Nostalgia

Went for a walk this evening. First this song played and I got all nostalgic for Dallas and partying with friends and skating on the Katy Trail:

Then this song played and I missed all my friends in Baton Rouge and the shopping trips and late night conversations:

Then I decided that all this nostalgia for past places and times was silly and decided instead to be nostalgic for the present moment:

:)

Update

Just realized I'd posted a link to a Facebook group but I haven't updated since February. #fail

What is going on with me this year is this. I've consciously decided to take a year off from music review/DJ/whatever so that I can get back to basics and concentrate on my singing. I'm taking Rabindrasangeet lessons and trying to go back and listen to music from an earlier era (you know, the one before AutoTune.)

I'm also singing with the Palouse Choral Society and a lot of my practice time goes toward that as well, plus there's a fundraiser for Sanatan Dharma Center of the Palouse on Sept. 17 and I'm working up a few pieces there. So obviously, something's gotta give.

Some things still make it through the filter though. Here's the best ones:

1 - www.aktara.com - Bengali radio that plays the best of modern folk music from West Bengal and Bangladesh. They're just getting off the ground so go support them :)

2 - Lady Gaga- Just Dance Deewaan Remix (and yes, I know I'm really, really late to this party - I heard it during the ICC World Cup.)

3 - Akon - Chammak Chalo - apparently this is from the upcoming Ra.One and it's super danceable. Akon just owns this one!!

I'll try to post this and that as it comes up but singing > snarking about music so I gotta respect that... if there's something that you think I absolutely *must* hear, leave me a comment !

My Songs of 2010

Here's my list of favorite songs from the last year. I was, in general, not as impressed with music this year as I have been in the past few years. Either I'm getting jaded or it really was an off year. Even with that, there were a number of songs worth mentioning. Here are my personal favorites from the year that was.

Best singer of year: Sneha Khanwalkar - I Can't Hold It (Love Sex aur Dhokha)

Seriously, there was no singer that even came close. It's naughty and fun and she sings with so much attitude that it's irresistible. It's like "My Humps" that won a Grammy simply because it was sung by the perfect person with the perfect attitude. No other singer (she was also the music director) could have done this song justice. The song itself is an incredible bawdy song of the likes of Iris and Rose, whose repertoire contains songs such as "The Bastard King of England," "No Balls at All," and the Scottish National Anthem. Munni and Sheila are Catholic schoolgirls in comparison (the good, pious kind, that is). The only regret I have is that this song got such a horrible, terrible, no good, very bad picturization in the film.

Best songs of year: Tujhe Bhula Diya (Anjaana Anjaani) and Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji (Ishqiya)
I couldn't choose one. Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji is one of those songs that will be a classic in twenty years -- you know, the kind that's so iconic that one day there will be a film made with the same name... oh wait, that's already happened? Right.

But Tujhe Bhula Diya is also a beautifully constructed song, and at times, almost reminds me of Javeda Zindagi - my favorite song ever. I must have listened to this song 10 times in a row driving back in the early morning before the sun came up. It's a song for those dark, still times before you see the light again.

Best music director: Amit Trivedi
Do I really need to say any more than this? I'm looking forward to more of his music in years to come.

Best Soundtracks as a whole: Aisha, Anjaana Anjaani, Ishqiya
I couldn't choose one. Also, Badmaash Company and Striker had surprisingly good music.

Retro Moments:

Nana Chi Taang (Khatta Meetha)

Fakeera (Badmaash Company)

Luk Chup Jaana (Action Replayy)

I felt I'd been transported to the 80s for a little while this year. From the swingy pop of Khatta Meetha that reminded me of Jawani Janeman and not a few Dolly Parton songs, to Fakeera, which, the first time I heard it I actually thought it was an old song circa 1987 that I'd just never heard, to Luk Chup Jaana, which made me want to buy a Cadillac convertible and cruise the main drag with the top down, the decade of hair bands and yuppies was a huge influence this year.

Best Song for Listening To In The Car: Behke Behke (Aisha)
Especially at about 85 miles an hour, darting through traffic to an appointment you're already 10 minutes late for. Amit Trivedi's mishmash of styles gives this song the perfect frenetic pace.

Best Duet: Ibn-E-Batuta (Ishqiya)
Yeah, forget cheesy love songs. Mika and Sukhwinder Singh make you want to turn this one up to 11.

Songs That Get Stuck In Head: Cry Cry (Jhootha Hi Sahi) and Shor Sharaba (Tere Bin Laden)
Catchy rhythms and catchy rhymes in both of these make them into songs that you can't stop thinking about, even if you don't like them.

