Get Up and Rap: MC Solaar and "Leve-toi et Rap"

French rapper MC Solaar, one of France's most influential rap artists, is on tap for today's random song. Of Senegalese and Chadian heritage, Claude M'Barali was born in Senegal but his parents relocated to suburban Pariswhen he was six months old. At age 12, he lived in Egypt with an uncle and became influenced by Zulu Nation and became fascinated with Afrika Bambaataa's rap styles. After studying languages and philosophy, he began his music career and released his first single in 1990. As his rap has evolved, he has become known for complex lyrics and flow, word play, lyricism, and inquiry. He has released eight studio albums and one live album. This song, Lève-toi et Rap, is the story of his parents' move to Paris and his upbringing in the village of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges and in Cairo. It can be found on his 2010 album Magnum 567.

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/MC_Solaar

Love Letter to Paris: Paris Combo and "Lettre A P..."

Paris Combo brings us today's random tune, called Lettre A P.... An indie band from Paris, France whose roots began in 1992 with performances in a revue by lead singer Belle du Berry, drummer Francois-Francois and guitarist Potzi at the Albertville Winter Olympic Games, the group began performing as Paris Combo starting in 1995 in cafes and on barges along the Seine. They take their influences from influences as varied as French singer Arletty from the 1930s, the Surrealist movement, and later influences like The B-52s, and incorporate different styles such as ska and Latin music. You can find Lettre A P... on their 2005 album Attraction and on the 2006 various artists compilation Putumayo Presents: Paris. The song is a love letter to Paris.

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/Paris_Combo

Must be an Important Guy: Trio DCA and "Polka à Alfred Mouret"

Trio DCA, three French folk musicians utilizing cabrette, chromatic accordion and vielle-à-roue (hurdy gurdy), brings us today's random tune. The group plays a variety of traditional music, including bourées, mazurkas, polkas and waltzes. Anne-Lise Foy provides vocals on many of their tunes. You can find this song, Polka à Alfred Mouret, on their 2002 album Musique de Haute-Auvergne, and on the 2017 reissue of The Rough Guide to Paris Cafe.

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.

Sources: http://www.rootsworld.com/reviews/triodca08.shtml

The Cabaret Has Closed: Damia and "La Guingette a Fermé ses Volets"

Today's random tune is by "la tragédienne de la chanson," French singer Marie-Louise Damien who is considered the third greatest singer of French chansons réalistes after Edith Piaf and Barbara. Known by her performing name of Damia, she was born in Paris in 1889 in the 13th arondissement, but was raised in Lorraine amid 8 siblings. She ran away from home and arrived in Paris at age 15 to be a performer where she caught the eye of Robert Hollard, who began an extramarital affair with her but also encouraged her to sing. By 1911 she was performing solo and with stars like Maurice Chevalier, but the murder of one of her early backers, singer Harry Fragson, led her to leave Paris for the United States in 1913, where she performed on Broadway until 1916 when she returned to France and sang on the front. Back in France, she was often a singer of second billing but received help from American dancer Loie Fuller on her stage performance and eventually became a star. She became the first singer to have a single spotlight trained on her face, bare arms and hands. She also began a series of lesbian relationships starting with architect Eileen Gray, and later French art promoter and filmmaker Gab Sorère. She also appeared in films with early silent film stars, and later with Anthony Quinn. Her farewell tour was in 1956, though she lived until 1978. She is buried in the Cimetière Parisien de Pantin. This song, La Guinguette a Fermé ses Volets, can be found on many collections - we got it from The Rough Guide to Paris Café (Second Edition), released in 2010.

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/Marie-Louise_Damien

Going South: Gotan Project and "Vuelvo al Sur"

The random tune for today is by the Gotan Project. Vuelvo al Sur is from their album Rasa Mello II (2003). Gotan Project, formed in 1999, is based in Paris and their music uses tango as a base but also incorporates samples, beats and breaks. Their name is a play on a famous tango compilation album called Tango Project released in 1982. The band's songs have been used in American film and television, and the band itself appeared on Dancing with the Stars in 2012. The band has released three studio albums, a couple of live albums, and has been included on many compilations.

