Category Archive

Ami Collé - Wonne Ma Ko

Just discovered this new artists, Ami Collé. I love her voice and the rhythm of Mbalax, a popular dance music of The Gambia and Senegal. According to Wikipedia, “Mbalax is a fusion of popular Western music and dance such as jazz, soul, Latin, and rock blended with sabar, the traditional drumming and dance music of Senegal. The genre’s name derived from the heavy use of accompanying rhythms used in sabar called mbalax.”

Promo Mbalax Mix by Black Identity

Sabar Dancing in Senegal

For tips on more Senegal and other African music, check out African Beat.

Venice © Florin Florea

It’s spring-time in Venice, so why not go to see a show in English? A visit to the theatre is the perfect way to spend an evening in Venice. The only English-language theatre event in the city - audio translated into seven languages including Italian - is Carnival The Show which blends theatre, music and multimedia to tell the thrilling story of Venice using a sense-stimulating approach.

Six “live” actors perform in English, interacting with 11 concealed projectors in a maelstrom of images, sounds and colours that will plunge the audience deep into the dazzling history of the Most Serene Republic:

The year is 1913, war is looming on the horizon and we are on the eve of the last Carnival, which will be suspended for the next 75 years, partly because of the intervening world wars. We are in a celebrated costume-maker’s workshop, run for centuries by a Venetian family who are caught up in the whirlwind of preparations for the last great masked ball of the Carnival. Every costume, fabric and colour evokes a moment in the history of the Most Serene Republic: the first settlements in the lagoon, the theft of the body of St Mark, the glory of the Merchant Empire, Marco Polo’s journey to the East, the plaghe, the Battle of Lepanto, the birth of the Carnival, the Commedia dell’Arte, Casanova’s daring prison break…

The show is preceded by a delicious buffet where the audience can mingle with the actors.

Carnival The Show plays from April 21 to May 31:

4.30 pm - Show only; 45 euros per person

7.30 pm - Dinner & Show;  65 euros per person (instead of 79 euros!)

Children from 0 to 6 free, Student discount 59 euros

8 pm- Show only; 49 euros per person

For more information, contact Teatro San Gallo or head over to http://www.venice-carnival-show.com/ where you can read more about the show.  

 

Ingrid Michaelson - The Way I Am

I have a feeling this will be a looong post.

Music takes you through the bad as well as the good times, when you’re at home or travelling. Like doing the things you love, music makes life worth living. I know for sure that my love for discovering new music will never end. I have Move to Bremerton, a Popagandhi post on music, to thank for my latest “find” - The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson. Beautiful song.

I’ve lots of music memories. Especially remember one evening spent with friends and family at the beach in Frösakull, Sweden. A barbecue, sand beneath my feet, the sound of the sea, a light breeze, the sunset, and Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl from someome’s portable CD player. I think I was ten.     

Around midnight in Frösakull another summer, the heavy rain cause everyone at the party to move into someone’s veranda. Kids my age and grown-ups sit down around a large wooden table while one guy, a real bon vivant, gets his guitar and suggests karaoke. First up, Queen’s We Will Rock You. Before the first verse, “Buddy you’re a boy make a big noise…”, we bang our hands on the table. No one misses a beat. I’ve loved that song ever since.  

The same goes for Bonnie Tyler. My parents, my sister and I used to listen to her during the 9-hour drive to Åre, the small ski resort in northern Sweden where we often spent our winter holidays.

Bonnie Tyler - Have You Ever Seen The Rain  

Have You Ever Seen The Rain was my favourite, eventually I knew all her songs by heart.

I didn’t know the songs by Elvis Costello, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Bryan Adams on my dad’s vinyl records that well. Sometimes I wished he would give them to me. I never bought my own LP discs, instead I put my money on CDs. When I was 14 and found Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in a record store in Stockholm, I made up my mind at once. After seeing a cover on her Can’t Take My Eyes Off You at a Swedish TV show the same year I knew I had to buy her album.

Lauryn Hill - Turn The Lights Down Low

I like nearly all Lauryn’s songs, especially the ones at her live album MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 - mostly because of the brilliant lyrics.

