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Marco Werman
Noize MC and the Mercedes song
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The hip-hop song “Mercedes S666″ by Noize MC is about a Moscow traffic accident that has everyone there talking. Two weeks ago, the vice-president of Russian oil giant Lukoil was in his chauffeur-driven Mercedes when it crashed head-on into a Citroen killing the two women in that car. The police blamed the Citroen for the accident but Noize MC has his own version of events. Anchor Marco Werman has more about the song. Download MP3
Japan’s Non-Nuclear Principles, Revenge in Nigeria, Sargent and Velazquez at the Prado
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On this week’s history podcast we look at the reality of Japan’s “non-nuclear” policy; we discuss the possible role of revenge in the massacre in Jos, Nigeria on March 7, and we go behind the scenes at the Prado Museum in Madrid to explore the relationship between a 19th century American masterpiece and a 17th century Spanish one. Download MP3
SXSW – All Music Is World Music
The presence of international artists at the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) music conference in Austin, Texas has steadily grown in recent years. A few years ago, The World’s Marco Werman began wondering what made those musicians from around the world who come to SXSW different from musicians who fall into the “world music” category. Listen to all of the previous SXSW’s podcasts:
Balkan Beat Box
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Tomer Yosef (pictured) of the New York-Israeli hip hop band Balkan Beat Box drops by our studio and speaks with anchor Marco Werman about Vice President Biden’s visit to Israel and about the band’s new album. Download MP3
Roberto Fonseca’s Akokan
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Acclaimed Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca has a new album out. It’s called “Akokan.” It’s the latest pick from music critic and KCRW’s Tom Schnabel. Download MP3
Irish uilleann piper Paddy Keenan
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Irish uillean piper Paddy Keenan hails from a county in eastern Ireland. He’s a third generation piper. The World’s David Leveille tells us more about him and gives us the answer to the Geo Quiz. Download MP3
Haiti’s child slaves
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Haiti’s children were vulnerable even before the devastating earthquake last month. Most had poor health care and little education. And many were exploited as child “restaveks,” or slaves. Marco Werman talks E. Benjamin Skinner who is the author of “A Crime So Monstrous: Face to Face with modern-day slavery”. Skinner is also a fellow at Harvard’s Carr Center for Human Rights. Download MP3
Phoenix
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French pop and rock has been mostly ridiculed in the US. Phoenix is different – the success of the French band may be due to the fact they were influenced by the right musical role models. Lead singer Thomas Mars tells Marco Werman, when his older brother came back from the US, he played Thomas an album by Prince, and informed him that everything else he was listening to was garbage. Download MP3 (Photo: Adelaide Chen)
Paquito d’Rivera
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Latin Jazz King Paquito D’Rivera went to Germany to record an album with a trio of classical clarinettists. The World’s Adeline Sire reports. Download MP3Ca Tru
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An ancient form of Vietnamese music is making a comeback. Ca Tru was once the music of royal courts. Later, it became the music of prostitutes and courtesans. When the Communist Party first came to power, it banned the music. But in recent years, the government’s eased up on its moralistic stance. The World’s Mary Kay Magistad checked it out on a recent trip to Hanoi. Download MP3Fela Kuti
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Despite its mainstream theatrical reputation, the credo on Broadway really continues to be anything goes. Broadway’s musical subjects have been as varied as Thomas Jefferson, Jesus Christ, and P.T. Barnum. And so why not a musical about Nigerian afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti? Marco Werman reports. Download MP3
Bassekou Kouyate
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Malian musician Bassekou Kouyate has made his mark with the West African lute – the ngoni … not by playing traditional music on the ancient instrument, but by exploring its potential with among other styles like Western music. Anchor Marco Werman has details. Download MP3
Boomer Da Sharpshoota
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We close today with the story of Cambodian-American rapper Boomer Da Sharpshoota. He grew up in the US but he was deported seven years ago after serving a two-year prison sentence on gun convictions. Boomer now lives in Cambodia and he’s been learning to rap in Khmer. That’s no easy feat since it’s not the language he grew up speaking. Corey Takahashi has his story.Coquito Masters
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You might say that coquito is the Puerto Rican version of eggnog. About 200 coquito connoisseurs gathered this past weekend in New York to compete in the annual Coquito Masters contest. Debbie Quinones is the founder of the International Coquito Federation. Marco Werman talks with her. Download MP3 (AP Photo:El Museo del Barrio, Federico Rodriguez-Caldentey)
Best Global Music 2009
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Just under a week to go before Christmas is upon us. We brought in Tom Schnabel, music programmer at KCRW, to discuss our top World music picks of the year. And maybe, just maybe it will spur you to make a last minute addition to your list. Download MP3
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