Best Foray Into Hipster Music: Sham (Aisha)
When I first heard this song, I pictured a guy with a neckbeard wearing a flannel strumming this song on his guitar. The only problem with this song is that you've heard it before. But it didn't get popular, which means that it must be good.

Favorite Kailash Kher Song: Teri Yaad Aayi (Do Dilon Ke Khel Mein)

This song makes me want to get drunk on whiskey and sing at the top of my lungs about the great love that I have lost. Except that I haven't lost a great love and I hate whiskey. Kailash Kher is the master of whiskey-drinking sad songs.

Song where it is most important to listen with good headphones: Gal Mitthi Mitthi Bol (Aisha)

I love Tochi Raina's style, but what makes this song go so far above and beyond typical Bhangra-pop that is so prevalent in Bollywood these days are those chimes. That one little touch turns this song from Bhangra-pop to smoky jazz club sexiness. (I recommend Sennheiser headphones, myself.)

Best Rock Song: Intezar (Teen Patti)

Totally un-self-conscious, straight ahead rock, and in Hindi at that. This is what I wanted to see more of this year.

And if I had to make a CD to listen to on a road trip from Atlanta to Los Angeles with an annoying man-child and a creepy little dog, and that CD could only contain the above songs and only ten more from the whole year, these would be the songs I would pick:
Ainvayi Ainvayi (Band Baaja Baaraat)
Chaska (Badmaash Company)
Dilkash Dildaar Duniya (Aashayein)
Kaun Hoon Main (Prince)
Hairat (Anjaana Anjaani)
Desh Mera (Peepli Live)
Lehrein (Aisha)
Mora Piya (Raajneeti)
Pee Loon (Once Upon A Time)
Salaam Aaya (Veer)

(Robert Downey, Jr. would have had a much better trip had he had an iPod.)

musical people - help me out?

Ok music nerds, help me figure out why I love what I love.

These five songs, three Hindi, one English, and one Spanish, pretty much exemplify my favorite musical "sound." I can hear that they have something in common but I am not sure exactly what that something is. Can you suggest what the common thread is? What is it that I really like in a song?

Nazrein Karam


Hairat


La Ley - Dia Cero
Click here to watch - you can't embed it, boo Warner Music Mexico

Mahi


True
Neither can you embed from the official Spandau Ballet site, but listen to it here

So far all I can get out of it is baritones :) any other ideas?

Bollywood DJ: Essentials

I won't give much explanation to this, except to remind you about that party you went to that one time where everyone wanted to dance, but the DJ kept picking the wrong songs.

To keep that from happening, I've compiled this list - a "cheat sheet" if you will - of the essentials for a dance party where Bollywood music will be played. I've DJ'd some and partied a lot more, and I've seen that you can get a crowd on the dance floor if you play a decent mix of songs from the following groups.

NOTES: I'm keeping an audience of mostly college-age Indians and Indian-Americans in mind here. All named songs on this list are Hindi/Punjabi. Most of this will also work for all-ages parties, but again, it's important to know your audience and listen to what they're telling you. This list is updated to Diwali 2010 - please tell me if I've left off something major.

1. The Songs That Must Be Played
Any and all of these songs will get people on the dance floor. Do not repeat songs unless you get multiple requests to do so. The drunker the crowd, the more you must oblige requests to repeat these songs.

Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe - Dil Chahta Hai
Humma Humma - Bombay
Khaike Paan Banaraswala - Don (new)
Twist - Love Aaj Kal
Munni Badnaam - Dabangg
Mauja Hi Mauja - Jab We Met
Desi Girl - Dostana
Beedi Jalaile - Omkara
Kajra Re - Bunty aur Babli
Jai Ho - Slumdog Millionaire
Pappu Can't Dance - Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na

2. Second Tier Songs
Don't play all those superhits back to back. You'll tire everyone out and keep the energy level so high that you won't be able to sustain it. Mix in some good older favorites that will keep people dancing. Some suggestions are:

Chaiyya Chaiyya - Dil Se
Sajna Ve Sajna - Chameli
Dhoom Machale - Dhoom
Dhoom Again - Dhoom 2
Fanaa - Yuva
Rang De Basanti - Rang De Basanti
Paathshala - Rang De Basanti
Dhol Baje - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (depending on the crowd, mix this in AFTER the slow part at the beginning)

