Sony BMG News | BRITS 2008
December 3rd, 2008Mark Ronson won Best British Male and the Foo Fighters won Best International Band and Best International album at the BRIT Awards, held last night at Earls Court and broadcast live on ITV 1, and hosted by the Osbournes.
Sony BMG artists at the show were led by Leona Lewis who gave a stellar performance of Bleeding Love. Perez Hilton today described her performance thus: “… it’s no wonder she has become a global superstar. Blistering”. Mark Ronson also performed, with guest spots from Adele, Daniel Merriweather and Amy Winehouse, who guested on Valerie in a performance that have drawn the bulk of BRITS headlines the day after. Kelly Rowland and Will Young were among the guest presenters also at the awards.
The BRITS 2008 have already been hailed as the best in years, with ratings massively up on last year, showing that viewers tuned in and stayed until the end, with an average viewership of 6.1 million, almost a million up from a year ago.
For a report on the Sony BMG Post-Brits party, and the chance to win a VIP Goody Bag: Click here to enter the competition.
List : The Definitive Geeta Dutt
December 2nd, 200820th July 2008 marked the 36th Death Anniversary of Geeta Dutt. A small tribute to the memory of this enchanting songstress.
It is difficult, almost unsettling to think of Geeta Dutt as a shriveled septuagenarian(what she would have been if she were alive). Time stopped aging her voice long before she actually passed away in 1972. Even today her voice represents a youthful joie-de-vivre that can lift anyone out of the bluest of blue moods. Her sad songs have an aching vulnerability that makes one want to weep for her and with her. And her richly-layered bhajans are strangely soothing. No other singer could traverse such a complex range of emotions with the ease and spontaneity that Geeta Dutt did. In addition to the richness in expression, her was voice was rich in tonal quality, robust and sweet quite like a juicy Dasheheri mango!
Despite all these qualities, today she is merely a memory in the history of Indian film music. Slotted early in her career as a ‘club song’ singer, Geeta unfortunately got stuck in the very mold that she created for herself with such blazing individuality. Couple this with her own battles with the bottle, failing marriage to film-maker Guru Dutt and a lackluster approach to her career, Geeta Dutt faded away, much before her times.
Yet, her small repertoire is dazzling to say the least. This list more than amply strengthens the belief that God sends all good things in limited editions.
Note : Click on the link to view the video of the song
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1. Tadbeer se Bigdi hui Taqdeer Banale (Film : Baazi(1951); Composer: SD Burman; Lyrics : Sahir Ludhianvi) The seductive and persuasive strains of the guitar, SD Burman’s path-breaking western treatment of Sahir Ludhianvi’s ghazal, Geeta Bali’s energetic screen presence and Geeta Dutt’s vibrant singing, the dice had no option but to roll in favour of this ‘Baazi’. ‘Tadbeer se Bigdi’ was the greatest attraction of Baazi and the audience went to see the film in repeat mode only to witness the magic of the two Geetas.
2. Thandi Hawa Kali Ghata (Film : Mr and Mrs 55(1955); Composer: OP Nayyer; Lyrics : Majrooh Sultanpuri) Raju Bharatan, the much maligned film music critic, summed up the effect of Geeta Dutt’s voice in a rare moment of clarity- “‘Geeta Dutt was thandi hawa and kaali ghata rolled into one. The moment she came, you got the refreshing feeling of aa hi gayi jhoom ke. There was a rare swing in her voice. She hit you like a thunderclap“
What more can one say to recommend the freshness in this song other than to say that the effect on yours truly is without fail ‘….naache jiya ghoom ke’ .
3. Aaj Sajan Mohe Ang Lagalo (Film : Pyaasa(1957); Composer: SD Burman; Lyrics : Sahir Ludhianvi) Guru Dutt’s innovative idea of using a vaishnav bhajan to depict the purity of the romantic situation in the film, was ably supported by his wife’s singing. Geeta brings a very human yearning to her rendition and yet keeps it sublime and other worldly like a true bhajan. Geeta Dutt’s interpretation of bhajans was very distinctive. Whether it is ‘Tora manwa kyon ghabraaye’ or ‘Na mein dhan chahun’ or our chosen ‘Aaj sajan mohe ang lagalo’, she blends the sensual with the sublime seamlessly. This is true to the sufi tradition whose texts abound in erotica that couples with spiritual fervour. It can be argued that if Meerabai made a time-travel trip to the 50s and 60s she would have sung in the voice of Geeta Dutt!
4. Ankhiyan Bhool Gayi Hain Sona (Film : Goonj Uthi Shehnai(1959); Composer: Vasant Desai; Lyrics : Bharat Vyas) The classic Geeta chutzpah brims over in this duet with Lata Mangeshkar. The coy and docile heroine being teased mercilessly (or praised to the heavens) by a bunch of giggling sahelis is one the staple daal-roti situations done to death in hindi film songs. Yet, Geeta’s sweet and wicked take of the situation makes this song a standout. Note the way she sings ‘Sona’ in the first line. This song also represents the female-female genre of songs of which Geeta has many memorable examples like Bachpan ke din, Jaanu Jaanu Ri, Thandi Thandi Hawa , under her belt.
