Coffee

Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted coffee beans, which are the seeds of berries from the Coffea plant. The plant is native to subtropical Africa and some islands in southern Asia. The plant was exported from Africa to countries around the world and coffee plants are now cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in the equatorial regions of the Americas, Southeast Asia, India, and Africa. The two most commonly grown are the highly regarded arabica, and the less sophisticated but stronger and more hardy robusta. Once ripe, coffee beans are picked, processed, and dried. Dried coffee beans are roasted to varying degrees, depending on the desired flavor. Roasted beans are ground and brewed to produce coffee as a beverage.

Coffee is slightly acidic and can have a stimulating effect on humans because of its caffeine content. Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. It can be prepared and presented in a variety of ways (e.g., espresso, cappuccino, cafe latte, etc.). It is usually served hot, although iced coffee is also served. Clinical studies indicate that moderate coffee consumption is benign or mildly beneficial in healthy adults, with continuing research on whether long-term consumption inhibits cognitive decline during aging or lowers the risk of some forms of cancer.

Nina Simone

Nina Simone (/ˈniːnə sᵻˈmoʊn/; born Eunice Kathleen Waymon; February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003) was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist who worked in a broad range of musical styles including classical, jazz, blues, folk, R&B, gospel, and pop.

Born in North Carolina, the sixth child of a preacher, Simone aspired to be a concert pianist. With the help of her supporters in Tryon, she enrolled in the Juilliard School of Music in New York but was unable to continue because of the high fees. She was later denied a scholarship to study at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, despite a well-received audition. Simone became fully convinced her rejection had been entirely due to her race, a statement that has been a matter of controversy.

To make a living, Simone chose to play "cocktail piano" at a night club in Atlantic City, where she was told she had to sing to her own accompaniment, effectively launching her career as a jazz vocalist. She recorded more than forty albums, mostly between 1958, when she made her debut with Little Girl Blue, and 1974, and had a hit in the United States in 1958 with "I Loves You, Porgy".

Era Istrefi

Era Istrefi (born 4 July 1994) is an Albanian Kosovar singer-songwriter. She rose to fame after releasing her debut single "Mani për money" in 2013, which gained a positive feedback and attention from the public. Her following songs "A po don" and "E dehun", gained the same success. In June 2014, she won three Videofest awards for her music videos, including "Best New Artist" for her work in 2013.

In 2015 Era gained success with her song "Njo si ti" with over a million views on YouTube in a week. Her first duo featuring well-known Kosovo rapper Ledri Vula, "Shumë pis", shortly became a summer hit.

Life and career

Era Istrefi was born on 4 July 1994 in Pristina, Kosovo to Suzana Tahirsylaj, a well known Albanian singer in the 80s and 90s and Nezir Istrefi, a cameraman. After her father's death in 2004, her mother quit singing, and her older sister Nora Istrefi shortly became one of the more popular singers in the Albanian-speaking territories. Era made her television debut in 2013, with her single "Mani për money", a reggae-pop song, new to the national music industry. The song received mainly positive criticism from the audience, becoming an instant hit. However, a few months after her first single, she released "A Po Don?", another song with a different style, accompanied by a provocative music video. The song received mixed criticism to negative. Her third single, "E Dehun" - inspired by Nexhmije Pagarusha's song with the same title, which also samples the lyrics and some parts of the instrumental, was another hit from Era, which assured her three Videofest Awards (Albanian Music Awards), including "Best New Artist" for her work in 2013. However, the music video was heavily criticized by the Serbian media, and the Serbian Orthodox Church, due to her scene in the Orthodox Church in Prishtina, where Era appeared with a semi-naked shirt.

21st Century Girls

21st Century Girls is a teenage all-girl band founded in 1996 in Dudley, West Midlands, UK. Previously called She Devil, the band originally consisted of singer Leanne Garner, her sister Fiona Garner on bass, guitarists Kate Turley and Meriam "Mim" Mohammad, and drummer Charlotte Fendick. Fendwick later left the band, and Mohammad moved onto drums. In 1999, the band (then aged 14–16 years) were the first signing to Simon Fuller's 19 Recordings. After a major publicity campaign, the band released their debut single, "21st Century Girls", in June 1999. The single reached number 16 on the UK charts.

The band disbanded after they were dropped by their record company in 2000.

Kate Turley went on to form the band The Fight.

Discography

Album

1999 – "21st Century Girls" (19 Recordings/EMI #TOCP-65288) [Japan only release]

Singles

1999 – "21st Century Girls" / "If You're Mad Enough" (19 Recordings/EMI #TOCP-40121) UK No. 16

1999 – "Teenage Attack" / "Cats & Dogs" (19 Recordings/EMI #TOCP-40125) [Japan only release]

21st century

The 21st century is the current century of the Anno Domini era or the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. It began on January 1, 2001, and will end on December 31, 2100. It is the first century of the 3rd millennium. It is distinct from the century known as the 2000s, which began on January 1, 2000 and will end on December 31, 2099.

Transitions and changes

The first years of the 21st century have thus far been marked by the rise of a global economy and Third World consumerism, mistrust in government, deepening global concern over terrorism and an increase in the power of private enterprise. The longterm effects of increased globalization are not known, but there are many who are concerned about its implications. The Arab Spring of the early 2010s led to mixed outcomes in the Arab world. The Digital Revolution which began around the 1980s also continues into the present. The Millennials (born c. 1981-2000) having been born before the turn of the century give way to the rise of Generation Y & Generation Z in Western countries.