Inez Jasper is a singer and songwriter who blends pop and traditional music. She was born in Canada and comes from many heritages such as: Stó:lō, Métis, and Ojibwe (1). Most of her songs are upbeat, have a higher pitch,…
Naát’áaníí Means is an Oglala Lakota, Omaha, and Diné rapper hailing from Chinle, Arizona. He grew up on a Native American reservation, with his family including the late activist Russell Means. Means uses his platform and music as a way…
The song “Pidigori” (Upside Down in the English Language) is one song created by Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited. Listen to two different versions, one in the studio and one performed live: Thomas Mapfumo is a popular artist in the…
Chilean Nueva Canción, or “new song,” was a musical and political movement that brought folkloric culture back to life alongside anti-cultural imperialism and totalitarianism views (Titon). This genre arose in the wake of political violence in 1960s Latin America. Countries…
Evolution of Dangdut: From Urban Roots to Glamorous Heights: Dangdut was embraced by the urban lower class in Jakarta in 1965 and subsequently spread to other cities. It initially featured flirtatious or poverty-themed lyrics with a musical blend of Indian…
I’m sure Thomas Mapfumo, born in 1945 in Zimbabwe, would have had no idea how much of an impact he would have on his community through his love for music. He grew up to love music, ultimately having a big…
The song TOY by Netta won Eurovision in 2018, but what made the song world famous? Image Source Sang by Netta, written by Doron Medalie, and produced by Stav Beger, the Israeli group conceived a song capable of competing in…
Krakatau is an ethnic jazz-fusion ensemble from West Java, Indonesia. They were led by Dwiki Dharmawan and Pra Budidharma. They combine traditional Sundanese gamelan like bonang (kettle gong), kendang (barrel drum), rebab (spike fiddle), and tarompet (double-reed aerophone) with jazz…
Raden Haji Oma Irama, or as he is more widely known, Rhoma Irama was born on December 11, 1946, in West Java, Indonesia. Irama who is often deemed the “King of Dangdut ” is a legendary figure in Indonesian music…
Focusing on Eurovision, I will be looking at Kalush Orchestra. The Eurovision Song Contest started in 1955, and was held in Lugano, Switzerland for the first time. Seven countries were represented, but no it has increased to sixteen countries (“The…