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A compilation of favorite songs from different places on the globe.  (Note that many of these are not official videos, but fan-assembled compilations of still images… sorry.  The music is still there though.)

Khumbula (South Africa), “Sibali”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzyFW7mnqKo

Tribalistas (Brazil), “Carnavália”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp7IVMGllUE

Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté (Mali), “Gomni” (also check this one)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjtfcSWmBmA

Sara Tavares (Portugal), “One Love” (also check this one)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDBpJOIuQ30

Rodrigo y Gabriela (Mexico), “Diablo Rojo”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUibjcu2L_s

Yungchen Lhamo (Tibet), “Happiness Is…”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee58iv63M2A

Tinariwen (Mali), “Amassakoul”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-t6-XY7C7A

Yothu Yindi (Australia), “Tribal Voice”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ-hbpWlXNQ

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Pakistan), “Sweet Pain”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVZcPSRqpHk

Ulali (Native American), “Wah Jhi Le Yihm”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WEVtwQnU9w

Angélique Kidjo (Benin), “Babalao”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCWVipbM-aU

Idan Raichel (Israel), “Mima’amakim”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0PWukxRV8U

Rachid Taha (Algeria), “Barra Barra”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUbzX3izyw4

Mediaeval Baebes (UK), “The Snake”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNbL8r96KXc

Keali’i Reichel (Hawaii), “E O Mai”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P88LUs2qAi8

“Bring It On” by Seal

…is a line from a 1993 Living Colour song, and a sentiment that was likely on the minds of many Germans when the Berlin Wall finally did fall, 20 years ago today.  The anniversary is being noted by news… outlets… all… over… the… world.  If you get a chance, check out the excellent movie The Lives of Others, which deals with the spying that the East German Stasi did on its own citizens prior to reunification.  Today, Germans can request to review any files that the Stasi compiled on them, which is no doubt a chilling experience.

And an interesting computer science problem, it turns out.  The Stasi made a hasty attempt to destroy many of their records through shredding and old-fashioned ripping paper up by hand.  Software is now being used to recreate the original documents from scanned images of the pieces.

Meanwhile, the fall of the wall and the demise of Communist governments across Eastern Europe inspired a lot of optimism in early 1990s music.  Classics include:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z6dxQVhE8o

“Right Here, Right Now” by Jesus Jones

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2Eyao-2KWo

“Wind of Change” by the Scorpions

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pm5jpjcYMY

“Crazy” by Seal

Finally, as with all such significant historical events, people are still debating what the real outcome of it was.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxOXBMA7Rro

One of the timeless classics… “Solace of You” by Living Colour.

More music-related things: Translations of lyrics from foreign artists.  Speculation, and in some cases actual answers, as to the meanings of songs.  And what seems to be every American TV theme song known to man.