3. Recent Danceable Songs
Fill out your playlist with danceable songs from last 3 years. This list is pretty much endless, what with all the remixes and stuff out there these days. Some suggestions are:
Bachna Ae Haseeno - Bachna Ae Haseeno (new version)
Paisa - De Dana Dan
Dhan Te Nan - Kaminey
Genda Phool - Delhi 6
Sajnaji Vaari Vaari - Honeymoon Travels
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom - Jhoom Barabar Jhoom
All Iz Well - 3 Idiots
Zoobi Doobi - 3 Idiots
Prem Ki Naiyya - Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani
Follow Me - Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani
Chori Bazari - Love Aaj Kal
Bhootni Ke - Singh is Kingg
Talli Hua - Singh is Kingg
Talli Ho Gayi - Ugly Aur Pagli
Gal Mithi Mithi Bol - Aisha
Humka Peeni Hai - Dabangg
Kambakkht Ishq - Kambakkht Ishq
Uff Teri Ada - Karthik Calling Karthik
Anjaana Anjaani - Anjaana Anjaani
Billo Rani - Goal
You're My Love - Partner
Soni De Nakhre - Partner
Aaj Ki Raat - Don (new)
Dance Pe Chance - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Gazab - Aa Dekhen Zara
Tennu Leke - Jai Veeru

4. Bhangra/UK Bhangra
This is a place where you really need to know your audience. Do they want to hear the latest and greatest, or do they want to hear songs they already know? If you're spinning for a college crowd in US, 99% of the time you can go light on this and don't worry about anything super new unless it's already a super hit.
Suggestions:
Na Na Na Re - Daler Mehndi
Tunak Tunak Tun - Daler Mehndi
Mundiya To Bachke Rahi - Panjabi MC
Kangna - Dr. Zeus
Darshan - B21
Dil Luteya - Jazzy B
Nachange Saari Raat - Stereo Nation
Nahin Jeena - Rishi Rich
Dance With You - Jay Sean
(protip #1: mix these last two, as they're based on the same melody)

5. While we're on the subject of Jay Sean, find the latest danceable mainstream crossover hit, or whatever hip-hop song sampled Bollywood recently, and play it - preferably in the middle of a good mix. Examples of these sorts of songs over the last few years are:
Dance With You - Jay Sean (this is a few years old now but people still like it)
Down - Jay Sean
Jai Ho - Slumdog Millionaire
Addictive - Truth Hurts (also old but college kids like it)
(protip #2: Save this category for the 20s/30s crowd, unless it overlaps with the must-have songs in #1. Naughty hip-hop with a Bollywood sample won't go over well at a family party.)
(protip #3: Crappy Bollywood copies of English songs don't count.)

6. Other Stuff
A) Himesh Reshammiya. Don't ask me why. I don't want to hear it either. But for some reason, when people get into crowds, it works. Try something uptempo from the 2006-2007 Reign of Himesh. Examples: Jhalak Dikhlaja, Tera Suroor
(protip #4: Do not play too much Himesh. This is 2010.)
B) Dance remixes of extremely new, extremely popular ballads. Examples as of November 2010: Pee Loon (Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai), Tere Liye (Prince), Tu Jaane Na (Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani). REMIXES ONLY. Don't play slow songs. Any well-produced remix of any Atif Aslam song also falls into this category.

This should be enough for one party. Eventually, I am hoping to write posts on Epic Non-Hindi Songs, Bhangra for the Uninitiated, Drunk People Songs, and When Bollywood Gets Dance Music Right -- but for most parties, these categories should be all you need.

Singing at Pullman Durga Puja

I sang Aguner Poroshmoni at Pullman Durga Puja on 10/10/10. Here's the video. Enjoy!

October

Seven years ago this month, I heard a few songs that refused to leave my head for months afterward. Or, thanks to a friend, my car CD player.

I was learning how to DJ at that point. What's Rule #1 of DJing? Know your music well. Know what people love and what is new and fresh. Give the audience what they want to hear, and sometimes, what they need to hear. After some time listening mostly to commercial dance, I had settled into deep house/jazz house. Learned the basics, kept up with the new stuff. But after October, I stopped following Rule #1. I was too busy listening to other music -- this soundtrack my friend had given me. And Lucky Ali. And Shaan. And so on, and so forth.

I had one house gig in February 2004 that fell through -- probably to my benefit. I never played outside my bedroom. That was pretty much over. But by October of that year, I was performing. Singing again. Onstage. In a language I had only been familiar with for one year.

This October, seven years from the start, I'm still here, quietly. I keep moving to smaller and smaller towns, further away from any possibility of doing anything with my music. And yet it is always there, in the back of my mind. Yes, I want this life I live now. I hope that I can keep these good things. But I don't think I will ever truly give up singing... and I still hope that you are out there, listening.