Soul legend Bettye LaVette says she is “so disappointed” that Beyonce mimed the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ at President Obama’s inauguration.

Barack Obama and Bettye LaVette

A day after the President was sworn in for his second term it was revealed that Beyonce lip-synched the American National Anthem at the ceremony.

“I was so disappointed that after all this time I break down to give this compliment,” Bettye said in an interview with Noise11.com. “My husband was stunned when I said it. Then I was embarrassed because I know how vocally the challenges there are in that song. I certainly wouldn’t have sung it that way. I was just giving her this high praise and then we got this news today. I was so disappointed”.

Bettye comes from that old school of real singers who record their own voices to record and perform live on stage. “I told my husband, who hates her,” she said. “I said she looks fabulous and I think she sang the song flawlessly. Then I heard she did it in the studio and I said, ‘shit, Louis Armstrong was flawless in the studio’”.

Today it was revealed that the performances were pre-recorded “ as a matter of course” to avoid technical problems during the live broadcast.

Bettye LaVette will perform at Bluesfest at Byron Bay over Easter and also:

April 4, Melbourne, The Corner
April 5, Sydney, The Factory Theatre

Rihanna is the most popular musician for inspiring people to learn the English language, according to a new study.

Rihanna. image by Ros O'Gorman.

Research by Kaplan International Colleges, a leading provider of English language courses, revealed that more people learn English to understand Rihanna than any other musician in the pop music industry.

Kaplan surveyed 1,213 people who speak English as a foreign language (EFL) and discovered that more than half (52%) learned the language to comprehend a celebrity.

From those EFL speakers who said they learned English to understand a celebrity, the Bajan beauty, who is famous for hit singles such as Diamonds and Rude Boi, was the most inspirational musician with 10% saying the singer inspired them to pick up the language.

RiRi triumphed over chart rivals and fellow pop princesses Katy Perry and Beyonce who inspired 8% and 7% of EFL speakers respectively. Eminem was the top male musician with 7% claiming that they learned English to understand the controversial rapper.

Rodrigo Alencar, of RihannaDaily.com, said: ‘Rihanna is one of the most successful singers worldwide these days, her songs are all over the charts, so it’s just natural that people who do not speak English want to understand what she’s singing.

‘Since 2005 she’s releasing new great music every year, so people just can’t “get away” from her. Also, the lyrics are usually super catchy and many fans relate to them.’

Barack Obama was the most popular person for inspiring others to learn English. The study found that 22% of EFL speakers who said they learned English to understand a celebrity did so to follow what the US President was saying.

More from music-news.com

50’s and 60’s hitmaker Pat Boone came out with his strongest indictment of President Barack Obama’s policies on Neil Cavuto’s Fox Business News Program Wednesday night.

Pat Boone

In the past, Boone has publicly criticised Obama, saying that he fully believes he was born in Kenya and that the president had turned the White House into a Mosque. Boone is a member of the Tea Party.

Boone told Cavuto “He is following his playbook, which is Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals. This is the guy that trained him to be a community organizer, a Marxist, a socialist, a progressive, who wrote the rules for doing what Mr. Obama is doing.

I think he’s a brilliant guy, and I think he knows what he’s doing, and he’s doing it by design because he has a plan. He thinks it’s good for America … a virtually socialist nation in which nobody gets rich, government is in charge of everything.”

Later in the interview, he also told Cavuto that “I am a target. I was on his enemy’s list in the first year of his presidency.”

Outspoken vegetarian Morrissey has once again put his mouth before his brain and posted a blunt letter blaming President Barack Obama for the death of 45 million turkeys.

The former Smiths singer says Obama “supports torture as 45 million birds are horribly abused.”

The graphic letter suggests the President laughs while they “have their throats slit”.

Morrissey’s rant was posted by his official fan site True To You.

It goes like this …

Thankskilling
Please ignore the abysmal example set by President Obama who, in the name of Thanksgiving, supports torture as 45 million birds are horrifically abused; dragged through electrified stun baths, and then have their throats slit. And President Obama laughs. Haha, so funny!


