Mermaids Bring Joy: Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks with "Chigwaya (The Bream Fish)"

"The Lion of Zimbabwe" brings us today's random tune, called Chigwaya (The Bream Fish). Thomas Mapfumo, also known as Mukanya, the praise name given to him in his Shona clan, is a sharp critic of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and is very popular and politically powerful. An innovator, he created the style of music known as Chimurenga - the word means "liberation" and focuses on themes of human rights, social justice and political dignity. It is also based on traditional mbira music, but played with modern electric instrumentation. Imprisoned during the white domination of the former incarnation of the country as Rhodesia, he now lives in the United States. His music is instantly recognizable to Zimbabweans and has influenced other Zimbabwean musicians. He occasionally returns to his home country though he hasn't been there since 2005. You can find Chigwaya (The Bream Fish) on his 1998 album Chimurenga '98. The song is a 1000 year old ceremonial mbira song calling mermaid spirits to bring health, wealth and powers of prophecy, and implies joy and delight in a time of plenty.

Pulling All-Nighters: Zeb & Haniya with "Chup"

The random tune for today comes from Pakistani female duo Zeb and Haniya. Zebunnisa Bangash and Haniya Aslam are cousins who began writing music together when studying at Smith College and Mt. Holyoke College in the US. Zeb began singing at age 8 and studied under Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan. Haniya is a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. They began crafting music in the basement of Zeb's dorm between 2000 and 2003 with a rough version of today's song, Chup. After an enthusiastic response from their college community, they recorded a version of Chup and another song titled Yaad. The songs spread on the internet and made it to Pakistan's radio airwaves. They released their debut album Chup! in 2008 and following the album's success began to do live performances. Zeb and Haniya have been hailed as one of the first, if not the first, all female band in Pakistan. They sing mostly in Urdu, and their songs, though often with a pop feel, draw on Pashto and Dari folk traditions and the music of artists such as Suzanne Vega, Turkish artist Barış Manço and Muddy Waters. Chup is from their album Chup! (2010). This version is from their Coke Studio Sessions live show in Pakistan.

Dancing on the Gulf: Beausoleil and "Two-Step de Port Arthur"

Beausoleil brings us the random tune for today, called Two-Step de Port Arthur. Beausoleil was founded in 1975, released its first album in 1977 and became one of the most well-known groups from playing traditional and original music in the Creole tradition of Louisiana. They have also gone beyond the traditional, incorporating rock and roll, jazz, blues, calypso and other genres. They are an extensive touring band, and they sing in both English and Colonial Louisiana French. The band takes its name from Joseph Broussard dit Beausoleil, who led the Acadian resistance to British deportation from Canada and led 193 exiles to safety in Louisiana. The band almost didn't come to be - Michael Doucet, one of the founders, was going to New Mexico to study Romantic Poets, but he won a Folk Arts Apprenticeship sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. As he puts it: "I traded William Blake for Dewey Balfa," and he sought out every living Cajun/Creole performer to learn what he could about Cajun music and their techniques. He even encouraged some to resume performing. They are one of the few Creole/Cajun groups to win a Grammy. Two-Step de Port Arthur can be found on their 2013 CD From Bamako to Carencro. Port Arthur refers to a city along the Gulf Coast in Texas.

Pucker Up: Los Texmaniacs and "Mil Besos"

Our song for today is by San Antonio, Texas group Los Texmaniacs. Los Texmaniacs were created in 1997 by Max Baca to play traditional conjunto and tejano music but also to incorporate rock and jazz while honoring the old traditions. Baca was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and followed his grandfather and father in learning the accordion beginning at age 5. He was invited by one of his idols, the great Flaco Jiménez, to play in Jiménez' band in San Antonio where he learned to play the bajo sexto (bass) using all six sets of strings in the traditional style. In forming Los Texmaniacs, Baca wanted to keep alive the style of another groundbreaking band, The Texas Tornados. This song, Mil Besos, can be found on their 2012 CD Texas Towns and Tex-Mex Sounds. The song expresses the love of one to another through the kisses that have been bestowed, and says "if it is sinning to love you, I will continue to sin because I do not deny I will still love you, I will continue to adore you, even if I go crazy."

Irish Sunbeam: Van Morrison and The Chieftains with "Celtic Ray"

Van Morrison and the The Chieftains are the performers of today's random tune, called Celtic Ray. The Chieftains are one of the greatest ambassadors of Irish music to the world, and have formed their distinctive sound around the Uileann pipes. Van Morrison, from Northern Ireland, is a singer-songwriter and musician who has been described as mystical and transcendental. Some of his albums have appeared near the top of many lists of the greatest albums of all time. He has released 39 albums. The collaboration between Van Morrison and The Chieftains goes back to at least 1979, when they met at the Edinburgh Rock Festival, and agreed to record an album together. The result, 1988's Irish Heartbeat, received positive critical acclaim, including 4 stars from Rolling Stone and was called one of the best albums of the year by The Village Voice. You can find Celtic Ray as the 8th song on Irish Heartbeat, and the video we found is a studio performance, date unknown, by Morrison and the Chieftains which has Morrison on drums and vocals.

Be Cool: Rocket Juice and the Moon with "Follow-Fashion"

Today's random song, Follow-Fashion, is by a supergroup called Rocket Juice and the Moon. Made up of music stars Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz, Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and longtime collaborator of Fela Kuti, the legendary percussionist Tony Allen, the band was announced in 2008 but delayed its recording until 2011 due to various projects of the band members. Led by Allen's Afrobeat rhythms, Flea and Albarn mix in their own stamp that uniquely complements the whole. Follow-Fashion includes guest artists Fatoumata Diawara and M.anifest. Diawara is a Malian guitarist living in France who is noted for a sensuous voice, while M.anifest is considered the king of Ghanaian hip-hop and is an award winning rapper, singer, and songwriter. You can find Follow-Fashion on the album Rocket Juice and the Moon (2012).

Pure Grief: Capercaillie and "Ailein Duinn (Dark Alan)"

Capercaille tones down our random tune for today with a moody piece called Ailein Duinn (Dark Alan). Capercaillie is a Scottish folk band formed in the 1980s. They are named after the Scottish wood grouse. They perform traditional Gaelic songs along with songs in English of their own composition or by others, and often mix traditional songs with modern recording techniques, rhythms and instrumentation. At first sticking fairly closely to traditional styles and instrumentation, in the 1980s they added funk bass lines, synthesizers and electric guitar to traditional songs. In 1992, their EP A Prince Among Islands was the first Gaelic language record to reach the top 40 of the UK singles charts They have since been moving back toward more traditional music while retaining a slight fusion sound. Ailein Duinn can be found on their 2005 best hits album called Dusk Till Dawn: The Best of Capercaillie, and another best of album, Grace and Pride: The Anthology 2004-1984 (2004). As far as we can tell, it was released originally in 1995 on their To the Moon album, but it was also released in 2017 on Capercaillie's re-recorded songs that appeared on the soundtrack for the movie Rob Roy. Ailein Duinn is a traditional lament, written for female voice by Annie Campbell for her lost love Alan Morrison, a sea captain who was lost at sea shortly before they were to be married. Campbell composed the lament and then apparently committed suicide - her body washed ashore near where Morrison's was found.