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"J'aurais Bien Voulu" from Babylon Circus
Sample Track 2:
"Dances of Resistance" from Babylon Circus
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Babylon Circus
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Babylon Circus: Gypsy, ska, French jazz and a hint of Bob Marley

By LANA MINI

Fans of the modern gypsy music revolution won't want to miss the current band making U.S. headlines in that genre: Babylon Circus, of Lyon, France, performs tonight at Comerica/Ford Global Thursdays at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn.

The theater, on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., has been the hot spot over the past year for those who like to explore different instruments and sounds from around the globe.

This is the last show of the 2008 Global Thursdays season.

Babylon Circus is in a similar category of the more popular Gogol Bordello - French style. But Babylon Circus is a unique band in its own right.

It's a 10-piece group founded 13 years ago in Lyon.

While Gogol strings punk and ska elements into its authentic gypsy style, Babylon fuses ska/carnival/punk/reggae plus elements of Django Reinhardt (jazz) style, Balkan gypsy sounds and the inspiration of great French singers like Edith Piaf. And Bob Marley is never forgotten.

The newest CD is Dances of Resistance.

The band's touring experiences are well publicized and are helping them gain recognition.

"In Syria, Muslim women dressed black clothing dance in a carnival procession. In Dublin with instruments in hand, band members chase policemen chasing a band member, through the streets," the band's publicity company explains.

Dances of Resistance is about optimism in a world that at times seems hopeless. Songs are about civil justice and injustice, and encourage listeners to be active; or as they put it "join the dance."

"The music is way to fight, to be an actor in today's society rather than a victim," lead vocalist David Baruchel said.

The band has played across the globe and in some seemingly unlikely places. They were the only European band to play at La Fête de la Musique in Damascus three months after the start of the Iraq War.

"What we found there wasn't what we had been told by the press. It wasn't as violent as it was supposed to be. Our music opened doors to people in the streets," Baruchel said.

While the lyrics have a message, the melodies are at times intentionally humorous, like the sounds of a carnival. The song Contra La Guerra: Greva General!, includes the sound of two million anti-war protesters in Barcelona, plus sonic joyous music. Babylon isn't poking fun at anything, they too marched in the demonstration.

And why were they chased by law officials in Ireland?

Because they drank potato vodka outdoors, not knowing it's illegal to drink on the streets. That led to a police-chase of a confused band member, followed by concerned band members following the cops. All ended happily with a laugh in the police station.

What antics will occur in Dearborn? Probably a lot of dancing in the theater.

The band says "Life is sometimes hard, and it takes its toll. Sometimes dancing is the best way not to fall."  04/17/08 >> go there
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