As Ingrid Newkirk from PETA points out, turkey ‘meat’ is one of “our nation’s top killers”, causing heart-attacks and strokes in humans due to saturated animal fats and cholesterol. And President Obama laughs.
Further, the meat industry is responsible for 51% of human-caused greenhouse-gas emission, therefore the embarrassingly stupid White House ‘turkey pardon’ is open support for a viciously cruel and environmentally irresponsible industry.


And President Obama laughs.

MORRISSEY

26 November 2013

Stay updated with your free Noise11 daily music newsletter. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here

Prince brought Stevie Wonder on stage during a special show at the White House over the weekend.

The reclusive singer performed for U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife First Lady Michelle at their iconic home on Saturday evening. The event was in honour of African-American Music Appreciation Month, with the inclusion of Stevie said to be a total surprise.

There were apparently 500 lucky guests who joined the American leader and his spouse to watch the show, with Prince not disappointing as he played a number of his biggest tracks such as Purple Rain and Kiss.

According to New York Post, Connie Britton, Jon Bon Jovi, Ciara, Tyler Perry, Jenna Lyons and fashion star Naeem Khan were all cheering Prince on from the audience. There were also a number of industry big wigs watching, along with Barack and Michelle’s daughters Sasha and Malia.

Stevie apparently made his grand entrance for a performance of Signed, Sealed, Delivered, sung as a duet with Prince. Afterwards DJ Cassidy took to the decks so the party could continue.

Apart from that not much else is known about the event, which it’s understood was staged in the East Room. That is becoming something of a musical haunt, with stars including Aretha Franklin and John Legend strutting their stuff there in the past.

Prince had a busy weekend as he also performed other shows in Washington as part of his HITnRUN tour.

The 57-year-old singer is famously private and rarely gives interviews. In part that’s because he has no interest in fame and wants to be known simply for his music, as he explained in 2011

“A lot of that comes from other people. The press like to blow things out of proportion so this person becomes bigger than they are. The sooner this thing called fame goes away, the better. We got people who don’t need to be famous,” he said.

Prince and Stevie Wonder at the White House setlist

Kiss
Purple Rain
Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Never miss a story! Get your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to the Noise11 Music Newsletter here

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

Follow Noise11.com on Facebook and Twitter

more from music-news.com

US President Barack Obama features on Coldplay’s new song.

The British band, fronted by Chris Martin, has long since known the American politician is a fan of its music, but his decision to let the rockers feature him on a track has been a surprising one. The recording comes from Barack singing at the funeral of Charleston shooting victim Clementa C. Pinckney earlier this year (15).

“We have a tiny clip of the president singing Amazing Grace at that church,” Chris said, according to British newspaper The Sun. “Because of the historical significance of what he did and also that that song being about, ‘I’m lost but now I’m found.’”

The White House granted special permission for the clip to be used on the single A Head Full of Dreams, which is due out later this week (27Nov15).

“Barack Obama wouldn’t let just anyone feature his vocals on the record, especially considering what a deeply emotional moment it was for him,” a source told the publication. “But he clearly loves Coldplay and is happy to be a part of their music history. The band were obviously thrilled.

“They needed to get permission from Obama himself and the Charleston church it was recorded in.”

In 2012 Chris revealed that Barack was a big fan, but admitted he didn’t initially believe the head of the US when he said he loved Coldplay’s music.

“I met Barack Obama in the summer and one thing he said to me was, ‘Oh I have your songs on my iPod,” but I just thought, ‘Oh I bet he says that to every pop star he meets,'” he said.

“I can’t get my head around the notion that the president of the USA would have any of my songs on his playlist. It is just too surreal.”

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Never miss a story! Get your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to the Noise11 Music Newsletter here

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

Follow Noise11.com on Facebook and Twitter

NOISE11 UPDATES are now in Apple News

more from music-news.com

Barbra Streisand and Steven Spielberg were among the 17 Americans honoured with the nation’s highest civilian award at The White House on Tuesday (24Nov15).

President Barack Obama recognised the pair, alongside Gloria and Emilio Estefan, singer James Taylor, composer Stephen Sondheim, violinist Itzhak Perlman and baseball legends Willie Mays and Yogi Berra, among others.

Before handing out the medals, Obama told the gathered media, “Today we celebrate some extraordinary people: innovators, artists and leaders who contribute to America’s strength as a nation.