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.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotan_Project; http://www.gotanproject.com/

At the Peace Cafe: Thomas Fersen and "Au Café de la Paix"

French singer-songwriter Thomas Fersen sings the random tune for today, entitled Au Café de la Paix. From Paris, Fersen started out as a punk rocker but then began playing piano in café-theatres. A poet, he he likes to take as subject matter everyday life and things, as well as personal explorations of the faults, failings and dreams of ordinary people. His albums range in styles from rock, folk-rock, jazz and blues. He released his first album in 1993 and has since put out 13 albums in total - the latest in 2017. You can find Au Café de la Paix on his 1995 album Les Ronds de Carotte and on the various artists compilation Putumayo Presents: Paris (2006). The song is about a man waiting for a date at a cafe.

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/Thomas_Fersen

Pretty Rain: Camille and "Jolie Bruine"

Today's random song is by French singer Camille Dalmais, who performs under her first name. Born and raised in Paris, she is the daughter of an English teacher and speaks both fluent English and French. She developed an early interest in bossa nova music and studied literature at the Lycée International de Saint Germain-en-Laye, a prestigious French school. Camille began performing in Paris jazz clubs in the early 2000s, and was signed to her first record label contract in 2002 and released her first album that same year. In 2004 she started working with the band Nouvelle Vague, which combines new wave and bossa nova, as well as continuing her solo career. She has released six studio albums and one live album, and has appeared as a guest on many other albums. She is also an actress, appearing in six films and performing the opening song, Le Festin, for the animated film Ratatouille (2007). This song, Jolie Bruine, can be found on her 2006 album Le Fil.

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.

Redefining the Goal in Tango: Gotan Project and "La Gloria"

The random tune for today is by the Gotan Project. La Gloria is from their album Tango 3.0 (2010). Gotan Project, formed in 1999, is based in Paris and their music uses tango as a base but also incorporates samples, beats and breaks. Their name is a play on a famous tango compilation album called Tango Project released in 1982. The band's songs have been used in American film and television, and the band itself appeared on Dancing with the Stars in 2012. The band has released three studio albums, a couple of live albums, and has been included on many compilations. The official video for La Gloria has the song at 3 minutes 12 seconds, though the version we have on iTunes is about 30 seconds longer. The song features an extended vocal by Uruguayan, Argentina-based football announcer Victor Hugo Morales, who mentions all band members by name and finishes with a long GOOOOOOOOOOOTAAAAN!!! instead of his trademark GOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!

Benin Party: Laurent Hounsavi and "Mindé Sè"

Mindé Sè is the name of our random tune today, performed by Laurent Hounsavi and his band. Hounsavi is from Benin - so if you are confused by the music which sounds Caribbean you are allowed to be. After winning an award for best young talent in Benin at 15, he moved to Paris at age 17 where he performed in the Metro, cafes and bars while he earned a degree. He released his first CD, a four song EP, in 2000 and later that year drew 50,000 at a concert in Benin. Hounsavi is an African salsa musician who sings in all three Beninese languages (Fon, Yoruba and Goun) and his songs have been marketed in over 100 countries. He has also shared the stage with many other famous African, Afro-Cuban and salsa musicians. You can find Mindé Sè featured on the Putumayo compilation World Party, released in 2007.

It's Spring: Karen Ruimy and Youth with "Primavera"

Moroccan-born performer, writer, dancer and philanthropist Karen Ruimy provides our random tune today, called Primavera. Now living in Paris, Karen Ruimy was a banker who changed her career at age 30 and became a writer. In that career she has published two books and is a contributor to Huffington Post and Harpers Bazaar. She became a professional dancer at age 38 and has produced several dance shows. She has also released two albums. Primavera is from her dance show ZIK'R, and can be found on the soundtrack for the show (2015). The song features UK producer and musician Martin Glover, also known as Youth, who co-created ZIK'R with Ruimy.

A Tiny Peep: Malika Zarra and "Little Voice"

Our tune today, Little Voice, is performed by Malika Zarra. Zarra was born in Morocco to a Berber mother and a Moroccan father and she grew up in Paris though her family remained culturally Moroccan in the home. She became interested in jazz because she noticed its improvisational similarities to Arab music, and studied jazz in Tours and Marseilles. She began getting attention when she started singing jazz standards with her own Arab translations. She is influenced by styles such as traditional Berber music, Gnawa music, Chaabi, French popular music, jazz, house, funk, dance, and traditional African music, and her personal influences include artists such as Farid al-Atrash, Um Kalthoum, Warda Al-Jazairia, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby McFerrin, Thelonious Monk, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. You can find Little Voice on her 2011 CD Berber Taxi.

In a Brazilian State: Angelique Kidjo and "Bahia"

Happy birthday to my partner in this show, the legendary Megan Kamerick! The equally legendary Angélique Kidjo sings the random tune for today, Bahia. A Grammy award winning singer-songwriter from Benin, Kidjo regularly makes world lists of notable and inspiring African women and as one of the world's greatest musicians. She is known for an astonishing variety of musical influences from diverse musical personalities and an array of genres. She sings in four languages (Fon, Yoruba, French and English) as well as her own personal language. After a childhood in Benin listening to traditional Beninese music as well as other world stars such as Fela Kuti, James Brown, Miriam Makeba, Jimi Hendrix, Hugh Masakela and Stevie Wonder, among others, she began her musical career in Benin before moving to Paris in 1983 where she was discovered and signed to a major label. She has put out at least 15 albums. She does various forms of advocacy for UNICEF, African girls' education, hunger and third world health, among other things. Bahia can be found on her 2002 album Black Ivory Soul, and on the compilation CD Putumayo Presents: Women of Africa (2004). This video is from a live performance at the Newport Jazz Festival. Bahiarefers to the state in Brazil, where Kidjo teamed up with Brazilian and Afro-Brazilian musicians to write songs for the album.

Sleeping In: Pascal Parisot and "Je Reste au Lit"

French songwriter and singer Pascal Parisot brings us today's random tune, titled Je Reste au Lit. From the Vosges, France Pascal Parisot fell in love with guitar and Brazilian music at age 12 after listening to a record called 12 Studies for Guitar that had compositions by Brazilian Heitor Villa-Lobos and performed by Andrés Segovia. Hearing this album led him to enroll in music school and learn to play. He started his musical career as an accompanist, but after releasing his first album in 2000 became much happier as a musician, playing his own songs. In 2009, he began adding songs that would appeal to younger audiences to his repertoire, and has now become a singer that reaches all ages levels with his music and stage performances. Je Reste au Lit can be found on on the compilation album Putumayo Presents: Paris (2006).

Seize It: Aldebert and "Carpe Diem"

Our random tune today is dedicated to Pauline Hess, Mike's sister who is providing great elder care to his mom. It's her birthday today, and she could kind of use a carpe diem moment once in awhile. So today's song, Carpe Diem by French singer-songwriter Aldebert, is completely appropriate. Aldebert is a native of Paris raised with the music of Georges Brassens, Serge Gainsbourg and Jacques Brel - whom he credits with influencing his own music. He studied photography, but decided to devote his talents to his love of chanson. He released his first album in 2000 and began touring Europe. He performed over 300 concerts in four years, and won the prestigious Radio France award for Best Chanson Singer in 2003. He is now considered a leading exponent of the nouvelle chanson movement. The song references the famous scene in the movie Dead Poets Society, and is about a girl who opens the eyes of the singer to a wider world view and yet teaches him humility. You can find Carpe Diem on Aldebert's 2004 album L'annee du Singe and on the compilation CD Putumayo Presents: Paris (2006).

