1 {scene: Berlin}
2 {Loren, Ishmael, and the Man in Black appear}
2 Loren: Berlin, 1933.
3 Ishmael: How did we get here, exactly?
4 Loren: Do I have to explain everything to you?

Sheesh, some people need everything explained to them.

Don't you ask where Loren's hair has gone, either.

On a completely unrelated note: I've recently returned from my trip to South America, and I have a request that I want to throw to a wide audience.

While in Peru, in several locations (restaurants, cafes, hotels, etc) I heard background music being played. And often I'd recognise one of the tunes as a western pop/rock song, only to be surprised when the lyrics or main tune began, in that it was very obviously a cover version by a Latin American band. In some cases the lyrics were being sung in Spanish, in others the instrumentation was completely bizarre, with things like Andean pipes or a mariachi-like band playing the song - occasionally both weird instrumentation and Spanish lyrics.

In particular, on several occasions I heard different U2 songs being given this treatment, including an extremely memorable version of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" with mariachi guitars and trumpets, and Spanish lyrics. I also heard some Blur and Oasis, and even The Verve being given this treatment. I searched for CDs of such recordings while in Peru, but fruitlessly. If anyone knows of what I speak, or can get their hands on a CD of Latin American covers of western pop songs, I'd love to be able to get some of these. In particular, a whole album of Latin American U2 covers would be ideal.

I did manage to find two CDs by a Peruvian folk band called Yawar, volumes 1 and 2 of Beatles covers done with instrumental Andean pipes. They are awesome in a completely bizarre way (and I was astonished to find that the iTunes database knew these albums when I ripped them for my iPod), but I desperately want those U2 covers. Please let me know if you have any leads.

EDIT: Thanks to everyone who pointed me at Rhythms del Mundo. That hits at least a couple of my desires. Oh my... I have found what I'm looking for!