Playlist
Dominik’s First Playlist
Twelve selections spanning Czech folk rock, French chanson, Russian song, Egyptian pop, Malian blues, Albanian rap, jazz and bluegrass.
12 selections · 12 with a playable sample
Listen · selected music
Selected extracted clipsSelected clip
Sam Cooke · Summertime
People’s Playlist · Music sample
From Dominik’s First Playlist
Choose a clip and press play.
Songs in order
- 1Summertime · Sam Cooke
Spoken introduction Gershwin’s “Summertime” is my favourite song of all time. I own about eighty versions — only a small fraction of the thousands out there. My favourite is probably Miles Davis, but to ease you in, I chose the King of Soul, Sam Cooke.
Why it was chosen To ease the listener into the playlist
- 2Proměny · Čechomor
Spoken introduction Despite my making a point of coming from the Czech Republic, this is the only Czech song on my playlist. Čechomor make folk-rock versions of old Czech and Moravian songs. This orchestral version is conducted by Jaz Coleman, formerly of Killing Joke. It is a story of unrequited love and transformations.
Why it was chosen The only Czech song on his playlist
- 3La Mauvaise Réputation · Georges Brassens
Spoken introduction This French song has a Czech connection for me. Brassens sings about his bad reputation and his fellow villagers’ disapproval when he avoids communal activities. I listened to it as a young teenager, imagining myself a rebel — though that was about the extent of my rebelliousness.
Why it was chosen Dominik listened to it as a teenager imagining himself to be a rebel
- 4On The Brothers’ Graves · Vladimir Vysotsky
Spoken introduction Now we travel across the continent to Russia. Vladimir Vysotsky was one of the great stars of Russian folk music and poetry. This song describes the brothers’ graves, where there are no names on the tombstones and the widows do not come to cry.
Why it was chosen Continuing a trend of singer-songwriters
- 5SPID · Zemfira
Spoken introduction Staying with Russian-speaking singers, this is Zemfira, from her debut album. The chorus means “You have AIDS, and that means we will die.” It is not a happy song, but it is incredibly poetic despite its subject.
Why it was chosen Staying with Russian speaking singers
- 6Resurrection Blues (Tutu) · Cassandra Wilson
Spoken introduction Cassandra Wilson is my favourite female jazz singer. Her “Resurrection Blues” reworks Miles Davis’s “Tutu”. I remember hearing the Miles track at a jazz festival in Karlovy Vary. We came back from a long jam session, it seemed even the birds were singing jazz, and we put the record on.
Why it was chosen Dominik's favorite female jazz singer and a memory of hearing the original Miles Davis track at a jazz festival
- 7Nour El Ain · Amr Diab
Spoken introduction This playlist is partly a record of my journey around the world. I first heard this song in a small café in Madaba, Jordan, played by a lute player. Amr Diab’s song is known as “Nour El Ain”, the glow of my eyes, or by its recurring word “habibi” — darling. His full name is Amr Abdel Basset Abdel Aziz Diab — probably not what his mother calls him every day.
Why it was chosen He first heard it while visiting a cafe in Madaba, Jordan
- 8Aigoka (As Announced) · Ali Farka Touré
Spoken introduction Ali Farka Touré combines American blues with its African roots. This expresses my love–hate relationship with “world music”: sometimes it is just local pop, but when it is good, it is really good. Ali Farka Touré can play like nobody else.
Why it was chosen Expressing his love-hate relationship with world music
- 9Oh, Atlanta · Alison Krauss & Union Station
Spoken introduction Continuing with the roots of another genre, here is Alison Krauss with Union Station, from their live album. Listen carefully: there are no drums, but it is a very hard-rocking song. There is also an excellent dobro solo by Jerry Douglas.
Why it was chosen Exploring the roots of the bluegrass genre
- 10Tirona · West Side Family
Spoken introduction I heard this song in Albania. West Side Family are an Albanian rap band, and I wanted to express my love of rap too. Listen to the sounds of Tirana in the background and the voice of its mayor, Edi Rama, who had made it such a colourful city.
Why it was chosen He heard it recently in Albania and wants to express his love for rap
- 11One / Take Five Medley · Rodrigo Y Gabriela
Spoken introduction I only had twelve slots and many more songs to choose from, so this is several tracks in one. It brings together my love of Latin jazz, jazz guitar and a little heavy metal. Rodrigo and Gabriela play two acoustic guitars, combining their composition “One” with “Take Five”.
Why it was chosen Represents his interest and love for Latin jazz
- 12Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis · Tom Waits
Spoken introduction Get your handkerchiefs ready. In my view this is the saddest song in the world. Listen right to the end: it is a song of hopes described and hopes dashed, and of the future not being quite as bright as we once imagined.
Why it was chosen In his view, it is the saddest song in the world of all time