Styles Of World Music

Every culture uses music as a form of communication and artistic expression. It can be said that music truly is the universal language. In a world dominated by Western culture, other styles and artists of world music can get lost or remain obscure within the mainstream. The advent of certain technologies such as satellite radio and the Internet has helped to expand non-Western styles of world music.

The most popular television channel about music, MTV, now has a channel designated to world music called MTV International. Elements of world music have even influenced popular Western musicians and allowed other non-Western artists to cross over into the Western mainstream. Presently, there are several emerging artists around the globe that are gaining universal popularity.

Ireland

Much of the music emerging from Ireland finds its origins in Celtic music. Celtic music is Irish or Scottish folk music that is characterized by stringed instruments, fiddles, and pipes. Over the years, Celtic music has branched off into many variations or sub genres including classic, traditional, folk, and Contemporary Celtic music. Famous musicians from Ireland that have found success in the world music scene are The Chieftains, Enya, The Coors, The Cranberries, and Lorena McKennitt. The most popular artist to recently emerge from the Emerald Isle and enter the mainstream is Damien Rice. Rice's debut album, O, was released in 2003 and is a modern folk album that includes many Celtic elements.

Latin America

Latin American music entered the mainstream during the 1990's and has continued to dominate the world music scene. Early innovators include Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Selena, and Shakira. The Latin dance beats have transformed into Latin American alternative music with the rising popularity of such artists as Julieta Venegas, Ely Guerra, and Mana. Currently, the most recent genre of Latin American music to enter the mainstream is Reggaeton. This form of music blends hip hop, reggae, and Latin American elements of bomba and plena. The most popular Reggaeton artists are Nina Sky, NSB, and Daddy Yankee.

Asia

Mainstream Western music has recognized few artists from Asia, but this is rapidly changing. Two popular emerging artists from the world music scene are Japan's Hikaru Utada and Sri Lanka's Maya Arulpragasam a.k.a M.I.A.

 

Utada is the number one pop artist in Japan and released her English debut in 2004 entitled Exodus. Although, her album sold 500,000 copies within its first week, Utada has yet to be fully embraced by the Western mainstream music scene.

M.I.A. has had more success with her debut album, Arular, in 2005. M.I.A. was born in Sri Lanka and during her childhood witnessed much of the country's civil war between the Sinhalese and Tamils. She sought refuge in London with her mother and siblings and was influenced by the London hip hop scene. Her album combines hip hop with Indian bhangra and Brazilian baile funk. Her lyrics are very political and are influenced by the civil war she witnessed while in Sri Lanka.

Music is never constant and is always adapting and altering its form. The expansion and continued awareness of different styles of world music will only continue to enrich and enliven the music scene. World music offers an alternative to mainstream Western music and a fresh perspective to music fans everywhere.

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Weiner, John. M.I.A.: Arular. Blender Magazine. 30 Aug. 2006. [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=3198 ]

Celtic/British Isles.  All Music. 30 Aug. 2006. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql= 77:4504]

Reggaeton. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.  30 Aug. 2006. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggaeton]

Utada. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopledia. 30 Aug. 2006. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utada]