“This is an extraordinary group. Even by the standards of Medal of Freedom winners, this is a class act. What an incredible tapestry this country is and what a great blessing to be in a nation where individuals as diverse, (from) wildly different backgrounds, can help to shape our dreams, how we live together, help define justice and freedom and love. They represent what’s best in us and we are very, very proud to welcome them today.”

Spielberg was in for another treat after the medals were presented – the theme from his movie E.T. The Extra Terrestrial was played as Obama congratulated each recipient.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Never miss a story! Get your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to the Noise11 Music Newsletter here

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

Follow Noise11.com on Facebook and Twitter

NOISE11 UPDATES are now in Apple News

more from music-news.com

Aretha Franklin is one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, living singer and she proved it again in early December at the Kennedy Center Honors when she brought President Obama to tears with her performance.

Aretha appeared in the salute to Carole King, one of five being honored during the evening, singing ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’. Not only did she have King and the crowd on their feet numerous times during the performance, but there is one spot where President Obama is wiping a tear from his eye.

Others performing for King were Janelle Monet (Will You Still Love Me Tommorrow?, One Fine Day), James Taylor (Up on the Roof) and Sara Bareilles (You’ve Got a Friend).

Watch the Aretha Franklin performance here now:

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Never miss a story! Get your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to the Noise11 Music Newsletter here

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

Follow Noise11.com on Facebook and Twitter

NOISE11 UPDATES are now in Apple News

more from vvnmusic.com

President Barack Obama will deliver a Keynote Conversation at SXSW Interactive in Austin on March 11 and the First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver the opening keynote address for SXSW Music on March 16.

“I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate our event’s 30th year than to welcome both the President and First Lady to SXSW,” said SXSW co-founder Roland Swenson. “As each new generation comes up at SXSW they look for ways they can be of service, and it’s important to reflect and support that message. President and Mrs. Obama’s visit here will inspire attendees to that purpose.”

President Obama will be interviewed by The Texas Tribune’s Evan Smith about ‘Civic Engagement in the 21st Century’. “The President will call on the audience to apply their ideas and talents to make technology work for us – especially when it comes to tackling big challenges like increasing participation in the political process and fighting climate change,” notes SXSW.

Michelle Obama will “discuss the Let Girls Learn initiative, which aims to break barriers for the 62 million girls around the world who are not in school today, more than half of whom are adolescent. The SXSW Music Conference brings the global music industry together and offers the perfect platform to celebrate Women’s History Month, as the First Lady provides her call to action to support girls’ education”.

SXSW dates are:

Interactive March 11-15
Film March 11-19
Music March 15-20

SXSW Aussie BBQ Line-up And Times Revealed

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Never miss a story! Get your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to the Noise11 Music Newsletter here

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

Follow Noise11.com on Facebook and Twitter

NOISE11 UPDATES are now in Apple News

President Barack Obama spoke at SXSW on Friday and articulated the will of the people. Meanwhile across America some idiot with an orange complexion is sprouting Nazi liners and foolish American’s are lapping it up.

America is really torn between common sense and ridiculousness right now and there appears to be no middle group.

America went to all that trouble of overthrowing Gaddafi and Hussein yet has almost allowed an orang-utan Hitler to ascend to highest position in the land. It makes no sense.

That is all the more reason why President Obama is a man of common sense, a man who has done in this office what Republicans in the USA and the Liberal Party in Australia have failed at every time they take power – to serve the people and look after the most vulnerable in the community.

President Obama is a true visionary, a man who honestly deserves the title ‘Leader of the Free World’. The Bush’s in the USA, Howard in Australia and more recently Australia’s fool of a Prime Minister Tony Abbott should hang their head in shame.

Here is what a real leader sounds like … President Obama at SXSW.

President Obama was a guest speaker for SXSW Interactive, on now in Austin, Texas. His wife Michelle Obama will speak at SXSW Music on March 16, 2016.

“I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate our event’s 30th year than to welcome both the President and First Lady to SXSW,” said Co-founder Roland Swenson. “As each new generation comes up at SXSW they look for ways they can be of service, and it’s important to reflect and support that message. President and Mrs. Obama’s visit here will inspire attendees to that purpose.”

