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Hit It! Nick Drake, Plus Tops On World Music Charts

Hit It! Nick Drake, Plus Tops On World Music Charts

Below are some of the songs currently topping the charts around the world.

But first, our Worldcrunch Pick

A previously unheard song by cult singer-songwriter Nick Drake, entitled Reckless Jane, has appeared online, almost four decades after the English musician's death. Drake began writing it with his friend Beverley Martyn two months before he died. It took Martyn 40 years to overcome the pain and finish the song, set to feature on her new album: "The Phoenix and the Turtle", which will be released on April 22.

Photo: Island Records/Worldcrunch

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Society

Tales From A Blushing Nation: Exploring India's 'Issues' With Love And Sex

Why is it that this nation of a billion-plus has such problems with intimacy and romance?

Photo of Indian romance statues

Indian romance statues

Sreemanti Sengupta

KOLKATA — To a foreigner, India may seem to be a country obsessed with romance. What with the booming Bollywood film industry which tirelessly churns out tales of love and glory clothed in brilliant dance and action sequences, a history etched with ideal romantics like Laila-Majnu or the fact that the Taj Mahal has immortalised the love between king Shahjahan and queen Mumtaz.

It is difficult to fathom how this country with a billion-plus population routinely gets red in the face at the slightest hint or mention of sex.

It therefore may have come as a shock to many when the ‘couple-friendly’ hospitality brand OYO announced that they are “extremely humbled to share that we observed a record 90.57% increase in Valentine’s Day bookings across India.”

What does that say about India’s romantic culture?

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