Enough is Enough: Emel Mathlouthi and "Yezzi"

Today's song is by Emel Mathlouthi, a Tunisian singer-songwriter who penned and recorded two songs, Ya Tounes Ya Meskina and Kelmti Horra, that became anthems for the Tunisian Revolution. She began writing songs as a student, but became frustrated by the lack of opportunities and the political apathy of her classmates. Eventually she moved to Paris after the Tunisian government banned her songs from radio and television. However, bootleg copies of her performances in France circulated through Tunisia, and her songs had an impact on the 2010 uprising against the government. Her debut album, Kelmti Horra, was released in 2012 to critical acclaim, and that album is where you can find this song, Yezzi (Enough).

Dancing in Paris: Henri Momboisse and "Impression"

We go back to early 20th century Paris for today's random song, called Impression. Henri Momboisse was a bal musette accordionist who was born in 1889 and died in 1960. While I don't have much information on Momboisse, bal musette was a dance music that typically used accordion, banjo and drums (called "jâze" after the American jazz). Sometimes a cabrette - a small pipe, was also included. Musette musicians created valse musette, a type of mazurka called the java, and put their unique stamp upon the foxtrot. This recording of Impression is from 1930, and can be found on The Rough Guide to Paris Cafe (2nd edition - 2010).

Song and Dance: Beltuner and "Gnossienne No. 1"

Gnossienne No. 1 is today's random tune by Beltuner, a French band started in 2001 by four young self-taught musicians. First concentrating on gypsy swing, Parisian bal musette, tango, Yiddish and Balkan music, they found a unique sound by mixing the styles and adding in jazz, classical, rock, world music and funk. They are also known for their free-wheeling and energetic concerts. Gnossienne No. 1 can be found on their 2010 CD Album #1.

Fading Ink: Myrtille and "Les Pages"

Today's random song is by French singer Myrtille. I can't find much information on her, unfortunately. The song is titled Les Pages and can be found on her 2007 album Murmeres, and on the 2006 compilation CD Putumayo Presents: Paris.

What a Name: Smadj and "Inspiré Par Une Ile"

Today's tune is an interesting , modern sounding mashup of traditional music and exotic vocals over modern, electronic beats. The artist, Jeanne-Pierre Smadja (whose stage name is Smadj) is a Tunisian born, Parisian musician who takes inspiration from Asian, Brazilian, funk, soul and folk music. He started studying music at age 15 with a focus on the guitar, and he became known for turning traditional jazz into eclectic sounds. He gained a degree in sound engineering and became a recording and sound engineer for classical and folk musicians. He released his first solo album in 1994, and eventually became recognized for his blend of acoustic and electronic sounds. He was a co-founder of the famous acoustical group DuOud. He also has worked with a number of famous Turkish musicians, such as Burhan Öçal, Savas Zurnaci and Orhan Osman. You can find this song, Inspiré Par Une Ile, on the compilation CD Istanbul Calling, Vol. 2: Ethnic Electronic (2007).

Spicy African Salsa: Laurent Hounsavi and "Mindé Sè"

Mindé Sè, today's random tune, is by Laurent Hounsavi and his band. Hounsavi is from Benin - so if you are confused by the music which sounds Caribbean you are allowed to be. After winning an award for best young talent in Benin at 15, he moved to Paris at age 17 where he performed in the Metro, cafes and bars while he earned a degree. He released his first CD, a four song EP, in 2000 and later that year drew 50,000 at a concert in Benin. Hounsavi is an African salsa musician who sings in all three Beninese languages (Fon, Yoruba and Goun) and his songs have been marketed in over 100 countries. He has also shared the stage with many other famous African, Afro-Cuban and salsa musicians. You can find Mindé Sè featured on the Putumayo compilation World Party, released in 2007.