Noise of the World: Non-Western Artists in Their Own Words [Paperback]

Hank Bordowitz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 20, 2005

One of the most comprehensive accounts to date, Noise of the World is the authentic story of a burgeoning world music scene, as told by its most seminal artists. Drawing on 20 years of original interviews, music journalist Hank Bordowitz presents the fascinating commentary of world music's most pivotal figures — performers such as Youssou N'dour, Ravi Shankar, Ofra Haza, the Gipsy Kings, Miriam Makeba, the Bulgarian Women's Choir, and dozens of others. Organized by geographic region, these interviews relate the histories and observations of the biggest movers and shakers in world music, many of whom helped to establish and influence a dizzying array of international styles including reggae, ska, calypso, flamenco, salsa, rumba, klezmer, mbaqanga, Afropop, Zulu jive, modern folk choral, raga, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Bordowitz generously introduces world music by editing his interviews with musicians of many cultures to read like statements from them, sans his questions and comments. The subjects, more than 60 in all, include very well-known (e.g., Gloria Estefan, Hugh Masakela, Ravi Shankar) and important but less familiar (e.g., Jimmy Cliff, Fela Kuti, Coxsone Dodd) Third World performers as well as two Americans (Michael Doucet, Paul Simon) with stakes in world music. All relate their musical passions and purposes. Burning Spear (aka Winston Rodney) and Black Uhuru's Duckie Simpson address the mainstream perception that reggae begins and ends with Bob Marley, the latter expressing resentment while Spear takes a spiritual approach to the situation. Nigeria's King Sunny Ade, hyped as the next world music superstar after Marley's demise, voices no regrets as he discusses introducing new instruments into his irresistible juju music. Some pieces are dated, but the meat of the collection--the artists' conceptions of their work--remains fresh. Great stuff for what the Rastas might call conscious music collections. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Soft Skull Press; Copyright 2004 edition (January 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932360603
• ISBN-13: 978-1932360608
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,622,172 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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