World Music: Which rock or popular artists really got to it first?

**Zeuhlmate** · 03-05-2016

Beatles is a good one, but it happened years before.

Like Yma Sumac

**the ferret** · 03-05-2016

For me it has to be the Incredible String Band.

They travelled the world like kleptomaniac magpies. It's all in there - from Wales to West Africa, from Barcelona to Bolivia. No fuss, entirely organic, not always enjoyable but always interesting.

**Progbear** · 03-05-2016

Originally Posted by Zeuhlmate

Like Yma Sumac

She was a little on the kitschy “exotica” side, on account of Les Baxter’s cheesy “Disney travelogue” orchestrations, but she could rise to the occasion when allowed more stripped-down arrangements, letting her Peruvian-ness shine through:

I think the whole “world music” thing really started with the Nonesuch Explorer Series, which I think were the first real serious field recordings of ethnic folk songs performed by indigenous performers. The stuff from the so-called Third World was especially revelatory. Folks listened to these albums and decided they wanted to incorporate these ideas into their own music.

**rcarlberg** · 03-05-2016

Besame Mucho was written 22 years before the Beatles did it. They weren't the first to record it.

**Vic2012** · 03-05-2016

Don't think I've ever heard Besa Me Mucho ny the Fabs in entirety. Not sure I want to.......

**Dave (in MA)** · 03-05-2016

Originally Posted by PeterG

Yepp! And as such doesn't really exist! It is just a lazy term and a sloopy way of grouping together the very varied folk music styles of loads of countries.

Oh, great. Now I have a Hang on Sloopy earworm thanks to your typo. I think you did it on purpose!

**Nijinsky Hind** · 03-05-2016

Some say she was really an american housewife named Amy Camus... Spelled backwards. Cant remember exactly where I heard that.

Yma Sumac.

**Vic2012** · 03-05-2016

I always thought it was Hang On Stupid, Stupid Hang On........lol

**rcarlberg** · 03-05-2016

Originally Posted by Nijinsky Hind

Some say she was really an american housewife named Amy Camus... Spelled backwards. Cant remember exactly where I heard that.

Snopes says no.

**Nijinsky Hind** · 03-06-2016

Originally Posted by rcarlberg

Snopes says no.

And here am I perpetuating the myth... Lol. All hail snopes!!!

**bob_32_116** · 03-06-2016

^^ Whoever snopes is.

I'd rather discuss the music than argue semantics. "World music" may be a poor term and a politically incorrect term, but it's widely used and i think we all knew what the OP meant.

**PeterG** · 03-06-2016

Originally Posted by rcarlberg

Besame Mucho was written 22 years before the Beatles did it. They weren't the first to record it.

I know, but no one was playing rock music in 1941! Don't forget what the thread title says.

**PeterG** · 03-06-2016

Originally Posted by Dave (in MA)

Oh, great. Now I have a Hang on Sloopy earworm thanks to your typo. I think you did it on purpose!

Mwhoohooohahaha

**Vic2012** · 03-06-2016

Cha Cha Boom......

Just played that Beatles video of Besame Mucho. First time I've ever heard the whole song from beginning to end. I was familiar with the snippets on the Anthology (the documentary not the albums). Paul almost sounds like Elvis on that song. Well, it was interesting but I don't think I ever need to hear it again.

**JJ88** · 03-06-2016

The version of 'The Sheik Of Araby' is just as silly. There's a sense of trying too hard to cover all bases with that Decca audition, and for all the conspiracy theories, it's recorded evidence that Pete Best is not anywhere near as strong as the man who replaced him.

**Vic2012** · 03-06-2016

Not to turn this into a Beatles thread but they did a few silly, novelty numbers back then. Remember the German versions of She Loves You and I Want To Hold Your Hand?

Then there's My Bonny with Tony Sheridan. Hilarious.

**bob_32_116** · 03-06-2016

Originally Posted by Vic2012

Not to turn this into a Beatles thread but they did a few silly, novelty numbers back then. Remember the German versions of She Loves You and I Want To Hold Your Hand?

Then there's My Bonny with Tony Sheridan. Hilarious.

I think Germans might take offence at the suggestion that recording a couple of their hits in German versions was done for novelty value. There are people who speak German and don't speak English, and I'm sure they appreciated hearing those songs in their own language.

The Beatles spent quite sone time in Germany, and probably picked up more than a smattering of the language. If anything, it's surprising that they didn't record more German language versions of their songs.

**PeterG** · 03-06-2016

Exactly, John, George and Paul all spoke German, I don't know about Ringo. Live footage from the 60s proves this.

**Vic2012** · 03-06-2016

Sorry, even Beatles songs sung in Spanish sound silly.

**bob_32_116** · 03-06-2016

Originally Posted by Vic2012

Sorry, even Beatles songs sung in Spanish sound silly.

I would use the word "odd" rather than "silly".

Songs written with English lyrics can be difficult to translate well into Spanish, and vice versa. In Spanish, and to a lesser extent in other Latin languages such as Portuguese and Italian, the accent normally falls on the second last syllable of the word. Hence when the words are sung, the last syllable becomes a kind of grace note, leading to that characteristic rhythm that people refer to as the "Latin" sound.

**Munster** · 03-06-2016

If, like many west African musicians including Ali Farka Toure, you believe the blues originated in Africa before being brought across the Atlantic on the slave ships then the pioneers of world music would be the first American bluesmen and the original rock ‘n rollers who drew on their music, such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis etc.

**Vic2012** · 03-06-2016

And all Caribbean rhythms are of African origin as well. The Dark Continent is the cradle.

**Vic2012** · 03-06-2016

Originally Posted by bob_32_116

I would use the word "odd" rather than "silly".

Songs written with English lyrics can be difficult to translate well into Spanish, and vice versa. In Spanish, and to a lesser extent in other Latin languages such as Portuguese and Italian, the accent normally falls on the second last syllable of the word. Hence when the words are sung, the last syllable becomes a kind of grace note, leading to that characteristic rhythm that people refer to as the "Latin" sound.

"Odd" sounds polite. It just sounds silly. Ever heard Mambo sung in English? It's just silly......lol