Category Archives: Dance

Despacito Conquers America

Posted on by

Forget the ramblings of xenophobes and threats of building walls.

Music demolishes all barriers to Love… Latino culture today is being embraced even more despite the vitriol in our political landscape. The success of this song is a reminder that America is more diverse today than ever. Yes….we may not live in an equal America, or a fair America, but it does mean we have the opportunity to experience America’s many rich cultures, listen to more stories, whether those stories are told in English or not. They still touch us.

Singer/songwriter Luis Fonsi stated on Instagram that “Music has no language”. Actually, Luis…Music is the language of Love…it is and has always been universal. If we want to understand humanity and love…we have to understand music first.

This is the first Spanish song since “Macarena” (1996-1997) to grace the US Billboard number one position for weeks while refusing to give up its number one position in the UK charts. You hear it blasting out of every sound system today in America. With a boost from Justin Beiber (who adds an English Intro to the extremely catchy Spanish lyrics and beats).

Personally for me though I prefer the original without Justin Beiber which has reached over 2 billion views on Youtube:

R.I.P. Robert Miles, Dance Music Pioneer

Posted on by

DJ Robert Miles has died after a brief illness. If you listened to music in the 90s, you can’t have missed the genius of Italian born DJ/music producer Robert Miles, even today DJ’s sample his music worldwide.

“Children” is the most iconic of hits in the history of dance music and really defined his career and revolutionized dance music, creating an entire genre “Dream House” which brought trance music to the mainstream. In clubs they used to have this as the last track of the night.

It is a track that is very moving and brings strong emotions.

After Miles performed this music in a club, a girl approached him in tears. “What music is this?” she asked him. It was a moment he will never forget that moment, realizing that his feelings had been conveyed through his music. His dream turned into reality.

Children:

Fable was another one of his fantastic tracks…featured in the movie “Ever After” (with Drew Barrymore).

Fable:

 

 

 

Disco Pioneers: Indian Born Music Producer Biddu and Tina Charles

Posted on by

Back in the ‘70s Tina Charles was a very talented English singer and at the time doing only backup vocals for groups, and wasn’t getting recognition. It wasn’t until she met Indian born British music producer Biddu who produced her immortal hit “I love to love”. I remember watching this song premier on “Top of the Pops” back in ’76. It still sounds fresh almost 40 years later!

Biddu is considered one of the pioneers of Disco, Euro-Disco and South Asian Pop (Indipop) music. He was hailed as one of the “50 Greatest Music Producers of All Time” by New Musical Express.  His international breakthrough came in 1974 with “Kung Fu Fighting” performed by Carl Douglas; the song became one of the best-selling singles of all time with eleven million records sold, helped popularize disco music. It was the first worldwide disco hit from Britain and Europe, and established Biddu as one of the most prolific dance music producers from outside the United States at the time.

He also produced “Disco Deewane” for Nazia and Zoeb Hassan which went on to become the biggest selling pop album in South Asia and launched an entire genre of South Asian pop music. I lived in Africa at the time, it was heard everywhere from corner shops to clubs.

Menu Kehn De – Himesh Reshamiyya (Akbar Sami Remix)

Posted on by

Here is Akbar Sami’s electro-house remix of “Menu Kehn De” with its energetic vibe is sure to haunt dance clubs around the world for years to come!

Out now in stores on T-Series, the album “Aap Se Mausiqui” by Himesh Reshammiya features this track.

Taking a look at the past, Akbar Sami and Himesh Reshammiya Bollywood collaborations have made history;  their partnership has brought us some of the biggest and most memorable Bollywood remixes and dance tracks such as the award winning remix track Aashiq Banaya Aapne and Aap Ki Kashish, Jhalak Dikhlaja, and many more tracks that still set fires to dance floors around the world.

Reshammiya’s debut album “Aap Ka Suroor” in 2007 is considered the bestselling album (that was not a Bollywood film soundtrack) in Indian history. I bought it mainly for the seven dance remixes on the album including the title track which were produced by Akbar Sami – sheer magic!

 

 

Jai Ho to Slumdog Millionaire!

Posted on by

Who the hell would have thought that the best film on Oscar night in Hollywood was an intense, romantic melodrama that delivered satisfaction in a brilliant way, was made in the slums of Mumbai with a mostly unknown star cast, directed by a British director, who made films like “Trainspotting” and “28 Days Later”?

“All my life, I’ve had a choice of hate and love. I chose love, and I’m here,” – Bollywood music director, A.R. Rahman as he accepted two of the Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Original Song – “Jai Ho”.

“Jai Ho” means “May Victory Be Yours” in Hindi….and indeed victory was with “Slumdog Millionaire” last night.

