bhangra: a redefinition

[harpz]

dj scorpio, dj sanj dj this and dj that. there are so many punjabi remix dj's around these days, that they're soon to run out of names. However, they remain popular because we the asian youth continue to support the music. We call it "Bhangra", but this is not bhangra at all. These synthesizing "dj's" simply add a tumbi, or a dhol, and call it a new product. Bhangra was never intended to be such a marketed capitalistic tool, it was a medium of celebration for a good years harvest, and just used to have a good time. We, as south asians, should appreciate the true bhangra legends such as gurdas mann, who were the pioneers of this genre, instead of rushing into a local nightclub to dance to a chala remix by Dj ripoff. Don't get me wrong, there are "dj's", and there are DJ's. Like everything else, Bhangra music must evolve, and so it has. With frontiers in the u.s, canada, and u.k., we see artists like bally sagoo, bally jagpal and b21, taz , jazzy b etc. And i believe this is a valid transgression. these artists (including bally sagoo and bally jagpal) do more than recreate, reuse, and remix, they do covers, do vocals, and completely remake the song(s). I believe that respect is owed to those south asian artists who are original and genuine, and not your cousin Dj hardcore from down the street.

[paul]

I agree with what you said but the problem is most Indians (most people in fact) like to stick with what is familiar. That's why most of the Indian DJs in America use rap & hip-hop (both of which I don't really care for) in their songs and kids buy it. In England the DJs seem to be leaning more towards Garage (I don't like this either) and just because the track says it's a Garage "remix" people buy it and think it's a Garage mix eventhough it might be some other genre completely different.

If the DJs experimented more like say T.S. Soundz, or the DJ duo of X-Zecutive (infamous for the Extra Hot Series) from the 90s we would get more original stuff. T.S. Soundz tries to blend in different forms of music including house, trance, drum and bass with Desi music. They don't just take a popular track Indian track and a popular English track and combine them like some DJs (DJ Sanj, DSNY), instead they make their own music from a certain genre and use the Indian vocals. X-Zecutive did this in the 90s and came out with one of the best Bhangra remixes. Sure not all of the remixes were great but least they're not all ripped off other artists.

The problem might also have to due with the records companies. They don't release a capella (vocal only) versions of their songs. If they did DJs and people who want to produce or remix could use these songs to practice and learn how to make actually remixes instead of just layering another instrument on top of the orginial track.

[folkwarrior]

<font color='#000000'>i'm listening 2 xlnc,dcs,jazzyb,h.s.talwar,surjit bindrakhia,some kuldeep manak,& bhinda jatt, but he nedds 2 make a new album</font>