Music
‘Ei Somoy’: 7 bands including Meghdol perform for Dhaka music lovers
Music lovers in Dhaka turned out at the series premiere of ‘Ei Somoy’, an exclusive series of concerts, at the Liberation War Museum auditorium on Friday (October 14, 2022).
‘Chapter One’ of this series had seven popular bands perform live – Meghdol, Avash, Shonar Bangla Circus, Shohojia, Shohortoli, Bangla Five and Apekkhik – captivating the packed auditorium from 3 pm till 10 pm.
Organised by Acoustica and powered by Metal Freak T-Shirt, the concert began with the performances of Apekkhik.
The autumnal afternoon was then greeted by Bangla Five, enthralling the fans with their popular tracks including “Left Right.” Sohortoli performed their fan-favourites after Bangla Five. Shohojia came up next with their popular tracks “Chhoto Pakhi,” “Ma,” “Jadukor” and more.
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Fans enjoyed the songs by Shonar Bangla Circus next, known for their unique line-up and majestic theatrical performances. Vocalist Probar Ripon delivered one after another hit of the band, including “Ondho Deyal,” “Ami Valobashi Tomake,” “Mrittu Utpadon Karkhana” and more, alongside the captivating instrumental performances of his bandmates.
Avash with Tanzir Tuhin was up next, covering a couple of popular tracks including “Prithibita Naki Chhoto Hotey Hotey” by the Indian Bangla band Moheener Ghoraguli, alongside originals including “Avash” and “Nishchup Adhar.”
Meghdol, the showstopper band of the night, then took the stage and had the crowd singing along to “Esho Amar Shohore,” “Kichhu Bishad Hok Pakhi,” “Nirban,” and ended the show with their latest track “E Hawa” from their upcoming album ‘Aluminum er Dana.’
“We did this arrangement with some psychedelic bands for the first chapter, and in coming days, new bands will be added to this event,” said Saikot Biswas Tutul, coordinator of the concert. Beyond the capital, ‘Ei Somoy’ will move forward in different parts of the country, he added.
Two magical concerts enthrall band music lovers at ICCB
Band shows and live concerts are back in the city in full swing, and the band music lovers were mesmerized by two fantabulous shows at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital on Friday.
At ICCB’s Hall 4 (Novoratri), seven popular bands grooved the audiences while showcasing a befitting tribute to the riverine beauty of Bangladesh at the ‘Nodi Rocks Season 1’ concert.
Focusing on the issue of climate change, the concert was initiated by Salt Creatives while hosted by Brandmyth Experiential, supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, and facilitated by the Manusher Jonno Foundation.
Seven of the popular Bangladeshi bands - Arbovirus, Cryptic Fate, Chirkutt, Ashes, Smooches, Bangla Five and F Minor, who have previously performed in seven music videos on seven Bangladeshi rivers - Padma, Chitra, Kushiyara, Dahuk, Pashur, Buriganga and Sangu, performed at the concert.
MTV VMAs ready to host, honor some of music's biggest acts
The MTV Video Music Awards are back Sunday with some of the biggest names in music vying for the network's fabled Moon Person statue.
Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow and Kendrick Lamar are tied for leading nominees with seven apiece. Harlow and Lil Nas X's collaboration “Industry Baby” propelled their nominations, landing them in competition for artist of the year along with Drake, Bad Bunny, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles and Lizzo.
Closely behind are Harry Styles and Doja Cat, who received six nominations apiece, while Sheeran, Billie Eilish, Drake, Dua Lipa, Tayler Swift and The Weeknd each have five.
Harlow is pulling double duty, joining LL Cool J and Nicki Minaj as the show's emcees. The VMAs are being being held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and will air beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern.
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Minaj will perform hits from throughout her career and accept the show’s video vanguard award, which MTV has said she’s receiving for her artistry, barrier-breaking hip-hop and status as a global superstar. The honor is named after Michael Jackson.
Eminem, Snoop Dogg, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bad Bunny are also set to perform
Madonna, who is the most awarded artist in MTV history with 20 wins, becomes the only artist to receive a nomination in each of the VMAs five decades. She earned her 69th nomination for her 14th studio album “Madame X.”
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Lamar returns to the VMAs as a nominee for the first time since 2018, with nods for best hip-hop, direction, visual effects, editing, and a category known as video for good, while his songs “family ties” and “N95” are competing for best cinematography.
