Global Hit Videos

Writer Alissa Quart visits Iceland...a country devastated by the economic crisis...to discover that its unique stamp on art and music is still thriving.

Cover bands aren’t usually musical innovators. But Dolapdere Big Gang of Turkey might be the exception. Most of the group lives in Dolapdere, an Istanbul neighborhood with a rough reputation. This eight-piece band of young Roma musicians, plays Western pop hits in a traditional Turkish style. Matthew Brunwasser has the story.

Anchor Marco Werman tells about one song on the new CD by Algerian superstar Khaled. The song "Zabana" tells the story of Ahmed Zabana, a martyr in the Algerian War of Independence in the 1950s.

The World's Marco Werman tells us about a big benefit concert this weekend in Las Vegas. It's an unusual one for Vegas. It features top musicians from Algeria, Syria and Iraq.

Politics and music have not always mixed well in Ethiopia. But governments change -- and the music survives, and evolves. We hear about a new project that highlights the work of Ethiopian musicians today.

Reporter Jeff Lunden profiles classical singer Thomas Quasthoff. The German bass-baritone, who began life plagued with physical disabilities, has won Three Grammy Awards and achieved international success.

Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with actor Benicio del Toro about his role in the upcoming film, "Che". Del Toro co-produced the film...and selected a song by Cuba's Silvio Rodriguez to close the first part.

Welsh harpist Gwenan Gibbard explains the significance of her instrument to the Welsh.

Kenyan musician Samba Mapangala performs tonight at the Kenyan Embassy gala in Washington. The World's Marco Werman tells us how his performance is a symbol of the new relationship between the African continent and the U-S under Barack Obama.

The World's Marco Werman explains how the songs of an Afro-Peruvian funk band from Lima are linked to the hopes of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama.

Mourners paid tribute today to renowned Lebanese composer Mansour Rahbani. He died earlier this week at 83. The World's Aaron Schachter reports.

Reporter Sylvia Maria Gross remembers Brazilian musician Dona Edith who died last week at the age of 94. She became famous for tapping and scraping samba rhythms on a dinner plate.

Switzerland doesn't have much of a musical tradition. The World's Marco Werman tells us how a Swiss jazz pianist is trying to create a modern one with a global posse of spoken-word artists.

Anchor Lisa Mullins tells us about a band called Fatima Spar and the Freedom Fries. Their new album is called "Trust."

The World's Marco Werman interviews Malian singer-songwriter Rokia Traore. She is known for her use of traditional West African music. But on her new album, she uses an all-American electric guitar.

In today's Global Hit, trumpet player Alexei Sipiagin tells the story of his journey from growing up in Soviet Union to playing at the pinnacle of American jazz.

The World's Marco Werman updates the goings-on of German world beat mavens Dissidenten.

The World's Laura Lynch explains why many at Ghana's presidential swearing ceremonies today probably had not one, but two national anthems on their minds.

The World's Marco Werman plays a sample of Calypso funk and soul music from the 70s, and found that the musicians had a lot on their minds 30 years ago.

Andres Martinez and Camilo Sanabria of the duo Monareto hail from Bogota, and now split their time between the Colombian capital and Brooklyn. That two-city axis seems to keep Monareta's sounds fresh and connected to what's happening in both places.