Stories about Music from December, 2013
Ukrainian Protesters Play Lennon's “Imagine” Live to Riot Police
On December 18, 2013, American musician and composer Sean Lennon (son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono) shared a photo on his Facebook wall, depicting a pianist playing John Lennon's famous song “Imagine” to the rows of Ukrainian riot police. In a week, the photo has gathered over 16,900 likes...
Pakistan Idol Makes Some Music Dreams Come True, Crushes Others
Pakistan now has its own version of the popular Idol singing competition. The first episode of Pakistan Idol was broadcast on December 6, 2013.
Pussy Riot Free to Tweet at Last!
Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova are already micro-blogging up a storm.
‘Round the Christmas Tree in Trinidad & Tobago
Tattoo captures the Christmas spirit by posting a video of one of Trinidad and Tobago's most beloved seasonal songs.
The Caribbean Just Might Be The Next Big Thing in Music
With the recent victories of performers like Tessanne Chin and Bunji Garlin, Caribbean music appears to be emerging as the next big thing.
South Korean Military Bans ‘Arirang’, Country's Iconic and Beloved Song
South Korean Military is infamous for banning books, films and songs which they find ‘controversial’ or ‘subversive’ and their recent decision to ban the nation's most beloved and historically important songs, ‘Arirang’ (which even has the famed nickname of ‘unofficial national anthem of Korea‘) met with fierce backlash. The military explains it...
Video:Mo Money, Mo Fazhan
Laowai Style's Jesse Appell addresses the question about China's economic development with his new rap song “Mo Money, Mo Fazhan(Development)”. The rap cover topics ranging from urbanization, to hukou reform, SOEs, and tainted milk powder. Watch the video below.
Bangladesh Breaks Human Flag, National Anthem World Records on Victory Day
27,117 volunteers stood with red and green placards to form the Bangladesh flag. More than 300,000 people sang the national anthem.
Popularizing the Hmong Qeej Musical Instrument through YouTube
Catherine Falk studied how Chinese and Laotian Hmong diaspora groups maximized the YouTube to preserve and popularize their culture, in particular the playing of qeej, an iconic Hmong reed mouth organ.
Glimpses Into São Tomé and Príncipe's Art and Culture Biennial
[All links lead to Portuguese language pages] Giving a voice to the seventh edition of the Art & Culture Biennial of São Tomé and Principe, which started on November 28, artists, journalists and visitors have been commenting on the event that is scheduled to run until February 28, 2014. Some of the ideas behind this...
Pashto Singer Ghazala Javed's Ex-Husband Sentenced to Death for Her Murder
During her lifetime, Ghazala Javed bravely defied Taliban pressure to stop singing and spoke up against creeping Talibanization in her hometown Swat.
Jamaican Songstress Tessanne Chin Wins “The Voice”
Caribbean netizens are celebrating the victory of Jamaica's Tessanne Chin on the popular music reality show, The Voice - as well they should be - their votes helped her win!
Explaining the Evergrowing Tradition of “Chanté Nwèl” (Singing Christmas) in the French West Indies
Between late November and December 25, a unique tradition is taking place every year in the Francophone Caribbean islands, especially in Martinique and Guadeloupe. “Chanté Nwel” [fr] is a time when people come together to not only sing traditional Christmas songs but also share a meal as a community. Although the...
Jurrat – Marking First Anniversary of the Delhi Gang-rape
From 10-16th December Jurrat (courage), a campaign on violence against women, is marking the anniversary of the heinous Delhi gang rape. One year ago a 23-year old medical student was gang-raped in a Delhi bus. A mobile music concert by Swaang (a Mumbai based theatre and protest music group) and...
On Twitter, Peruvians Remember Song Dedicated to Mandela
When South African leader Nelson Mandela was released from prison in the 90s, Spanish-Peruvian musician Miki Gonzáles [es] wrote the song “Liberaron a Mandela” [Mandela was released]. Peruvian Twitter users remembered the song when they learned about Mandela's passing: Temón de Miki Gonzales cuando liberaron a Mandela, allá x los...
Music Lovers Remember King of Congolese Rumba Tabu Ley Rochereau
"Africa has lost a true legend in the music fraternity. #Tabuley's music inspired many both young & old. We will dearly miss you."