Maiden book on Bangladeshi band music ‘Banglar Rock Metal’ launches on Friday
Envisioning a noteworthy publication dedicated to the rich culture of band music genre in Bangladesh, the first Bangladeshi band encyclopedia titled 'Banglar Rock Metal’ is set to be unveiled on Friday at Baatighar, Bishwo Shahitto Kendro in the capital.
Authored by journalist Haque Faruk and writer Milu Aman, the book not only carries a chronological history of the gradual development of the Bangladeshi band scene but also the authentic profile of 180 bands with their discography.
From their collective experiences of the authors as music journalists and writers in the past two decades combined with almost two years of relentless efforts, 'Banglar Rock Metal' is said to be the encyclopedia the band music enthusiasts needed, according to the book’s co-author Haque Faruk.
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Sharing the journey with UNB, Haque said that he has spent hours at the archive section of different libraries apart from his regular professional responsibilities as a full-time journalist. “It has always been a dream project for us as band music enthusiasts, and we worked passionately hard to fine-tune this book from time to time.”
Haque informed that to write this book, the duo not only depended on the existing-secondary documents but also recorded the history through the first-person narration of the living band members.
"To ensure the accurate presentation of every band’s history, we have crosschecked the information with all the existing and even the former members of the bands who are still alive. We had to conquer the hurdles to find and contact some of the musicians from the past who had been almost forgotten from the band music scene and have been living in different parts of the world for decades now. Still, we managed to document them because of their cordial cooperation.”
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Published by Aajob Prokash along with a special poster, the book cover is designed by Niaz Ahmed Aungshu. Mustafiz Karigar made the cover typography, while the essential graphics are done by Kousik Zaman.
Joy Shahriar, a renowned musician and founder of Aajob Prokash said, "Preorders are open till launching but we have already started receiving overwhelming response from the band-music fans, and we hope the first-print copies of the book would stock out pretty soon, once the book is officially launched."
'Banglar Rock Metal' can be preordered via the Facebook page of Aajob Prokash at a discounted price. The printed price of this 450-page hardbound book, band encyclopedia, is Tk 1000 and available for preorder at Rokomari dot com.
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Andrew Kishore was more than an ideal artist: Hanif Sanket
On the occasion of the second death anniversary of the legendary Andrew Kishore, hailed as the 'Playback King' and widely regardd as one of the most iconic voices of Bangladesh, eminent media personality Hanif Sanket recalled his friendship with the late singer and asserted as much he was a great artist, he was a compassionate human being as well.
“Today is the second death anniversary of my friend Andrew Kishore. It has been two years since his passing - he is undoubtedly an asset to Bangla Music whose voice was brighter than his fame. People loved him for his songs,” the host of Bangladesh’s most popular magazine programme ‘Ittyadi’ poured his emotional tribute through a Facebook post on Wednesday.
Since 1989, Hanif Sanket directed-hosted satire magazine show ‘Ittyadi’ is the longest-running show in the Bangladeshi television industry and also the longest-running magazine show in the world, and Andrew Kishore was a regular cast member of the show as a singer with many solo and group songs, and popular singles such as “Padma Patar Pani Noy” and more.
Sharing an old image with his late friend and another image standing beside Kishore’s grave, Hanif Sanket wrote: “A great singer who could sing with his flamboyant and melodic voice with an open heart, Kishore also had the ability to mix with people with his open soul. He was an ideal artist, a compassionate human who can only be compared with himself.”
“Through all of his amazing songs, Andrew Kishore’s legacy will be carried forward from generation to generation. My dear friend, I haven't forgotten you - I won't forget - I can't forget. Be in peace, wherever you are,” Hanif Sanket wrote.
Born to Khitish Chandra Baroi and Minu Baroi on November 4, 1955, at Rajshahi in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan), Kishore, a Christian by birth, passed away on July 6, 2020, due to Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Kishore's great adventure in Dhallywood began with the film 'Mail Train' (1977). 'Ochinpurer Rajkumari Nei Je Tar Keu,' composed by Saley Alam Khan, was his debut playback song. After receiving critical recognition for the song 'Ek Chor Jay Chole' penned by Alam Khan in 'Protigga' (1979), Kishore never had to look back on his great musical career.