5. Koi Chupke Se Aake (Film : Anubhav(1971); Composer: Kanu Roy; Lyrics : Kapil Kumar) The soft, romantic type of songs flowered in Geeta’s melodious and expressive voice. Geeta’s singing in Anubhav demonstrates how much she still had to offer even at the fag-end of her life. In the chosen song, she is soft, teasing, whimsical, romantic all at once and the ever so slight tinge of pathos in her voice highlights the enigma that was Geeta Dutt.
6. Babuji Dheere Chalna (Film : Aar Paar(1954); Composer: OP Nayyer; Lyrics : Majrooh Sultanpuri) The slow and sensual club song is Geeta’s comfort zone. She could sleep-walk through those kind of songs. Yet, this one stands out for hitting all the right notes at once. The measured sensuality, a hint of vibrancy, a slight edge in the voice and a full throated bass-heavy tone all combine to make this OP Nayyer composition into a classic club song. OP Nayyer composed a slew of such songs for Geeta and later Asha Bhosle. Aayie meherban could be considered the successor to his body of work with Geeta.
7. Mera Naam Chin Chin Choo (Film : Howarah Bridge(1958); Composer: OP Nayyer; Lyrics : Qamar Jalalabadi) This irrepressible upper is arguably Geeta’s signature song. The swing in her voice can get even the most languid of people out there up and jiving. It is high energy, peppy and brimming with the joie-de-vivre that is the quintessential Geeta Dutt.
8. Nanhi Kali Sone Chali (Film : Sujata(1959); Composer: SD Burman; Lyrics : Majrooh Sultanpuri) From the seductive to the soothing - the transition is as smooth as butter. The synergy of the Majrooh-SD Burman combination and the nurturing vocals of Geeta Dutt make this lullaby from Sujata as one of the most memorable loris created for Hindi films.
9. Waqt Ne Kiya (Film : Kagaz Ke Phool(1959); Composer: SD Burman; Lyrics : Kaifi Azmi)A brooding film-maker, his honey voiced wife, the beautiful actress and the inextricable mess of their liason - Life was a pre-scripted tragedy for the Dutt couple. Kagaz Ke Phool was Guru Dutt’s semi-autobiographical magnum opus that immortalised his personal situation. Kaifi Azmi’s lyrics are poignant, SD Burman’s tune wistful, but it is Geeta’s singing that stirs up the storm of emotions. The songs aches with nostalgia. The travesty of time and the indelible stain that it leaves on the soul is universal. Rare is the person who looks back at his life and does not wistfully discover…. ‘hum rahe na hum’ .
10. Na Jao Saiyan (Film : Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam(1962); Composer: Hemant Kumar; Lyrics : Shakeel Badayuni)
The character of Chhoti Bahu in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam is undoubtedly one of the greatest written for mainstream Indian cinema. Meena Kumari immortalised the tragic Chhoti Bahu with a stellar performance. Anguish, devotion, desire, self-disgust, rebellion and a repressed sexuality every little facet that constituted the complex character of Chhoti Bahu comes to life in this song. When Geeta Dutt poignantly mentioned that this song represented her own emotions rather than that of the film’s character, Chhoti Bahu, Meena Kumari and she all fused into the same person. This song is a fitting finale to the list.
See Also
Upperstall Profile : Geeta Dutt
Note: This is an edited version of a longer article. The complete article along with some pictures can be found here
Man Raze, ‘Surreal’ (VH1 Classic)
November 30th, 2008
A quarter-century-plus after their stint in the great lost British glam-metal quintet Girl, Simon Laffy and Phil Collen reunite, hook up with Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook, and go places that Collen’s more famous employer Def Leppard only hinted at. The shimmering studio-as-stadium whooshes and souped-up shouted choruses are very Hysteria. But “Spinning Out” beefs up an off- kilter Gary Numan beat, “Skin Crawl” turns a Stooges groove into arena power pop, and three tracks manage a spaciously Police-informed reggae-rock hybrid.
Chroma Key “Graveyard Mountain Home” (2004)
November 29th, 2008Chroma Key
Graveyard Mountain Home (2004)
Graveyard Mountain Home (2004)
Kevin Moore was a keyboardist for Dream Theater and one of the DT’s founders. He has left the band in 1994 to begin a solo career, which, as he thought, was in contrary to what he made in Dream Theater. As I read before (don’t exactly remember where), Kevin had plans to become a classical musician. I’m not sure that was true, but after all Kevin has initiated Chroma Key - a project with musical style stood far apart from both classical music and music of Dream Theater. Chroma Key became an attempt to make meditative progressive music with emphasis on synthesizers (of course, there is no even a trace of prog-metal here). How successful is the result? Despite the fact that “Graveyard Mountain Home” is rated relatively high by critics, I can’t say I like it much. The music is quite original, but it’s not of my taste. Maybe you’ll like it more, who knows? Reviewed by Igor Brynskich.
