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Daft Punk’s anonymity was really a stroke of genius.
Femi Kuti performing in Mexico City in 2019.
Photo by Pedro Gonzalez Castillo/Getty Images
The truth remains that no artist through Nigeria’s postcolonial years has contributed close to what Fela did – and continues to do - for human rights and social justice.
It was better in the old days.
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Memories are closely linked with music.
Rapturous falsetto voices are heard in the new HBO documentary ‘The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.’
(HBO)
Falsetto male pop and opera artists fascinate us with their high voices, but it’s also intriguing to know anyone can find a falsetto sound.
The Weeknd performs at the 2020 American Music Awards on Nov. 22 in Los Angeles.
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Over the past year, the singer has carefully constructed a visage that has made him nearly unrecognizable.
Recording artist The Weeknd performs at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Oct. 26, 2017.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Invision — Scott Roth
The falsetto virtuosity of the Weeknd, headliner of this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, contrasts with popular ShantyTok singalongs. How do these both reflect masculinity in 2021?
YouTube/Nathan Evans
People have questioned whether there’s darkness embedded in the song that many of us have missed
Shutterstock/Soloviova Liudmyla
A match made in heaven or a doubtful duet?
In recent decades, musicians have been quick to object to the use of their material by the far-right.
Etienne Laurent/EPA
After rioters outside the US Capitol sang Bob Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds’, here are more global instances when history has sounded a little out of tune.
This is not a wok: Japanese musician Natsuki Tamura explores sounds at an online global festival of improvisation, IF 2020.
(Ajay Heble/IF 2020)
Improvisation asks us to trust that surprise will teach us something. As we enter a new year and a post-pandemic landscape, musical improvisation offers inspiration.
Beethoven statue in Vienna, Austria.
Mitzo/Shutterstock
In his work, many heard freedom as espoused by contemporary Enlightenment philosophers, like Immanuel Kant.
The country artist Charley Pride was one a few black artists who achieved success within country music in the 60s and 70s.
Republic Country Club/Wikimedia
While the genre is now overwhelming white, its roots are in Black music.
J. P. Clark was one of Nigeria’s most eco-conscious writers.
Ommoclark2020/Wikimedia
J.P Clark’s work moved beyond agitating for justice in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. He was in love with nature.
Lovers Rock from Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series explored the music and Blues party scene of London in the 1970s.
BBC/McQueen Limited/Parisa Taghizadeh
Centred around a Blues Party in London, the second film from the Small Axe anthology captured the excitement of setting up a party but missed things about sound system culture in the UK.
GoodStudio/Shutterstock
DJs had to adopt live streaming during the pandemic. This new way of reaching audiences has created a whole new djing experience that is more accessible to a wider range of people.
Nigerian pop star D'banj performing on stage in London.
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When pop star D'banj signed up to help get Goodluck Jonathan elected president, fans turned on him. But a hit song turned things around.
Nigerian rapper Olamide makes music focused on women.
Emmanuel Arewa/AFP/Getty
Nigerian music is gaining momentum across the world, but a study of hip hop lyrics and videos shows how the music also negatively affects women.
The Tempos band were known for their political songs.
JCollins-BAPMAF Archives
Ghana’s history shows a strong connection between music and politics that has evolved over six decades.
Nigerian rapper Falz sings in his home studio in Lagos.
Florian PlauCheur/AFP/Getty Images
Young Nigerians are protesting bad governance and police brutality. Where is the music to assist them?
With concert halls shut down, classical musicians are turning to online streaming.
Sot/Stone Collection via Getty Images
A composer and performer talks about the impact of the pandemic on classical music performances and his experience composing in isolation.