Remembered by music lovers for his iconic tracks including “Jiboner Golpo, Achhe Baki Olpo,” “Amar Buker Moddhe Khane,” “Dak Diyachhen Doyal Amare,” “Hayre Manush Rongin Fanush,” “Amar Shara Deho Kheyo Go Mati,” “Amar Babar Mukhe Prothom Jedin Shunechilam Gaan,” “Bhengeche Pinjor, Meleche Dana,” “Bhalobese Gelam Shudhu,” “Shobai To Bhalobasha Chae” and more - Andrew Kishore has performed approximately 15,000 songs throughout his legendary career.
For his tremendous contribution to the film industry of the country, Andrew Kishore won Bangladesh National Film Award eight times as the ‘Best Male Playback Singer’ for ‘Boro Bhalo Lok Chhilo’ (1982), ‘Surrender’ (1987), ‘Khotipuron’ (1989), ‘Padma Meghna Jamuna’ (1991), ‘Kabul’ (1996), ‘Aaj Gaye Holud’ (2000), ‘Saajghor’ (2007) and ‘Ki Jadu Korila’ (2008); alongside five prestigious Bachsas Awards and three Meril-Prothom Alo Awards, to name a few.
Music Alliance Bangladesh cancels 'National Music Festival and Conference' in Sylhet
Music Alliance Bangladesh (Sangeet Oikya Bangladesh) has cancelled its upcoming "National Music Festival and Conference" in Sylhet due to the catastrophic flood in the division.
The month-long festival and conference were scheduled to be held on June 24 at Sylhet Shilpakala Academy.
Shahid Mahmud Jangi, one of the general secretaries of the organisation and president of Geetikabi Sangha Bangladesh, said due to the worst floods in two decades in northeastern Bangladesh, Music Alliance Bangladesh feels the urge to stand by the people by not holding any festival or conference.
Music Alliance Bangladesh lifted the curtain on a nationwide month-long music festival and conference at Zilla Shilpakala Academy, Chattogram Friday.
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Turkish Embassy celebrates essence of Bangladeshi music, cuisine
Turkish Embassy in Dhaka has celebrated the essence of Bangladeshi cuisine and music with a musical soiree and dinner at the Turkish Residence.
The ‘musical encounter’ was part of a series of 'encounters' or engagements in different categories organised by the Embassy and initiated by Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan.
The evening was a means of appreciating the food and music of Bangladesh and also showing a glimpse of it to those who are not as familiar with either.
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The event held on Friday was preceded by other similar chapters as culinary encounters and Sufi encounters as a means to fortify the affiliation between Bangladesh and Turkey through meaningful experiences.
The programme featured classical recitals of sarod and tabla, followed by renditions of songs of Rabindranath Tagore.
The menu had a range of flavourful Bangladeshi dishes, including mutton kacchi and wrapping up with the comfort of traditional sweets.
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Rodrigo, Drake, Ye early winners at Billboard Music Awards
Olivia Rodrigo, Kanye West and Drake are already big winners before the Billboard Music Awards officially kicks off.
Rodrigo and West, known as Ye, both have taken home the most awards with six during a non-televised ceremony on Sunday. Rodrigo, who won best new artist, is a finalist in the top female artist category, which will be announced later in the show's live broadcast.
Sean “Diddy” Combs will emcee the show, which is being broadcast live from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas and will air live beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern on NBC and its Peacock streaming service.
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Drake was named top artist, male artist, rap artist, rap male artist and rap album for “Certified Lover Boy.” The rapper extended his record as the most decorated winner in the history of the awards show with 34 wins.
Ye made his mark in the faith-based categories - again: The rapper won top Christian artist for the first time, but he claimed top gospel artist and gospel song for a third year in a row. He also received top gospel album for the second time.
The Kid LAROI became a first-time winner, taking home five wins for his song “Stay” with Justin Bieber - whose Billboard Music Awards win count rose to 26.
Doja Cat won top R&B artist and R&B female artist for the second consecutive year. She'll compete for top R&B album and female artist.
Taylor Swift - who has the second most-ever award show wins with 29 - won four awards. Bad Bunny received two wins while R&B duo Silk Sonic, comprised of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, won their first-ever award for top R&B song through “Leave the Door Open.”