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Never miss a story! Get your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to the Noise11 Music Newsletter here

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

Follow Noise11.com on Facebook and Twitter

NOISE11 UPDATES are now in Apple News

Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah as well as songwriter Diane Warren and actor Sophie Bush will join First Lady Michelle Obama for her keynote address at SXSW Music this Wednesday in Austin.

The First Lady has accepted the keynote address spot for 2016 at the SXSW Music Conference in Austin, Texas. Queen Latifah will moderate.

For 2016 SXSW Music brings the global music industry together and offers the perfect platform for the First Lady’s call to action to support girls’ education.

Halle and Chloe Bailey will provide the opening music. The two sisters have been performing together since their YouTube cover of “Pretty Hurts” went viral in 2013. The pair are signed to Beyoncé’s management company, Parkwood Entertainment.

Last week The President of the United States Barack Obama spoke for SXSW Interactive.

This Michelle Obama special presentation will be held on Wednesday, March 16 at 11:00 a.m. in Ballroom D of the Austin Convention Center.

President Barack Obama Speaks At SXSW

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Never miss a story! Get your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to the Noise11 Music Newsletter here

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

Follow Noise11.com on Facebook and Twitter

NOISE11 UPDATES are now in Apple News

United States President Barack Obama has paid tribute to Prince calling him “one of the most gifted and prolific musicians of our time.”

Today, the world lost a creative icon. Michelle and I join millions of fans from around the world in mourning the sudden death of Prince. Few artists have influenced the sound and trajectory of popular music more distinctly, or touched quite so many people with their talent. As one of the most gifted and prolific musicians of our time, Prince did it all. Funk. R&B. Rock and roll. He was a virtuoso instrumentalist, a brilliant bandleader, and an electrifying performer.

“A strong spirit transcends rules,” Prince once said — and nobody’s spirit was stronger, bolder, or more creative. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his band, and all who loved him.

Prince died at the age 57 after medics responded to an emergency call from his Paisley Park estate in Minnesota on Thursday morning. Prince took ill last week and had to make an emergency landing because of a flu scare and was treated at a hospital in Moline.

Tributes are now flowing in following the death of the musical genius.

Noise11.com

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Never miss a story! Get your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to the Noise11 Music Newsletter here

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

Follow Noise11.com on Facebook and Twitter

NOISE11 UPDATES are now in Apple News

President Barack Obama was a guest of The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon this week and performed a Slow Jam for the audience.

The President performed a Slow Jam back in 2012 for Late Night but this was his first go since Fallon joined The Tonight Show.

During the show the President praised both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders saying that “Sanders brought enormous energy and new ideas, and he pushed the party and challenged them”. Of Hillary he said, “I think she is whip smart. She is tough. And she deeply cares about working people and putting kids through school and making sure we’re growing our economy.”

On the other hand he had nothing positive to say about Trump and was concerned someone like that could even get this far. “The truth is I am actually worried about the Republican Party, he said. “You want the Republican nominee to be somebody who could do the job if they win. This is not reality TV.”

Watch President Obama with Jimmy Fallon.

Beyonce, Jay Z, and Usher will join U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday to help him celebrate his last birthday at the White House.

The Commander-in-Chief turned 55 on Thursday, and sources tell the New York Post’s Page Six column that First Lady Michelle Obama has organised a star-studded party on Friday night to mark the special occasion.

Other guests invited to the big bash include Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, comedienne Ellen DeGeneres, and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, while Vice President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party’s 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton are also expected to attend.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar and Usher will provide the entertainment for the night, according to the publication.

“All the preparations and the guest list are being kept top-secret,” the insider tells Page Six. “The plan is to throw a party for the president to really let his hair down. There will be performances and a dance party that will go late into the night. Social media will be banned.”

The First Family is no stranger to star-studded celebrations – Beyonce performed for the First Lady’s 50th birthday party in 2014, when Michelle was also serenaded by John Legend in front of guests such as Wonder and Paul McCartney.

If the White House party news is true, Beyonce and her rapper husband Jay Z will be jetting in from her Formation World Tour, after completing the European leg of the trek in Barcelona, Spain on Wednesday (03Aug16).

The R&B superstar wrapped up her latest run of gigs in style by treating local fans to the Spanish version of Irreplaceable. Video footage of the rare performance of Irreemplazable, filmed at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys venue, has gone viral, showing the audience singing along to every word.

