The Entroporium

Ukraine, we have a personal problem. It’s a damn shame since I myself am of Ukrainian ancestry. But I don’t want to think about you. Call Me Mickey has a bunch of Ukraine pop MP3s. I can’t be bothered. A Google search on “Ukraine” brings up Google Ads for Russian brides in the right column. [...]

After yesterday’s unfortunate loss to France, it seems appropriate to show a sadder side of one of the Cup’s participants. Carlos Paredes<, “The Man With A Thousand Fingers,” was the master guitarist of Fado, a traditional Portugese music that has its roots in Moorish times. Alternately playful and mournful, Fado evokes the country’s strong relationship with the sea and its feudal past…

Brazil is a country with two distinct musical sides. First, there’s the elegantly sensual Brazil of samba and Getz/Gilberto. As easy to love as this is, the lazy-day saxophone and breathy vocals of “The Girl From Ipanema” are practically a cliche of an early 1960s space-age bachelor pad; as great as the performance is, you [...]

After the dominant performance in the Group Round and with “The Hand Of God” as personal cheerleader, I figured Argentina was a sure thing for the Final. But always beware playing the home side! Astor Piazzolla was the master of 20th century tango and one of its great composers — touring, recording and composing ceaselessly [...]

Ecuador is one of several countries that completely bedeviled me as I’ve assembled the World Cup World Tour over the last few weeks. I’ll just come right out and admit: On Ecuador, I got nothin’. Call Me Mickey has the right idea on this one, though: cop out! Christina Aguilera’s father is from Ecuador. Maybe, [...]

Los Brincos – Baila La Pulga.mp3 Los Salvajes – Las Ovejitas.mp3 These first two tracks are from Beat Espana, a compilation that a friend who used to live in Spain gave me. I’ve searched for information on this album, but come up absolutely nil. There are only three bands on the record– Los Brincos, Los [...]

Another country with music I know way too much about. Plus I work for Brits — – and I’ve got the challenge of trying to avoid rawther obvious use & abuse of Mojo’s recent “50 Best British Songs” list. Hmm, better step carefully here. OK, how ’bout: Fairport Convention – Come All Ye.mp3 XTC – [...]

All props to the plucky Socceroos! Italy is leading a charmed life. Here is something I’ve been wanting to know for a long time. I lived in Los Angeles during the great mid-80s PR push for Australian pop; Australia was the Seattle/Montreal/Omaha of the moment. (Midnight Oil! Men At Work! InXS! Aaaaargh!) One of these [...]

Two very different types of dance music compose my last entry covering a Group Round knockout: Saban Bajramovic – Hanuma.mp3 Saban is known as the “World of Gypsy Music.” Why? Because Indira Gandhi dubbed him so! Yugoslavia’s leading artist in the 1960s, he has apparently gone missing after the former republic’s turbulent ’90s. “Legend also [...]