The Songs canon

Sourced and sung.

Every song chosen by hand, with the recording to play it.
Browse all 2,393 songs or filter by genre, subject, artist, and year.
4 songs
SortEditorial Year Title
Genre·World✕clear
Synthpop · World

Desert Rose

Sting
1999

An Arabic descant improvised by Cheb Mami without hearing Sting's lyric, and both halves came out about longing.

★ 4.1
Reggae · World

Bongo Bong

Manu Chao
1998 · From Clandestino

A Mano Negra tune remade over a Black Uhuru groove, and the same melody resurfaces twice more on Clandestino.

★ 4.8
Reggae · World

Clandestino

Manu Chao
1998 · From Clandestino

Recorded on portable gear while Chao roamed Latin America, an undocumented migrant's lament carried by the lightest guitar.

★ 5.8
Reggae · World

Me Gustas Tu

Manu Chao
2000 · From Proxima Estacion: Esperanza

Three guitar chords, spoken city names saluting Havana's Radio Reloj, and a list of small pleasures that lands on you.

★ 5.8