Irreemplazable featured as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of her B’Day album in 2007.

Noise11.com

Follow Noise11.com on Facebook and Twitter
——————————————————————————————————————————————

Never miss a story! Get your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to the Noise11 Music Newsletter here

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

The post Beyonce Plays One Final Time For The Obamas appeared first on Australia's Music News Authority.

US President Barack Obama has been loading up the music for summer and Australia’s Courtney Barnett has made his playlist.

Been waiting to drop this: summer playlist, the encore. What's everybody listening to? pic.twitter.com/mqh1YVrycj

— President Obama (@POTUS) August 11, 2016

Courtney’s latest ‘Elevator Operator’ has caught the ear of POTUS. He is also a fna of Fiona Apple, Common, Wale and Nas.

“For a second year in a row, President Obama hand-picked his favorite songs for a summer playlist. Take a listen to some of his picks for a summer night.”—via The White House on Spotify

The President’s 2016 Summer Playlist: Day

Wale – Lovehate Thing
Leon Bridges – Smooth Sailin’
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Home
Sara Bareilles – Many The Miles
Janelle Monae – Tightrope
Jidemma – Classic Man
Manu Chao – Me Gustas Ti
Common – Forever Begins
Aloe Blacc – The Man
Nas & Damian Jr Gong Marley – As We Enter
Nina Simone – Sinner
Aretha Franklin – Rock Steady
The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations
Gary Clark Jr – Don’t Owe You A Thang
Gin Wigmore – Man Like That
Charles Mingus – Il B.S.

The President’s 2016 Summer Playlist: Night

Chrisette Michele – If I Had My Way
Esperanza Spalding & Leo Genovese – Espera
Aaron Neville – Tell It Like It is
Ledisi – Alright
Denise La Salle – Trapped By A Thing Called Love
D’Angelo – Lady
Tower of Power – So Very Hard To Go
Caetano Veloso – Cucurrucucu Paloma
Corinne Bailey Rae – Green Aphrodisiac
Method Man – I’ll Be There For You / You’re All I Need To Get By
Billie Holiday – Lover Man
Fiona Apple – Criminal
Miles Davis – My Funny Valentine (Live)
Anthony Hamilton – Do You Feel Me
Janet Jackson – I Get Lonely
Lizz Wright – Lean In
War – All Day Music
Floetry – Say Yes

Noise11.com

Follow Noise11.com on Facebook and Twitter
——————————————————————————————————————————————

Never miss a story! Get your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to the Noise11 Music Newsletter here

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

The post Barack Obama Is Jamming To Courtney Barnett appeared first on Australia's Music News Authority.

R&B singer Usher had to bust a move like his life depended on it while ‘battle-dancing’ with President Barack Obama.

The U.S. leader turned 55 earlier this month and threw a big bash at the White House, which was attended by some of the most powerful people in the world.

The Love Up in the Club hitmaker notes the affair was a party to remember, particularly because of the impressive way both Barack and his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama, boogied down.

“Stevie Wonder, he performed a medley of songs and I came up impromptu and sang Happy Birthday…,” Usher told news show Extra, before noting Mr and Mrs Obama are so good on the dance floor, their moves rival his own.

“We had an incredible time. We danced all night. Me and Michelle always have a good time on the dance floor, but Barack, he actually battles you, right? It’s like a toe-to-toe thing. There’s no footage, though – they took everybody’s phone at the door!”

When Usher is not dancing with leaders of the free world, the eight-time Grammy Award winner has his hands full with multiple creative projects, such as his new film Hands of Stone, in which he plays boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard.

Starring opposite Hollywood heavy-hitters such as Robert de Niro, Ellen Barkin, and John Turturro in the biographical drama, Usher admits it was tough to get into shape for the role, revealing it took a full year before he felt fully prepared.

“I grew my hair out… I did it all,” he shares, adding he suffered through some painful training sessions with professional boxers, “I would tell ’em, ‘Don’t take it easy on me, let’s go…’ So I got rocked a few times.”

