History of Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day.

The Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day, is a music festival taking place on June 21.

The World Music Day began in France in 1982, it is today celebrated across the world. What is special about the World Music Day is that the concerts are all free and musicians both amateur and professional share their passion with audiences.

The idea was first broached in 1976 by American musician Joel Cohen, then employed by the national French radio station France Musique. Cohen proposed an all-night music celebration at the moment of the summer solstice. The idea was taken up by French Music and Dance director Maurice Fleuret for Minister of Culture Jack Lang in 1981 and first took place in 1982.

Its purpose is to promote music in two ways:

•             Amateur and professional musicians are encouraged to perform in the streets. The slogan Faites de la musique (Make music), a homophone of Fête de la Musique, is used to promote this goal.

•             Many free concerts are organized, making all genres of music accessible to the public. Two of the caveats to being sanctioned by the official Fête de la Musique organization in Paris are that all concerts must be free to the public, and all performers donate their time for free.

Despite there being a large tolerance about the performance of music by the general public of amateurs in public areas after usual hours, the noise restrictions still apply, and can cause some establishments to be forbidden to open and broadcast music out of their doors without prior authorization. So the prefectures of police in France can still forbid them to install any audio hardware in the street.

The Fête de la Musique has since spread to many countries including India.  And in Bangalore the World Music Day 2011 is being celebrated @ Alliance Francaise,  Vasanthnagar.

Pls check the link below for more details abt the event @ Alliance Francaise, Bangalore:

http://www.buzzintown.com/bangalore/event--world-music-day-alliance-francaise/id--391729.html

Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Music_Day

Photo courtesy :  www.downtownmoncton.nb.ca

"Through Kurt, I saw the beauty of minimalism and the importance of music that's stripped down" ie Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters 4U......

Foo Fighters the American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War II, which were known collectively as foo fighters.

Prior to the release of the Foo Fighters' 1995 debut album Foo Fighters, which featured Grohl as the only official member, Grohl drafted bassist Nate Mendel and drummer William Goldsmith, both formerly of Sunny Day Real Estate, as well as fellow Nirvana touring bandmate Pat Smear as guitarist to complete the lineup. The band began with performances in Portland, Oregon before gaining popularity. Goldsmith quit during the recording of the group's second album, The Colour and the Shape (1997) when most of the drum parts were re-recorded by Grohl himself. Smear's departure followed soon afterward. They were replaced by Taylor Hawkins and Franz Stahl, respectively, although Stahl was fired before the recording of the group's third album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose (1999).

The band briefly continued as a trio until Chris Shiflett joined as the band's third guitarist after the completion of There Is Nothing Left to Lose. The band released its fourth album, One by One, in 2002. The group followed that release with the two-disc In Your Honor (2005), which was split between acoustic songs and heavier material. Foo Fighters released its sixth album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, in 2007. In 2010, it was confirmed that Smear had officially rejoined the band after touring with the Foo Fighters as an unofficial member between 2006 and 2009.

Over the course of the band's career, three of its albums have won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album, and all six albums have been nominated. The band's seventh studio album, Wasting Light, was released in 2011 & has sold 235,000 in its first week of release and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, becoming the band's first number-one album in the United States.  

Take a listen to one of their songs “Best of You” ( click on the link below ) & post in ur feedback & comments!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_L4Rixya64&NR=1

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foo_Fighters ,  Youtube.

Photo courtesy : www.entertainmentwallpaper.com

Long Live The Legends of Music from South India!!!!

Still young in his voice, SPB celebrates his birthday on June 4^th & Ilyaraaja on June 2nd. It is more than coincidence, and appropriate that SPB and Ilayaraja celebrate their birthdays within a gap of a couple of days. For the duo changed the face of South Indian film music like never before. The combination has verily created magic for listener’s world over, and no amount of words can do justice to the duo’s impact. A generation of listeners has been shaped up by them. More pertinently, a generation of singers and musicians has been impacted by them. This is a testimony to their undoubted talent, style, professionalism and beyond all their simplicity.

