Stories about Music from May, 2007
Belarus: Blog Roundup
TOL's Belarus posts an overview of Belarusian blogs: “The burning news of the BB (belarusian blogosphere) recently has become a new witty initiative of the government to remove all satellite antennas and climate control devices located on outer walls of Minsk buildings.”
Moldova: Charity Concert
Life in Moldova posts pictures from an HIV/AIDS benefit concert.
Serbian “Prayer” Wins Eurovision Song Contest
Just a few days ago, major news outlets reported that the main course of discussion at the Serbian Assembly session was to determine which political party is supported by the 2007 Eurovision winner, Marija Serifovic. Milutin Mrkonjic, who presided at the meeting, invited the singer to visit the parliament. When she came in, Mrkonjic said, “Fellow deputies, please turn around and greet Marija Serifovic. We will be having a short break. Let all of us go to the lobby to have a juice with our Marija.” Serbian bloggers have been discussing various aspects of Serifovic's victory, too, of course, and Ljubisa Bojic translates some of the reactions.
Brazil: The Once and Future(?) King
There are two kings in Brazil. Pelé, the world famous football star, and Roberto Carlos, a great icon of Brazilian popular music (MPB). The singer and songwriter acquired fame as the main figure of the 60’s musical movement known as Jovem Guarda — Young Guard — in opposition to the ‘old guard’ of Brazilian music. But late last year, the launch of an unauthorized biography has made this King go to war. Confirming the Brazilian saying that “once King, you’ll never loose the majesty”, Roberto Carlos has recently succeeded in a legal settlement with the writer — historian Paulo César de Araújo — and his publisher where all the unsold books will be called back to him, and the book will never again be published. But then… there is the Internet.
Togo: Julie Akofka Akoussah, Diva of Togolese Music
Julie Akofka Akoussah, the “Diva” of Togolese music, said, “Music is in my blood. It allows me to communicate the joy that animates me to all of those whose hearts are suffering and who have lost their smile.” [Fr] She passed away in late April and will be buried this...
Europe: Still Some More on Eurovision
Another mini-roundup of entries on last Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest: Anegdote encourages readers to rejoice – because they “accomplished something too by watching” Serbia's winning entry on TV; Belgrade 2.0 thinks Western Europeans should set up a bloc of their own next year, to counter the votes of the existing...
Europe: The Problem With Eurovision
Carpetblogger writes about the Eurovision Song Contest: “The problem with Eurovision is that not that it's tacky and frequently trite — all of us appreciate that. It's that it's taken so dead seriously. When people are arguing about and voting for ‘the best song’ they seriously mean ‘the best song,’...
Sierra Leone: East vs. West Music Competition
Live From Freetown posts more videos from Sierra Leone's East vs. West Music Competition: “I’ve been trying to upload this to YouTube forever, but our bad internet connection got into the way. This morning: great success! Click to see the video.”
Peru: The Grupo Néctar Tragedy
The tragic death of thirteen members of the popular Peruvian band Grupo Néctar in an automobile accident sent shockwaves through the Peruvian blogosphere. Juan Arellano collects these tributes and links about their sudden passing.
Turkey is Typing….the Eurovision Song Contest
While there may still be presidential protests expanding across Turkey, I thought that on this week's article we could diverge into some more important and entertaining prospects of Turkish culture....the Eurovision Song Contest! While Turkey came in fourth this year (Serbia placed first) many Turks still proclaim that Turkish singer Kenan Doğulu is still the winner for them!
Europe: Balkan Blogs on Eurovision
A small roundup of the Eurovision-related posts from the Balkans: Pustolovina: Adventure in Serbian writes on the victory for the “new Serbia” and on “a night of belonging”; East Ethnia writes on the complex politics behind this year's Serbian winner Marija Serifovic; Bosnia Vault writes about the contest's youngest participant...
Europe: Easternization of Eurovision
“… the West is likely to continue getting locked out of Eurovision,” predicts A Fistful of Euros. “Next year in Belgrade!”
Lebanon: The Lebanese Oscars
“The Murex d’Or 2006 ceremony finally held last week, after few months delay, at the Casino du Liban.The Murex D’or, also known as the Golden Murex Award, is one of the most important award ceremonies which takes place in Lebanon and honors Lebanese and Arab personalities who play a major...
Lebanon: On Freedom, War and Olive Oil
The upcoming Lebanese presidential election, the Winograd Report regarding the Israeli July 2006 war on Lebanon, Lebanese agricultural products, Syrian workers, freedom of speech and freedom to blog in the Arab world, resistance to colonialism and the implications of being a leftist in Lebanon are some of the topics discussed by Lebanese blogs this week, reports Moussa Bashir.
Latvia: Almost All Eurovision Songs
Inspired by Siberian Light‘s initiative, All About Latvia links to “almost every Latvian Eurovision song ever.”
Barbados: The Power of Blogs
Barbados Underground uses the fallout from Senegalese rapper Akon's controversial dance with a Trinidadian minor to make a point about the power of the Internet: “Let this be a warning to all and especially the Politicos in Barbados who feel that the ‘old age’ behaviour of ignoring the populace and...
Israel: Teapacks Wiped Off the Eurovision Map
Writing from Israel, Aussie Dave reports that Israeli band Teapacks has been “wiped off the Eurovision map.”
Honduras: How to Dance Punta
Many in the Honduran blogosphere are amazed with the difficulty and suggestiveness of the punta dance. Several videos are making their rounds on La Gringa's Blogicito and Little Wooden Man. It is José Luis Romero Lagos, who writes in Boby's Blog [ES], “After seeing this video, I don't know why...
Russia: All Eurovision Entries
As the Eurovision Song Contest approaches, Siberian Light posts “Youtube videos of every single Russian Eurovision Song Contest entry – ever!”
Ukraine: Hutz Documentary Trailer
On YouTube, Olechko has found a trailer to the new documentary about Gogol Bordello's Eugene Hutz.
Georgia: Joe Cocker
Joshua Kucera says that Joe Cocker is opening the Tbilisi Jazz Festival and that tickets for his show will be ridiculously high by Georgian standards.
