Travel The Musical Globe

DARE, DEFY, PROVOKE.  Three words that mean so much to us at CONFRONT Magazine.  A simple motto yes, but one we hold very dear.  DARE to listen.  DEFY the stereotype.  PROVOKE change.  Over the past six months, we have had the pleasure of sharing with you some of the most sought after musical acts.   We couldn’t believe it when 30 Seconds to Mars agreed to be on the cover of our first issue, we were ecstatic to sit down with Simple Plan at their benefit concert last September, it was a joy to get the opportunity to meet Papa Roach during their ‘The Paramour Sessions’ promo tour and most recently, we were lucky enough to spend some time with Billy Talent who will be on the cover of next month’s issue.

Although we’re very grateful to have had these opportunities presented to us, there is another aspect of CONFRONT Magazine we all take great pride in.  As shown in our February Exhibit A (The Unsigned), it’s important to us to showcase not only the hugely popular, but also their successors; those artists who are either new to the business but show tremendous talent or as is the case with The Moog, those who are recently signed and on the verge of making it big.

Music is ever evolving.  Trends change, what is mainstream today is passé tomorrow and although many people tend to associated Bubble Gum Pop or Aging Rock Classics with the term, we believe that mainstream is nothing more than the ability to reach a lot of people.

Likewise, what is mainstream in North America isn’t always what people are listening to in the rest of the world.  When we first started CONFRONT Magazine, there was a section entitled WORLD KICKS.  Every section update was an opportunity for readers and the staff alike to discover a new country through its music.  We explored the multi-cultural oasis that was the francophone music scene in Quebec, Canada; we went on a virtual road trip to London England, our MP3 players stock full of musical suggestions for every stop on our journey and we even delved into the ethnic beauty of the Ukraine.

Our only problem with the WORLD KICKS was that it ended up being a little restrictive.  Although we learned a lot and it allowed us to marry two things the CONFRONT Crew thrives on, Music and Travel, there is so much more we wanted to share and discover that it made sense to create something new.  We felt that CONFRONT needed a place where people could be free to talk about any music related topic, without feeling obligated to respect the confines of specific parameters.  Here, we can let loose and talk about anything and everything music related; be it the new artists we enjoy, the latest trends in post-hardcore bubblegum pop or what type of music our friend Geewai listens to in Uganda.

In our constant efforts to promote diversity and redefine mainstream, this week’s Best Bazaar is a Musical Overview of what the world has been listening to recently based on the charts of each individual country.

So get your computer speakers ready and click on the links to listen to some music as you read.
COSTA RICA ( http://www.spanport.ucsb.edu/faculty/mcgovern/Radio/Radiocostarica.htm)
In the Republic of Costa Rica, “most music comes from the north of the country (the part that once had heavy Mayan influence), including the Nicoya Peninsula, and the Atlantic coast (Afro-Caribbean culture). Costa Rican music includes a rhythm known as tambito as well a distinctive musical genre known as punto. Two examples are the Punto Guanacasteco, which hails from Guanacaste Province, and the Punto Sancarleño, from San Carlos in Alajuela Province.
Nowadays, rock music is very popular. The Costa Rican rock movement started around the 70′s – 80′s and bands enjoy some popularity, especially among young people. Bands such as Gandhi and Vagrant Downfall (who define their music as ‘eclectic rock in Spanish’) and Evolucion are quite popular. This movement started in the early 80′s with the pioneer work of the band Café con Leche and José Capmany.” [1]

Costa Rican Top 5 based on current charts:

“Welcome To The Black Parade” – My Chemical Romance
“Noche de Entierro” – Wisin y Yandel
“Sentir” – Porpartes
“Ser o Parecer” – RBD
“Me Matas” – Rakim y Ken Y.

ITALY
( http://www.romavera.com/radio/italian_radio_stations.html)

“The music of Italy ranges across a broad spectrum of opera and instrumental classical music, the traditional styles of the country’s diverse regions, and a body of popular music drawn from both native and imported sources.  Music has traditionally been one of the cultural markers of Italian national and ethnic identity and holds an important position in society and in politics.  Italian innovation in musical scales, harmony, notation, and theater enabled the development of opera in the late 16th century, and much of modern European classical music, such as the symphony and concerto.”[2] Despite their hand in creating some of the most beautiful music ever composed, Italians also like to listen to more modern things.  Check out the current Italian Top 5 that we gathered from varied Italian charts.