Hands of Stone hits U.S. theaters on Friday.

vvnmusic.com

Follow Noise11.com on Facebook and Twitter
——————————————————————————————————————————————

Never miss a story! Get your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to the Noise11 Music Newsletter here

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

The post Usher Busts A Move With Obama appeared first on Australia's Music News Authority.

America’s last great US President Barack Obama has shown his diverse musical taste by sharing a list of his favourite songs of 2017.

President Obama was listening to Kendrick Lamar, Harry Styles and U2 in 2017 but also got very tasteful with Mavis Staples and Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings making the list.

The respected President also made mention of the blues version of Springsteen’s Born In The U.S.A.’ adding that it is “not out yet, but the blues version in his Broadway show is the best!”

Barack Obama favorite songs of 2017

Mi Gente by J Balvin & Willy William
Havana by Camila Cabello (feat. Young Thug)
Blessed by Daniel Caesar
The Joke by Brandi Carlile
First World Problems by Chance The Rapper (feat. Daniel Caesar)
Rise Up by Andra Day
Wild Thoughts by DJ Khaled (feat. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller)
Family Feud by Jay-Z (feat. Beyoncé)
Humble by Kendrick Lamar
La Dame et Ses Valises by Les Amazones d’Afrique (feat. Nneka)
Unforgettable by French Montana (feat. Swae Lee)
The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness by The National
Chanel by Frank Ocean
Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man
Butterfly Effect by Travis Scott
Matter of Time by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
Little Bit by Mavis Staples
Millionaire by Chris Stapleton
Sign of the Times by Harry Styles
Broken Clocks by SZA
Ordinary Love (Extraordinary Mix) by U2

*Bonus: Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen (not out yet, but the blues version in his Broadway show is the best!)

Noise11.com

The post Barack Obama Names His Favourite Songs Of 2017 appeared first on Noise11.com.

Juan De Marcos, the founder of the Buena Vista Social Club and now fronting Afro Cuban All Stars, says that the US-Cuba relationship fixed by Obama has been undone by Trump but doesn’t see Trump surviving the next election.

Speaking to Noise11.com Juan said, “Obama tried to ease the restrictions, even for the American people. The U.S. claim they are the champions of human rights but Americans never had the opportunity to visit Cuba. Obama tried to do it but right now we have a different administration and this administration with Mr. Trump is thinking in a different way.

He says there was progress under Obama. “He opened an American Embassy in Cuba and allowed a Cuban Embassy to open in Washington, DC (which is where I live),” Juan said. “Then Mr. Trump closed the American Embassy in Havana. Cubans cannot get a Visa into the USA in Cuba. They have to travel to a third country in order to get an appointment for a Visa.”

He says it has all gone downhill in the past two years. “Everything now is worse but we hope that in the future it will be okay. In a couple of years I don’t think Mr. Trump will be re-elected. In the future everything will be better”.

Buena Vista Social Club swept the global music stage in the mid 90s but Cubans music started to become more popular in the late 70s. “There was a certain space for Cuban music but no space,” Juan says. “There was a phenomena in the late 70s and early 80s. People from different countries were flooding America and performing the music they called La Salsa. America was open for Latin American people. They played for the Spanish Harlem. Cubans didn’t have the opportunity to perform in America because we were blocked. We are still blocked by the American government. Buena Vista Social Club opened the doors to Cuban music. I am very happy to be called the creator of what is called Buena Vista Social Club”.

Touring the world performing the music of his native Cuba, he says, “music has an international language. It is a language everybody can understand. The Arts opens the doors to help people understand different cultures”.

Juan will bring the music of Afro Cuban All Stars to Australia in 2019. “We were a phenomena of the Buena Vista Social Club a long time ago. Now we have a different band with younger blood which is good. For us it is a pleasure to perform in Australia”.

Juan De Marcos Afro Cuban All Stars dates

21 March, Perth, Astor Theatre
22 March, The Gov, Adelaide
24 March, Melbourne, The Palms at Crown
27 March, Canberra, Canberra
29 March, Sydney, Rooty Hill RSL
30 March, Sydney, City Recital Centre

Get tickets here

Follow Noise11 on Twitter for news as it happens

For news as it happens follow Noise11 on Facebook

Noise11.com

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

The post Buena Vista Social Club founder Juan De Marcos sees a brighter future for Cuba when Trump goes appeared first on Noise11.com.