Balasubrahmanyam's association with Ilaiyaraaja began in the late 1970s when the latter made his cinematic debut. Balasubrahmanyam began to record more songs in Tamil especially for Ilaiyaraaja. The Ilaiyaraaja-SPB-S. Janaki trio was considered to be highly successful in the Tamil film industry from the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. The trio went on to work in films based on classical music like Saagara Sangamam (1983), for which both Ilaiayaraaja and SPB won National Film Awards, Swathi Muthyam (1986) and Rudraveena (1988).

Both SPB and Ilayaraja share another common feature — they are not formally trained in music. This makes their achievements even more remarkable.

Long Live The Legends!!!!!!

Pls click the link below to take a listen to one of their compositions & post in u r feedback & comments!!!!

Video Courtesy : Youtube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5EAlr_W2yg

Picture Courtesy: Ilayarajainfo.blogspot.com

Story of Louiz Banks : The Godfather of Indian Jazz Music

 

Metamorphosis is the dominant note of his life. Not just because Dambar Bahadur Budaprithi has evolved into Louis Banks and a classical musician into a jazz star, composer and lyricist. For, his is a life which has seen a young man overcoming the tragedy of his father's death to fend for his family; a talent almost extinguished scripting its own success; an artiste who, perhaps, has not been accorded the recognition that is his due striking a balance between commerce and creativity. But if this multi-faceted musician - a composer, pianist, keyboard player, has been a victim of circumstance, he is also a victor who has met the uneven odds of destiny with a song on his lips.

He is in fact hailed as the best jazz pianist and keyboard player of the country. A man who co-composed & arranged the iconic ' Mile Sur Mera Tumhara'- The national integration video which to this day instills a sense of pride and promote unity amongst Indians, Desh raag, Spread the light of freedom (which were eulogies of national integration - portraying unity in diversity) which were aired on the small screen in the late Eighties and occasionally telecast even now. One who is the king of jingles, who has performed with musicians of repute - national and internationally, who has constantly experimented in different genres and whose body of work is notable for its music. 

In his early days, the going was not easy for Banks he had to move out of Darjeeling for a better living to Kathmandu , but again in  Kathmandu, nobody was willing to give him a chance. He met with rejection and humiliation. After days of hunting for an opening, he was taken in by a local band. It wasn't the best of places, but his career in music got off to a start, nonetheless. 

After a point, Banks moved to Calcutta, where he played at a night club. Along with band singer Pam Craine and saxophonist Braz Gonsalves, he started a group of his own -- The Louis Banks Brotherhood. The group was noticed and they soon got the chance to compose music for the film An August Requiem.

The big break happened in 1974, when R D Burman heard Banks play piano in one of the nightclubs and wanted him to play in films. There was no looking back for Banks from then on.

The transition from jazz to jingles to movies and also nominations to the Grammys, Banks has seen it all. 

At an age where his contemporaries are contemplating retirement, Banks is still exploring new territories and looking for bigger horizons.He believes that the music is a legacy and should be passed on. He is working on a project close to his heart with son Gino, an accomplished drummer and member of the fusion band 'Nexus'.

Here is the video of the 'Spread the Light of Freedom' one of Louis banks compositions which will never fad away from our memories..

Story Behind the Song: We are the World by Micheal Jackson and Lionel Richie

When we listen to the song 'We are the world' written by Micheal Jackson and Lionel Richie, most remember this song as a beautiful song which had around forty-something famous artists of that era and was made for some charitable purpose.When I dug dip into the story behind this song, I stumped upon some interesting facts and touching stories which I thought was worth sharing with you all.

During 1984–1985 Ethiopia suffered widespread famine affecting the inhabitants. At that time a major drain on Ethiopia's economy was the ongoing civil war. This crippled the country's economy further and contributed to the governments lack of ability to handle this crisis.Close to 8 million people became famine victims during the drought of 1984, and over 1 million died.

