Manu Chao

There is probably no more important pop musician in the world than Manu Chao right now. He sings in a number languages (English, French, Spanish, and Portugese being the most common). He embodies the global world we live in and his music reflects that back onto us. Born to Spanish parents, he spent his youth in Paris. After early musical experiences, he moved to and traveled throughout Latin America. His music is an amalgamation of all of these influences, rock, reggae, latin styles such as cumbia, salsa, ranchero and merengue, techno and electronic music. He also works in political commentary, championing the causes of the poor and oppressed. On his album Clandestino, Sub-Commandante Marcos' voice can often be heard as lead ins or lead outs of the tracks. Sub-Commandante Marcos is the spokesperson for the Zapatista Movement in Chiapas, Mexico. He has had two of his solo albums, Proxima Estacion: Esperanza and Radio Bemba Sound System (a reference to the Cuban Revolution), re-released in the US. His first solo album Clandestino is an album that I've never tired of. It has all the markings of a great album, good rhythms, interesting production, engaging lyrics, a sense of purpose. All of these should be a part of a well rounded record collection. He has also worked as a producer for other artists, most famously with Amadou and Miriam, a blind couple from Senegal. Senegalese Fast Food by the duo became an international hit. Hopefully the re-releasing of these albums will make them easier to find in record stores, because this is music that should be in the hands of all of us.

I saw Manu Chao at Red Rocks in Colorado in the summer of 2007, and the music that seems to float along on the albums took on a ferocity in the live setting that I couldn't have expected. He embodies the politics of the Clash, the hope of Bob Marley, and the music of diverse cultures from different continents.

He has never taken off in the US the way he has in Europe and Latin America. He does have a strong following among music loving lefties here, but he sings in something other than English, and that does not portend good things as far as breaking out in the US. We are not a global people, for the most part we tend to not look beyond our borders for inspiration and creativity. The United States is missing out on much that the world has to offer because of this insular attitude.

In the end Manu Chao is a musician with a global vision and a commitment to bringing that world together through music. He has a reach that few musicians achieve, and it is time that his name was better known here.

http://www.manuchao.net/

http://www.zapatistas.org/

http://www.nacionalrecords.com