Italian Top 5 based on current charts:

“Window in the Skies” – U2
“Lithium” – Evanescense
“Vorrei Dirti Che e’ Facile” – Brenda-Battaglia Dan
“You Know My Name” – Cornell C.
“Nothing at All” – Chiara

JAPAN
( http://broadcast-live.com/japan.html)

“Japanese culture has evolved greatly over the years, from the country’s original Jomon culture to its contemporary hybrid culture, which combines influences from Asia, Europe, and North America.   Japanese music is eclectic, having borrowed instruments, scales, and styles from neighboring cultures.  Many instruments, such as the koto, were introduced in the ninth and tenth centuries.  The accompanied recitative of the Noh drama dates from the 14th century and the popular folk music, with the guitar-like shamisen, from the 16th.  Western music, introduced in the late nineteenth century, now forms an integral part of the culture, as evident from the profusion of J-Pop artists. Modern Japanese music generally uses Western instruments, scales, and style.”[3]

Japanese Top 5 based on current charts:

“Baby Don’t Cry” – Namie Amuro
“Lovers Again” – EXILE
“Fake” – Mr. Children
“Sora Ga Naku Kara” – Endlicheri Endlicheri
“Rolling star” – YUI

LATVIA
(https://www.reciva.com/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=listcats&cat_id=688&Itemid=68#)
In the Northern European country of Latvia, a song and dance festival called the ‘Latvian Song and Dance Festival’  have been held since 1873, normally every five years and is one of the most important events to take place there, as proof by the law that has been created to regulate it.   “During the festivals exhibitions of photography, art and folk craft also take place.  Events and competitions leading up to the event occur throughout the period between festivals.  The next festival is scheduled for 2008 in Latvia.  (Note, the next U.S. festival is scheduled for July 4-9, 2007.)  Many people are woken by a singing lady at a quarter to eight in the morning as a mark of free speech for women. Approximately 30,000 people all together participate in the event.  Although usually dainas and classical choir songs are sung, recently modern popular songs were incorporated into the repertoire.  Most popular songs are from the 1980s when songs that made fun of characteristics of Soviet life and which were concerned about preserving Latvian identity aroused popular protests against the USSR.” [4] This festival is a must for international music lovers.

Latvian Top 5 based on current charts:

“All Good Things (Come To An End)” – Nelly Furtado
“Bez puišiem nevar” – Jenny May Pied. Double Faced Eels
“Ya tebe podaryu” – Stas P’eha
“Ieskaties” – Otra Puse
“Uz 4 debess pus?m” – Finx
NEW ZEALAND
( http://www.radioactive.co.nz/)
“New Zealand music is a vibrant expression of [its culture].  As the largest nation in Polynesia, New Zealand’s music is influenced by the indigenous M?ori and immigrants from the Pacific region.  The origins of New Zealand’s musical culture lie in its British colonial history, with contributions from Europe and America.  As the nation has grown and established its own culture, local artists have mixed these styles with local influences to create music that is uniquely New Zealand in style.
M?ori have also developed a popular music scene, and incorporated reggae, rock and roll and other influences, most popularly including Te Vaka, who have M?ori, white and other Polynesian members. New Zealand reggae bands like Herbs, Katchafire and Fat Freddy’s Drop are highly popular.  The 1990s saw the rise of hip hop groups like Moana & the Moahunters and the Upper Hutt Posse, primarily based out of South Auckland.” [5]

New Zealand Top 5 based on current charts:

“Lips Of An Angel” – Hinder
“Smack That” – Akon feat. Eminem
“Say It Right” – Nelly Furtado
“Face Down” – Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
“Welcome To The Black Parade” – My Chemical Romance

South Africa
( http://www.surfmusic.de/country/south+africa.html)

It may be argued that there is no “single” culture in South Africa because of its ethnic diversity.  This is also true of its music.  “Many black musicians who sang in Afrikaans or English during apartheid [a former policy of segregation and political and economic discrimination against non-European groups in the Republic of South] have since begun to sing in traditional African languages, and have developed a unique style called Kwaito.
Of note is Brenda Fassie, who launched to fame with her song ‘Weekend Special’, which was sung in English. More famous traditional musicians include Ladysmith Black Mambazo, while the Soweto String Quartet performs classic music with an African flavour.

White and Coloured South African singers are historically influenced by European musical styles including such western metal bands such as Seether. Afrikaans music covers multiple genres, such as the contemporary Steve Hofmeyr and the punk rock band Fokofpolisiekar. Crossover artists such as Johnny Clegg and his bands Juluka and Savuka have enjoyed various success underground, publicly, and abroad.” [6]

South African Top 5 based on current charts:

“Tell Me” – P Diddy Ft Christina Aguilera
“The Saints Are Coming” – U2 & Green Day
“Irreplaceable” – Beyonce
“Gone” – Harrison Crump
“A Public Affair” – Jessica Simpson

This world has so much incredible music offer.  Thanks to the internet, it is often times only a click away…  Hope you enjoyed our little trip.
Article References
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Costa_Rica
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Italy
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan#Modern_Japan
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvia#Culture
[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_zealand#Music
[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_africa#Culture

Chart References
http://www.lanet.lv/misc/charts/
http://www.fimi.it/classifiche.asp?idtipo_classifica=3
http://www.lanet.lv/news/airplay/new.html
http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp
http://www.los40.co.cr/lalista.asp
http://www.mnet.ne.jp/~hbr/JP/Jelatest.htm
http://www.5fm.co.za/music/MusicChartsDetails.aspx?id=1