PRI’s The World presents the Global Hit, a daily spotlight on international musical artists or trends. Created by The World’s Marco Werman, the Global Hit features interviews with musicians, critics and deejays around the globe. He is also one of the curators of the South By Southwest Musical Festival (SXSW) – “All Music Is World Music.” Subscribe and follow:
Global Hit
Eva Ayllon
The singer dubbed the Queen of Afro-Peruvian Soul is wrapping up a short summer tour here in the US. Eva Ayllon moved from Peru to the United States a few years ago. At the time some Peruvians felt rejected the move. But Eva Ayllon hasn’t strayed from her musical roots. Instead she’s taken her music and performed it to a sell out crowd at Carnegie Hall. Listen
Freshlyground
For today’s Global Hit, sounds from “Freshlyground,” a musical group from South Africa.
Madonna and Bruce Springsteen
Our Global Hit segment usually focuses on musicians from around the globe. Today we’re going to talk about two American musicians who’ve been touring Europe — to great acclaim.
Ludovico Einaudi
Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi shares the recipe for his famous musical soundscapes. Listen
Blick Bassy
Musician Blick Bassy is a member of the nomadic Bassa community in the African country of Cameroon. He now lives in Paris, but he hasn’t forgotten his roots. The World’s Emma Kwesiga Lydersen has this profile.
http://www.myspace.com/blickbassy2
http://www.worldconnection.nl/wclayout/index.php?site_id=37
Babik
The World’s Carol Hills profiles the jazz quartet, Babik. The group is from Buffalo, New York, but their musical inspiration is from the life of jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.
Blakk Rasta
President Obama may find himself serenaded by one of Ghana’s hottest musicians during his visit to the country. Blakk Rasta shot to fame last year with his song called – you guessed it – “Barack Obama”.
Oumou Sangare
Today’s Global Hit shines a spotlight on Malian singer Oumou Sangare, currently on a North American tour promoting her latest album, ‘Seya’. Anchor Lisa Mullins explains that Sangare is a superstar back home and a champion of women’s rights.
Michael Jackson in Liberia
For today’s Global Hit, we hear from Emmanuel Gardiner, whose family left Liberia for the United States after a coup in 1980. Among his most treasured possessions was Michael Jackson’s album “Off the Wall.” Listen
Hal and the Big 5
The group Hal and the Big 5 aren’t the type of band that jams together well into the night. Instead, each member records into their own computer then shares the files over the internet. In fact, some band members haven’t even met each other…
Femi Kuti
Marco Werman talks with Nigerian afrobeat musician Femi Kuti, son of the late pioneer of the genre Fela Kuti, and gets him to answer the questions he himself poses on his new CD about progress in Africa. Video: Three Questions for Femi Kuti
‘United for Neda’
Marco Werman reports on “United for Neda,” a song composed and performed by a group of Iranian artists in Los Angeles to acknowledge the sacrifices made by protestors in the streets of Tehran. Neda is a reference to the young woman killed during street protests there two weeks ago.
Staff Benda Bilili
The Congolese band Staff Benda Bilili just released an amazing album, but as Marco Werman tells Lisa Mullins, it’s the story behind the music that’s really amazing. Listen You can find more information on the band here.
Musique en France
Gerry Hadden tells us how the French government helps out struggling musicians, actors and artists. It provides them with a version of unemployment that helps them get through the lean times. Listen
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