One of the most intriguing genres of popular music is the posthumous album. These bodies of work, released after the death of the recording artist, spark interest because of the context of their arrival. Some have been released in the wake of tragedy, when the artist passed away unexpectedly, while other albums were recorded by those in full knowledge that their end was near.
The most recent such example is Meet the Woo Vol.2 by rapper Pop Smoke. He died in February, and the record is an anguished reminder to fans that he was an artist gone too soon.
If you are a Johnny Cash fan, meanwhile, 2006 album American V: A Hundred Highways, which came out three years after his death, offers a sombre account of a man coming to terms with his mortality.
One of the most famous posthumous releases is perhaps Eva Cassidy's compilation Songbird. It came out two years after her demise, a bittersweet game changer that earned her a global following.
From soul music to folk and hip-hop, here are 10 posthumous albums spanning six decades of popular music.
1. ‘The Dock of the Bay’ by Otis Redding (1968)
Released nearly a year to the day after his death in a plane crash in the US, The Dock of the Bay was the first of many posthumous Otis Redding albums.
For fans, this one really hurt, as the new material – crowned by the majestic title track – showcased an audacious talent gradually mastering the genre. The album is also home to another soul music standard, I Love You More than Words Can Say.
2. ‘Pearl’ by Janis Joplin (1971)
One of the most eerie songs in rock doesn't have words. Buried Alive in the Blues, the fifth track of Joplin's second and final album, is only available in instrumental form.
That's because Joplin was supposed to record the vocals the day after she died in the US of a drug overdose. That said, Pearl is not maudlin at all. It's a celebration of one of rock 'n' roll's greatest voices, with Joplin's signature raspy vocals incendiary in the soulful Cry Baby and tender in the folkish Me and Bobby McGee.
3. ‘Closer’ by Joy Division (1980)
It is easy to fixate on the many lyrics alluding to death in Closer. But even before singer Ian Curtis took his own life after completing the album's recording sessions, he was always fond of chronicling the bleaker aspects of life.
Closer is both Joy Division's most stark as well as most ferocious offering. Their second and final album comprises 10 songs that remain a showcase of their pensive approach to rock. Future generations of bands have yet to reach the sheer tension of Closer.
4. ‘MTV Unplugged in New York’ by Nirvana (1994)
An absolutely revelatory experience. Nirvana captured the hearts of millions of fans with their anguished and dissonant approach to rock music. This live special, however, released months after the death of singer Kurt Cobain, proved that underneath Nirvana's spiky heart was a folk band. It's full of reworkings of their hits and covers. Nirvana never sounded more achingly beautiful and vulnerable than on this record.
5. ‘Dreaming of You’ by Selena (1995)
It is hard to separate this album from the Mexican singer's death. Released three months after she was murdered by the president of her fan club, Dreaming of You became the first album to transcend the Spanish-speaking market and capture an English audience. It remains a great gateway into Selena's brand of Tejano pop, a style that fuses Mexican folk with western pop music styles.
6. ‘Life after Death’ by The Notorious BIG (1997)
This record is as supremely entertaining as it is eerie. Released two weeks after Biggie was fatally shot, this sprawling two-CD opus is full of the rapper ruminating about his impending demise and encircling enemies. However, executive producer P Diddy buttressed the nihilistic material with upbeat soul samples to elevate the album, turning it into an accessible summer classic. It is still hailed as one of the greatest hip-hop records of all time.
7. ‘Songbird’ by Eva Cassidy (1998)
The album is as beautiful and heart-breaking as the story of its discovery. Months after Cassidy died of cancer in 1996, US folk singer Grace Griffin sent a US record label live recordings from a then-unknown Cassidy. Stunned by her crystalline vocals and songwriting, the label reached out to Cassidy's family to create a compilation of her work.
Released two years after her death, it arrived with barely a whimper. However, that all changed after influential British broadcaster Terry Wogan came across it in 2000 and played it on his show. As a result, Songbird flew off the shelves.
8. ‘American V: A Hundred Highways’ by Johnny Cash (2006)
The legendary musical outlaw is the best kind of thief. Such is the gravitas of his deep, and by this time, quavering voice, that whenever he covers an artist's song it immediately becomes his. Performed in Cash's minimalist style, his takes on Further Up the Road by Bruce Springsteen and Gordon Lightfoot's If You Could Read My Mind paint a picture of an artist reaching the end of the road and casting a huge shadow of influence behind.
9. ‘Lioness: Hidden Treasures’ by Amy Winehouse (2011)
Released five months after her death, this compilation features covers and demo tracks taken from Winehouse's nine-year career. While many of the songs sound rather rough and unvarnished, there is no denying her powerful voice, particularly in the jazzy cover of Body and Soul (a duet with Tony Bennett) and an almost drum-and-bass-like version of The Girl from Ipanema.
10. 'Meet the Woo Vol 2' by Pop Smoke (2020)
What will surely be one of a number of posthumous releases, either in further mixtapes or guest features in other artists' singles, this is a poignant showcase of Pop Smoke's talent. The Brooklyn rapper, who was killed earlier this year in a burglary, was well on his way to reaching his prime. While Meet the Woo Vol 2 is full of bravado street tales, it is all tempered with his charismatic swagger and humour. Tragically, the release proves Pop Smoke was taken from us way before his creative journey reached its peak.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
STAR%20WARS%20JEDI%3A%20SURVIVOR
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKinetic%207%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rick%20Parish%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clean%20cooking%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinFlx%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202021%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amr%20Yussif%20(co-founder%20and%20CEO)%2C%20Mattieu%20Capelle%20(co-founder%20and%20CTO)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%20in%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.5m%20pre-seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Venture%20capital%20-%20Y%20Combinator%2C%20500%20Global%2C%20Dubai%20Future%20District%20Fund%2C%20Fox%20Ventures%2C%20Vector%20Fintech.%20Also%20a%20number%20of%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20fixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESun%20Oct%202%2C%20v%20Sri%20Lanka%3Cbr%3ETue%20Oct%204%2C%20v%20India%3Cbr%3EWed%20Oct%205%2C%20v%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EFri%20Oct%207%2C%20v%20Thailand%3Cbr%3ESun%20Oct%209%2C%20v%20Pakistan%3Cbr%3ETue%20Oct%2011%2C%20v%20Bangladesh%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EChaya%20Mughal%20(captain)%2C%20Esha%20Oza%2C%20Kavisha%20Kumari%2C%20Khushi%20Sharma%2C%20Theertha%20Satish%2C%20Lavanya%20Keny%2C%20Priyanjali%20Jain%2C%20Suraksha%20Kotte%2C%20Natasha%20Cherriath%2C%20Indhuja%20Nandakumar%2C%20Rishitha%20Rajith%2C%20Vaishnave%20Mahesh%2C%20Siya%20Gokhale%2C%20Samaira%20Dharnidharka%2C%20Mahika%20Gaur%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20TV%204K%20(THIRD%20GENERATION)
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
