Yes, We Have Polish Music CDs!

Years ago, comedian and actor Paul Reiser had a routine in which he poked fun of Americans for the speed with which they change the radio station when a song in a foreign language comes on. The American radio listener, he said, will be happily bopping along to the radio, enjoying the instrumental section of a song, only to change the station the instant the singing commences.

Since then, World Music has become increasingly popular, and I like to think people aren't as quick to change the station when they hear songs in other languages. Here at the library we have a World Music collection that encompasses music from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. Polish CDs are among the most popular, and the Polish CD collection includes pop and rock performers as well as more traditional Polish music.

Here's a partial list of the collection:

Polish Music on CD

• Antepenultimate
• The best Polish love songs-- ever!
• The best Polish songs-- ever!
• The best Polish songs-- ever!
• Blondynka
• Boso
• Czas jak rzeka
• Dzis juz wiem
• Fabryka klamek
• Granda
• Greatest hits
• Infinity
• I tak warto żyć
• Iść w stronę słońca
• Kayah & Royal Quartet
• Kolędy i pastorałki
• Marek Grechuta
• More favorite Polish folk songs
• MTV unplugged
• Music hal
• Najlepsza Muzyka Do Samochodu
• Największe przeboje zima 2009/2010
• Out
• Pop
• Sen o przyszłości
• Songs & dances from Poland
• Śpiewająco
• Strach się bać
• Szanuj
• Voo Voo ï Haydamaky
• XXX
• Złota kolekcja

Do you have a favorite artist or group that performs in a language other than English? Feel free to chime in!

Photo: http://www.zakopower.pl/galeria.php

World Music--Bollywood and More!!

If you loved the soundtrack to Slumdog Millionaire, by A. R. Rahman, composer of more than 100 Bollywood movie soundtracks, you should check out our World Music CD collection. We have not only Introducing A. R. Rahman: Original Soundtracks from the Musical Genius of Indian Cinema, but many other CDs featuring the music of Bollywood composers, including:

The Rough Guide to Bollywood Gold

Dance and Romance with Bollywood

Bhangra: The Sound of Bollywood

If the World Music section looks a little different these days, it's because we recently made some changes to make it easier to find what you're looking for. We've consolidated the International Folk collection with World Music collection, so that if you're looking for all the CDs by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, you can find them all in the World Music/South African section. We've also broken down the World Music section by country, region or language (for the most part):

Afghan
African
Algerian
Etc.

So if you're primarily interested in the music of India, you can go straight to the World Music/Indic section. That's where you'll find all the above Bollywood CDs.

Or, if you want to sample a variety of World Music, check out the very beginning of the section--right before World Music/Afghan. There you'll find compilations like One World, Many Voices and At Home in the World--both part of the I Heard it on NPR series. Other popular World Music samplers include Putumayo Presents World Hits and The Rough Guides Collection.

The World Music collection allows you to introduce yourself to or immerse yourself in another culture. Be sure to check it out the next time you're on the third floor.