Transpacific Sound Paradise
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Youssou N'Dour
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Youssou N'Dour is simply the most popular African artist in the world today. He is truly an icon - Time Magazine put him on their list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
But sometimes such influence has a price: In 2004 he broke from his usual two streams of music - mbalax dance albums for the Senegalese audience, and crossover pop albums for the international audience - and did something entirely different: An album of songs performed with an Egyptian orchestra and dedicated to Sufi saints called Egypt.
While Egypt was a huge hit abroad, leading to his first Grammy, there was a firestorm back home in the Islamic country of Senegal, where some considered the songs to be blasphemous.
A new film by
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, I Bring What I Love, documents the controversy and the rapprochement that followed. Youssou N'Dour came to town for the premiere, and concerts at BAM to launch the Muslim Voices Festival. He spoke with Rob about this experience, his latest cd Rokku Mi Rokka (Nonesuch) and other musical adventures.
Screening info for I Bring What I Love (at IFC Center, BAM Rose Cinemas and the Paris Theater in NY, and soon to come in other cities): http://www.ibringwhatilove.com
This Week's Playlist:
(* = new)Kinky: Diablo Azul / Barracuda / Kin Kon / *
Marcio Local: Sentemiento Rei / Says Don Day Don Dree Don Don / Luaka Bop / *
Aterciopelados: Para Mi Solito / Con el Corazon en la Mano / RCA /
L'Occidentale de Fanfare: Hopopop / Hopopop / Daqui /
Bagad Saint Nazaire: Cap Au Sud / QM2 / Bagad Saint Nazaire /
Okay Temiz & Group Zourna: Ada Ciftetellisi / Karsilama / ADA Muzik /
Pece Atansovski: Dracevka / Various Artists: Gypsy Rumba / Disky /
Warsaw Village Band: Wise Kid Song / Infinity / Barbes / *
Tanya Tagaq: Fire / Auk (Blood) / Ipecac Recordings /
Iren Lovasz and Laszlo Hortobagyi: Conquest / Vilagfa / Fono /
Palya Bea: The Devil and the Old Witch / Just One Voice / Sony / *
Beyond the Pale: Solution / Postcards / Borealis / *
Youssou N'Dour and Etoile de Dakar: Mane Kouma Xol / Various Artists: Golden Afrique Volume 1 / Network /
Youssou N'Dour: Bou Leen Coupe / Special Fin D'Anee Plus / Pape Thiam /
Youssou N'Dour: Cheikh Ibra Fall / Egypt / Nonesuch /
Youssou N'Dour: Shukran Bamba / Egypt / Nonesuch /
Youssou N'Dour: Sama Gàmmu [My Rival] / Rokku Mi Rokka / Nonesuch /
Youssou N'Dour: Touba - Daru Salaam / Egypt / Nonesuch /
Youssou N'Dour: Baay Niasse / Egypt / Nonesuch /
Thione Seck: Manmignoul / Orientation / Sterns /
Hamid Kane: Yaram Fall / Akassa / Offbeat /
Novalima:
Se Me Van
/ Coba Coba Remixed
/ Cumbancha
/
*
EarthRise Bedouin Breakdown Remix
Mahmoud Guenya: Marhba / Gnaoua / Azza Production /
Najat Aatabou: Baghi Narjah / The Voice of the Atlas / GlobeStyle /
Eva Ayllon: El Muneco de la Ciudad / Kimbafa / Times Square / *
On Ka'a Davis: Return-Send / Seeds of Djuke / Live Wired / *
King Sunny Ade: Ariya / Seven Degrees North / Easy Street / *
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