MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Now it's time for the occasional segment we call In Your Ear. That's where we ask some of our guests about the music they're listening to these days. Today we'll find out what songs are inspiring writer Taiye Selasi. Her forthcoming novel is titled "Ghana Must Go." We caught up with her earlier this year in New York.
TAIYE SELASI: My name is Taiye Selasi and I'm listening to "White Elephant" by Ladytron.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "WHITE ELEPHANT")
LADYTRON: (Singing) Hey, put our pistols down, you crawl along the ground.
SELASI: I had the absolutely magical experience of being in the video for the song and the song was playing the whole time, the whole two days that we shot. It's magical, addictive and I can't get it out of my head. It's a perfect song. I highly recommend it.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "WHITE ELEPHANT")
LADYTRON: (Singing) ...where we won't, we won't be found.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LOSING MY RELIGION")
NINA PERSSON: (Singing) Life is bigger...
SELASI: I'm also listening to Nina Persson's cover of "Losing My Religion."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LOSING MY RELIGION")
PERSSON: (Singing) The length that I would go to, the distance in your eyes.
SELASI: I didn't think "Losing My Religion could be covered but she has done it flawlessly.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LOSING MY RELIGION")
PERSSON: (Singing) But that was just a dream. That was just a dream. That's me in the corner. That's me in the spotlight losing my religion. Trying to keep up with you.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "MEMORIES")
SELASI: And I just recently discovered memories by Waldeck.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "MEMORIES")
WALDECK: (Singing) All those souvenirs in my memories got me going down in strike. All those souvenirs in my memories got me ruining my soul.
SELASI: It's a perfect song to listen to while watching rain fall or waiting for paint to dry or thinking through one's own memories. It's beautiful and I love it.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "MEMORIES")
MARTIN: That was writer Taiye Selasi telling us about the music that's in her ear. And that's our program for today. I'm Michel Martin and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. Let's talk more tomorrow. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.