World music songs and what listeners hear

¶ … Music

"Aguas de Moloch." Afroreggae (Brazil). Favela Uprising.

What first struck me about the live version of Afroreggae's "Aguas de Moloch" was how "rocky" it seemed, especially the opening. I was expecting more of a softer reggae feel. As I listened, I could tell that the band was conveying a distinct beat. The rhythms are catchy, yet if it were not for the vocals I would think it were a regular rock band. The vocals actually remind me more of hip-hop than anything else, and somehow it all comes together.

"Montanerismo" Los 50 de Joselito (Columbia). Colombia

The Columbian sounds of Los 50 de Joselito is at once exotic and familiar. With elements of Mexican music and salsa as well, the song "Montanerismo" is uplifting. Acoustic guitar, bass, and horns are the predominant instrumentation. The vocals are cheerful and fun-loving.

"La Arenosa." Mercedes Sosa (Argentina). En Argentina

This gorgeous song begins with a few bars of bass before the acoustic guitar comes in. The mood is captivating from the start, as the bass drum adds captivating rhythm. When Mercedes Sosa starts singing with her husky voice, I am already shaking my hips. The music offers a curious combination of tribal drum beats, romantic Spanish lyrics, and lyrical flamenco-esque guitar riffs.

21. "Gurinsi-Waa." Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulai (Ghana)

Master Drummers Of Dagbon

The wild, seemingly chaotic drum sounds in "Gurinsi-Waa" are intellectually captivating. While they do not seem to have any pattern, my body instinctually feels like there is one. The sounds the "talking drums" make borders on being electronic; the Kalangu do not make drum sounds I am familiar with. Moreover, the drumming is layered and has musical texture. If I were to dance to this song, my dancing would be chaotic and free-style.

22. "Cavaleiro Monge

." Mariza (Portugal). Fado Curvo

Fado is a musical style that developed in Portugal during the early nineteenth century. Characterized by a sad, mournful feel, fado has a history of being sung by men. However, Amalia Rodrigues became the "queen of Fado" and popularized the genre as one with a female front. Mariza continues this tradition. Besides the powerful voice of the lead vocalist, the instrumentation consists mainly of acoustic guitar. However, the guitar parts are layered. The song builds in tension every so often, punctuated by moments of near tearfulness in the singer's voice.

23. "96 degrees in the shade." Third World (Jamaica). Reggae Greats

The guitar opening in "96 degrees in the shade" make the song sound not like reggae but like soft rock or smooth jazz. In fact, as the song progresses I was surprised that it took so long for the quintessential reggae sounds to start: including the syncopated rhythms and baseline.

24. "Dodi Li." Theodore Bikell (Israel). Folk Songs of Israel

Meaning "My beloved is mine," Dodi Li is a classic Israeli folk song that has been sung by an astonishing variety of groups including Peter, Paul, and Mary and the Milwaukee Children's Choir. The song emphasizes beautiful vocals and heartfelt Hewbrew lyrics. Theodore Biskell's version is evocative especially because the vocals are haunting and resonate throughout my soul. Moreover, the song is deceptively simple with simple soft strumming and drums in the background.

25. "Slow Hora/Freylekhs." The Klezmer Conservatory Band (Klezmer)Dancing In The Aisles

Klezmer is a form of music unique to the Jews of Eastern Europe, and has a lot in common with jazz. This track epitomizes what so many listeners love about klezmer. The clarinet and basoons are rich-sounding, and the minor scales are ironically cheerful. It seems like the players are trying to tell a story with the song.

26. "E Baiana." Clara Nunes (Brazil). Meus Momentos: Clara Nunes

This track illustrates the strong connection between Brazilian and African sounds. The beats are African in their roots and so are the vocals, and yet there is something classically Brazilian about the way Clara Nunes sings. The Portugeuse lyrics are sweet, and the song sounds cheerful and romantic. The song is catchy and danceable.