Kaipa “Mindrevolutions” (2005)
November 29th, 2008Kaipa
Mindrevolutions (2005)
Mindrevolutions (2005)
After listening to Kaipa’s “Keyholder”, what I did some time ago, this album of the Swedish symphonic prog band appears to be tiresome and colourless. Of course, “Mindrevolutions” is interesting enough, but if I wouldn’t listen to “Keyholder” before, I definetely wouldn’t draw such a rapt attention to Kaipa. “Keyholder” has delighted me completely with its first cords, while “Mindrevolutions” is just not bad enough album that additionally requires a certain mood for comfortable listening. If you like symphonic prog already, I think you’ll like this album. But if you unfamiliar to this style, “Mindrevolutions” is not a proper place to start with it. At least, listen to “Keyholder” at first. Reviewed by Igor Brynskich.
Ladyhawke
November 28th, 2008
What? New Zealand-born popstress Ladyhawke is revamping the synth-driven ’80s sound of Cyndi Lauper and Pat Benatar with sharper beats and guitars, glossier production, and new millennial stomp and sass. But unlike her contemporaries — including Annie and Peaches — Ladyhawke is swapping quirk for sincerity, and it’s this sound that launched her self-titled debut album into the charts in Australia, New Zeland, and the U.K. Today, the album drops in the U.S., and with sleek synthesizer lines, down-tempo beats, and sultry vocals, it’s the perfect soundtrack for a night on the dance floor — especially with the four-to-the-floor disco sheen of “Paris Is Burning” (available to download below).
Who? The woman known as Ladyhawke was born Phillipa “Pip” Brown in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1981. Despite suffering from Asperger’s syndrome, a mild form of autism, Brown showed an interest in music growing up, as her mother was a singer and her stepfather a drummer. In 2001 Brown’s music career began when she joined proto-punk younglings Two Lane Blacktop as lead guitarist; the band would release a few EPs and tour the states briefly before breaking up in 2003.
Shortly after the split, Brown moved to Melbourne, Australia, where she played in several other bands, including electro duo Teenager. However, she soon began writing songs and playing numerous instruments, and developed her Ladyhawke persona. By 2007, she moved to London where her career as Ladyhawke took off. Soon she was recording her self-titled debut album for Modular records, and few months later the work paid off — the strength of the album’s two singles, “Back of the Van” and “Paris Burning,” put Ladyhawke on the map for dance music fans across the globe.
Fun Fact: Ladyhawke took her nom de tune from a 1985 fantasy film of the same name, starring Matthew Broderick and directed by Lethal Weapon mastermind Richard Donner.
Listen: Ladyhawke, “Paris Is Burning” (DOWNLOAD MP3)
Ladyhawke, “My Delirium (Fan Death Remix)” (DOWNLOAD MP3)
East of Angel Town - Coming Soon to Lull Your Musical Soul
November 23rd, 2008Young American rock/pop singer, Simon Peter Cincotti is going to let go of his adjacent record album “East of Angel” very soon. Slated for a releasing day of the month on February 12, 2008, the record album is expected to pull Cincotti’s fans more intoxicatedly than ever. “East of Angel Town” is said to have punchy, dynamic, and more than high-strung sound, simultaneously classic and modern. Simon Peter Cincotti, who is 24 old age of age, have already won much award and awards for his exciting musical stuff. Cincotti is not only a singer, he is also a songwriter, flush pianist, and a good actor. Max Born on July 11, 1983 in New York, Cincotti laid his manus on the pianoforte at the legal tender age of three. Since then there is no looking back for this musical prodigy.
Ornamented with good playing capabilities, Cincotti appeared in a little function in the 2004 Bobby Darin biopic “Beyond the Sea” and contributed to the film’s soundtrack. He also grabbed a little function as pianoforte participant in planetarium in the blockbuster “Spider-Man 2″. His song “December Boys” is featured in the 2007 movie “December Boys”, starring Daniel Radcliffe.
“Peter Cincotti”, the introduction record album of Cincotti, is a digest of traditional and popular wind favourites. His 2nd album, “On the Moon” featured some of the artist’s ain songs.The soon-to-be-released “East of Angel Town” have all his original works. This new work began when Cincotti teamed up with celebrated manufacturer and fourteen-time Grammy victor Saint David Foster, manufacturer Humberto Gatica, and producer/sound interior designer Jochem avant garde der Saag.
Now all eyes are on “East of Angel Town”, which will state narratives woven into tunes that are both individual and universal.”This record album is very much about the old and the new. Not only within the songs themselves, but also in the manner we recorded them. I wanted to compound the classic manner of unrecorded recording with the many elements of modern production” - states the vocalist himself.