Music
Former Afghan refugee Soosan Firooz becomes rapper
Soosan Firooz grew up a refugee, fleeing Afghanistan's brutal civil war. But her family moved back seven years ago, and now she's supporting herself as a rapper -- a role not typically played by women.
Iranian-Israeli pop star, Rita a controversial musical icon
In a time when Israel and Iran disagree about almost everything, it's hard to believe that an Iranian-Israeli singer could be a pop icon. Rita Johanforuz, better known simply as Rita, is in the midst of a U.S. tour right now....
Author's new book examines recent musician's interpretations of Bach
Johann S. Bach composed his music some three centuries ago, but even today it takes on new life in unexpected places. In a new book, author Paul Elie looks at the musicians who are taking Bach and casting it in a new light....
Congolese band, made famous in 2009, begins U.S. tour
Homeless and getting around in make-shift wheelchairs, disabled by polio, the band members of Staff Benda Bilili defined down-on-their-luck. But in 2009, fame knocked on their doors. Since then, they've turned their lives upside down — and gone on a world tour, which brings them to the U.S. now....
Barcelona bar tries to bring back long-gone musical style
Luis Diaz owns a bar in Barcelona, where he's appealing to a specific clientele. Upstairs, once a week, he turns his bar into a Copla club -- a place where people nostalgic for a bygone era can gather and appreciate a long-ago departed musical style....
Mother of deceased lead singer from Thin Lizzy discusses musician's early life
You may or may not recognize the band Thin Lizzy, but you probably recognize their song "The Boys are Back in Town." The lead singer of the band, Phil Lynott, died more than 25 years ago, but now his mom is speaking about the singer's early years....
Music festival, conference set to celebrate steampunk
Everything old is new, and everything new is old in the world of steampunk. The celebrants of Victorian culture bolted onto modern society will gather for a music festival in San Francisco this weekend and at a conference in Seattle later this month....
Portugese band Buraka Som Sistema reworks colonial sound
When Angola was still a colony of Portugal, dance clubs in Angola produced a kind of distinct music that took fire and eventually took Portugal by storm. Now, a new band of Portugese and Angolans is taking that old kuduro sound and turning it into new music....
'The Heavy' one more in a long list of British bands to take American culture as their own
You might recognize The Heavy by name, but you almost certainly recognize their music. Take their hit song 'How You Like Me Now,' which has been featured in Super Bowl ads, on TV and in Obama campaign appearances. But as all-American as those things are, the band is distinctly British — the latest Brit group to build on American Southern music....
Israeli bands trying to assert themselves, fashion a global presence
Bands in Israel have a long road ahead of them if they hope to become a global hit. To start off with, just getting heard overseas requires spending a ton of money to get there. And even if they can accomplish that, there are the politics of being from Israel to contend with. And, of course, what language do they sing in?...
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(21 May, 2013 08:58:54)Stop moaning everyone - unbelievable and endless queue of worlds biggest collection of all minded moaning Minnie's -
PUdden N Tane (20 May, 2013 09:40:50)Take her crayons away then put her in the corner. How could anyone even 'think' they are doing right by the picture when they make ...
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Womprat (20 May, 2013 02:50:44)There were no swamp rats. There were Womprats, though.
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Jonathan (20 May, 2013 11:59:28)You're quite right. Sorry about that! Jonathan Kealing PRI.org
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My Other Car's the Tardis (20 May, 2013 11:37:03)I think you dropped a letter in the album's title: "Ela" is "she"--not "he"--in Portuguese.