Stories about Music from February, 2012
Venezuela: Singer Onechot Becomes Victim of Violence He Decried
Onechot was wounded by a bullet to the head. The Venezuelan reggae singer sang of the violence in the city of Caracas as being completely crazy. In 2011 there were more than 19 thousand murders. Onechot's case is a symbol of the irony that not even the peacemakers are safe.
Costa Rica: Turning to Facebook to Fund TV Show
Sürrealista is a media producer in Costa Rica that has worked with many local bands. Now they want to have a 30 minute TV Show and to make that happen[es], they are asking for people to watch their pilot show online, give it a “like” on facebook and share it.
Uruguay: Scenes From the Longest Carnival in the World
Every year, Uruguayans celebrate the longest carnival in the world. Percussionists, dancers and musical and theatrical performers take center stage for over 40 days. Sites and blogs dedicated to the event keep netizens around the world informed on the different aspects of carnival, while bloggers share photos, videos, and thoughts on this celebration of culture and heritage.
Colombia: Speaking Spanish is Hard and There is a Song About It
Song on the difficulties of speaking Spanish rings true with native speakers as well as those trying to learn the language. With humor, Colombian songwriters and performers Juan Andrés and Nicolás explain the confusions that come with the regional variations of the language.
Barbados: A Woman's Worth
Free Logic is concerned about the tweets from “little girls and ignorant women extolling their love for Chris Brown, in spite of his ‘misdeeds'”, saying: “It made me feel sick inside. That there are women out there who think so little of themselves. For the record, no man will ever...
One Day on Earth: Global Screening of Worldwide Collaborative Film
The collaborative film One Day on Earth was filmed all on the same day, October 10, 2010, with more than 3,000 hours of footage sent in from all corners of the world. The Global Screening will take place on Earth Day (April 22, 2012) in every country of the world, with the assistance of World Heritage Sites and the United Nations.
Trinidad & Tobago: Carnival Damage
Plain Talk suggests that Trinidad and Tobago Carnival “is no longer an expression of culture but an exercise in excess set to music…no longer something to be proud of but two days of decadence that undermines our society a little more each time.”
Iran: Iranian rappers sing for people of Homs in Syria
Here is an Iranian rappers's song for people in Homs in Syria.
Video Highlights: Video Advocacy and Recent Events
A selection of Global Voices' recent and interesting stories on video advocacy including indigenous rights and recent news from Latin America, East Asia and Sub Saharan Africa selected by Juliana Rincón Parra.
Greece: 13th International Guitar Festival in Volos
On 18-19 February, 2012, the 13th International Guitar Winter Festival will take place [el] in Volos, Thessalia, with participants both in classical and electrical guitar competitions. The event's aim is to bring together guitarists of all ages from Greece and abroad to develop their musical skills and be united under...
Caribbean: We'll Always Love You, Whitney
Following the untimely death of singer Whitney Houston, a handful of Caribbean bloggers are talking about her talent, her music and her legacy. From Trinidad and Tobago, The Liming House posts a video of the singer performing “I Look to You” and says: Goodbye, Whitney. Because your voice, even when...
Jamaica: The Marley Brand
Active Voice blogs about a public talk that Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley gave at the University of the West Indies, while Jamaica Woman Tongue repors that “Jamaicans of all social classes” attended the 12th staging of the Bob Marley Tribute Concert, ‘Trench Town Rock’.
Arab World: RIP Whitney Houston
Arabs join the rest of the world in mourning the death of superstar Whitney Houston. Reactions on social media platforms ranged from sadness and shock to those questioning why the death of Houston got more coverage in a few hours than the death of thousands of Syrians over the last 11 months.
Trinidad & Tobago: Seeing Siparia
MEP Publishers visits Siparia, a vibrant community that has had a fascinating part to play in the island's history.
Armenia: Eurovision Hopefuls
Unzipped: Gay Armenia posts the video and lyrics of a song by Armenian rock band Dorians. One of the three most likely contenders to enter this year's Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, the blog says that the group is also his favorite to represent Armenia in...
Jamaica, St. Vincent: Happy Earth Day, Mr. Marley
Geoffrey Philp and Abeni both pay tribute to the late reggae icon Bob Marley on his birthday.
Mozambique: All Aboard the Musical Marrabenta Train!
Southern Mozambique hosts one of the continent's best kept secrets, the Marrabenta Festival, an event which celebrated five years this month. Highlight of the Festival is a musical train journey in which musicians and revelers travel to the outdoor finale, picking up people along the way.
Azerbaijan: Qubanin Ag Almasi and Eurovision
Gultekin Garadaghly posts a rendition of Qubanin Ag Almasi, an Azerbaijani folk song. The YouTube channel of the young musical video blogger from Baku also features a cover of Drip Drop, her country's 2010 entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, as well as last year's winning Running Scared. Azerbaijan host...
Cuba: Sad Songs
Two bits of sad news from Havana Times: the first about the death of a Nueva Trova pioneer, and the second about a domestic dispute that ended in murder.
United States: The Art of the Occupy Movement
Actors, visual artists, writers and musicians pay homage to the #Occupy muse and are calling for an international day of creative action on February 12, 2012.
