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Manu Chao Records Album With Psychiatric Ward Patients

While late Johnny Cash chose to record albums in prisons, Manu Chao is opting for a South American psychiatric ward for his latest recording. According to UK's Guardian, the French-Spanish singer collaborated with patients at a mental hospital for his new solo album, 'Viva La Colifata!'

Chao headed to Jose Borda, a psychiatric hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina known for its Radio "La Colifata," a radio station produced by the hospital's patients. The station, which began in 1991, had been on Chao's radar for the past decade after he reportedly read about it in a French newspaper. By hosting music workshops, Chao got to know the patients at the hospital eventually leading to the concept for his new album, as well as a knack "to synthesise things with fewer words, clearer words."


'Viva La Colifata!' ("La Colifata" is Spanish slang for lunatic) features 20 songs running the gamut of life, love, death, sunshine, loneliness, the Pope and the end of the world. Chao is offering the new album via Radiohead's "pay what you want" approach at VivaLaColifata.org, a website launched by the singer and asylum. All proceeds go towards the mental hospital and it's radio station, which already reaches some 12 million Argentinians.

"The process was very positive, not only because it tackled the social stigma of mental illness," "La Colifata" station director Alfredo Olivera told the BBC, "but because it helped people leave the hospital and develop their own autonomy. [Chao] is not a psychologist or a psychiatrist but he knows how to listen to the rhythm of each person." Well, it certainly appears Chao has a fallback career if he ever gets tired of music.

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Josh

Pink Floyd did it years ago with DSOTM. They also got clips with Paul McCartney but never used them because Paul was trying to be funny, and it wasn't natural. "I can't think of anything to say..."

September 01 2009 at 6:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ptDarkstar

It's very generous thought on this musican's part, though I have to admit that is the first that I've heard of a mental hospital having it's own radio station. I know that neither of the ones I've been to in Florida had one.

If there was such a thing as some form funding for mental facilities that were to house the people like me when we needed it, it would be wonderful. What I found out in the hospitals where I was is that when you have no money, even if you're voluntary, they put you in with the people who come from the jails (the ones who are generally only faking a mental problem to get out of the jail because they think the treatment at the mental facility is better). The night help likes to make sure to make sure you know they think you're a prisoner even when they know you're not.

And you should see what passes for food in these places. Diabetics do not get a diabetic diet (though the doctors are led to believe they do get special diets that are ordered). Green hot dogs. Mystery meat that's been processed and cooked to the point of being unrecognizable, causing it to be referred to as "yak." Yellow broccoli. Milk soured to the point of separating and curdling. Orange juice that's fermented. Need I continue to elaborate?

When there weren't enough bedrooms, I had to sleep on a couch. While I slept, a guy stole my sandles! Like I wouldn't notice my only shoes were gone??

They really needed a to keep the jail people separate from the people who were fundless. That radio station idea is brilliant...

September 01 2009 at 3:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Stoke

Im crazy but im out side. Recording is easier for me out here. Allways put a hairpin in your hair even when you dont need it.

Showent.com

September 01 2009 at 1:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bill

I think Daniel Johnston has already pulled this one off.

August 31 2009 at 11:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to bill's comment
JennyNow

The Cramps already pulled it off more than three decades ago, in 1978 at Napa State Mental Hospital in Napa, California. It was quite an inspired performance!

September 01 2009 at 12:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply