Morna Has Broken: Mayra Andrade and "Kenha Ki Ben Ki Ta Bai"

Mayra Andrade, a Cape Verdean singer who lives in Paris, brings us our random tune for today. A well traveled child because her father was a Cape Verdean diplomat, Andrade is multilingual but usually sings in Cape Verdean Crioulo, a creole language based on Portuguese. She is often praised for her modern interpretation of Cape Verde's morna music, and has been compared to the great Cape Verdean singer Cesária Évora. This song, Kenha Ki Ben Ki Ta Bai, can be found on her 2011 live album Studio 105 (the video is live footage of the recording used on the album).

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayra_Andrade

Waking in the Morna: Nana Matias and "Pays Sol"

Today's random song is by Cape Verdean singer Nana Matias. She and her sister, singer Dulce Matias, sang in piano bars in Mindelo, Cape Verde as they were getting their start in music. Matias specializes in "mornas," a type of ballad that is slow and reflective. These types of songs were also associated with the early careers of notable Cape Verdean performers like Cesaria Evora. Matias now lives and records in France. On this song, Pays Sol, she is backed by her uncle on guitar and by her sister on vocals. Pays Sol can be found on the 1999 compilation CD Putumayo Presents: Cape Verde.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: Putumayo CD jacket

Keeping the Faith: Teofilo Chantre and "Nha Fê"

We go to Cape Verde for today's random song by Teofilo Chantre. Known for his long association with Cape Verdean music legend Cesaria Evora, for whom he composed many songs, as well as other musicians, he has since found his own popularity and following. Working from a base of Cape Verdean music, mornas and caladera, he also draws on his love of Brazilian and Cuban music such as bossa nova and charanga, as well as bolero, blues and jazz. He uses traditional instrumentation such as guitar, cavaquinho, violin and piano and sings in Portuguese, Creole and French. This song, Nha Fê, can found on his 1998 album Di Alma and on the 1999 compilation Putumayo Presents: Cape Verde. The lyrics translated are a song of faith:

Make me feel

Your sweetness

Sing a song

My way

Fulfill your dream

And mine

No longer be afraid

Of the world's mouth

Love your love

Swim in your

Own Happiness

Each day

Getting bigger

Until your light

Spreads

Throughout the world

Until your light

Spreads

Throughout the world

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te%C3%B3filo_Chantre

Putting the Fun in Funaná: Zeca Di Nha Reinalda, João Cirilio and Blick Tchutchy with "Tchon Di Massa Pé"

Today's random tune is Tchon Di Massa Pé by Zeca Di Nha Reinalda, João Cirilio and Blick Tchutchy. Zeca Di Nha Reinalda, born Emmanuel Dias Fernandes, is a Cape Verdean who started his solo career in 1995 and specializes in a type of Cape Verdean music called funaná - he is known as the King of Funaná - which is considered the most upbeat music genre in Cape Verde with rhythms provided by the ferrinho, the saw and the güiro. I couldn't find any information on João Cirilio but assume he is also Cape Verdean, and Blick Tchutchy is a Cape Verdean musician currently living in France. You can find Tchon Di Massa Pé on the compilation album Putumayo Presents: Cape Verde (1999).

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Natural Beauty: The Mendes Bros. and "Angola Beleza Natural"

Today's random tune is by the Mendes Bros. Born in Cape Verde but based in Brockton, Massachussetts, João and Ramiro Mendes have put out three albums and own the MB record label, which they use to promote music from their home country. The brothers emigrated to the US in 1978, and almost immediately formed their own band to play music from Cape Verde and Angola. They brought on Haitian keyboardist Nono in 1981, who took over the leadership of the band by serving as musical director and composer. During this time, Ramiro studied classical guitar and also studied at the Berklee School of Music to learn commercial arranging and film scoring, and he produced an album for the artist Sãozinha. The brothers released their debut album in 1991. This song, Angola Beleza Natural, can be found on their 1993 album Palonkon and can also be found on the various artists compilation Putumayo Presents: The Best of World Music - World Dance Party (1994).

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Mashup: Boy Gé Mendes and "Cumba Iétu"

Today's random song is by a Senegalese musician of Cape Verdean descent. Gerard Mendes, who is known more popularly as Boy Gé Mendes, was born in Dakar, Senegal and raised in the expatriate Cape Verdean community there. He was steeped in the music of his culture such as morna and coladeira, but also exposed to music from other parts of Africa including Senegal, Mali, Guinea and other African countries of the region, as well as rock, R&B and Cuban music. Moving to France, he formed Cabo Verde Show with his brother and other musicians. The band eventually became one of the most popular Cape Verdean act of all time. His influences still range widely due to his extensive travels in countries such as the United States, Brazil and West Africa and one of his children, Mika Mendes, has become a well-known zouk singer. You can find this song, Cumba Iétu, on his 1998 CD Lagoa, a remixed version on his 2011 CD Best of Boy Gé Mendes, and on the compilation CD Putumayo Presents: Cape Verde (1999).