India Arie - Ready For Love

When I discovered India Arie and her Strenght, Courage & Wisdom, it resulted in three Chinese signs on my left ankle. Now I want another small tattoo meaning love, after Ready For Love.

Daniel Lemma - Keeps Getting Better

I will never forget the first time I heard the Swedish artist Daniel Lemma’s soulful voice, or when I heard Greek music - first at a taverna in Parga, then during a long bus drive to Meteora, on a boat from Lefkada to Kefalonia, and in my one-bedroom apartment in Zurich because the Greek family living below played loud Greek music each Friday night, every weekend. Apart from them, I suspect I was the only one in the building who actually enjoyed it.

I’m deliberately looking for songs that truly touch my heart. Almost always when meeting new people - whether it’s face-to-face or online - I ask about their music taste. Except for the chance to discover a new talent, it’s quite fun to check people’s MP3- or iPod playlists.       

Otis Redding - I’ve been loving you…

Both me and my sis loves rock, but while I’m also into soul by Otis Redding, Al Green, Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin, she prefers metal and emo rock. It was thanks to her I started listening to My Chemical Romance, Foo Fighters, Babyshambles and Ozzy Osbourne. Soul is better though.   

The Cranberries’ songs also top my list of favourite music. I first heard this Irish band during my summer job as a personal assistant in Haverdal, Sweden, in 2003. My 24-year-old, water pipe-loving co-worker who recently got home from travelling in Israel often played her Cranberries albums at work. It was love at first hearing.

When I went to France as an au-pair the following year, I was introduced to various French artists. Five-year-old Emelie showed me her CD by Jenifer, the first winner of Star Academy - the French equivalence to American Idol. On weekdays at 7pm even Emelie’s 1-year-old sister Eléonore sat totally sticked to the TV, watching this year’s season which apperantly was a really big hit in France.

While working in Zurich in 2005 I had a Portuguese penpal who sent me a CD of Keane, and another one with so called skank. And in London two years ago when my Swedish flatmate let me copy all music from her laptop, I found 3 Doors Down.  The same year I discovered Eva Cassidy at a café in Greenwich.

After a few months in London I spent a couple of weeks at my parents house in Sweden before setting my sights on Malmö, a multicultural city in the southernmost part of the country. There I first heard the reggae singer Alpha Blondy, thanks to a guy living in the same student hall. At the same time I started to like Ben Harper and Jack Johnson more. And Matisyahu.  

Last year I came across the singer Atif Aslam. I have no idea what he says, but can’t resist loving his voice.

Atif Aslam - Adaat

Listen to Adaat, Woh Lamhe and Doorie.

Music sources are everywhere… record stores, magasines, websites, ads, people, TV, film, movies.

The Lion King - Hakuna Matata

If I had to pick a cartoon, I’d have to go with the Disney hit The Lion King.

Coldplay - The Scientist

Coldplay’s The Scientist and Stereophonic’s Maybe Tomorrow from Wicker Park are also impossible not to love… at least for me.

All Saints - Pure Shores

Whenever I hear All Saint’s Pure Shores I think of that hot scene with Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Françoise (Virginie Ledoyen) in The Beach.

I also like to watch What Women Want and listen to Frank Sinatra’s Too Marvelous For Words, I Won’t Dance, and I’ve Got You Under My Skin. I love the part when Mel Gibson dances around in his Manhattan loft. The music combined with the view and Gibson’s improvised dance make a terrific scene. 

And the next time you see Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, pay attention to Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word by Mary J Blige.

And, not to forget, my absolute favorites… musicals.

RENT - Out Tonight and Another Day

Rosario Dawson surely does a great performance.

Annie - You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile

I first saw the musical Annie at Oskarsteatern in Stockholm several years ago, have lost count how many times I’ve seen the film.

Dirty Dancing - Hungry Eyes

A true classic.

Grease - You’re The One That I Want

The best scene in Grease.

Moulin Rouge - Lady Marmalade

Sexy.

