Stories about Music from March, 2012
Puerto Rico: “National Day of Salsa” in the Conservatory
The Puerto Rican Conservatory of Music joins the National Day of Salsa celebration in the island. This year, the singer Cheo Feliciano and the singer and trumpet player Jerry Medina participated along with students from the Department of Caribbean Jazz and Music. Wilma Colón shares photos of the event.
Mexico Hosts 13th Ibero-American Musical Culture Festival “Vive Latino”
We have gathered several opinions from the Mexican public regarding its 13th Musical Cultural Festival "Vive Latino," an international music festival that consisted of mainly Latin American bands, but also presentations of documentaries and the sale of crafts and other memorabilia.
Puerto Rico: “My Favorite Bars”
The music blog Mala Vida Buena Música [es] (Bad Life, Good Music) explains why La Respuesta in Santurce, a neighborhood in the capital city of San Juan, is one of their...
Spain: Documentary in Production on the Healing Power of Flamenco
Sin Ruido, or Noiseless in Spanish, is a documentary on Flamenco Dancer Inma Lobato and her work teaching and training people with mental problems. The film [es] will focus on the impact...
Armenia: Opinion divided on Eurovision withdrawal
Writing for Ararat Magazine, Global Voices’ Caucasus Regional Editor says that not everybody is happy about Armenia's withdrawal from this year's Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Puerto Rico: An Archipelago of Indie Music
The music blog Puerto Rico Indie has launched their first video series titled Archipiélago (Archipelago). The series aims to document the local independent music scene on the island. Global Voices presents Archipiélago's three first recorded sessions with the bands Campo-Formio, Mima, and Tach.dé.
Russia: Madonna Responds to St. Petersburg “Gay Propaganda” Law Controversy

Singer Madonna has responded to the St. Petersburg “gay propaganda” law controversy on her Facebook page (21,226 ‘likes’, 2,372 shares, 1,422 comments so far): “[…] I will come to St....
Hungary: An Eventful Celebration of the National Holiday
The prime minister compares the country to a frog; a rapper is elected as "the alternative president"; far-right protesters break into the IMF office; a techno party is held at Budapest's Heroes' Square, followed the next day by a paramilitary group's oath ceremony. Marietta Le reports on this year's eventful celebration of Hungary's National Day.
Hong Kong: Indie Music Made Illegal by Contradictory Policies
Contradictory to the government's policy in the development of the cultural and creative industries in Hong Kong, autonomous indie music venues and performances have become targets for harassment by a number of government departments, including the police force.
Jamaica: Corresponding with Vybz Kartel
Jamaica Woman Tongue shares a letter she received from Adidja Palmer, aka Vybz Kartel, who is in prison on murder charges, as well as her response.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: R.I.P. “Rasum”
Abeni pays tribute to the late Gerard “Rasum” Shallow, “a colossus on the Vincentian cultural landscape.”
Sri Lanka: War On Twitter Between Celebrities
DBS Jeyaraj informs that the Channel 4 Film “Killing Fields” based on Sri Lankan civil war caused an war of tweets between celebrity Sri Lankan born singer MIA and journalist...
Armenia: Eurovision withdrawal a wasted opportunity
Cilicia.com comments on recent news that Armenia has withdrawn from the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, capital of neighboring Azerbaijan. Taking a pro-Armenian line on the matter, the blog says...
Greece: Folk Musician and Researcher, Domna Samiou, Dies at 84
Greeks all over the world express their sorrow for the death of Domna Samiou on March 11, the great singer of traditional Greek folk music, as well as their appreciation for her work and research.
Ukraine: Eurovision, Gaitana, and Racism
Odessablog writes about the Ukrainian far right's reaction to this year's Eurovision nomination – Gaitana, a Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent: “It doesn’t matter that she...
Puerto Rico: Online Campaign to Stop Unnecessary C-Sections
Unnecessary Caesarean is the name of the campaign launched on the first week of March in Puerto Rico, aiming to curb the very high percentage of caesarean births in the country: many of them programmed C-sections that don't respond to medical needs.
Armenia: Eurovision withdrawal after propaganda attempt backfires
Following a botched attempt to justify boycotting this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan, Armenia today officially withdrew from the international music competition. “As expected, #Armenia Public TV withdraws...
Russia: Sex, Women, Putin and Videos

Young women calling on co-enthusiasts to rip off their clothes for Putin last summer, seemed to have disappeared from the scene. As the election season draws to a close in Russia, it is worth taking a look back at how that movement evolved, and how it inspired other women - both, for and against Putin - to get creative.
Armenia: Eurovision propaganda fiasco
Unzipped comments on a call by Armenian singers to boycott this year's annual Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan. Armenia and Azerbaijan remain deadlocked in a conflict over the disputed...
Azerbaijan: Singer-Activist calls for Eurovision Boycott
News and Noise! calls for a boycott of this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan by featuring an interview with activist and singer-song writer Cirttan (Azer Mamedov) seeking asylum in...