Podcast Link - Nov 23 2008 - a chilly evening in richmond

Wong Faye (second track of last night's podcast)
above- album cover for "Restless" - one of two albums co-produced by s. raymonde and cocteau twins-

I just checked iTunes and it's listed under a different title-
(Note: this link will open your iTunes store)
Faye Wong "Impulsive" - Get it! it will make you happy!

from wikipedia:

"1996 saw the release of what many would consider her boldest and most artistically coherent effort to date, Fu Zao (浮躁), usually translated as Restless or Impatience. This was her last album with Cinepoly, and Wong felt she could take more artistic risks. The album contains mainly her own compositions, with an aesthetic inspired by the Cocteau Twins, who penned two original songs for the album, "Fracture" (分裂) and "Repressing Happiness" (掃興). As Wong had covered their work in 1994, she had established a remote working relationship with them—even laying down vocals for a special duet version of "Serpentskirt" on the Asian release of the group's 1996 album, Milk And Kisses.
Although the album was Faye's personal favorite, the response from Hong Kong and Taiwan was less than desirable. Many fans who enjoyed her previous three Mandarin albums turned their back on Restless, which they considered to be too alternative and self-absorbed. There were few ballads which were radio-friendly—had Faye taken her experimentations too far? However, hardcore Faye fans, known as Fayenatics,[10] worshipped the album and it became a cult hit. Wong has not released another fully artistic album since. After the release, Faye became the second Chinese artist (after Gong Li)—and the first Chinese singer—to be featured on the cover of TIME magazine."

I found my copy of this brilliant album on cassette in Chinatown NYC during a particulary cold winter of 2000.... but as i mentioned above.. it's on iTunes now, which is great news for fans of "old school" Faye Wong



music to warm you up, or at least give you a little distraction from the shivers on a chilly (freezing!) november evening
PODCAST LINK

Podcast Link - "If Music Could Talk" Nov 19th 2008- guest DJ set by Lightning's Girl

Last week's show featured a special guest DJ set by Lightning's Girl (one of two djs responsible for the wild monthly dance night at Cous Cous known as " Le Garage" - next one is Dec 11)

During this show you will hear some really cool rare French (and international) yeh-yeh, go go, garage, & psych dance beats...

plus, a mini set by Dj Carlito featuring some very interesting Pancham Rahul Dev Burman tracks.

Pour ecouter le podcast, CLIQUEZ ICI

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

PODCAST LINK-Psychedelic music from Indonesia - Part 2!!

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.

anyway, .. enjoy!

Samba Rico - Brasilian/Boriqueno music at Emilios tonight!

"Every First Thursday
Starting Tomorrow!

November 6th
IPANEMA CAFE
Free. 10pm - 1am

"Samba Rico"
music from Brazil and Puerto Rico
with Rattan DJ and guests

arrive before 11pm to eat a awesome vegetarian meal.

celebrating Obama and Scorpio birthdays. "

If music Could Talk - Nov 2, 2008 - Special Guest: DJ Trim (Leo) and DJ Carlito's roots, dub, dancehall VOTE mix

Special Guest: DJ Trim (Leo)

and Dj Carlito's roots reggae dancehall mix to make you want to go VOTE tomorrow!!!!!!

PODCAST LINK - If music Could Talk - Nov 2, 2008

If Music Could Talk - October 26 2008 - Rainbow Arabia in studio and more

PODCAST LINK

thanks to everyone who came to Bollywood night last month!!

See you on the second Saturday of December!!!!!!!!!

(and every month after that!)

2 cool Pictures

Indian Festival in Richmond VA



Flyer for OBAMA 2008 on a telephone pole downtown, after the Indian Festival (is this a local artist? it's awesome!!)

Update: According to Sean, the poster above is by David Choe! (see comments) wowsers.. he's amazing!

Happy Diwali 2008!!!

(Above: the legendary Bollywood actress, Rekha!) UPDATE: here's a beautiful website dedicated to Rekha-ji! - www.Rekhathediva.com

Diwali Ke Bahut Bahut Shubkamnayen!!

read about Diwali here and here

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..

Bollywood movies released during Diwali

TV Star Shama SIkander demonstrates how Diwali is celebrated here

Diwali message from Barack Obama

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"

Thomas Mapfumo - legendary Zimbabwean musician - performs at UR Modlin Center

Thomas Mapfumo (center) and band gave a special invite only talk at UR's Booker Music Hall today before the big show this evening....

They'll be performing Friday and Saturday night at the UR Modlin Center in Richmond VA

INFORMATION and TICKETS HERE

Thomas Mapfumo (video from the 90's) - Moyo Wangu



Official Thomas Mapfumo myspace page

Rainbow Arabia - Playing THIS SUNDAY at the TRIPLE

PODCAST LINK


They'll be playing at the Triple on Sunday and also, stopping by to make a guest appearance on. .

"If Music Could Talk" - 7-9pm EST Sundays on www.wrir.org 97.3FM Richmond Independent Radio

check it out

Bollywood Night featured in Richmond Magazine !!

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..

check that out HERE

Oh, and it's official, Bollywood Night at Cous Cous is the second Saturday of every month-- starting in December.

Thanks to everyone at Richmond magazine for writing this little article-- Its really gratifying that this event has been so well recieved.

If Music Could Talk Oct 19 2008

PODCAST LINK

two Awesome Bollywood Blogs

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

check these sites often!!!