A couple songs to get us going today…

From Rauw Alejandro, the Puerto Rican artist known as the “king of reggaeton,” “Lejos de Cielo” (Far From Heaven). The strange video might fit our theme of environmental dangers and global inequalities…

For something light and fun, there is Rosalía’s summer breakup song, “Despechá,” is a better fit. Don’t call me. I’m busy forgetting all the bad things you’ve done…

Love her music – and this song, which celebrates 50 years of Gambian independence. Sona Jobarteh is an amazing artist from Gambia, now living in Britain. She is ” the first professional female Kora virtuoso to come from any of the West African Griot dynasties.” Beautiful music and meaningful messages…

And a song for contemporary India? Listen to this weird electronica remix of the Indian national anthem that has caused a lot of controversy. “Vande Mataram” by MIDIval Punditz.

A song to start us of on our week of South Asian history! This is Khwaja Mere Khwaja from the blockbuster historical Bollywood, Jodhaa Akbar, a spiritual song that shows some of the intercultural exchanges we will discuss on Monday.

A full exploration of the musical traditions of the Middle East is beyond our expertise! But we can start with music of the Ottoman Empire – classical Ottoman and traditional Ottoman music had an influence across the Empire, which controlled much of what we call the Middle East, North Africa, and south east Europe. Note the prominence of the oud, the fretless lute, a music scale distinctive from western music (including quarter tones halfway between notes), complex rhythmic structures, and the prominence (though not in this example) of the solo vocalist…

The music here is a version of the traditional Turkish folk song, “Kâtibim” (“my clerk” or “my secretary”), or “Üsküdar’a Gider İken” (“while going to Üsküdar”) about a woman traveling to Üsküdar with her secretary. I can’t speak for the visuals in the video, which are cobbled together from historical Ottoman sources of the 18th and 19th c. The song has been adapted and revised and performed in thousands of new contexts. Take this version for example, with Turkish zither (qanam), West African kora, and Turkish and Pakistani singers, Sumru Ağıryürüyen and Zoe Vicajji. A beautiful version, well worth a listen…

Or, for a classic – Umm Kulthum. For one of the most famous songs from one of the most famous singers in the Arab world. Umm Kulthum, born of the Nile Delta, daughter of an Imam, rose to prominence in the 1930s. For forty years she was a powerful international presence, spreading classical Arabic music throughout the Middle East and around the world. She was known for her passionate style and improvisation. When she died in 1975, millions of Egyptians turned out to honor her.

This video is from a 1967 performance in Paris. “You Are My Life” (Enta Omri), one of her most famous songs. The English subtitles explain the love story….

Or for something more contemporary… Cheb Khaled & Diana Haddad – Mass Ou Louly -Diamonds & Pearls

I can’t be with you tomorrow, but just thought I’d share a couple beautiful song for our blog…

Born in London, but with deep roots in The Gambia, Sona Jobarteh is a virtuoso of the Kora, the traditional instrument of West African Griot families, an instrument traditionally handed down from father to son. She is an amazing musician – carrying forward West African musical traditions and exploring modern adaptations – as well as a humanitarian activist working on educational reform in Africa.

And check out, “Gambia,” a celebration of the 50 year anniversary of Gambia independence.

We would need a semester to explore the musical traditions of Africa – and an experienced musicologist to lead us – but I’ll get us started for our week on African history with a few songs worth listening to.

From Salif Keita, the “golden voice of Africa,” famous fo mixing Malian music traditions with international styles, here is his 1995 hit, “Africa.”

Last summer, Angelique Kidjo provided an update, with the help of Salif Keita himself and the popular Nigerian artist Mr. Eazi: “Africa, One Of A Kind,” She explained: “We are all Africans and the blood of Africa runs through our life. This song, which I recorded with one of the icons of the new generation of African artists, is a declaration of love to the continent. We want to change the way it is portrayed and show its beauty to the world”

And for something a bit different, the hugely popular song from the Nigerian Afro-pop star Yemi Alade. This song and the video, “Johnny,” was a huge hit.

There is not time – and I don’t have the requisite expertise – for a broad survey of African music, but we can share some examples that you might enjoy listening to, and which give you a taste for the variety of traditions and styles.

From South Africa, the choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. They have been recording for more than fifty years, winning awards around the world and collaborating with everyone from Paul Simon to Dolly Parton…

From Algeria, the master of Raï, Khaled. His 1996 megahit, Aicha…

From Mali, one of my favorite guitarists and performers, Habib Koité…

Or from Nigeria, the hugely popular Wizkid

Bruce Springsteen turned the structures of rock anthem to a critique of American foreign policy and a lament for an embattled working class in the shadow of the Vietnam War. Some folks didn’t get the irony. Two chords can do a lot of work…

A catchy tune from the Brit indie band, Cornershop. They took their name from the stereotype of British Asians running corner shops. The 1997 song, “Brimful of Asha,” was a breakthrough hit for them. The version below is a recent remix. “Asha” refers to the Indian film star Asha Bhosle and Bollywood film music, as well as the Hindi word for “hope.” A delightful example of Indian influences in contemporary Brit pop…