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Tuesday, November 11, 2008
If Music Could Talk - Nov 9, 2008 Podcast Link - Psychedelic music from Indonesia part 2!!! re-uploaded
featuring Indonesian hit singers (mostly the Divas.. but a few rockin daddys in there too) from the 60s and 70s like Elly Kasim, Ernie Djohan, Irni Yusnita, Lilis Surjani, Inneke Kusumawati, Emilia Contessa, Koes Bersaudara, and many others
please download this podcast and delete the previously uploaded one from yesterday! I had to cut out a duplicate song (one that i actually played twice- d'oh!) I also subbed a short bonus track for your enjoyment, added a cut beginning of another, upgraded the sound quality on one song, and cut out the part where i mis-stated President Obama's birthplace...of course he was born in Hawaii, but lived in Jakarta, Indonesia in his early youth (after his parents separated, Barack's mother married a geologist named Lolo Soetoro Mangunharjo, and moved with him to Indonesia, where Barack Obama was raised and went to school till age 10 or so) This music was almost certainly "happening" in Indonesia around that same time... (late 60s early 70s)
I've also got MOST of the song titles correct now.. whew.. ok, i admit, i downloaded several of these tracks.. MOST of them are from my personal collection (the actual records) ..some others are thanks to my "friends online".. For the most part, the complete radio show from last Sunday is here.. but basically, cleaned up.
Amitabh is still recuperating from illness this holiday, as well as the loss of his dear mother this year.. which he spoke about during the concert in NY. - So , best wishes to Big B, Amit-ji, this Diwali!!!
Also, much love and many blessings to all my friends who have shown support for my musical events this past year - you have all made me realize how important making people happy is and i couldn't have made it through my own little struggles without your generosity and encouragement!! i wish you all the best this new year..
This was sent to me by a good friend, originally in PDF format with Obama's signature, but Ive just copied the text below...
"October 24, 2008
Dear Friends, Thank you for the opportunity to share a few thoughts with you as we near the night of Diwali. In the coming days, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and their friends of all faiths will gather across America and around the world to celebrate the Festival of Lights. Much has happened in the world since the last Diwali, and this is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the year past and rededicate ourselves to spreading peace and tolerance in the coming year. Last year, I wrote that Diwali’s celebration of the triumph of illumination over ignorance had a special meaning for me. At that time, traveling across America and meeting people of every spiritual and ethnic background showed me that there’s much more that unites us than divides us. Now, one year later, I believe this even more strongly. Americans, despite our varied backgrounds, believe that all people are created equal, and that each person should be free to practice or not practice religion as they choose. These beliefs have faced challenges at home and abroad throughout history, but they are the beliefs our nation was founded on, and we always return to them. If I’m elected President of the United States, I will work to renew America’s moral leadership in the world. This is our time to create change, and I believe that we can and must continue the fight against ignorance and intolerance. I hope you enjoy your celebration and renew your commitment to overcoming ignorance. I wish you all the best for a joyous Diwali. Sincerely, Barack Obama"
The new issue of Richmond Magazine is out now -It's called "The GLOBAL issue" this month.. it's filled with some very engaging stories about refugees, immigration, and other modern international issues.. as well as reviews on local "international" restaurants, artists, writers, community leaders etc.. they also happened to write a short article about Bollywood Night - a dj event that I've been doing every month for about 8 months now (which has become a huge and unexpected success thanks to all the cool folks who show up to dance all night).
the bonus is...the author blogged part of the email I sent him- -I wanted to give him a little informal "Youtube" introduction to Bollywood films.. some of my favorites.. and he kindly posted the whole email on their blog..
Here's one that'll fill up your drive really fast... "Music From the Third Floor" (the links are inside the post comments )
and here's an AWESOME site i found on the site mentioned above.... "Memsaab Story"
these bloggers have obviously worked very hard to bring you these priceless samples of bollywood brilliance.. and they've covered SO much territory.. still.. there is always so much more to uncover... the thrill of bollywood is endless
From Hindustan Times: "Bollywood is on strike after thousands of workers stayed away on Tuesday, demanding better wages. Leaders of two main producers’ bodies — with 10,000 members — met workers’ leaders on Thursday, with no progress"
September 28th was Lata Mangeshkar's 79th birthday!! According to one of my friends living in India, there was a huge celebration celebrating this legendary singer's birthday.
here's one of my all time favorites.... this song has wings... wow "Maan Mohana Bade Jhute" - Lata Mangeshkar (actress - Nutan, from Seema)
from IANS: "Singer Lata Mangeshkar, known as the Nightingale of Bollywood for having mesmerised millions with her melodious voice for over six decades, enters her 80th year Sunday - and like every year she plans to keep it austere sans fanfare.
