Yangtze

The Yangtze River (English pronunciation: /ˈjæŋtsi/ or /ˈjɑːŋtsi/), known in China as the  Cháng Jiāng (literally: "Long River") or the  Yángzǐ Jiāng, is the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world. It flows for 6,300 kilometers (3,915 mi) from the glaciers on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. The river is the longest in the world to flow entirely within one country. It drains one-fifth of the land area of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and its river basin is home to one-third of the country's population. The Yangtze is also one of the biggest rivers by discharge volume in the world.

The Yangtze River plays a large role in the history, culture and economy of China. The prosperous Yangtze River Delta generates as much as 20% of the PRC's GDP. The Yangtze River flows through a wide array of ecosystems and is itself habitat to several endemic and endangered species including the Chinese alligator, the finless porpoise, the Chinese paddlefish, the (possibly extinct) Yangtze River dolphin or baiji, and the Yangtze sturgeon. For thousands of years, the river has been used for water, irrigation, sanitation, transportation, industry, boundary-marking and war. The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is the largest hydro-electric power station in the world.

Loud

Loud may refer to:

Music

Albums

Loud (Stan Walker song)

"Loud" is a song performed by Australian-New Zealand recording artist Stan Walker. The song was released as a digital download on 6 May 2011 as the lead single from his third studio album, Let the Music Play.

Background

"Loud" was written by Drew Pearson, Stephen Wrabel and Jon Asher, and was produced by Pearson. It was recorded in Los Angeles during sessions for the follow-up to his second studio album, From the Inside Out (2010). The song was sent to Australian contemporary hit radio on 2 May 2011. A week later, it became the most-added song to radio. "Loud" was released as a two-track digital download on 6 May 2011 in Australia and New Zealand. Its CD single was released in Australia on 3 June 2011. In an interview with Inner West Courier, Walker said "the meaning behind the song is so simple. It's a declaration of a celebration, another step forward and just having fun."

Chart performance

"Loud" debuted at number thirty-eight on the ARIA Singles Chart on 16 May 2011, and peaked at number nine on 20 June 2011. It is Walker's second top-ten single in Australia following "Black Box" (2009), and has since been certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), for shipments of 70,000 units. On the New Zealand Singles Chart "Loud" entered at number thirty on 16 May 2011. It peaked at number eight on 11 July 2011, and became Walker's fourth top-ten hit in New Zealand. The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ), certified "Loud" Gold for shipping 7,500 copies.

Loud (Rihanna album)

Loud is the fifth studio album by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna. It was released on November 12, 2010, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. It was recorded between February and August 2010, during the singer's Last Girl on Earth Tour and the filming of her first feature film Battleship. Rihanna was the executive producer of Loud and worked with various record producers, including StarGate, Sandy Vee, The Runners, Tricky Stewart and Alex da Kid. The record features several guest vocalists, including rappers Drake, Nicki Minaj and Eminem, who is featured on the sequel to "Love the Way You Lie", titled "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)".

The album differs from Rihanna's 2009 album, Rated R, which incorporates a prominently foreboding and angry tone and dark themes. Loud features up-tempo and pop genres, ranging from R&B and dance-pop to electro music, and marks the return to dancehall; a genre prominent on Rihanna's first two albums Music of the Sun (2005) and A Girl like Me (2006). It also incorporates rock in "California King Bed" and reggae in the Caribbean inspired "Man Down".