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Good morning, all. Last Saturday, I posted selections from Bruce Springsteen’s latest album, “Western Stars.” Continuing the Springsteen theme, let’s delve into music from artists who Emily Mackay of the BBC has dubbed “Bruce Springsteens of the World,” all sharing certain characteristics:
There are certain qualities a global Bruce Springsteen must have: they must be from, or at least do a decent job of affecting, a blue-collar background. They must be charming and warm, rugged but sentimental. They must have big hits, and channel to some degree the folk music and poetry of their country. Oh, and a bit of denim, leather or a sweatband doesn’t hurt too.
Please click thru to read Ms. Mackay’s write-ups for the artists she selected. Following is one song from each, chosen based on being highlighted on the artist’s own video page, having the highest number of views, or simply being the one I liked most from what I found.
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Russia: Yuri Shevchuk — “Ты не один” (Official video)
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Germany: Udo Lindenberg — “Eldorado” (offizielles Musikvideo)
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France: Jean-Jacques Goldman — “Juste après” (Clip officiel)
(From Wikipedia, translated through Google, the video includes scenes from a documentary about “work done by Doctors Without Borders and missionary sisters in a hospital in Basankusu, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1989. A scene from this documentary shows the relentless struggle of a midwifery sister (Sister Marie-Joséphine) who tries by all means to revive a newborn.” Me — the baby survives.)
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Iceland: Bubbi Morthens — “Syndir feðranna”
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Brazil: Cazuza — “Exagerado” (Clipe Oficial)
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China: Cui Jian — “Fake Monk”
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South Africa: Johnny Clegg — “I've Been Looking” ft. Jesse Clegg
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Australia: Jimmy Barnes — “Shutting Down Our Town” (Official Video)
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Grab your cup and pull up a chair.
What is on your mind this morning?