music | ZETEO

Does Feminism Need Beyoncé?

March 8, 2016 by William Eaton

By Emily Tobey Ever since the word feminism first appeared in public discourse in the late 1800’s, it has stimulated debate and disagreement about its meaning and purpose. The basic definition of feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality with men. The fundamental tenor of this definition frequently gets lost, however, amidst conflicting views, myths and misconceptions. Nonetheless, from the suffrage movement through the fight for equal pay and reproductive […]

Categories: Article • Tags: African-Americans, Beyonce, celebrity, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, feminism, gender, Jay-Z, Ms. Magazine, music, popular music, women

Truth, Madeline, and the Trill of Doom

November 29, 2015 by Ed Mooney

In “Madeline, Imperfection, Love, and Loss” (Zeteo, 11.25.2015), Joy Yeager reminds us of that priceless book for children and adults called, simply, Madeline. It’s the story, as she reminds us, “of a little girl, an orphan, who lives in an old house in Paris, with eleven other girls.” A nun, Miss Clavel, is in charge. For many, the book is unforgettable, full of enchanting illustrations and about many essentials: love and loss, wandering in Paris, a little community of […]

Categories: Ed Mooney • Tags: death, literature, love, music, philosophy

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Music, Literature, Boycotts, Listening

June 7, 2015 by Ed Mooney

I’ve just finished listening to a talk given in London by Daniel Barenboim, conductor at La Scala, and known for his beautiful renditions of Chopin and Schubert. He is less known for his work with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra of Seville, whose players are young Palestinian, Jordanian, Israeli, Syrian, and Egyptian musicians. Barenboim is a citizen of both Argentina and Israel. He formed the orchestra in 1999 with the Columbia University Professor, Edward Said. Said was a Palestinian-American music lover, […]

Categories: Ed Mooney, ZiLL • Tags: Daniel Barenboim, Edward Said, Israel, music, Palestine-Israel conflict

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Sekou Sundiata and The Narrative

March 31, 2015 by William Eaton

Current events and dialogue frequently remind me of the late poet and musician, Sekou Sundiata. As a former student in his “America Project” class, I, like many others, was greatly influenced by his teachings. Sekou’s 2000 album, Long Story Short, features a song called “Reparations,” which was also performed by him on Russell Simmons’s popular HBO series, Def Jam Poetry (as seen in the video included in this post). In watching his performance again, I am reminded of Sekou’s unique voice. Come on and […]

Categories: Jeremy Syrop, ZiLL • Tags: music, narrative, poetry, sekou sundiata, sound

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Influence, Integrity and Marvin Gaye

March 13, 2015 by William Eaton

In August 2013, lawyers representing recording artists Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams filed a preemptive lawsuit in defense of their chart-topping single, “Blurred Lines.” Fearing litigation from the family of Marvin Gaye due to the song’s striking similarities to his 1977 hit “Got to Give it Up,” Thicke and Williams teamed up. Their inclination could not have been more accurate, as a court has recently ordered approximately $7.4 million to be paid by the hit-making team to the Gaye family, […]

Categories: Jeremy Syrop, ZiLL • Tags: marvin gaye, music, music industry, pharrell williams, robin thicke

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I want to be a dog, not a human

March 6, 2015 by William Eaton

For DJ’s, reviewing and preparing music is a regular occurrence. In this process old songs find ways to creep into rotation in the most unsuspected of ways. This happened to me last week when preparing for “Backayard Sessions.” While I did not spin the song at the event, “Dog Better Than Man” (by the Trinidadian calypso singer Viper) brings me the same laughter faintly heard in the background of the 1962 recording. Stronger than laughter are my feelings of agreement […]

Categories: Jeremy Syrop, ZiLL • Tags: Dog better than man, music, sound, Viper

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Salsa’s Living Lyrical Legend

December 9, 2014 by William Eaton

Last Saturday I went to see Rubén Blades play live. Blades may very well be the greatest salsa music composer still playing today. This is due, in large part, to the fact that he is a healthy salsa musician, far removed from the late night excesses of his contemporaries, many of which have passed away. Blades even served as Minister of Tourism for his native Panama in 2004 and holds a degree in International Law from Harvard University. His songs rank among […]

Categories: Ana Maria Caballero, ZiR • Tags: books, music, poetry, reading, salsa, writing

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The silence at the end of the tunnel

June 1, 2014 by William Eaton

In La société de la consommation (1970; The Consumer Society) the sociologist Jean Baudrillard wrote of how the urbanization and industrialization of human life had created new rarities: “space and time, clean air, greenery, water, silence . . . Some goods, previously free and readily available, are becoming luxury goods that only a privileged few can enjoy, while manufactured goods or services are widely available.” This fits with my sense that luxuries can now be defined negatively: not owning […]

Categories: William Eaton, ZiR • Tags: Bob Dylan, consumerism, death, music, noise, Pascal, silence

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The (Counter-) Power of Deejays

May 21, 2014 by William Eaton

The Racialized Other Moves Still The (Counter-)Power of Dance, Dance Floors, and Deejays By Ghaida Moussa Click here for PDF version. My entry into the practice of deejaying stems from my deep-rooted relationship with music. I know firsthand the power of good soundtracks to pivotal moments in life. I think about a good drive after a break-up, with a best friend picking the best tunes to sing our hearts out to or the way family members who do not […]

Categories: Article, Spring 2014 Issue • Tags: music, postcolonialism, queer theory, race, racism