With yesterday’s opening of the Shanghai World Expo, I thought it only appropriate to write a few words that highlight the power of music in that part of the world.

Last Monday, a 5-hour benefit concert and charity show “Artistes 414 Fundraising Campaign” raised $4.8 million for the victims of the April 14th earthquake that rocked China. The 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Yushu county in northwest China’s Qinghai province killed more than 2,200 people.

Chinese stars performing or attending the Hong Kong event Monday evening included singers Sun Nan, Jacky Cheung, Eason Chan, Leon Lai and Joey Yung, along with other celebrities including Andy Lau, Sammo Hung, Do Do Cheng & Jackie Chan.

In the West, we often forget that popular music that we know little or nothing about is active in many cultures – China, India and Africa being huge examples. As technology becomes more and more available – music and film is able to reach more and more people, especially in areas of the world with such huge populations. Whether or not we can relate to the musical styles or understand the languages of the performing artists, we can’t deny their significance when millions of people within those regions are being touched and responding.

The Shanghai expo will introduce many world artists – including our somalian friend K’NAAN and American Jazz greats Herbie Hancock and Dee Dee Bridgewater, to millions of Chinese people for the first time and many Chinese artists to those visiting from around the world.

The opportunity to connect and positively affect the many cultures of the global community through music is growing every day.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sHZ2QengvA&feature=channel[/youtube]