AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

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Stephan
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AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Stephan »

Bracket 2.2.1
Boukman Eksperyans - Nou La
Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco - Químbara

Bracket 2.2.2
Exuma - Exuma, The Obeah Man
Silvio Rodríguez - Ojalá

Bracket 2.2.3
Max Romeo - I Chase the Devil
Trío Matamores - Lágrimas negras

Bracket 2.2.4
Compay Segundo - Yo Vengo Aqui
Grupo Vocal Desendann - Guédé Nibo
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by nicolas »

oh no, not my 2 picks against each other ! (bracket 4)
Well at least I'm sure one of them will pass haha
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Greg »

it takes a little while to get going (feel free to jump to 1:30) and the sound's a little muddy of course but as long people can make out the melodies (i can, but maybe that's just cause i know them?), i actually like the version. go with it.
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Stephan »

nicolas wrote:oh no, not my 2 picks against each other ! (bracket 4)
Well at least I'm sure one of them will pass haha
It's surprising that this is (I think) the first time this has happened since I have completely ignored who nominates the songs in coming up with the brackets. But yeah, I like that you're thinking positive. :D
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by nicolas »

Apparently the "Guédé Nibo" rapidshare download is impossible
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by nicolas »

Here is the video clip for Grupo Vocal Desandann's "Guédé Nibo"
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Stephan »

That video is private nic. But if you make it public I'll add it to the first post.
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by nicolas »

OK, done, the vid is public
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Honorio »

The Spotify playlist, this time with almost every song available (except Exuma's).


Bracket 2.2.1
Boukman Eksperyans - Nou La (Haiti, 1991)
Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco - Químbara (Cuba / Dominican Republic, 1974)
The Boukman Eksperyans song is very good, with a relaxed tropical groove (you can listen the original studio version in my Spotify playlist), but I prefer the frantic AfroCuban groove of the Celia Cruz song, the Goddess of Salsa. Salsa was a sound from the Latin streets of New York that exploded on the early 70s and Johnny Pacheco as co-founder of Fania records was responsible to transfer this sound directly from the streets to vibrant albums like this "Celia & Johnny".


Bracket 2.2.2
Exuma - Exuma, the Obeah Man (Bahamas, 1970)
Silvio Rodríguez - Ojalá (Cuba, 1978)
I got a problem with Silvio Rodríguez, the Cuban trobadour. When I was very young all the commie-hippie girls of my class were in love with Silvio's songs (especially a particular girl that was much more fond of Silvio than of, ahem, me). That's when I learned to hate Silvio Rodríguez and to express loudly my dislike everywhere, calling him pretentious or affected. But, what the f..., "Ojalá" is a beautiful song so, Miguel, you can count with my vote. But I'm sad for not voting to Exuma, that's the first time I listen to the song (and the band) and it's simply fabulous.


Bracket 2.2.3
Max Romeo & the Upsetters - I Chase the Devil (Jamaica, 1976)
Trío Matamoros - Lágrimas negras (Cuba, 1931)
Another strong bracket, I love the 70s Jamaican reggae and this song in particular is outstanding. But the Trío Matamoros song "Lágrimas negras" ("Black Tears") is one of my favourites ever (#32 in my 1900-1949 list). Miguel Matamoros was an absolute pioneer on son and bolero, composing so many immortal classics: "I feel the deep pain of your departure / And you'll never know that my cry / got black tears, black as my life".


Bracket 2.2.4
Compay Segundo - Yo vengo aquí (Cuba, 1996)
Grupo vocal Desandann - Guedé Nibo (Cuba, 1999)
Nicolas against himself, both excellent songs. Compay Segundo following the path of Miguel Matamoros achieved a second life for Cuban son during the 90s (his 1996 album for the Spanish label DRO opened the door for the international smash hit of the Buena Vista Social Club the following year). But I'm going to vote for the delicious song of Grupo Vocal Desandann (spanization of French "Descendants") for their impressive vocal harmonies. Note: they are really from Cuba but they are descendants of Haitian immigrants. And note 2: nicolas, your video is great, love the picture at 0:35.
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by nicolas »

Honorio wrote: And note 2: nicolas, your video is great, love the picture at 0:35.
yes, it is by Haitian painter André Normil and it pictures the famous ceremony of Bois Caïman in 1791. It was a Voodoo ritual which purpose was to launch a big riot against French rule, based on slave labor. Grupo Desandann are from Cuba, but of Haitian origin. There were numerous waves of Haitian immigration in Cuba from the 19th century to nowadays, with all the revolutions, dictatorships, coups and natural disasters (erathquakes, hurricanes) that plagued this country's history. Fascinating country.
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Miguel »

