It was once common for Ukrainian pop stars to hold concerts in Russia and sing in the Russian language. But as Oleksandra Povoroznyk wrote in February, that changed after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Not only did Ukrainian musicians cut ties with Russia, but some also formed a new subgenre of music, “Bayraktar-core,” which boosted morale in the early stages of the war.
It was once common for Ukrainian pop stars to hold concerts in Russia and sing in the Russian language. But as Oleksandra Povoroznyk wrote in February, that changed after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Not only did Ukrainian musicians cut ties with Russia, but some also formed a new subgenre of music, “Bayraktar-core,” which boosted morale in the early stages of the war.
From Ukraine to Puerto Rico, international politics has shaped music traditions around the world. In turn, as the life of U.S. jazz legend Duke Ellington attests, music has played a key role in cultural diplomacy. The essays below consider the innumerable and often unexpected places where foreign policy and music meet.
Duke Ellington, the Jazz Legend Who Became a Diplomat
The band leader broke new ground in U.S. cultural diplomacy even as he faced racism at home, Larry Tye writes.
Ukrainian Artists Struggle With War’s Impact
Questions of authenticity and loss hang over new works, Oleksandra Povoroznyk writes.
Bad Bunny and the Political History of Reggaeton
The genre is the product of migration, rebirth, and the struggle to be heard, FP’s Catherine Osborn writes.
The Last String of Russian Greatness Is About to Snap
A great classical music tradition might die because of the Ukraine invasion, FP’s Elisabeth Braw writes.
Rammstein Is Germany’s Scary New Normal
The band’s continued popularity is a sign of the country’s increasingly right-wing zeitgeist, Paul Hockenos writes.
The post How Foreign Policy Shapes Music Around the World appeared first on Foreign Policy.