The Sound of Music - Do-Re-Mi

Have loved The Sound of Music ever since I saw it in 2nd or 3rd grade.

The Sound of Music - So Long, Farewell

Gretl (the youngest girl) is sooo cute at the end of this song.

Irene Cara - Fame

Won’t forget Fame at the theatre Göta Lejon in Stockholm 2004. Is it possible not to love this film?

Aida - How I Know You

Beautiful melody.

Aida on Broadway

If they still play Aida on Broadway, go see it.

Let’s return to movies…

Nonpoint - In the Air Tonight

The music in Miami Vice ranges from Nonpoint’s cover on In the Air Tonight and Sinnerman (felix da housecat’s heavenly house mix) to Auto Rock by Mogwai, Moby’s One of These Mornings, and Arranca from the sensual dance scene between Crocket (Colin Farrell) and Isabella (Li Gong). If anyone know where I can find a clip from that scene, please let me know.

And don’t forget Carlos Varela’s Una Palabra from the end scene in Man on Fire, In the Deep by Bird York from the soudtrack to Crash, or the mix of Chaiyya Chayyia by Sukhwinder Singh & Sapna Awasthi from Inside Man.

Learn Languages Through Music

I love hearing music in other languages and often listen to non-english songs to learn new words and expressions. Lately Hindi because I’ve wanted to learn the language ever since middle school when I decided I’d travel to India someday. A while ago I searched for Indian music online and found a song from the movie Salaam Namaste. It will be interesting to see if I eventually manage to understand what they say.

 Salaam Namaste - My Dil Goes Mmmm

Watch it, it’s funny!

Bombay Dreams

Bombay Dreams by Aneela from the Swedish movie Bombay Dreams.

Jennifer Lopez - Que Hiciste

For practising Spanish, I recommend Jennifer Lopez, Don Omar, Gloria Estefan, Manu Chao and Paola & Chiara.

Per Gessle - Sommartider

 
In case you’re interested in learning some Swedish, you can listen to Per Gessle…

Lars Winnerbäck - Dunkla Rum

Lars Winnerbäck…

Lisa Nilsson - Himlen runt hörnet

or Lisa Nilsson.

Whatever you do, keep listening to music!

 

 

 

 

Even though a song by a homeless man in a street corner might linger in your mind a long time, it probably doesn’t beat the spectacular celebrations of the spring’s arrival in Nashville. The city officially named April “Awesome April in Music City” and for the sixth year in row, visitors can expect festivals, award shows, concerts and exhibitions.

“It’s going to be another awesome month for this city,” said Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Six years ago we began to collectively market all of the unique events happening in April. We have seen strong growth in attendance at each event and visitor spending has increased dramatically.”  

The festivities kick of March 30 with a country music concert at the Sommet Center featuring performers like Marshal Reign, Trailer Choir, Stephen Cochran, Bucky Covington and Lee Brice.  

At the beginning of April, Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival presents more than 250 songwriters and 75 shows set in small venues all over Nashville. You can buy a limited pass at Tin Pan South.

The GMA Dove Awards, the biggest night for Christian and gospel music, takes place at the Grand Ole Opry House on Wednesday April 23 as a finale of GMA Music Week. The event brings together signed and independent artists, church leaders, agents, managers, promoters, record company executives, songwriters, and other people from the gospel music industry.

Other events include Etta James at the Wildhorse Saloon (April 8), Il Trovatore at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (April 10 & 12), CMT Music Awards (April 14), Nashville Film Festival (April 17-24), The Moody Blues at Ryman Auditorium (April 18), Elvis Costello at Ryman Auditorium (April 23), Bon Jovi at the Sommet Center (April 24), and Romeo & Juliet by Nashville Ballet at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (April 25-27).  

For an up-to-date listing, see the events calendar on Awesome April in Music City.

Downtown Nashville

“The Promise of Nashville, where the music is inspired, created, recorded and performed, is to provide the ultimate musical entertainment experience, celebrated throughout our diverse cultural and entertainment offerings, and presented in an authentic, unique, friendly and unpretentious atmosphere”.

- Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau

Who doesn’t like free events and places with free entrance? Luckily, Europe has a lot of them.

For example, in the lobby to the National Theatre in London you can listen to live music (often jazz) Monday to Saturday evenings. Upcoming artists include the Japanese singer Eriko Ishihara, Pete Letanka, Gustavo Marques and classic jazz and soul vocalist Julie KcKee. More information at Foyer Music.

Galeries Lafayette © Wouter Pinkhof

In Paris, Galeries Lafayette holds a fashion show each Friday at 3pm. And in Madrid, Museo Nacional del Prado - where you can enjoy paintings by Rubens, Boticelli and Goya - has free entrance every Sunday. The only part I’ve seen of Madrid so far is the airport so the next time I’m in the Spanish capital I will definitely visit Museo del Prado.

Sevilla © Oliver Brandt

If you happen to pass by Seville in south Spain, remember that Seville Cathedral has free entrance every Sunday 2.30- 6pm.
 

Linköping Jazz & Blues Festival is a must for all jazz and blues lovers. The festival takes place in Linköping Konsert & Kongress (Consert & Congress) Saturday 5th April 2008. From four o’clock in the afternoon to an hour after midnight, 300 artists, including the Swedish jazz singer Victoria Tolstoy, will perform on 12 different stages. 

42nd Street © Erwin Alonzo

If I lived near 42nd Street I would probably go to the theatre at least once a week. I absolutely love musicals. For people visiting New York City, I think an evening at the theatre is a must.

My all-time favourite musicals are:  

1. Annie.

I love Annie, the young orphan girl who gets the chance to leave Miss Hannigan’s miserable orphanage and live with the wealthy Oliver Warbucks. I first saw Annie at the theatre Göta Lejon in Stockholm when I was 14, and the film was one of my favourites as a kid. 

2. Fame

Sometimes I used to wish I had the opportunity to study at New York City’s High School for the Performing Arts on 46th Street. The musical follows a group of students as they struggle with demanding school work, identity issues, prejudices, sexuality, love, and their determination to succeed.    

3. Rent

Set in Alphabet City in the bohemian East Village, Rent is a rock musical inspired by Puccini’s opera La Boheme. I saw it with my family in Stockholm several years ago, would love to see the English version.

4. Aida

When we booked Broadway tickets to Aida in 2004, I knew nothing about the musical drama based on Guiseppe Verdi’s opera with the same name. I was pleasantly surprised by the performance, the moving story, Elton John’s music, and the lyrics by Tim Rice. I especially remember the song ‘How I know You’. Definitely worth seeing.

5. Chess

Also Chess has lyrics by Tim Rice. The story involves two players in the world chess championship and the woman who falls in love with one of them. Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson from the Swedish pop group Abba wrote the music.

    

A dear friend of mine says you either hate or love the opera. After perusing High Culture on a Low Budget by Olivia Giovetti, it’s clearly that she loves it. The closest I’ve ever come to an opera experience is through movies, the latest Woody Allen’s Match Point. I’m pretty sure I would love it though and Olivia’s Paris: Opera National de Paris, Prague: Prague Opera, and Moscow: The Bolshoi Opera definitely pique my curiosity.  

I first heard about High Culture on a Low Budget through Europe A La Carte Blog’s Guest interview with Olivia and couldn’t resist checking it out. This savvy, informative blog is a must for anyone into the world of art, music and dance. Olivia has written about, among other things, ballet in Amsterdam, Portuguese art, Liverpool’s Tate Museum, St John’s Smith Square (apparently one of the best concert venues in the British capital), poetry readings in Barcelona, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Royal College of Music, the oldest and biggest music school in Scandinavia.  

Previous posts include Vienna: Haus der Musik, my all time favourite Zurich: Tonhalle Orchester, Paris: Vive la Revolution des Musees!, Paris: Opera Garnier (and Beyond), Budapest: Budapest State Opera, and the most recent Zagreb: Strossmayer’s Old Masters Gallery, Aberdeen: The Scottish Ballet and Genova: Musei di Strada Nuova.

