For a bit of fun – and one of the most famous dance scenes in Bollywood – see “Chaiyya Chaiyya,” from the 1998 Hindi film, Dil Se (From the Heart) starring Manisha Koirala and Shahrukh Khan. The music was composed by A.R. Rahman, drawing upon a devotional Sufi lyric…
Author Archives: Gregory Shaya
Song of the Day – Indie band from Vietnam – Cá Hồi Hoang – Tầng Thượng 102
Our world has more cultural interconnections than ever before. Take indie music in Vietnam for example. This beautiful song from Cá Hồi Hoang (their name means Wild Salmon, and is meant to suggest untrammeled nature)…
Song of the Day – Kyu Sakamoto “Sukiyaki” (1961)
A couple details from Wikipedia:
“Ue o Muite Arukō” was written by lyricist Rokusuke Ei and composer Hachidai Nakamura. The lyrics tell the story of a man who looks up and whistles while he is walking so that his tears will not fall, with the verses describing his memories and feelings. Ei wrote the lyrics while walking home from participating in the 1960 Anpo protests against the U.S.–Japan Security Treaty, expressing his frustration and dejection at the failed efforts to stop the treaty. However, the lyrics were purposely generic so that they might refer to any lost love….
The song spent three weeks at the top of the American Billboard charts in June 1963. It has been described as a metaphor for the emerging post-World War II global expansion of Japan onto the world scene.
Song of the Day – Sona Jobarteh – Gambia
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…
Songs of the Day – A Few Songs to Start Our Week of African History
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 for mixing Malian music traditions with international styles, here is his 1995 hit, “Africa.”
A couple years ago, 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.
Song of the Day – from Chile – Inti-Illimani -The people united will never be defeated
A protest song from Chile that has traveled the world…
Song of the Day – Shakira ft. Wyclef Jean – Hips Don’t Lie (2006)
Professor, really? Yes! Shakira provides a roundabout introduction to an important theme for the week to come: the mix of cultures – transculturation – that is so important to Latin American history. The beat is cumbia, the Afro-Indigenous musical tradition that lies at the heart of so much Latin American music. We’ve got Shakira, “Queen of Latin Music,” one of the most influential musical artists of our time. Born in Columbia, with Spanish and Lebanese ancestry, her story reflects the diversity of Latin American experiences. And then we have Wyclef Jean, Haitian-American rapper and producer. The song went to #1 in 55 countries…
Song of the Day – Jason Isbell – Something More Than Free
We’ll be talking about US foreign policy in the 20th c this week. Jason Isbell offers another perspective, an ode to the working class. Short version: your view of American history might depend on your social position…
Song of the Day – Ayra Starr – Rush
From Prof. Sene, this video showcases the 2022 megabit from Ayra Starr. She describes her music as Afrosoul, mixing Afrobeats, classic Yoruba and Beninese music, and pop stardom, a mix of influences that comes easily for Starr, who was raised in Benin and Nigeria. 379 million views and counting. No time for hate and bad energy…
Song of the Day – from Japan
Prof. Bonk shared this video, Japanese traditional elements and contemporary rock… I don’t know the song but the Youtube comments are interesting…
@cosmicwaves420 wrote: This song is about that rebellion of young army and navy officers against the imperial Japanese government on Feb 26, 1936… 19 were beheaded, that’s why “guillotine” was mentioned, and in Japanese, the falling of sakura implies the death of soldiers… this is indeed not an “I love Japan” song… Also talks about the inevitable westernization and the loss of Japanese culture over time.