Think Globally, Dance Locally

Jonathan Pearce at Samizdata thinks that we have "Globalisation" to thank for the music of Norah Jones.

Ms Jones's success and background got me thinking on an important cultural point. We are led to believe, for example, that globalisation will lead to the extinction of local, unique cultures and the replacement of a sort of mushy global soup. And yet as the writer Tyler Cowen showed in a recent excellent book on the cultural riches possible via globalisation, the growing mix of different cultures possible on today's world is making possible new directions in areas like music and art. Norah Jones, with her mixed ethnic background and her fusion of country and western, blues and soul music styles, is a living embodiment of what Cowen means.

My odd tastes (hey -- I call them eclectic!) usually divide me from the pop world but I have been nuts about Ms. Jones since I heard her on the listening headphones at Barnes & Noble.

I haven't heard the new disk yet -- but I expect to remedy that this weekend. Interesting but not far-fetched to see her related to globalization, which I am also nuts about. As usual, the comments on Samizdata are as good as the postings.

UPDATE: The new disc is pretty good. Shhh don't tell Riza, it's her Valentine's Day present. Shhh.

Posted by jk at February 13, 2004 11:57 AM