The show will include performances by Travis Scott, Ed Sheeran, Becky G and other artists who have enjoyed chart-topping success.
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Becky G, who released the album “Esquemas” on Friday, will perform her hit song “MAMIII,” which topped the Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart. Sheeran will deliver a remote performance from Northern Ireland, where he is on tour.
Other acts taking the stage include Scott, who’s nominated in the dance/electronic music category, as well as Miranda Lambert, Meghan Thee Stallion, Morgan Wallen, and Grammy Awards darlings Silk Sonic.
Nominees are determined by Billboard chart rankings and winners are selected based on several criteria, including their album and digital song sales, airplay and streaming success and touring.
The day the music died in India
Indians woke up on Sunday, a weekend holiday, to a shocking news that legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar died, as heartfelt tributes began pouring in for the 'Queen of Melody'.
Lata, who had been hospitalised with Covid and pneumonia since the middle of January, passed away at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai city around 8am at the age of 92.
With over 30,000 songs to her name in 36 Indian and foreign languages since the 1940s, Lata made it to the coveted Guinness Book of World Records as the globe's most recorded artiste.
READ: PM mourns death of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar
From Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and opposition politician Rahul Gandhi to Bollywood celebrities like Hema Malini and cricket icon Virat Kohli, all took to social media to pay tributes as the government announced two days of national mourning.
PM Modi was among the first ones to share the tragic news with the nation on Twitter, saying that "beyond films, she was always passionate about India's growth".
"The kind and caring Lata Didi has left us. She leaves a void in our nation that cannot be filled. The coming generations will remember her as a stalwart of Indian culture, whose melodious voice had an unparalleled ability to mesmerise people.
"Dhe closely witnessed the transitions of the Indian film world for decades. Beyond films, she was always passionate about India's growth. She always wanted to see a strong and developed India," he tweeted.
India's main opposition Congress leader Gandhi tweeted, "Her golden voice is immortal and will continue to echo in the hearts of her fans. My condolences to her family, friends and fans."
Bollywood actress Hema Malini said she was "deeply shocked" as with Lata's death, 'an era in Bollywood has ended". Lata was, in fact, the singing voice of many leading actresses of yesteryears -- Hema Malini being the most prominent among them.
Former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli also tweeted his condolences. "Deeply saddened to hear about the demise of Lata ji. Her melodious songs touched millions of people around the world. Thank you for all the music and the memories," he wrote.
Lata was born in the city of Indore in the central state of Madhya Pradesh on 28th September 1929. She began her music training under her father Deenanath, a theatre personality.
Officially she began her singing career at the age of 13, when the family relocated to Mumbai after her father's demise in 1942. Seven years later, Lata hogged limelight for her first major hit song 'Aayega Aanewaala' in a Bollywood movie.
READ: Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar hospitalised with Covid
From 1960s to 2000s, she dominated Bollywood. In 1974, Lata became the first Indian singer to perform at Royal Albert Hall in the British capital.
In 1989, Lata was given Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest recognition in the field of cinema. In 2001, Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, was bestowed on her by the Indian government.
Lata's sister Asha Bhosle is also a singing legend. But Lata had cleared said in an interview that they never competed with each other. "We're very close," she had said.
David Bowie’s extensive music catalog is sold to Warner
The extensive music catalog of David Bowie, stretching from the late 1960s to just before his death in 2016, has been sold to Warner Chappell Music.
More than 400 songs, among them “Space Oddity,” “Ziggy Stardust,” “Fame,” “Rebel Rebel” and “Let’s Dance” on 26 Bowie studio albums released during his lifetime, a posthumous studio album release, Toy, two studio albums from Tin Machine, as well as tracks released as singles from soundtracks and other projects, are included.
Financial details of the sale were not released. Warner Chapell is the music publishing wing of Warner Music Group Corp.
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David Bowie, born David Jones in London in 1947, died in January 2016 after battling cancer for 18 months. As a performer, Bowie had unpredictable range of styles, melding European jadedness with American rhythms and his ever-changing personas and wardrobes. The gaunt and erudite Bowie brought an open theatricality and androgyny to popular music that changed the very meaning of being a rock star. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
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Last year Warner Music Group reached a deal with the Bowie estate that gave Warner Music licensed worldwide rights to Bowie’s recorded music catalog from 1968.