SO. This edition of Disco, Blisters & A Comedown is all about WORLD MUSIC. It can be found in the World Music section of HMV.
Actually, that’s a ridiculous thing to say. Does HMV even exist anymore? It used to sell something called CDs, back in the early naughties. CDs were round, shiny things that you put in “CD player” and it played music. AMAZE! Anyway yeah, HMV is a bad example because who cares.
World Music can be found in the living rooms of people who own lots of tie-dye throws, and lava lamps, and do things like aromatherapy and say things like “you know what Rania, you’ve got a lovely aura today.” World Music can also be found AROUND THE WORLD. Like, in other countries. So here’s a selection of my fave World Music at the moment.
ENCA – Call Me Goddess
Now, I shazammed this the other day whilst buying baklava in my local Turkish grocery store. An example of 21st century cultural appropriation at work. Confusingly, ENCA is not Turkish, but Albanian. Not far from the Kardashians’ breeding ground, and she’s got a dangerous whiff of the Kardashian about her. Regardless, her hit single Call Me Goddess is a gorgeously exotic summer stomper. The music video’s got sunglasses, yachts, and culturally appropriated dreadlocks. A winning combo!
Mafikizolo – Khona
This one’s from South Africa! And it takes its inspiration not from boring beach holiday South Africa, but lion-prowling, spear-sharpening rural South Africa! I discovered it in an obscure corner of Youtube last year and it’s become one of my absolute faves. It’s got an infectious tribal beat, and the music video gives a daring nod to Subsaharan Africa’s oppressed queer community. Give it a watch, you’ll be leaning over people’s coffee tables to play it for at least the next year.
Svetlana Loboda – Be My Valentine! (Anti Crisis Girl)
Yes! Svetlana! Ukranian hitmaker Svetlana Loboda is like a cross between a hopelessly disillusioned Victoria’s Secret model and Pamela Anderson (‘s dog). I mean that with love! That’s why we love her! The Eurovision nerds among you will know she came SEVENTEENTH in 2009 with this bolschy Baltic stomper about love, lust and erm…we’re not sure what else. Apparently she remortgaged her flat in Kiev to pay for it. She went on to release an album off the back of it, which came 167th in the UK album charts! Dizzy heights of success! Anyway, DESPITE a slightly different reaction from the public, I still maintain that it was the best Eurovision performance from anyone ever. She somersaulted onto three roman soldiers! And banged a flaming drum! What’s not to love?!
