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Yankee Desi's and Rambo.

Bobby Friction | 20:17 UK time, Friday, 4 July 2008

I got back from a trip to New Jersey/New YorkÌýand Puerto Rico this Monday and noticed the following...

At the wedding (my cousin sisters) the DJ didn't really play ANY Brit-Bhangra tracks.Ìý A few years back all the big wedding tracks would have been British Punjabi bands & producers - I would have danced myself into a frenzy from a soundtrackÌýscored by DJ Sanj, Dr Zeus, Panjabi MC & Punjabi Hit Squad.Ìý This year ALL the big bhangra tracks were from artists of Indian origin - Ms Pooja etc... In fact the DJ spun Punjabi tracks from the motherland, time and time again only to break into an 'old skool' eighties section which made good use of the golden era of British Bhangra (all retired now) but not once did he use tracks from the last 2-3 years.

So what does that say about the future of Brit Bhangra?Ìý Over the last 20 years I've taken back cassettes, CD's and now MP3's to my family in India & the States as WE (Brits)Ìýlive in the centre of an Island famous for its legendary Bhangra.Ìý But I think I may have witnessed the tipping point a week ago in a function suite in upstate New Jersey.Ìý What do you think?Ìý Has the fact that Yankee Desi's now just get their Bhangra direct from the source signalled the end of Britannia's glorious reign at the helm of worldwide Bhangra?

Secondly can I just use this Blog to say Jazzy B's RAMBO is Brilliant!Ìý It's a grower, a song you'd blast in your car, not the dancefloor plus it shows why the Jazz Man is still relevant.Ìý His voice is unique, his image is a one off and he represents a type of Punjabi individual I've seen many times from Toronto to Talwandi.Ìý He knows he's a dark individual (mind-set not skin colour!) and represents that maverick outlaw 'dakoo' character so loved in Punjabi literature and culture.Ìý Even him walking around with a model in the video twice the height of himÌýisn't an attempt at humourÌýbut him sayingÌý"Yeah I'm small...but that can't stop a Punjabi!" -

HeÌýis what he is!

(See the video below and be prepared for the hair!)ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    i posted an essay here...and there was nothing against the rules so i dont understand why it hasnt been published...i hope the moderators are reading this....im sure the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ has no problem against someone expressing their opinion on music without breaking the rules!

  • Comment number 2.

    In essence Yes I think you're right there is a tipping point.

    The reason is quite simple the pool of talent for punjabi vocalist is drying up quick time. While we still got the likes of Shin, Jazzy B and Sukhshinder Shinda who have been bought up in homes and where punjabi is prominant they are becoming a drying breed.

    Then we have the new age punjabi vocalists like H Dhami, Juggy D and to a lesser extent Jassi Sidhu who's primary language is english and therefore the punjabi vocabulary doesn't stretch as far as the above mentioned.

    The only thing UK can rely on now is its production, but I got the feeling that the Yanks are taking over in that department as well. There is also stiff competition from the motherland as well as they have proper musicians and using western methods to produce there music, bollywood is proof of that.

    So just like everything else in Britain if you want quality and a reasonable price then get it exported.

Ìý

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