Stories about Music from May, 2013
Little PSY and his Vietnamese Heritage
After learning that Korean child actor Hwang Min-woo or Little PSY of Gangnam Style fame has been receiving hate messages for being half-Vietnamese, James Bao wrote him a letter urging him to be proud of his Vietnamese roots: Wear your heritage proud. We hope you’ll one day get a chance...
VIDEO: Impromptu Georgian Chorus at Kyiv Airport
On May 21, YouTube user Yevgeni Melnik shared this video of a group of four anonymous Georgian men doing an impromptu performance of traditional Georgian singing and dancing at Terminal F of Kiev Boryspil International Airport. The video has gone viral among Ukrainian Internet users: as of May 28, it...
Indonesia: Gamelan DJ Musical App
Developed by Yogyakarta-based Kowplink Studio, the Gamelan DJ mobile application “mix and mash tight beats, harmonies and melodies of saron.” In addition, “by touching beats pad mix with acapella & making lead with saron gamelan.” The app is listed one of the best start-ups in Indonesia. Gamelan is Indonesian musical...
Colombian Vallenato Hats Made in China
Andrés Bermúdez comments on China Files about ” The day vallenato was sung in Chinese” [es], a musical reaction to the Chinese industrial production of sombreros vueltiaos, one of the most important artisan crafts from Colombia.
The ‘News in Rap’, an Unconventional News Broadcast from Senegal
TV audiences in Senegal have witnessed the rise of a new genre of broadcast journalism that tackles current affairs through rap. The two artists driving the project discuss it with Anna Guèye.
Trinidad & Tobago: “Ordinariology”
The backlash, growing quietly by the second, apparently, against the Differentology video isn't that it's a bad video, it's that it's the wrong class of video entirely for the song. Mark Lyndersay explains why he thinks the video for the most transformative soca song of the year is simply ordinary.
Laughing at Russia's Eurovision Shooting Spirit
Earlier today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented on his country's fifth place finish in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. At a press conference, Lavrov denounced supposed voting irregularities, claiming that Russia's points were "stolen," and called the anomaly "an outrageous act," promising Russian retaliation. Netizens were deeply amused.
Is Saint Lucia's Jazz Festival Worth the Investment?
The end of this year's Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival, especially in the context of the country's ongoing budget debates, has led many netizens to wonder about the economic impact of the event.
Brazilian Boy Band Tour Continues Despite Rape Indictments
Despite nine members of the 'pagode' boy band New Hit being indicted for the gang rape of two sixteen-year-old girls, the group has continued with its national tour regardless
VIDEO: Turkmenistan's Pop Music Makes Love, Not Politics
In Turkmenistan, pop musicians tread a difficult path between carving out a distinctive image for themselves and ensuring they don't fall foul of the state.
‘Africa Is A Country’ Blog Challenges West's Idea of Africa
This isn't another blog about "famine, Bono, or Barack Obama," blog Africa is a Country warns in its description. We recently interviewed founder Sean Jacobs about how the blog is debunking the west's idea that Africa is "a perpetual sob story."