Before booking that weekend trip to Vienna, Prague, Paris, St Petersburg or any other European city, make sure to head over to High Culture on a Low Budget for up-to-date tips from an insider’s point of view. Who doesn’t want to know where to go for the best deals on exhibitions, museums, opera, theatre and classical concerts?

I just can’t get enough of the Moroccan music from the Kenza Restaurant & Lounge website. When I travel to London I’ll have to go to this place and ask if they give out their music on CD. The three eastern influenced songs are like a fusion of world, lounge and ethnic remixes. The first song is good, the second is ok, the third I can listen to over and over again.   

One of the things I love about travelling is all the music you discover when coming to different cities. But even though I know I will hear lots of new sounds, my MP3 player or iPod often follows me wherever and whenever I travel.

Recommended Artists

Lissie - Lissie who resides in Hollywood, California, plays acoustic, rock and indie, and is now going on tour opening for Lenny Kravitz. Not many voices truly touches my heart, but hers really does.

Elohim Marino - At Elohim Marino’s MySpace I read “Elohim Marino is versatile, unique and timeless. He is street, political and conscious. His music is food for thought. The very soul of a genre, He is Hip-hop.” I couldn’t agree more. His album Son Of HipHop clearly shows what authentic hip hop is all about.

Roe - Roe is hip-hop, rap and R&B. My favourite song Winter’s Sun is no longer available on Roe’s MySpace, but his other songs are definitely worth listening to.  

Lili Roquelin - Singer-songwriter Lili Roquelin sings poetical, deep, and captivating alternative trip-hop. My words probably won’t make her music justice. You have to hear it for yourself.

Silver and Gold - Acoustic music at its best. Listen to Shine on little star and you might understand what I mean.

Lemon - Listen to singer, songwriter Roger Smith in Lemon if you’re into pop, soul and electronica.

A popular photo motive in Harlem - apart from the classical brownstone houses - is The Apollo Theater at 253rd West 125th Street between Adam Clayton Blvd and Frederick Douglas Blvd. Lauryn Hill is one of many artists who made the debut in front of a bigger audience here. The Apollo amateur nights start every Wednesday at 7.30pm. Previous contest winners include Mary J. Blige, Angie Stone, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Fugees, Otis Redding, Prince, Stevie Wonder, India Arie, Aretha Franklin, Jay-Z, and Alicia Keyes.

If you happen to be in New York City on a Sunday morning, take the subway to 116th Street in Harlem where there are more Baptist Churches than in any other part of New York City. The gospel service begins at ten and can sometimes be heard from the street. We discovered a beautiful Baptist Church at St. Nicholas Avenue between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd and Lenox Ave/Malcolm X Blvd not far from Central Park. I had never heard gospel before and everything was such a contrast to the reserved atmosphere in Swedish churches - in a good way.

Bangkok Jazz Festival from the 8 - 9 December will attract both Thais and foreigners. Since 2003, Terminal Xtra Entertainment has been organizing the festival at Sanam Sua Pa with local performers and world class jazz artists from various countries.

 Montreux Jazz Festival © Joanna Griekspoor

The coast between Vevey, Montreux and Villeneuve is called the Swiss Riviera, when we walked along the waterside it just hit me how stunning Montreux is. A long pedestrian walk starts at Villeneuve - not far from the French border - and continues past Montreux all the way to Vevey. An hour’s stroll along the lakeside is more than enough because it’s not for the sake of walking you visit Montreux. It’s for the atmosphere, the incredible view across Lake Geneva and the mountains, the overall beauty of the place and - of course - the annual Montreux Jazz Festival.

Our stopover was in 2005, one day before the jazz festival, but I still remember it as if it was yesterday. Even though I enjoyed Montreux I was a bit disappointed we couldn’t stay and listen to Norah Jones and the other artists at the festival the following day. But we had to return to our au-pair jobs in Zurich after the weekend. However, I really recommend Montreux Jazz Festival. People we spoke with, including an old couple who was in Montreux for the third time in a row, had only good things to say about the event.