Today I want to discuss very bad world music videos.
While it's a given that it's hard to find the really GOOD videos, every now and then you find that truly awful video that crosses over from simply bad into a category all its own....and then, perversely, you end up wanting to share it.

So my first entry is by Bond, those Classical Babes.

"World music," you say?  "How is Bond world music?" Well, they are playing a classical piece to a Latin beat, and they are in Havana right? (And those Cuban hotties aren't dancing the minuet.) That's why the video was sent to us in the first place. "Oh why pick on those nice string playing women" you may ask. Well, my answer is: They can take it. They've made their dough and they know just what they are doing. And as someone once said, ANY publicity is good publicity. For me, I'm enthralled by the sheer kitsch of the video-- the premise itself is sooo specious-- oh those happy dancing Cubans, those big-finned cars from the 50's and sixties-- those crumbling Havana facades....It's just like Buena Vista!  Add to that the Babes playing their instruments IN THE OCEAN (guess no one is playing an Amati) with little Cuban boys doing aquatic dance moves, under a thundering sky! As Dan Akroyd used to say: There now, that wasn't so good was it?

As my blog progresses, I would like to share more of my favorite terrible world music videos. -And I hope that you will reciprocate and send me some of your faves too. I will only publish them if they are truly awful, so pick carefully!

I'd also like to mention two more cool web destinations: 

Lucid Culture is not really a world music site per se, but has complete listings of NYC live music plus (they are live music supporters) reviews of the CLUBS so if you are going to visit the Big Apple, you know what you might hear and what kind of scene you are letting yourself in for. This site has very definite opinions, which I enjoy.

..and Condé Nast has a treasure in John Oseid's blog "boom box" which will also keep you current on world music releases and performances not just in New York, but wherever the intrepid Oseid travels.

This week we are showing - quite by coincidence - the debut of block 110 "Dancing" and the wonderful music documentary Dame La Mano, a film about dancing.

Dame La Mano centers on a Cuban community in New Jersey. The various protagonists all are hard working folks who can't wait for Saturday nights at their local hang, where they can literally give body and soul to music. It keeps them young, it keeps them centered, and it helps to make life joyful. Not bad for something you don’t have to buy!

Block #110/"Dancing" is full of great grooves to get your feet, arms and hips in motion. Sona Mohapatra provides some swinging bhangra, followed by Hard Kaur RAP-sodizing about Bollywood. Madagascar's Namavao, Marina and the Magic Powers follow with what feels rather homespun by comparison, but is full of charm and cool moves. Next we get two takes on Balkan Brass dance music; one from deejay Shantel and another from the ever strange Magnifico. We then head south to Brazil for a rendition of the forro classic "Asa Branca" and finish with Manu Chao's award winning ode to the street and those who work it, "Me Llaman Calle."
Get those endorphins going - cut the rug!

Watch Block #110 online here!