Editing Manu Chao (section)

==Career==
[[File:ManuChao05.jpg|thumb|left|Manu Chao performs live (2001)]]

===Early years and Mano Negra (1984–1995)===
Heavily influenced by the UK rock scene, particularly [[The Clash]] and [[The Jam]], and [[Dr. Feelgood (band)|Dr. Feelgood]],<ref name=la>{{cite news |last=James |first=Falling |title=Mano a Manu Chao |url=http://www.laweekly.com/2007-05-31/music/mano-a-manu-chao/ |work=[[LA Weekly]] |date=May 30, 2007 |access-date=2011-06-07 }}</ref> Chao and other musicians formed the Spanish/English [[rockabilly]] group [[Hot Pants (French band)|Hot Pants]] in the mid-1980s. The group released a demo entitled "Mala Vida" in 1984, which received plenty of local critical praise but otherwise gained them little attention. By the time the group released their first album in 1986 the Parisian alternative music scene had taken flight, and Manu, his brother Antoine Chao, and friends such as Alain from [[Les Wampas]] formed [[Los Carayos]] to incorporate this sound with the rockabilly and punk styles of Hot Pants. Los Carayos remained a side project of the artists for eight years, releasing three albums in the first two years followed by a final album in 1994.

In 1987, the Chao brothers and their cousin Santiago Casariego founded the band [[Mano Negra (band)|Mano Negra]]. Manu Chao said in [[Alt.Latino]] in 2011, "Mano Negra started playing in a subway in Paris before the band started to be known and selling records. We started in a subway for a living. This is what made the musicians of Mano Negra. And so the people using the subway in Paris was very eclectic. There were people from a lot of different countries, different cultures. So we have to be able to play all kinds of music to please all the people in a subway. So that was a perfect school to learn a lot of different styles of music."<ref name="AltLatino_20110908" /> Starting on a smaller label, the group released a reworked version of the Hot Pants single "[[Mala Vida]]" in 1988, which quickly became a hit in France. The group soon moved to [[Virgin Records]], and their first album ''Patchanka'' was released the following year. Though the group never gained much fame in the English-speaking market, popularity throughout the rest of the world soon followed, reaching the Top 5 in the Netherlands, Italy and Germany. The band achieved some fame in South America with 1992's Cargo Tour, where it played a series of shows in port cities, performing from a stage built into their tour ship's hold.<ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p638316|pure_url=yes}} |title=Biography |access-date=2008-03-14 |last=Ankeny |first=Jason |work=[[AllMusic]] |publisher=[[All Media Guide]] }}</ref> Mano Negra also performed a tour through much of Colombia in a retired train, the "Ice Express".<ref name=beater/>  Still, rifts began to grow among band members during the port tour and the following year's train tour; many band members, including Manu's brother Antoine, had left the group by the end of 1994. Following that year's release of their final album, ''Casa Babylon,'' Manu Chao moved the band to [[Madrid]], but legal problems with former bandmates led Chao to disband the group in 1995.<ref name=rfi/>

Mano Negra's sound is mostly characterized by energetic, lively rhythms, symbolized by the title of their first album, ''Patchanka'', derived from the word ''pachanga'' (which is a colloquial term for "party"), and a distinct informality which allows the audience to get involved and feel close to their sound. Mixed music genres are present throughout their albums. Manu Chao is friends with [[Gogol Bordello]] and that group has covered Mano Negra's song "[[Mala Vida]]" on their own and with Chao beginning in 2006.

===Solo years with Radio Bemba (1995–present)===
[[File:Manu Chao Brooklyn 1.jpg|thumb|Manu Chao in [[Prospect Park (Brooklyn)|Prospect Park]], [[Brooklyn]], June 2007]]
After arriving in [[Madrid]], Chao and other bandmates from Mano Negra formed a new group, Radio Bemba Sound System (named for the communication system used in the [[Sierra Maestra]] by the [[Fidel Castro|Castro]]-and-[[Che Guevara|Guevara]]-led rebels in the [[Cuban Revolution]]), featuring groups from diverse backgrounds, such as [[Mexico|Mexican]] [[Tijuana No!]], Brazilian [[Skank (band)|Skank]], and [[Argentina|Argentinian]] [[Todos Tus Muertos]].<ref name=rfi/> The goal was to replicate the sound of street music and bar scenes from a variety of cultures; to that end, Chao and the group spent several years travelling throughout South and Central America, recording new music as they went.<ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p226070|pure_url=yes}} |title=Biography |access-date=2008-03-14 |last=Nickson |first=Chris |work=[[AllMusic]] |publisher=[[All Media Guide]] }}</ref> The resulting music differed drastically from Mano Negra; the songs were primarily sung in Spanish with far fewer French tracks and the musical style had shifted from punk and alternative styles to the street vibe Chao was aiming for. The songs were collectively released as ''[[Clandestino]]'' in 1998, under Manu Chao's own name. Though not an instant success, the album gained a steady following in France with hits such as "[[Bongo Bong]]" and "[[Clandestino (Manu Chao song)|Clandestino]]", and the album eventually earned the Best World Music Album award in 1999's [[Victoires de la Musique]] awards. It sold in excess of 5&nbsp;million copies.<ref name=beater/>

Chao's second album with Radio Bemba Sound System, ''[[Próxima Estación: Esperanza]],'' was released in 2001. This album, named after one of the [[List of Madrid metro stations|Madrid metro station stops]] (the title translates to ''Next Station: Hope''), features similar sounds to ''Clandestino'' but with heavier Caribbean influences than the previous album. The album was an instant hit, leading to a successful tour that resulted in the 2002 live album ''[[Radio Bemba Sound System]].'' Two years later, Chao returned to his French roots with the French-only album ''[[Sibérie m'était contéee]],'' which included a large book featuring lyrics to the album and illustrations by Jacek Woźniak.<ref name=beater/><ref name=rfi/>

