Rock Paper Scissors - LinkTV, World Music Programming

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Top 15 World Music Videos

As America’s only national TV channel airing world music, Link TV has a library of over 750 hand picked world music videos. While combining video and music is nothing new for American audiences, world music videos have a cultural depth often missing from mainstream music TV outlets. “One reason our world music programming is so compelling for viewers is that the videos take them on a trip into the artist’s world,” says Steven Lawrence. “If you tune in for a music block you might start in Uzbekistan, hop to South Africa, then Brazil and end up in New Caledonia. Along the way you’re getting great music, and also being introduced to an incredible spectrum of dance styles, customs, costumes and landscapes. No wonder our viewers get hooked.” Videos are selected for broadcast based on the quality and uniqueness of the music, cinematography, and video production. Here are some favorites compiled by Link programmers Steven Lawrence and Michal Shapiro.

Ojos de Brujo (Spain); Song title: Tiempo de Solea; CD: Bari (La Fabrica de Colores). An animation that was two years in the making, and worth it. Every frame is well conceived in this “history of western civilization” in a nutshell.

Puffy Ami Yumi (Japan); Song title: Puffy de Rumba; CD: Puffy Ami Yumi, an Illustrated History (Sony International). In an artificial jungle, Puffy and their ever present backup dancers go through a series of odd dance moves, to the sounds of a string quartet in camouflage gear. Jimi Hendrix looks on in amazement.

Gogol Bordello (US/Ukraine/Russia); Song title: Start Wearing Purple; CD: Gypsy Punks; Underdog World Strike (SideOneDummy). This is a video that spins directly off the manic energy, intelligence and humor of Eugene Hutz and his wild band of vodka-drenched party goers. Make no mistake: it’s a tight band, but everything else is as loose at it gets.

Urker (Kazakhstan); Song title: Konyr; CD: The Best of Urker (Meloman). In the year of Borat, we were happy to be broadcasting a terrific video from the country he so misrepresents. The music is excellent folk rock, and the video is full of imagination with intriguing use of stop action and interactive animation, and plenty of shots of the Kazakh landscape.

Café Tacuba (Mexico); Song title: Aviéntame; CD: Soundtrack to “Amores Perros” (Universal Latino). Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, this video combines several vignettes about the tragic side of love, brilliantly staged and shot in one continuous pan around a room.

K'Naan (Somalia); Song title: Soo Bax; CD: The Dusty Foot Philosopher (BMG Canada). A song with a powerful message and a charismatic performer whose own life has been far harsher than most bling-laden rappers. This video, an excoriation of the warlords who have destroyed Mogadishu and created a dead-end gun culture, was filmed in Nairobi.

Hector Buitrago (Colombia); Song title: Damaquiel; CD: Conector (Nacional). This may be one of the most satisfying and lovely videos we have ever received. It is a combination of real action and animation with wonderful performances by Ever Suarez and Martina Camargo, who sing and dance beautifully. Buitrago does not appear, preferring to stay behind the scenes, playing bass and producing.

Estrella Morente (Spain); Song title: Zambra; CD: Mujeres (EMI). As it turns out, Fernando Trueba (the director of Calle 54) is also a fan of Ms. Morente. He has used the filmmaker's craft to capture the fire of this performer, from dramatic lighting to camera work that follows her through perfectly framed images. Olé!

Abjeez (Iran/Sweden); Song title: Eddeaa; CD: Hameh. What the world needs now is some Farsi Ska, and Abjeez (sisters) delivers big time with a tongue in cheek "art movie."

Kou Chou Ching (Taiwan); Song title; Black Heart; CD: Unreleased (Yaji Music Studio). A striking computer animation in red and black in which the avatars of the band rap about the dangers of faulty exports due to the mad rush for money-- all interspersed with traditional Taiwanese opera singing.

Shukar Collective (Romania); Song title: Malademna; CD: Urban Gypsy (World Music Network). The music is a giddy combination of Romanian gypsy a capella singing in a matrix of electronica—the visuals reveal life in a gypsy village with two main characters, a teenage girl who can’t stop dancing, and a boy who can’t seem to stop practicing his boxing.

Selaelo Selota (South Africa); Song title: Thrrr…Phaaa!; CD: Enchanted Gardens (SonyBMG S. Africa). Selota recalls a famous boxing match in this evocative video in which "Thrrr…Phaaa!" approximates the sound of a boxing glove connecting with a man's jaw.

Shubha Mudgal (India); Song title: Manne Ke Manjeere; CD: Mann Ke Manjeeré (Virgin/Breakthrough). The story of one of the first female tram drivers in India is the theme of this lushly produced video that was filmed as if it were a Bollywood extravaganza. The song has a great hook and is sung by Shubha Mudgal in a powerful chest voice.

Sevara Nazarkhan (Uzbekistan); Song title: Gazli; CD: Bahtimdan. Another great video done on a low budget, the setting is simple but striking, and the performance carries it. We love this kind of economy.

Molotov (Mexico); Song title: Frijolero; (Universal Latino). Possibly the most invigorating video we received in the past few years. The song is scathing, political and scatological, and the video is technically breathtaking, using state of the art rotoscoping.

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