The ideology behind the protest in Sweden in 1968 was a wish to return to simple rural life and a social lifestyle (large families, cooperatives, veganism). Sounds peacefull enough and actually from a modern perspective this isn't even that shocking. But in 1968 it was. Politically the movement in Sweden chose the apartheid in Africa as their focuspoint to kick against (next to local problems like class-selection for Universities). A simple tennismatch could therefor turn into a political statement. The protest and occupation of the Lund University was accompanied by folk-music, performance theatre and swedish protest songs. Combined together this would become the Swedish progg-movement. An ideologic movement that wanted to preserve, revive, develop and modernize the Swedish folk music and language. In their quest they were convinced that all rock music  was reactionary and imperialistic because it was made in or influenced by the United States. During the seventies, when Stig Anderson and ABBA gained more and more recognition, they aimed their guns at them and any artist singing in English. Their good ideas turned into inflexibilty and dogmatism setting the development of Swedish-laguaged pop on a standstil for yearsl. It took a anti-apartheid show in 1985 to glue this unique schisma in Europopmusic history together again. Go to the article.

Turbo-folk, that pumped up dance genre from the Balkan, with as many fans as people who hate it (somehow there's no inbetween). American internet blog Vice send a reporter to Serbia to check out what the genre actually is and where it came from. This quickly turns into a story about how the maffia allegedly used popular music for their own dodgy advantage. Reporter Thomas Morton seeks out Goga Sekulic amongst others for an interview (he tried Ceca but she was indisposed) and gets stuck into the 'chesty' stereotypes that the stage-act of these artists deliver. Although we do see the somewhat tacky characteristics of Turbo-folk Thomas gets into it on maybe a bit subjective manor rom the start. And it's not like that the music scene in Las Vegas or countrymusic has such a clean record, Thomas. The Serbian comments below the video are worth checking to read what they make of it. But if you read between the lines this web-broadcast gives a nice although bit biased crash course on Turbo-folk. You can watch the broadcast here. (thanks to "music of the balkans" for tipping us on this show).

On Friday 13 January the Radio and Television Slovakia (RTVS) started second season of tribute programs dedicated to Slovak musical legends of pop. The program features a selection of artists performing songs from the guest. The series starts with Marika Gombitová. Performing artists were Nela Pocisková(Vyznanie), Misha (Adresa ja, adresa ty), Marcel Palonder (Koloseum), Zdenka Predná (Študentská láska), Dominika Mirgová (Slnečný kalendár), Natália Hatalová(Správne dievčatá), Mária Čírová (Prosba) and Katka Koščová (Šaty). The series will continue on January 20 with Vaša Patejdl, Olympic on January 27 and Lucie Bila a week later. The previous series of ´Legendy Popu´ featured shows dedicated to Modus, Tublantanka, Peter Nagy, Richard Mùller, Miro Žbirka, Elanand Beate Dubasova. A videoarchive of these shows can be found on the STV website.

Turkish singer Tarkan's song 'Benim Sadık Yarim Kara Topraktır', part of his latest album 'Adımı Kalbine Yaz' (Write My Name Upon Your Heart), is now the themesong for the movie ' Entelköy Efeköy’e Karşı'. Directed by Yüksel Aksu, the comic movie introduces us to the daily life of a small but loud village located at the Aegean mountains. The people living there have a hard time getting by with agriculture, and decide to sell some of their land along with the abandoned historic houses to a group of intellectual ecologists who are sick and tired of city life and capitalism.. Although the song was originally not intended for the movie the lyrics fit perfectly well with the central theme. In an embrace for his homeland he sings " Half of my faithful black soil, my land is the soil" with a musical arrangement that for Tarkan's standards is rather intimate and folky. You can check the video on Youtube.

We don't know what it is with the December period but a big part of the population gets all lovey-dovey. In that categorie fits the German feel good movie and cinema hit 'RubbelDieKatz'. The title roughly translates as 'Scratch the cat' which fairly means the same as 'pinching the cat in the dark'. The movie by Detlev Buck is a comedy of errors with relationship mix ups, gender differences and all their conflicts, capturing the zeitgeist of Berlin and its pre-Christmas mood and presents them in both romantic and upbeat manner.

Exclusively for the film and soundtrack German power-countryrock combo BossHoss teams up with Nena for a cover of the classic "L.O.V.E." made famous by Nat King Cole. Originally written by Bert Kaempfert you could say the song returns home. Keep in mind that it's very very sweet, but for a one off gimmick we thought it was to nice not to mention. If interested you can check the clip on youtube.

Forget the ESC 2012 for a few weeks and prepare for the Earthmother of all music contests; the festival of Italian song better known as San Remo. Between February 14 and 18 2012 you can tune in in Rai Uno for four evenings filled with chaotic stagechanges, incomprehensible comedyacts, blond bombshells without a real purpose just being there, and so on. But of course these are all just a sideshow to what it is all about namely Europe's oldest music festival. 14 famous and unknown Italian singers will contest with new original material. It has been a way for up-and-coming wannabes to flex their vocal chords alongside established stars since 1951. Of the 14 only 8 will battle for the main prize at the final evening. The biggest news in Italy this week was that Italian legend Adriano Celentano will compete this year. In the slipstream of his latest album he is convident enough to give it another try. New this year is the social media element called SanRemoSocial. Followers on Facebook can vote for the favourite young artists to continue in the competition ending in 4 contestants in the pre-finale. The rules are a bit dodgy but who cares. On the 16th it's international night when non-Italian join in. Strong rumours say that Madonna herself will fly in to perform. As in 2011 the entire event again will be presented by good old Gianni Morandi. In february Italy will forget the Euro-crisis for a week and celebrate music. For more info see the RAI website

Marie Key:
I Byen Igen
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Spinvis:
Tot ziens, Justine Keller
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Czesław Śpiewa:
Milosza
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