Madman’s Mutterings

A few weeks back I put out a one-shot podcast featuring some of my favorite pop music from around Asia. I had a good time doing it, and there were a few folks who were kind enough to let me know they enjoyed it, too.

It occurred to me after the fact that once you get past the fact you don’t understand the words, it doesn’t matter what language the music is in, as long as it’s good. And language is something I think a lot about. It’s a passion of mine and of many of the people I know. It’s opened doors for me and, not to put too fine a point on it, but it’s changed my life.

But not all language acquisition happens with textbooks and teachers. Sometimes it happens just riding a subway or watching a movie. Or listening to music. And that’s where LINGO comes in.

It’s a study break. It’s pop music from around the world that is just fun to listen to. It’s pop, rock, jazz, R&B, punk, funk and stuff that moves the junk in your trunk.

Now… notice I didn’t say “world music.” Because that usually just sounds like a bunch of dope-smoking hippies on a beach banging drums. No, no. This is the good stuff. This is the stuff the natives listen to, with a little twist here and there.

You see… many of my friends aren’t native English speakers, so a lot of the stuff I consider to be part of my basic cultural literacy simply wasn’t part of their culture. I’ll be sharing some of that in a segment called Remedial Radio. And if you are a native English speaker, I’ve got some goodies in store for you, too.

For the first show, we’ve got stuff in English, Italian, French, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. And maybe Hawaiian. You can never tell. And a few guests who say “hello, hello.”

My good friends over at LanguageCast have graciously agreed to give my show a home and put it on their front page every week, and I’ll be mirroring the broadcast on the official LINGO site (which isn’t up yet, but will be by Sunday).

You’ll be able to subscribe to the show in iTunes and I hope you will. And if you’d like to contribute to the show… recommend a song, record an intro… just listen to the first show and you’ll hear how you can get involved. But for now…

This is the one, kids. LINGO. This Sunday.

Tell your friends.

Hello, hello.

Current Mood:  excited