Radio Bemba Sound System Explained

Radio Bemba Sound System
Type:	live
Artist:	Manu Chao
Cover:	Radio_Bemba_Sound_System.jpg
Released:	17 September 2002
Recorded:	4–5 September 2001
Genre:	Latin, reggae, ska
Length:	1:04:24
Label:	Virgin
Producer:	Renaud Letang
Prev Year:	2001
Next Title:	Sibérie m'était contéee
Next Year:	2004

Radio Bemba Sound System is a live album by Manu Chao that was released in 2002. It is the accompanying CD to the performer's live DVD Babylonia en Guagua, filmed over two nights (4 - 5 September) in 2001 during the tour for . Many of the songs found on Radio Bemba Sound System, such as "Machine Gun", "Peligro","Mala Vida","King Kong Five" and "The Monkey", are songs originally recorded by Manu Chao's previous band, Mano Negra. However the arrangements performed with Radio Bemba Sound System are more reggae-, ska-, and rock-oriented. The album is sequenced and edited in such a way that there is very little audience noise and cheering between the tracks, thus giving the impression of an all-night happy party - which calms down in the penultimate track ("Minha Galera") only to explode again in the last one ("Promiscuity"); the cheering at the end of "Promiscuity" is cut short by a very early fade.

Track listing

1. "Intro" – 0:50
2. "Bienvenida a Tijuana" – 01:55
3. "Machine Gun" – 02:13
4. "Por Dónde Saldrá el Sol?" – 02:41
5. "Peligro" – 03:09
6. "Welcome to Tijuana" – 02:50
7. "El Viento" – 02:41
8. "Casa Babylon" – 02:34
9. "Por el Suelo" – 03:55
10. "Blood and Fire" – 02:35
11. "EZLN... Para Tod@s Todo..." – 01:41
12. "Mr. Bobby" – 03:36
13. "Bongo Bong" – 01:05
14. "Radio Bemba" – 00:20
15. "Qué Pasó Qué Pasó" – 00:54
16. "Pinocchio (Viaggio In Groppa Al Tonno)" – 00:45
17. "Cahí en la Trampa" – 02:10
18. "Clandestino" – 02:59
19. "Rumba de Barcelona" – 03:31
20. "La Despedida" – 04:02
21. "Mala Vida" – 02:26
22. "Radio Bemba" – 00:34
23. "Qué Pasó Qué Pasó" – 01:10
24. "Pinocchio (Viaggio In Groppa Al Tonno)" – 00:45
25. "La Primavera" – 03:32
26. "The Monkey" – 01:59
27. "King Kong Five" – 02:44
28. "Minha Galera" – 03:17
29. "Promiscuity" – 01:44

Personnel

Radio Bemba Sound System is also the name of Manu Chao's backing band, named for the communication system used in the Sierra Maestra by the Castro-and-Guevara-led rebels in the Cuban Revolution.

• Vocals and rhythm guitar  - Manu Chao
• Lead guitar  - Madjid Fahem
• Bass guitar  - Jean Michel Dercourt a.k.a. Gambeat
• Drum kit  - David Bourguignon
• Percussion  - Gerard Casajus Gaita
• Keyboards  - Julio García Lobos
• Vocals  - Bidji a.k.a. Lyricson
• Trumpet  - Roy Paci
• Trombone  - Gianny Salazar Camacho
• Accordion  - B-Roy

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)	Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[1]	82
Canadian Alternative Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)^[2]	178
French Albums (SNEP)^[3]	53
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[4]	54

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rapports Annuels 2002. Ultratop. 18 June 2021.
2. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20040902000408/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_alt2.html. September 2, 2004. Canada's Top 200 Alternative albums of 2002. Jam!. March 28, 2022.
3. Web site: Top de l'année Top Albums 2002. SNEP. fr. 18 June 2021.
4. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2002. hitparade.ch. 18 June 2021.
5. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2003. Ultratop. 10 October 2021.