Lata has never celebrated her birthday in public and follows the same annual routine. She begins the day by praying at the Mahalaxmi Temple situated right across her home in Prabhu Kunj here.
This time she may attend a function at the Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital that she built in Pune in memory of her father.
From her first super hit "Aayega aanewaala" to "Jab pyaar kiya to darna kya" and "Noorie" to her recent bests like "Yeh hum aa gaye hain kahaan" and "Luka chuppi", Lata has managed to thrill music lovers of every generation with her soulful singing over her 66-year-long career and continues to do so.
From light classical music to film songs and from ghazals to bhajans and pop, she has sung a variety of numbers. Having worked with almost all top music composers and singers in the industry, Lata has sung more than 30,000 songs in over 20 Indian languages.
The singer featured in the Guinness Book of World Records from 1974 to 1991 for having made the most recordings in the world.
"That 60 years down the line and having rendered over 25,000 songs, she has been able to maintain the same position is why she is called the Bollywood living legend," composer Anu Malik told IANS.
According to him, every song of hers is a musical gem as much for her singing quality as for its pure composition.
Born Sep 28, 1929, to a family of musicians settled in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Lata's life wasn't easy. After her father Dinanath Mangeshkar, a classical singer and theatre actor, died of heart ailment in 1942, his five children - Lata, Hridayanath, Asha, Usha, and Meena - and wife Shudhhamati had to struggle for survival.
Being the eldest of them, 13-year-old Lata had to see the family through the rough patch. And she did it single-handedly until her siblings grew up, each gifted with musical talent of varying degrees.
Till the time she voluntarily cut down her singing assignments in the late 1980s, Lata faced no competition from any of the female singers, barring her sister Asha Bhosle. Though Asha's career ran parallel with hers, it was on a different note and scale musically.
Lyricist-filmmaker Gulzar said Lata's greatness lay in her complete devotion to music. "Singing for her is not merely a profession, it is akin to worship," he said.
Alka Yagnik, who grew up listening to Lata songs and idolised her before she became a playback singer herself, referred to the queen of melody as "a pure soul."
Anuradha Paudwal said: "Lata Mangeshkar is a perfect example of a playback singer who can modulate her voice according to various song situations and suit characters as per their age and social status."
Late maestro Naushad had once told this correspondent that when on a rainy day in 1943, she had come to meet him at the now-defunct Kardar Studios in Mumbai, he was busy in his music room and told her to wait.
"When I called her over and told her to sing, she chose one of Noor Jehan's numbers. She sang it with such perfection that my heart went out to her because she was drenched completely as she had waited under the rain. You rarely see such dedication," said the composer, for whom Lata sang many memorable songs later.
Lata pioneered many constructive changes in Bollywood, which proved to be beneficial for singers in the long run.
She was the one who introduced the royalty system for singers in the industry. She also insisted that the singer's name be published with the songs instead of actors.
Music director Shamir Tandon described Lata as "a genuine human being".
"The reason why she has ruled the industry and is still around is that she has always paid attention to the art of singing, always kept on upgrading herself, besides adopting herself to the changing times," Tandon told IANS."
here is a wealth of knowledge and history about Lataji here (which is also where if found the marvelous pictures above!)
Amazing Indian Musical concert, HERE in RICHMOND!! Benefit for Women and Children
"a charity event which is solely dedicated toward the betterment of the underprivileged children & women in India" ... featuring musicians from the Orchestras of Bappi Lahiri and Laxshmikant Pyarelal!!
my friend Dhiraj sent me this flyer and press release :
"Dear Friends –
Most of you know that each year, the Rasika Group performs a musical concert in Richmond - for a noble cause inspired by Mahila Adhyayan Kendra (MAK), India.
Supported by OPEN (www.OpenIndia.org) this year, this charity event which is solely dedicated toward the betterment of the underprivileged children & women in India - is being held on - Saturday, the 20th of September 2008 at the Pocahontas Middle School in Richmond, VA at 6 pm.
Please see the flyer for details. We look forward to your attendance and contribution."