Bracket 2.2.1
Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco - Químbara

Bracket 2.2.2
Exuma - Exuma, The Obeah Man

Bracket 2.2.3
Trío Matamoros - Lágrimas negras

Bracket 2.2.4
Compay Segundo - Yo vengo aquí

Hmm ... Silvio Rodríguez has never been my cup of tea. (In fact, I had nominated a song by Pablo Milanés). Perhaps for the same reason as you, Hon: he was the typical singer-songwriter who liked to the "liberals" in general (using the expression of the Anglo-Saxons. In Spain liberal means the opposite, and these people we call them "progres"), and not just the commie-hippie girls (in general, preppy girls whose attitude was just a pose).
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by nicolas »

sorry my Spanish friends for the missing accents but I have few time. La proxima vez quisas.

Bracket 2.2.1
Boukman Eksperyans - Nou La 3
Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco - Químbara 4.25
The great sound of rumba wins !

Bracket 2.2.2
Exuma - Exuma, The Obeah Man 4
Silvio Rodríguez - Ojalá 4
Yeah I also had a entire row of commie girls in my school, especially in litterature classes. They probably would have liked Silvio Rofriguez. But I also had a commie Spanish teacher (a very nice person indeed) who wanted to make us sign petitions against torture in Guatemala (and occasionnaly raised my awareness that the US was backing governments that really sucked in that part of the world). I'm sure she has his records. A very close call but Exuma wins (more raw energy)


Bracket 2.2.3
Max Romeo - I Chase the Devil 4.5
Trío Matamores - Lágrimas negras 5
Tough matchup (not as tough as the last one but close). I'm glad that Max Romeao was chosen to represent reggae because he's one of the finest (and lesser known) performers of the genre. I recommend this album to everyone.But he can't do anything against the fathers of son, one of my favorite musical genres ever.

Bracket 2.2.4
Compay Segundo - Yo Vengo Aqui 5
Grupo Vocal Desendann - Guédé Nibo 5
You're actually asking me to chose between my mother and father lol. (I prefer bacon as they say in Burgundy when asked the same question). I'll go for Compay, one of my favorite Cuban songs. The album by the same name is also highly recommendable.
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Greg »

Bracket 2.2.1
Boukman Eksperyans - Nou La

Bracket 2.2.2
Silvio Rodríguez - Ojalá

Bracket 2.2.3
Trío Matamores - Lágrimas negras

Bracket 2.2.4
Compay Segundo - Yo Vengo Aqui
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Michel »

Bracket 2.2.1
Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco - Químbara

Bracket 2.2.2
Exuma - Exuma, The Obeah Man

Bracket 2.2.3
Trío Matamores - Lágrimas negras

Bracket 2.2.4
Compay Segundo - Yo Vengo Aqui
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by antonius »

Bracket 2.2.1
Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco - Químbara

Bracket 2.2.2
Silvio Rodríguez - Ojalá

Bracket 2.2.3
Max Romeo - I Chase the Devil

Bracket 2.2.4
Compay Segundo - Yo Vengo Aqui
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Jirin »

Boukman Eksperyans - Nou La 9
Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco - Quimbara 6

Nou La - Smooth any?

Exuma - Exuma, the Obeah Man 9
Silvio Rodriguez - Ojala 10

Exuma - Latin groove on 50's blues. Sounds like something Jack White would love. But, its competition is just plain breathtaking. Either way, a great song advances and another one loses.

Max Romeo - I Chase The Devil 4
Lagrmas negras - Trio Matamoros 8

Company Segundo - Yo vengo Aqui 7
Grupo Vocal Desandann - Guebe Nibo 8

What that group accomplishes with a capella is really special.

Great week.
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Dan »

Bracket 2.2.1
Boukman Eksperyans - Nou La
Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco - Químbara

The salsa of Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco is rousing, but the relaxed tropical groove of the studio version of the Boukman Eksperyans song suits my mood perfectly on this Sunday morning.

Bracket 2.2.2
Exuma - Exuma, The Obeah Man
Silvio Rodríguez - Ojalá

I didn’t know about the European-wide heartache teenage boys experienced in the 70s and 80s because all the commie-hippie-poser girls liked Silvio Rodríguez. But if a lot of his songs were this beautiful I can understand why they did. Exuma gets my vote though. The Obeah Man excites the fuck out of me everytime I listen to it. It makes me feel like I’m sitting next to a big bonfire at night, witnessing an odd voodoo ritual which then turns into a Caribbean street party. Weird and exotic in the best possible way.

