And On the Brit Pop Front
Pet Shop Boys played a hit-packed set in London recently that saw them cover Coldplay.
The veteran pop duo continued their high rolling year that saw them honoured at the Brit Awards by selling out the 02 Arena.
Their lavish set was heavy on tracks from their new Xenomania-produced collection ‘Yes’, but featured hits dating back to their debut single ‘West End Girls’.
The band had a surprise up their sleeves towards the encore. ‘Domino Dancing’ morphed into a club mix, with Neil Tennant leaving the stage then returning wearing a crown and cloak, with the duo playing a disco version of Coldplay's ‘Viva La Vida’.
It was not the first time the duo has subverted a mainstream rock standard, having covered U2's ‘Where the Streets Have No Name’ in 1991.
The high-tech production featured a wall of blocks and boxes, inspired by the sleeve design of ‘Yes’. For much of the show, the band's dance troupes were wearing boxes over their heads and at one point were dressed up as buildings from the New York skyline.
For the encore Tennant and Chris Lowe returned to the stage with plant pots for hands.
New Inductees in the Hall Of Fame
Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora have been inducted into the US Songwriters Hall Of Fame.
Folk rock trio Crosby, Stills and Nash were also celebrated at the New York ceremony.
Bon Jovi performed ‘Wanted Dead Or Alive’ at the gala event, which marked 40 years of inductions. "It's the closest thing to immortality that we're ever going to see here," said Bon Jovi.
Tom Jones was given the Hitmaker Award, while Jason Mraz took home the Most Promising Talent gong.
Matchbox 20's Rob Thomas, who handed Mraz the title, joked: "I hate you. You've ruined the curve for everybody. You're kind of young, and you're cute. You're just too talented and I think you should stop."
Meanwhile, British song writing duo Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway, who penned the hit ‘I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing’, received a special award.
On another occasion, ‘Black Eyed Peas’ scored a rare US chart double this week.
‘Boom Boom Pow’ notches up an eleventh consecutive week on top of the singles chart, while parent album The E.N.D. debuts at the summit of the albums list.
In addition, the group's latest release ‘I Gotta Feeling’ becomes the highest new entry of the week on the singles chart, debuting in second position.
DELHI 6
Track: Delhi 6
Category: OST Title Song
MAG Rating: *****
Remember “Micko’s” famous song ‘They Don’t Really Care About Us’? Well, here’s a treat, from Bollywood, on the same rhythm pattern and kit along with similarly processed vocals. ‘Delhi 6’, despite the fact that it is more than inspired by already famous tracks - is worth listening for a good few times - as I did.
The track starts with the techno bass sound that dissolves in the instant ambient arpeggios and a processed vocal intro, introducing the unique rhythm kit used on Michael Jackson’s ‘They Don’t Really Care About Us’ hit track. Not to mention that many artists followed the same patterns for their mega hits. Raw processed vocals, techy bass, channel shifting and a sudden intro of the main track beat carries on to the tricky vinyl scratches and oscillated drums perfectly portraying the sound production of ‘Delhi 6’.
The song is an ode to Delhi. It tells how loving and receptive the place is - though we all know the truth. The song in itself is a thorough professional and reasonably seamless production with perfectly synchronised vocals, a catchy tune, a hip-pop rhythm, classy drum rolls and breaks and to top it all with it has a sure dance floor feel. Take that as in groovy, motion demanding thumps all along the track.
After listening to Delhi 6 for a multi dozen times, the song did not seem to wreck any nerves and was still a bit of a treat to the ears.
A good number, although completely copied but once again, a copy worth every effort. This makes it a must listen and an addition to your valuable music library.
DHOOM TANA
Track: DHOOM TANA
Category: Album version studio recording
Artists: Shahzaman Alam
Genre: POP (Conventionally Desi)
MAG Rating: **
The track starts with an alaap of a tinny nature. The sound; acidic nirvana genre conventionally brings in the rhythm, bass, cabasas, percussions, etc. as much as every artist is bound to say that much effort has been put in but the never-ending 1990s are supremely predominant in the songs almost 24 utilised tracks. It won’t be difficult to say that the unexpected doesn’t arise anywhere.
Apart from being a pop genre song the theme of the track slants to a slight spirituality which is certainly not clear as to which side the lyrics would bend next. Overall the listening experience is not bad and may even be a treat to some, the track ‘Dhoom Tana’ revives the much blazed glory of the days gone by in consecutive order to music and celeb act itself.
A good rating for this track is a nice and nifty art, or simple non conclusiveness; could have been better, had the arrangement been laid out in the more trendier, retro, revisited kits - a few scratches on the head - and a few adjustments in the vocal delivery here and there, can well be made out towards the crescendo of every stanza. A bit raw at the edges, the veteran, Shahzaman has a couple of hits to his credit - in the past - and is planning yet another album. The album would surface soon if it hasn’t already.
Arabic Appeal
Haifa Wehbe Lands in Dubai
Arabic superstar Haifa Wehbe arrived with her co-stars and director Khalid Youssef to attend the Dubai premiere of her film Dokkan Shehata in which she plays the role of a simple girl named Beesa who falls in love with the son of a gardener, Shehata, played by the famous Egyptian actor Amr Sa'ad.
Many fans attended the premiere and stood in line for an autograph.
Since the release of the movie in Cairo, the singer turned actress has received positive reviews about her performance from both critics and viewers.
The movie had a very good outcome in Egypt and attracted the attention of cinema-goers throughout the country.n
