national singing contest. Tierra De Calma is his sixth album, and was nominated for two Latin Grammies. Toro!

"Tierra De Calma"