Stories about Music from April, 2011
Cuba: Silvio and Pablo
In Juan sin nada [es], Juan Orlando Pérez analyzes the state of affairs in Cuba through the politics of famous nueva trova musicians and composers Silvio Rodríguez and Pablo Milanés.
Puerto Rico: Puerto Rican Rock Music
The Latin American music blog Club Fonograma [es] reviews the amazing music of Puerto Rican alternative rock bands Balún and Dávila 666.
Ukraine: “Twenty-five years ago – Chornobyl – Where were you?”
uaMuzik and Nash Holos blog about the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe.
Cote d'Ivoire: The Music of Espoir 2000
Abena writes about the Ivorian music group Espoir 2000: “I've been listening to one of my favorite Ivorian music groups Espoir 2000 (Hope 2000). Their 2006 album Gloire et Dieu...
Puerto Rico: Music on the Street
The series Música Realenga, which shows live recordings of independent bands improvising on the street, continues to engage us through the website Frecuencias Alternas [es] . Enjoy the music of...
Philippines: Using social networks to promote local music
A photographer uses various social networks to promote original Filipino music.
Morocco: Controversy Over International Music Festival
Each year the capital Rabat is the epicenter of a major music festival, Mawazine. Since its modest launch in 2001, Mawazine has grown, and in the last decade has become the top national entertainment gathering. With the backdrop of political protests and calls for change though, controversy is rising in the Moroccan blogosphere around the use of public money for sponsoring the festival.
Germany: A blog of rare German records from flea markets
Berlin Beatet Bestes is a blog by Andreas Michalke of rare out of print German 45 rpm records found at flea markets. For instance, this 1959 tune of Trinidadian singer...
Jamaica: Vampire Humour
With the help of Trinidadian artist Christopher Cozier, Active Voice reveals another dimension to the recent Vybz Kartel cartoon controversy.
Cambodia: Songs About Facebook
In Cambodia, Facebook is not yet considered a threat by the government. Politicians led by Prime Minister Hun Sen (who has been in power since 1985) have created their own Facebook pages where they interact with Cambodian citizens and netizens. There is however, a newer interesting Facebook trend in the country: Cambodians are creating songs about Facebook.
Brazil: Mapping a Traditional Music Instrument Online
Rabeca.org is an online project that aims to gather and present information about the Brazilian rabeca and Guanari rawé in a map with audio recordings, photos, texts and videos. The...
Jamaica: Cruel Cartoon?
Jamaica Woman Tongue has her say about cartoonist Clovis Brown’s recent caricature of Vybz Kartel: “The genuine wit of the stinging editorial cartoon appears to have degenerated into little more...
Czech Republic: “Honor to the Astronaut”
Luboš Motl of The Reference Frame offers a Czech perspective on the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin‘s first human spaceflight on April 12, 1961. (More in this 2007 post by...
Hungary: Fear of Pushing Copyright Term Extension Proposal
Kluwer Copyright Blog writes: “According to an official press release, the Danish government has changed its position and now endorses the European Commission’s proposal to extend the term of protection...
Japan: Machine Civilization
Pinktentacle presented [en] the latest coreographed video by World Order, the performance group led by former martial artist Genki Sudo. The video is called Machine Civilization and is a message...
Ghana: “African Woman” by Ghana's Afro Pop Queen
Jemila writes about the latest video from Ghana's Afropop Queen, Becca titled : African Woman: “You know Circumspect couldn't pass this one by. Check out her other vids too; she...