ZHalifax Multicultural Music Channel celebrates music from different cultures. We live in a globalized world with many different cultures. Each culture offers its own unique library of music. We at ZHalifax would like to
share all the different music offered by all the different cultures in the world. By sharing music from different cultures, it's another way to understand people that come from different backgrounds and it's a celebration
of true multiculturalism.
.: Shreya Ghoshal
Shreya Ghoshal is a beautiful singer from India. Here is a sample of her performance:
You can hear she has a great voice that is full of energy and depth. Shreya Ghoshal was born on 12th March, 1984 in Durgapur and started her career in 1998. Some of Shreya Ghoshal's best songs are Yeh Kya Hua, Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai, Suna Suna and many more.
She came to fame with the Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film “Devdas”. Shreya Ghoshal recorded five songs for Devdas and each of the songs was a huge hit. The songs from Devdas would win her many awards.
.: Trip back to the 80s
Most of you have probably heard 99 Luftballoons before, at least the English version. Anyways, here is the original German version:
The song was written at the tail end of the cold war. Carlo Karges, Nena's guitarist, wondered what would happen if 99 balloons floated over the Berlin Wall into the Soviet Sector in East Berlin. If the balloons were mistaken as misslies, it could have triggered
a retaliation by the Soviets and a nuclear war could have developed between the west and the USSR. There is also an English version of 99 Luftballoons. This song has become very popular over time and was even used in a few Telus commercials.
.: Mandarin Songs
So I've been listening to a few Mandarin songs lately, especially from a few singers in Taiwan. To brush up on my Mandarin, I've been taking lessons with a mandarin tutor a few times a week. Other than learning Mandarin for
my business trips to China and Taiwan, it's nice that I can start to enjoy the meaning of a few Mandarin songs I've been listening to lately. Specifically, I've been following the songs of a famous Taiwan singer called Jay Chou.
Jay Chou is really popular in Taiwan, as well as China and Hong Kong. In addition to his fame in Asia, he also played Kato in the Green Hornet.
He's been around the music industry in Asia for quite some time. Jay Chou's debut on the big screen started when he starred in Initial D where he won several acting awards in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Since then, he has appeared in many more movies.
.: A Look at Romanian Music
Let's take a trip back to some Romanian classics. If you've paid attention to the European scene, you've probably heard of the Romanian band O-Zone and their very lovely song Dragostea Din Tei:
Dargostea Din Tei is a very lovely song. Some people also know the song's alternative name as "Numa Numa" or "Mai Ya Hee." The lyrics to the song are quite fascinating too:
Ma-ia hii
Ma-ia huu
Ma-ia hoo
Ma-ia haha (x4)
Alo, salut, sunt eu, un haiduc
Si te rog, iubirea mea, primeste fericirea.
Alo, alo, sunt eu, Picasso
Ti-am dat beep
Si sunt voinic
Dar sa stii, nu-ti cer nimic.
Vrei sa pleci dar nu-mr, nu-mr iei
Nu-mr, nu-mr iei, nu-mr, nu-mr, nu-mr iei
Chipul tru si dragostea din tei
Mi-amintesc de ochii trl
I don't know why but whenever I am playing this song in the car, I find myself humming and singing the lyrics in no time! It's a great song for dance parties and for those occasions where you want to just release yourself.
