Aya Nakamura, the French Malian singer, did more than open the Games. She redefined what it means to be French.
Tag: Music
Olympics Opening Ceremony Singer Redefines What It Means to Be French
Aya Nakamura, the French Malian singer, did more than open the Games. She redefined what it means to be French.
Who Was the Heavy Metal Band at Opening Ceremony? That Was Gojira.
Gojira, a popular French band, became the first hard rock act to perform in an Olympic Games opening ceremony when it did a metal version of “Ah! Ça Ira,” a song that was popular during the French Revolution.
A France in Turmoil Mourns Françoise Hardy, Its Voice of Melancholy Cool
An overwhelming outpouring of tributes felt like a quest for some anchor in shared memory.
As Ukraine Rebuilds Its Identity, Folk Songs Are the New Cool
Faced with Russia’s efforts to erase Ukrainian culture, people have embraced traditional music as a way to reconnect with their past and affirm their identity.
How Rhubarb Conquered Germany, Then the World
A tongue-twisting rap by a Berlin duo has spotlighted Germans’ love of their springtime produce. Now if only they could find a rhyme for asparagus.
African Music to the World
Artists from the continent are breaking into the Western mainstream. We’ve got a playlist for your weekend cookout.
Aya Nakamura, French-Malian Singer, Is Caught in Olympic Storm
Aya Nakamura’s music is one of France’s top cultural exports. But reports that she might perform at the Paris Games have prompted fierce debates over identity and language.
Colombia’s Special Word for ‘You’
Two centuries after independence from Spain, many Colombians still use “sumercé,” meaning “your mercy” as an everyday address.
Pankaj Udhas, Bollywood Singer and Maestro of the Ghazal, Dies at 72
His soulful renditions of ghazals, or traditional love poems, were featured on the soundtracks of hit Bollywood movies and moved generations of Indians.