Meanwhile in Europe, Band Aid ,a British and Irish charity super-group, founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure raised money for famine relief in Ethiopia by releasing the record "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for the Christmas market that year. The single surpassed the hopes of the producers to become the Christmas number one on that release.

Following Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" project in the UK, an idea for the creation of an American benefit single for African famine relief came from activist Harry Belafonte along with fundraiser Ken Kragen.Several musicians were contacted by the pair, before Jackson and Richie were assigned the task of writing the song. Following several months of working together, the duo completed the writing of "We Are the World" one night before the song's first recording session, in early 1985.The historic event brought together some of the most famous artists in the music industry at the time.

Awarded numerous honors—including three Grammy Awards, one American Music Award and a People's Choice Award—the song was promoted with a critically received music video, a home video, a special edition magazine, a simulcast, and several books, posters and shirts. The promotion and merchandise aided the success of "We Are the World" and raised over $63 million for humanitarian aid in Africa and the US.

Now, more recently following the devastation caused by a 7 magnitude(on Richter scale) earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, a remake of the song by another all-star cast of singers was recorded on February 2010. Entitled "We Are the World 25 for Haiti", it was released as a single on February 12, 2010, and proceeds from the record was utilised to aid the survivors in the impoverished country.

Songs like "We Are the World" have demonstrated that diverse musicians can productively work together, and further influence a movement within music fraternity to create songs that address humane concerns.

So whats your favorite song that addresses a social or a human concern ,do share it with us..for the moment enjoy this video.

source:youtube & wikipedia

cafe idly @ bangalore: oh, yeah, it is a wonderful world...

cafe idly @ bangalore: oh, yeah, it is a wonderful world...: "Intended as an antidote for the increasingly racially and politically charged climate during the 60s in the U.S. (and written specifically..."

oh, yeah, it is a wonderful world...

Intended as an antidote for the increasingly racially and politically charged climate during the 60s in the U.S. (and written specifically for Armstrong, who had broad crossover appeal), this song details the singer’s delight in the simple enjoyment of everyday life.

This song also has a hopeful, optimistic tone with regard to the future, with reference to babies being born into the world and having much to look forward to. The song was not initially a hit in the United States, where it sold fewer than 1,000 copies, but was a major success in the UK, reaching number one on the UK singles chart. It was also the biggest-selling single of 1968 in the UK. The song made Louis Armstrong the oldest male to top the charts, at sixty-six years and ten months old.

The song im talking about is "What a Wonderful World" written by Bob Thiele (as George Douglas) and George David Weiss. It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released as a single in 1968.

Renowned for his charismatic stage presence and voice almost as much as for his trumpet-playing, Armstrong's influence extends well beyond jazz music, and by the end of his career in the 1960s, he was widely regarded as a profound influence on popular music in general.

The voice and perspective of this 66-year-old black man gives the song the depth to touch our souls. If someone like Armstrong can bring such believeablity to these words after growing up in an intolerant era then there truly must be value in acknowledging the beauty around us. Louis Armstrong grew up in poverty in a rough neighborhood in New Orleans. His father left his family when he was an infant and his mother abandoned him soon afterward. He also lived in a time when being black meant you were a second class citizen. Yet, all this makes the song more meaningful

This song's slow tempo seems to emphasize the idea that in order to recognize all the good that is around us, we have to slow down & notice it. As Satchmo(Louis Armstrong's nick name) sings each verse, the listener has time to visualize each line, and can stop and think, oh, yeah, it IS a wonderful world.

With his instantly recognizable deep and distinctive gravelly voice, this song has taken a irreplaceble place in the memories of old and young alike.

Really a song to brighten up any gloomy day .. this song never fails to make me smile.

source :wikipedia,youtube