Bracket 2.2.3
Max Romeo - I Chase the Devil
Trío Matamores - Lágrimas negras

The most difficult choice for me this week. The Max Romeo song is great and I need to check out the album (thanks for the recommendation, nicolas) but the pioneering sound of Trío Matamores’ bolero-son gets my vote.

Bracket 2.2.4
Compay Segundo - Yo Vengo Aqui
Grupo Vocal Desendann - Guédé Nibo

Both are lovely songs, but that Compay Segundo song is something special.
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Honorio »

Miguel wrote:Hmm ... Silvio Rodríguez has never been my cup of tea. (In fact, I had nominated a song by Pablo Milanés). Perhaps for the same reason as you, Hon: he was the typical singer-songwriter who liked to the "liberals" in general (using the expression of the Anglo-Saxons. In Spain liberal means the opposite, and these people we call them "progres"), and not just the commie-hippie girls (in general, preppy girls whose attitude was just a pose).
Oops, that's true, it was nominated by Stephan. Maybe things like the affectaction in singing got lost in translation (I remember a comment by nicolas about my beloved Benjamin Biolay about that). Moreover it's maybe unfair to dislike an artist because of his fans. And yes, there is a different meaning if you use "liberal" in a political sense (that at least in Spain means right) or in reference to behaviour that is more similar to English (by the way, Miguel, great Phil Ochs link!). The word more used in Spanish (in a pejorative sense) is "progre" as a shortening of "progressive".
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Honorio »

Hey, Henrik and Stephan, I know your work on the new Forum is exhausting for sure. But we're missing your votes on this thread (your nominations were great!)
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Dan »

Honorio wrote:Hey, Henrik and Stephan, I know your work on the new Forum is exhausting for sure. But we're missing your votes on this thread (your nominations were great!)
Yeah, make some time fellas! It only takes 30-40 minutes per week to listen to the songs. We miss you!! :(
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Stephan »

You are right Honorio, I definitely should (and will) vote. It's not just the forum that's taking up time though, if it was there wouldn't be a problem. However, I had already listened to the songs, but it's an incredibly strong round and I had to mull over a few choices. The topic for next week may be up a day late depending on whether I find some time really early tomorrow morning to post it. If I don't, it (and the results for this week) will unfortunately be up Tuesday morning.

Bracket 2.2.1
Boukman Eksperyans - Nou La
Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco - Químbara

Bracket 2.2.2
Exuma - Exuma, The Obeah Man
Silvio Rodríguez - Ojalá
As hard as it is, I'm gonna have to vote against my own nomination. I would've definitely nominated the other pick if Dan hadn't.

Bracket 2.2.3
Max Romeo - I Chase the Devil
Trío Matamores - Lágrimas negras

Bracket 2.2.4
Compay Segundo - Yo Vengo Aqui
Grupo Vocal Desendann - Guédé Nibo
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Kingoftonga »

My picks are in red.

Bracket 2.2.1
Boukman Eksperyans - Nou La
Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco - Químbara

Bracket 2.2.2
Exuma - Exuma, The Obeah Man
Silvio Rodríguez - Ojalá

Bracket 2.2.3
Max Romeo - I Chase the Devil
Trío Matamores - Lágrimas negras

Bracket 2.2.4
Compay Segundo - Yo Vengo Aqui
Grupo Vocal Desendann - Guédé Nibo
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Stephan »

Bracket 2.2.1
Boukman Eksperyans - Nou La - 3
Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco - Químbara - 7

In perhaps the closest race we've had in competition, as close as possible in terms of score but also a tough choice for many of the voters:
Bracket 2.2.2
Exuma - Exuma, The Obeah Man - 5 (3)
Silvio Rodríguez - Ojalá - 5 (2)

Bracket 2.2.3
Max Romeo - I Chase the Devil - 1
Trío Matamores - Lágrimas negras - 9

And nicolas handily beats himself:
Bracket 2.2.4
Compay Segundo - Yo Vengo Aqui - 8
Grupo Vocal Desendann - Guédé Nibo - 2
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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Caribbean (Part 1)

Post by Henrik »

Sorry guys, I promise to improve!! I really should...I LOVE this game so much!
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