Chao's next album ''[[La Radiolina]]'' (literally "little radio" in Italian, but also "pocket radio") was released on 17 September 2007. This was the first international release since 2001's ''Próxima Estación: Esperanza''.  "[[Rainin in Paradize]]" was the first single from the album, available for download on his website before the release of the album.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://music.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1296328.php/Manu_Chao%92s_plans_new_album_and_Coachella_appearance |title=Manu Chao's plans new album and Coachella appearance |access-date=2008-03-14 |last=Luce |first=Patrick |date=April 25, 2007 |work=Monsters and Critics |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712171015/http://music.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1296328.php/Manu_Chao%92s_plans_new_album_and_Coachella_appearance |archive-date=July 12, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Concert reviews indicate that music from ''La Radiolina'' was already being performed live as early as April 2007's [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella]] show.<ref>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Maldonado |title=Rock 'n' roll, celebrities and sun abound at Coachella music festival |url=http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/may/04/rock-n-roll-celebrities-and-sun-abound-coachella-m/ |work=[[The Albuquerque Tribune]] |publisher=Albuquerque Publishing Company |location=[[Indio, California]] |date=May 4, 2007 |access-date=2008-03-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219053447/http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/may/04/rock-n-roll-celebrities-and-sun-abound-coachella-m/ |archive-date=February 19, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Chao's most recent album, ''Viva Tu'', was released on September 20, 2024. It was preceded by videos for two songs, "Viva Tu" and "Sao Paulo Motoboy", released May 29, 2024 and June 26, 2024, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |title=Manu Chao drops new video "São Paulo Motoboy" |url=https://afropop.org/articles/manu-chao-drops-new-video-s%C3%A3o-paulo-motoboy |website=Afropop Worldwide |access-date=7 July 2024}}</ref>

===Other works===
In 2003 he approached [[Amadou & Mariam]] and later produced their 2004 album ''[[Dimanche à Bamako]]'' ("Sunday in Bamako"). His song "Me llaman Calle", written for the 2005 Spanish film ''[[Princesas]]'', won a [[Goya Awards|Goya Award]] for [[Goya Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]]. The song was later included on 2007's ''La Radiolina''. Vocals from the song are included in the Go Lem System song "Calle Go Lem". ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine named "Me Llaman Calle" one of The 10 Best Songs of 2007, ranking it at No. 8.  Writer Josh Tyrangiel observed: <blockquote>Chao's warm singing over José Manuel Gamboa and Carlos Herrero's leaping Flamenco counter melody creates a direct emotional line to the core of this mid-tempo ballad. With its easy melody and universal rhythm Me Llaman Calle walks proudly in the shadow of [[Bob Marley]], the last guy who made world music this disarmingly simple.<ref>{{cite news |first=Josh |last=Tyrangiel |author-link=Josh Tyrangiel |title=Top 10 Songs |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/top10/article/0,30583,1686204_1686244_1690649,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212162028/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/top10/article/0,30583,1686204_1686244_1690649,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 12, 2007 |page=39 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time.com]] |date=December 24, 2007 |access-date=2008-03-14 }}</ref></blockquote>Manu Chao was featured on the album [[True Love (Toots & the Maytals album)|''True Love'']] by [[Toots and the Maytals]], which won the [[Grammy Award]] in 2004 for Best Reggae Album, and showcased many notable musicians including [[Willie Nelson]], [[Eric Clapton]], [[Jeff Beck]], [[Trey Anastasio]], [[Gwen Stefani]] / [[No Doubt]], [[Ben Harper]], [[Bonnie Raitt]], [[The Roots]], [[Ryan Adams]], [[Keith Richards]], [[Toots Hibbert]], [[Paul Douglas (musician)|Paul Douglas]], Jackie Jackson, [[Ken Boothe]], and [[The Skatalites]].<ref>{{cite web |title=True Love: Linear CD Notes |work=Toots and the Maytals |date=4 October 2014 |url=https://www.tootsandthemaytals.net/linear-cd-notes/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812010841/https://www.tootsandthemaytals.net/linear-cd-notes/ |archive-date=2020-08-12}}</ref>

His song "La Vida Tómbola" was featured in the documentary film ''[[Maradona by Kusturica|Maradona]]'' by [[Serbia]]n filmmaker [[Emir Kusturica]].<ref name=la/> The song "La Trampa", recorded with [[Tonino Carotone]] for the [[compilation album]] ''[[Fuerza!]]'' was used as the theme song for the short-lived [[improvisational comedy]] ''[[Drew Carey's Green Screen Show]]''.

The songs "[[Bongo Bong]]" and "Je ne t'aime plus", which appear back-to-back on ''[[Clandestino]]'', were covered by British singers [[Robbie Williams]] and [[Lily Allen]], who recorded them as a single track, "[[Bongo Bong and Je Ne T'aime Plus]]" and released it as a single from the album ''Rudebox''.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/first-night-manu-chao-brixton-academy-london-395837.html | work=The Independent | location=London | title=First Night: Manu Chao, Brixton Academy, London | first=Tim | last=Cumming | date=October 3, 2007 | access-date=2010-05-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/robbie-williams-5_1006.htm |title=Robbie Williams – Rudebox &#124; album reviews |publisher=musicOMH |access-date=2010-08-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410124624/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/robbie-williams-5_1006.htm |archive-date=April 10, 2011 }}</ref>