With a whopping, truly deserved, 8 Oscars (from the 10 it was nominated for) “Slumdog Millionaire” the independent film that cost $14 million (compared to Dark Night made for $180 million) topped the list of most Oscar wins (including Best Picture) for any film last night at the Academy Awards in Hollywood, CA.

Here’s the oscars.com link where you can watch some of the highlights from last night’s big wins.

The movie was indeed one of the best films my wife and I have ever watched. It was like watching “Salaam Bombay” meets “City of God” – two of my favorite films of all time in one. A truly brilliant masterpiece of art!

“Jai Ho” song being performed live on the Oscars stage was fantastic!

Here’s the clip from the Oscars:

You can watch the song performed live by A.R. Rahman on the Jay Leno show:

The Oscar Winners are as follows :

BEST PICTURE:
Slumdog Millionaire

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Sean Penn
Milk

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:
Kate Winslet
The Reader

DIRECTING:
Slumdog Millionaire

FORIEGN LANGAUGE FILM:
Departures

MUSIC(SONG):
Slumdog Millionaire

MUSIC (SCORE):
Slumdog Millionaire

FILM EDITING:
Slumdog Millionaire

SOUND MIXING:
Slumdog Millionaire

SOUND EDITING:
The Dark Knight

VISUAL EFFECTS:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
Smile Pinki

DOCUMENTORY FEATURE:
Man on Wire

ACTOR IN SUPPORTING ROLE:
Health Ledger
The Dark knight

SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION):
Spielzeugland (Toyland)

CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Slumdog Millionaire

MAKEUP:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

COSTUME DESIGN:
The Duchess

ART Direction:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)
La Maison En Peptits Cubes

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
Wall-E

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
Slumdog Millionaire

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY):
Milk

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Penelope Cruz
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

[Source : Official OSCAR Website www.oscar.com]

Film: War Dance (2007)

Posted on by

This was one of the most moving and beautifully crafted films that I have seen this year.


War Dance (2007)

For more than 20 years, the Lord’s Resistance Army, a rebel militia group, has been waging war in northern Uganda. The rebels have abducted tens of thousands of children, stealing their childhood, their parents, and destroying their homes, forcing many to take up arms and commit unspeakable acts against their own people.

In the middle of all the horrifying violence, The National School Dance and Music competition is taking place in Kampala with over 20,000 schools taking part. This competition becomes an unlikely symbol of salvation for three Ugandan children; Rose, Nancy and Dominic. These three children live in the Patongo refugee camp of war torn northern Uganda, they have lost at least one parent, sibling or family member to the horrors of the war, and have been forced into this government protected camp for basic survival. No electricity, no water and no safe place. They have nothing but despair, yet they look to the future with hope in their eyes. Winning the dance and music competition is everything to them.

War Dance is a film of striking paradoxes – Each child tells his real-life story, showing their accounts of affliction in between the joy and pride they achieve in preparing for competition. The film was extremely inspiring and very touching – the bravery of the children, the profound wisdom in their thoughts and speech will move you in this unforgettable story of hope and healing.

Watch the trailer:

Sensation Productions

Posted on by

milan.jpg

My mother called the other day from Cardiff, Wales; I tell you that woman never ceases to surprise me – she just pops up somewhere around the world and calls me for the oddest reasons – but this time she had a great reason and that was to tell me about about this new website:

Sensation Productions

She tells me I’ll feel like dancing to the music when I listen to it and boy was she right! The track “Crazy About U” got me popping…

Listen to this awesome music by an extremely talented and upcoming artist and music producer from Cardiff – Milan. (That’s right Miraj’s little brother). The sound reminds me so much of Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross and Lionel Richie. He plays most instruments and has written, arranged and performed all the recordings himself. I remember Milan as a sweet little boy who loved playing video games. I loved pulling his cheeks.

Mum, if you’re reading this – stop it now, you’re supposed to be praying and stuff at your age – not listening to R&B, for crying out loud! LOL!.

Move Over Hrithik Roshan, Kashif is Here!

Posted on by

Some people call him “A real life Pakistani Pedro”. A reference to the character Pedro in the film “Napoleon Dynamite”.

Kashif Menon is a sandwich shop manager who came from Pakistan and has lived in the US for six years. He signed up to appear on the show “America’s Got Talent” and actually performed. He’s learnt English, and although his dancing could use a few improvements was able to mesmerize the audience and judges. I guess they’ve never actually seen a Bollywood film.

I thought it was pretty heartwarming, and whatever his faults or no matter how silly it looks it was pretty entertaining and definitely will make you smile. Give the kid a break.

Watch the video below and judge for yourself.

America’s Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network. It is a talent show that features amateur singers, dancers, magicians, comedians and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of US$1 million. The show debuted in June 2006 for the summer television season.