President Barack Obama has included Courtney Barnett’s ‘Need A Little Time’ in his Favorite Songs of 2018 list.

President Obama shares an annual playlist of his favourite songs. Courtney had the list alongside Chance the rapper, Janelle Monaé, Hozier and Leon Bridges.

He said, “As 2018 draws to a close, I’m continuing a favorite tradition of mine and sharing my year-end lists. It gives me a moment to pause and reflect on the year through the books, movies, and music that I found most thought-provoking, inspiring, or just plain loved. It also gives me a chance to highlight talented authors, artists, and storytellers – some who are household names and others who you may not have heard of before. Swipe through to see my best of 2018 list – I hope you enjoy reading, watching, and listening”.

Here is the Barack Obama ‘Favorite Songs of 2018’ list:

Apes••t by The Carters
Bad Bad News by Leon Bridges
Could’ve Been by H.E.R. (feat. Bryson Tiller)
Disco Yes by Tom Misch (feat. Poppy Ajudha)
Ekombe by Jupiter & Okwess
Every Time I Hear That Song by Brandi Carlile
Girl Goin’ Nowhere by Ashley McBryde
Historia De Un Amor by Tonina (feat. Javier Limón and Tali Rubinstein)
I Like It by Cardi B (feat. Bad Bunny and J Balvin)
Kevin’s Heart by J. Cole
King For A Day by Anderson East
Love Lies by Khalid & Normani
Make Me Feel by Janelle Monáe
Mary Don’t You Weep (Piano & A Microphone 1983 Version) by Prince
My Own Thing by Chance the Rapper (feat. Joey Purp)
Need a Little Time by Courtney Barnett
Nina Cried Power by Hozier (feat. Mavis Staples)
Nterini by Fatoumata Diawara
One Trick Ponies by Kurt Vile
Turnin’ Me Up by BJ the Chicago Kid
Wait by the River by Lord Huron
Wow Freestyle by Jay Rock (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
And in honor of one of the great jazz singers of all time, who died this year, a classic album: The Great American Songbook by Nancy Wilson

Follow Noise11 on Twitter for news as it happens

For news as it happens follow Noise11 on Facebook

Noise11.com

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

The post Barack Obama lists Courtney Barnett song as one of his favs for 2018 appeared first on Noise11.com.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama has honoured Nipsey Hussle in a letter read out at the slain rapper’s Los Angeles memorial.

Thousands of fans packed into the city’s Staples Center on Thursday (11Apr19) to pay their respects to Nipsy, who was murdered outside his Los Angeles clothing store on 31 March (19).

The ceremony, which got underway almost an hour later than scheduled, began with a few words from religious leaders, before photos of the MC through the years were shown on the big screen to the sounds of Frank Sinatra’s My Way. Among the images were a number of Nipsey with his family, including his longtime girlfriend, Lauren London, and their two-year-old son Kross, and his daughter Emani, from a previous relationship.

Singer Marsha Ambrosius then stepped up to the microphone to deliver a powerful rendition of Fly Like a Bird, taking a few deep breaths before the performance.

“Let’s go fellas, this is for Nipsey,” she said to her backing band.

Pastor Shep Crawford delivered a prayer in the 33 year old’s memory, while hip-hop media personality Karen Civil read out a personal letter written by President Obama that morning.

In the note, he explained he learned of Nipsey’s music through his two daughters, and began reading up on the rapper’s philanthropy and activism shortly after his untimely passing.

“He saw potential, he saw hope” in his native Crenshaw, Obama observed, adding, “He set an example for young people to follow and is a legacy worthy of celebration.”

“Michelle and I send our sympathies to Lauren, Emani, Kross, and all his family, and to all those who love Nipsey,” he concluded.

The ongoing memorial, which is expected to last two hours, also featured a lengthy tribute from Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, and a song from Anthony Hamilton, while Snoop Dogg is also due to deliver a few words, with Jhene Aiko and Stevie Wonder set to perform.

music-news.com

Follow Noise11 on Twitter for news as it happens

For news as it happens follow Noise11 on Facebook

Noise11.com

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

The post President Barack Obama Honors Nipsy Hussle with memorial letter appeared first on Noise11.com.