Global Hit

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:

French Band ‘The Two’ Stars Ara Starck and David Jarre

By Marco Werman ⋅ February 8, 2012 ⋅ 3 comments ⋅ Transcript

Ara Starck met David Jarre of "The Two." (Photo: thetwomusic.com)

Starck and Jarre are darlings in France, but they are hoping to find the same sort of love in the US.

Gerard Edery’s Tribute to Argentina’s Atahualpa Yupanqui

By The World ⋅ February 7, 2012 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

Gerard Edery (Photo: Piotr Sobkowicz/gerardedery.com)

Edery himself a well-known classical guitar player, pays tribute to Yupanqui with his album titled “Edery Sings Yupanqui.”

Video: Myanmar’s All-Girl Band Me N Ma Girls

By Bruce Wallace ⋅ February 6, 2012 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

Band members of Burma's all-girl band Me N Ma Girls. (Photo: myspace.com/me-n-ma-girls)

Me N Ma Girls is an all-girl group from Myanmar (Burma). The girls conjure up images of the Spice Girls and other female pop singers like Britney Spears with their colorful wigs and dance tunes.

Ana Tijoux’s ‘Shock’ Becomes Protesters’ Anthem in Chile

By The World ⋅ February 3, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

Protesters in Chile are calling for educational reforms and Tijoux’s song has generated buzz.

Earworms: Tunes That Stick in Our Heads

By Rhitu Chatterjee ⋅ February 2, 2012 ⋅ 21 comments ⋅ Transcript

How often does a tune intrude on your thoughts and plays and replays in never-ending loops? Scientists call these intrusive musical thoughts “ear worms.”

Syrian Composer Malek Jandali’s Arab Spring Inspired Song

By Adeline Sire ⋅ February 1, 2012 ⋅ 9 comments ⋅ Transcript

CD cover of Syrian composer Malek Jandali's "Emessa."

Anchor Marco Werman talks to Syrian composer Malek Jandali who based some of his recent compositions on the brutal events of the Syrian revolution.

Norwegian All-Girl Band Razika

By The World ⋅ January 31, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

In the Global Hit today, our DJ contributor Marius Asp chooses a Norwegian group Razika. The band formed in 2005 debuted its first album Program 91 last year.

Mayra Andrade: A New Musical Star for Cape Verde

By Alex Gallafent ⋅ January 30, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

Mayra Andrade (Photo: Jean-Marc Lubrano)

Mayra Andrade is often compared to the late, great singer Cesária Évora. She’s certainly one of Cape Verde’s brightest musical stars with a voice that sounds like steel swaddled in soft cotton.

Desert Island Discs After 70 Years

By The World ⋅ January 27, 2012 ⋅ 13 comments ⋅ Transcript

The BBC radio program “Desert Island Discs” turns 70 this weekend. Each week, a different guest, or castaway, shares his or her musical selections with the audience. The World’s Lisa Mullins has more.

Blue King Brown: Indigenous Activists and a Best-Selling Band

By Marco Werman ⋅ January 26, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

Members of the Blue King Brown band. (Photo: myspace.com/bluekingbrown)

Though Aboriginal communities have felt marginalized for centuries in Australia, their activism doesn’t typically grow as heated as it did in Canberra Thursday. Marco Werman profiles Blue King Brown, an example of indigenous activists in Australia who are a best-selling band.

Below, Blue King Brown

Concerto ‘Tahrir for Clarinet and Orchestra’ Inspired by Egyptian Uprising

By Adeline Sire ⋅ January 25, 2012 ⋅ 3 comments ⋅ Transcript

Mohammed Fairouz (Photo: mohammedfairouz.com)

The piece is the first movement of what will become a concerto in three movements.

Video: Malian Band SMOD’s Desert-Dry Groove

By Marco Werman ⋅ January 24, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

SMOD members Ousco(left), Sam(right). (Photo: Marco Werman)

After the Arab Spring of 2011, many people living in Sub-Saharan Africa began to wonder when they would rise up and have an African spring. It is hard to say when that might happen, but if it does, the uprising already has a house band in Mali, SMOD, with several road-tested anthems.

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