Stories about Music from December, 2009
Caribbean: 2009 Regional Roundup
As Global Voices celebrates its fifth anniversary, the occasion has given us all an opportunity to reflect on why we do what we do and how our work makes a difference. As my colleague Jillian York so succinctly put it, “We spread stories. We spread words.” We manage to do...
Russia, U.S.: Billy Joel in 1987
Siberian Light writes about Billy Joel, “who stumped up $2.5 million of his own cash, and became the first American rock star to tour the Soviet Union with a fully staged show” in 1987.
Jamaica: Over Hills and Valleys
Trinidadian diaspora blogger Afrobella blogs about reggae superstar Buju Banton at his best and worst, prompting Jamaican Annie Paul to respond: “Just as you…have pointed out the good and bad sides of Buju…it's necessary also to nuance what homosexuality represents in cultures such as Jamaica, that homosexuality too has its...
Brazil: Interpreting songs into Brazilian Sign Language
Pedro Witchs shares in Youtube his interpreation of the song "Todos os Verbos" [All the verbs], by singer Zélia Duncan into LIBRAS (Brazilian Sign Language). Vocal and guitar by Rodrigo Romão.
Bahamas, Jamaica: Jonkonnu & Christmas
“We tend to forget — or, more probably, we don’t know — that Junkanoo in the Bahamas is not unique”: Nicolette Bethel provides “a taste of what happens in Jamaica at Christmas…”
Myanmar bans western instruments in local orchestras
According to The Irrawaddy, Myanmar's Ministry of Culture has ordered the country's traditional orchestras not to use western musical instruments.
Haiti: Carnival
Wadner Pierre blogs about Carnival celebrations in Haiti.
Rwanda: Videos of volunteering
A series of videos uploaded by user kdarpa on youtube, featuring a group of volunteers and the people they met while they travelled to Rwanda and worked with local communities.
Bahamas: Culture Change
Bahamian Nicolette Bethel delves into the history of Stilton cheese to make a point about culture: “I’m going to argue…that culture does not just happen. Culture changes — like what is happening I write to the indigenous Junkanoo beat (which is being swallowed up by a hip-hop rhythm that is...
Turkmenistan: Hip-hop in the country of Turkmenbashi
Turkmenistan's isolation and autocracy hasn’t stopped the global phenomenon of “urban culture”, especially in the form of Hip Hop. Annasoltan explores how Hip Hop can thrive — or die — in a police state.
Hungary: Dunakeszi Marsh Rally; Slam Poetry
Belatedly, links to Marietta Le's posts on a recent environmental rally against construction that would destroy the Dunakeszi marsh, and on the Hungarian slam poetry.
Czech Republic: Christmas Carols
Czechmatediary posts lyrics of selected Czech Christmas carols (CZE).
Honduras: Christmas Songs
Nacer en Honduras [es] shares Christmas music from Honduras, including an album by the group The Speeds, which released the Christmas album in 1969.
Armenia: Embracing multiculturalism
Ianyan hosts a guest post responding to nationalist perceptions of identity, culture and language. The entry concludes that all nations and ethnic groups absorb other influences, benefiting from such a reality greatly while also evolving into something with their own unique peculiarities.
Russian Rock Star Talks About His Social Network
Ikra.tv is a pioneer of music social networks in Russia. It currently consists of about 6,500 members and offers various forms of communications for fans including blogs, forums and different options to share music, pictures and videos.
Jamaica: Shock Over Buju
Annie Paul republishes a Facebook post by Sarah Manley about why Buju Banton is Jamaica: “After reading this you will hopefully understand better why this country is reeling with shock in the aftermath of Buju's imprisonment in the United States.”
Jamaica: The Good and the Bad
The good and the bad: The Phoenix in a Gas House reports that dancehall artist Buju Banton has been officially indicted for cocaine possession, while Letter From Jamaica is pleased that Usain Bolt is a runner-up in TIME magazine's Person of the Year.
Philippine Revolutionary Theatre
TatayK posts photos, complete accompaniment music, and audio snippets from Makata’y Mandirigma, Mandirigma’y Makata, a play based on the life of Prof. Jose Maria Sison, a Filipino poet and revolutionary leader.
Jamaica: Buju Arrested
Regional bloggers react to news that dancehall star Buju Banton has been arrested on cocaine possession charges.
Armenia: Music Awards
Ianyan covers the 10th annual Armenian Music Awards in Los Angeles. The blog also live tweeted the event on her Twitter account.
Dominican Republic: Goodbye to Composer Luis “Terror” Días
The community of Dominican Republic said goodbye to composer and musician Luis "Terror" Días, who died in Santo Domingo on December 8. His legacy includes composing more than 700 melodies, being an influence on artists such as Juan Luis Guerra and Fernando Villalona, as well as contributing to Dominican rock, of which he is considered a founding father.
