A lot of heavy stuff happening in the world. Today’s world news tells us of war in Ukraine, a failed constitution in Chile, a new wave of lockdowns in China, controversy over the recent elections in Kenya… We also need to seek music, fun, joy. Here is the 2010 hit – Raksit Leila (Leila’s Dance) – from the Lebanese alternative rock band, Mashrou’ Leila…

Salif Keita is a Malian singer and songwriter – who also has played important roles advocating for pan-Africanism, women’s rights, and human rights. He’s sometimes described as the “Golden Voice of Africa.” He tells the story of his own struggle for acceptance because of his condition of albinism. For more than fifty years he has been making influential and beautiful music. This song, from a few years ago, is a tribute to women…

Let’s acknowledge: rather steamy and suggestive content for your world history course! But the 2021 superhit (530m views and counting) from the Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny and the Spanish (or should we say Catalan?) star Rosalía can tell us something about the cross-currents and exchanges of “Latin” music today. “Tú y yo juntos creando un imperio”

A big hit of the last year – and a return after several years the brilliant Belgian/Rwandan artist, Stromae – “Santé” (or Cheers) celebrates workers who do the dirty work (of one kind or another) and don’t usually have their own chance to celebrate… It was a bit of an homage to the “essential workers” of the pandemic…