Celebrating Cultures Through Music
Welcome to Rhythms of the World: Celebrating Culture Through Music, a Spotify playlist curated in celebration of International Education Week. This collection features songs chosen by individuals from our UC Merced community. Through diverse sounds and stories, this playlist invites listeners to explore how music captures the essence of human connection across cultures. Let each song offer a glimpse into different lives, perspectives, and places, celebrating our shared love for music as a bridge between people everywhere. Discover, listen, and celebrate the rhythms that unite us all!
If you have a song that reminds you of home, a track that inspires global connection, or a melody that transports you to a different culture, we want to hear it! Use our Rhythms of the World Submission Form to submit your song suggestions and help us create a diverse soundtrack that reflects the richness and vibrancy of international education.
| Submitter | Track and Origin | Reason for Selecting this Song |
| Rico Johnson, Staff | "Cigarette Abana," Habib Koitte, West Africa |
Habib Koite visited one of my ethnomusicology classes when for a performance and discussion. His set included this song, and it stuck with me since. I really enjoy the catchy melodies and rhythm. |
| Danielle Bermudez, Staff | "Mi Tierra Veracruzana," Natalia Lafacourde, Mexico | I love Natalia Lafourcade. Her album "Musas" is an homage to Mexico. While my family origin is from Puerto Rico and El Salvador, I love the emotion and passion behind Lafourcade's song. I got to visit El Salvador on a Fulbright in 2018 and the way she describes the emerald landscapes of Veracruz, the colors, the fruits, the tastes, the sounds, and the community feeling of being at home in the world, makes me feel a strong sense of solidarity between our cultura in Mesoamerica. The lyrics are like a love letter to Veracruz, Mexico, and they do remind me of visiting my homeland too. I hope others enjoy the sounds of Lafourcade's song! ¡Vamos! |
| Julian Luke, Staff | "Devlerin Aşkı," Taksim Trio, Türkiye |
Memories of walking in İstanbul during my study abroad program and enjoying the sights and sounds. |
| Craig R Harmelin, Staff | "Nuvole Rapide," Subsonica, Italy | This came out while I was studying abroad in 2001-02, and I had the opportunity to see Subsonica perform in concert at Fortezza medicea in Siena in the summer of 2002. |
| Craig R Harmelin, Staff |
"Je ne t'aime plus," Manu Chao, France/Spain |
My Italian roommates introduced me to Manu Chao when I studied abroad in 2001-02. Manu Chao's meandering lyrics and linguistic choices—singing in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and more—seemed emblematic of the wandering study abroad student crossing borders and cultures, appreciating and absorbing much along the way. |
| Ines Haouala, Student |
"Kharrej legrinta elli fik," Si lemhaf, Tunisia |
This song was played during the football world cup 12 years ago. Every Tunisian knows this song and is close to their hearts. Very rythmitic song, a real boost of energy |
|
Sravan Jayati, Student |
"Aaj Shanibar," Rupa, India |
Personally, not a big fan of Bollywood as an Indian. Buts this song is truly a banger, mixing disco, funk and jazz - few of my favorite genres, with Indian elements like the sitar, Bollywood vibes and that sweet sound of Bengali. Honestly, that whole album is a piece of repetitive and mesmerizing work of art. |
|
Conroy Smith, Student |
"Sará Perché ti amo," Ricchi e Poveri, Italy | Very Italian |
|
Olajide Ogunmakinjo, Student |
"Se Bo'Timo," Brymo, Nigeria/Yoruba | It's a Yoruba song that teaches me to stay resilient. It teaches me slow and steady always wins the race. And goals whichever they be, no matter how long it takes, it is achievable. And more importantly, Human pleasing is a curse! |
|
Belinda Braunstein, Staff |
"Kiss Kiss (Simarik)," Tarkan, Türkiye |
Until COVID, I was active in the international folk dance community in northern California. Any time this lively dance came on, college students would rush to the dance floor to do it. I love this one. Mwah! |
|
Sahana Seth, Student |
"Ishq- Love and the Veil," Niyaz, Iran |
I grew up listening to the CD that this song is on a lot. |
|
Luke Bangloy, Student |
"Petit a Petit," Arcadian, France | One of my favorite French songs that I listened to when I was learning French! |