King of Funaná: Zeca Di Nha Reinalda, João Cirilio and Blick Tchutchy with "Tchon Di Massa Pé"

Today's random tune is Tchon Di Massa Pé by Zeca Di Nha Reinalda, João Cirilio and Blick Tchutchy. Zeca Di Nha Reinalda, born Emmanuel Dias Fernandes, is a Cape Verdean who started his solo career in 1995 and specializes in a type of Cape Verdean music called funaná - he is known as the King of Funaná - which is considered the most upbeat music genre in Cape Verde with rhythms provided by the ferrinho, the saw and the güiro. I couldn't find any information on João Cirilio but assume he is also Cape Verdean, and Blick Tchutchy is a Cape Verdean musician currently living in France. You can find Tchon Di Massa Pé on the compilation album Putumayo Presents: Cape Verde (1999).

Oh What a Beautiful Morna: Bana and "Cabinda a Cunene"

Today's song is by the Cape Verdean "King of Morna" Adriano Gonçalves, who died recently in 2013. Known on stage as Bana, he was a balladeer and interpreter of the morna style which is considered the national music of Cape Verde. An imposing seven foot tall man, he began his musical career while serving as a handyman and bodyguard for the legendary Cape Verdean singer B. Leza. He recorded his first album in Senegal, and in the late 1960s moved around Europe where he joined a group of exiled Cape Verdeans called Voz de Cabo Verde. He settled in Portugal in 1969, opened a restaurant. He later established the first Cape Verdean-owned multinational record label in Paris. He had a 60 year career, the last part of which was devoted to traditional mornas and coladeiras. This song, Cabinda a Cunene, can be found on the 1997 album Gira Sol, and on the 1999 compilation Putumayo Presents: Cape Verde.

Top of the Morna: Mayra Andrade and "Kenha Ki Ben Ki Ta Bai"

Today's random tune is by Mayra Andrade, a Cape Verdean singer who lives in Paris. A well traveled child because her father was a Cape Verdean diplomat, Andrade is multilingual but usually sings in Cape Verdean Crioulo, a creole language based on Portuguese. She is often praised for her modern interpretation of Cape Verde's morna music, and has been compared to the great Cape Verdean singer Cesária Évora. This song, Kenha Ki Ben Ki Ta Bai, can be found on her 2011 live album Studio 105 (the video is live footage of the recording used on the album).

Love in the Morna: Ana Firmino and Tito Paris with "Chico Malandro"

The random tune for today is Chico Malandro by Ana Firmino with Tito Paris. Firmino and Paris are both from Cape Verde. Firmino is a singer and is regarded as a fine interpreter of the native Cape Verdean morna genre as well as other traditional styles of music. Paris is a singer and musician (guitar and bass) who now lives in Portugal. He has released eight albums. Chico Malandro, written by Paris on the topic of love, is considered Firmino's signature song. It can be found on the compilation CD Putumayo Presents: Cape Verde.

Royalty: Cesaria Evora and "Cabo Verde Manda Mantenha"

Today's random song is by "The Barefoot Diva" Cesaria Evora, also known as "The Queen of Morna." Placed in an orphanage in her native Cape Verde at the age of ten after her father died and her mother couldn't care for her, she was persuaded by a friend to sing in a sailor's tavern at age 16. In the 1960s she began performing for Portuguese cruise ships. In 1985 she was invited to Lisbon by Cape Verdean singer Bana where she was discovered by producer Jose da Silva. He invited her to record in Paris. It was only in 1988 that she began to achieve international success. She died in 2011 after of respiratory failure and hypertension. This song, Cabo Verde Manda Mantenha, can be found on her 1999 album Café Atlantico and on the compilation album Putumayo Presents: Cape Verde. (1999)

You Gotta Have Faith: Teofilo Chantre and "Nha Fe"

We go back to Cape Verde for today's random song by Teofilo Chantre. Known for his long association with Cape Verdean music legend Cesaria Evora, for whom he composed many songs, as well as other musicians, he has since found his own popularity and following. Working from a base of Cape Verdean music, mornas, and caladera, he also draws on his love of Brazilian and Cuban music such as bossa nova and charanga, as well as bolero, blues and jazz. He uses traditional instrumentation such as guitar, cavaquinho, violin and piano and sings in Portuguese, Creole and French. This song, Nha Fe, can found on the 1999 compilation Putumayo Presents: Cape Verde, and on his 2011 album Di Alma. The lyrics translated are a song of faith:

Make me feel

Your sweetness

Sing a song

My way

Fulfilll your dream

And mine

No longer be afraid

Of the world's mouth

Love your love

Swim in your

Own Happiness

Each day

Getting bigger

Until your light

Spreads

Throughout the world

Until your light

Spreads

Throughout the world

Taken from http://lyricstranslate.com/en/nha-fe-my-faith.html#ixzz3fCuT0a8t

In the Sun Country: Nana Matias and "Pays Sol"

Today's random song is by Cape Verdean singer Nana Matias. She and her sister, singer Dulce Matias, sang in piano bars in Mindelo, Cape Verde as they were getting their start in music. Matias specializes in "mornas," a type of ballad that is slow and reflective. These types of songs were also associated with the early careers of notable Cape Verdean performers like Cesaria Evora. Matias now lives and records in France. On this song, Pays Sol, she is backed by her uncle on guitar and by her sister on vocals. Pays Sol can be found on the 1999 compilation CD Putumayo Presents: Cape Verde.

A Silver Slipper: Fantcha and "Cinderela"

Today's random song is by Cape Verdean songstress Fantcha. Fantcha was born in the Cape Verdean city of Mindelo and took to music at an early age - learning to sing while accompanied by her brothers' guitar and cavaquinho. At 10, she caught the attention of Gregorio Gonçalves, also known as Ti Goy, one of Cape Verde's most famous composers. He not only took her under his wing and taught her musically, but he also introduced her to the legendary Cesaria Evora, who also taught Fantcha much about music. After a brief recording stint in Portugal, Fantcha moved to New York City. Her evolving music style includes Portuguese, African and Cuban inflections, and she sings mornas with a rich, sensuous voice befitting their mournful topics. However, she can also get people to dance, especially when she gets going on her coladeras. Cinderela can be found on her 1997 album Criolinha and on the Putumayo compilation CD Cape Verde.

With Music You're Never Alone: Sara Tavares and "Bué"

As I was reading the biography of today's artist online, some words stuck out for me. According to Wikipedia, the Portuguese singer, songwriter, guitarist and percussionist of Cape Verdean descent, was "raised by an older Portuguese woman after being left alone by her father and mother." The bio goes on by relating that her father and mother divorced, and her father headed to the United States in search of a better life and her mother took her siblings and went south in search of the same. As an orphan myself, who was put up for adoption at birth and was not adopted until I was 2½ years old, the story of a child being left alone by her parents touches a chord in me. I don't know any more particulars about Tavares' story, and tried to search for more but didn't find anything substantial. Did Tavares' parents keep contact with her or did they simply abandon her? I don't have those answers.

What I do know from my own experience is that a child, if abandoned, carries that with him or her for the remainder of life. It is a chain and a weight around the ankle. If a child is raised by loving foster or adoptive parents, that goes a long way to mitigate the effect of the abandonment, but for those adopted into difficult circumstances, or those who are not lucky enough to be claimed by a family and who are raised within some kind of system or worse yet, have to fend for themselves, a self-inflicted stigma remains. It always takes some form of "What did I do?" or "Why wasn't I good enough?" It is a source of trauma. I was given up twice, once by my birth mother and once by a foster mother, and to this day I have difficulties dealing with physical and emotional abandonment and will do anything I can to avoid it.

However, out of this type of trauma also comes the source of intense creativity. I consider myself a creative person and the experiences of my childhood continue to remain a source that feeds my creativity. Sometimes, the chain around the ankle can also be the window into a complex and beautiful soul. And if one has talent in art, writing or music, it can serve as both an individual healing process and as something that gives joy to others. I am extremely glad that Sara Tavares has been able to share her talent with us, and has been able to nourish it even if it might have come from a painful place.

Friday's random tune slides us into the weekend with Tavares' reggae- and African-influenced song Bué. Born in Lisbon and still a resident there, she composes music with African, Portuguese and North American influences. Tavares sings in both Portuguese and Portuguese-creole, and is also known to mix other languages, including English, into her songs, as Bué demonstrates. In 1994, while still in her teens, Tavares won a Portuguese TV song contest by singing Whitney Houston's One Moment in Time, and reached 8th place in the 1994 Eurovision Contest. She has released six albums. Bué is from her 2009 album Xinti and as an added treat has an official video version!