We come to the end another year and we all seem to say the same
thing...'where has the year gone?' You take a moment and look back on the
year and put together a conclusion of the year and either give it a thumbs
up success or a thumbs down fail. But when I do that with the UK Bhangra year
2010 all I seem to do in hold my head in my hand go mutter 'what the hell
happened this year?!'
Every year Bhangraheads talk about how this has been the worst year for
Bhangra come December, look back and realise that it wasn't as bad as
they thought. I don't think that could be said of 2010 as, lets be honest,
its has been poor. There have been, however, a few shining lights of
delights and here they are from the mind of Bhamrah - The Top 10 UK Bhangra
Tracks of 2010 (up to 30th November....before chudi’s get twitted!)
Honourable mentions go to
Amit Rai - Batan Ishq Diyan (June)
Highflyers - Baa Farke (September)
KS Bhamrah - Mitran Da Dhol Vajda (May)
DJ Harvey - Ehni Sohni (August)
Jaskuran Gosal - Haan Baliye (June)
Kaos Productions - Long Da Lishkara (Feb)
Enkay - Sadi Akh
Sunil Kalyan -Boli-Funk (March),
10. DCS - Eh Dil (November)
Now you see the thing with this track is that yes its a 2010 track and yes its a good romantic track, but ‘Eh Dil’ will be remembered for blowing up big time from 2011 onwards as one of the top 5 Bhangra orientated first dance track at weddings. As it stands, it kicks off the tops ten of 2010 from the DCS album Punjabi....& U Know It! Now i remember when i was privileged to get a sneak preview of the track in the middle of 2010 and my first reaction was that maybe doing an almost part two to ‘Ran Ne Banaiya Joriya’ was not best way to kick off a DCS album. We all know that DCS as an amazing Bhangra band with their dance tracks always having a big impact on TV, radio and dance-floor. But what ‘Eh Dil’ has shown is that there is still room and an appetite for melody in this day and age which is what this track is about. The almost haunting composition is something you just can help humming and thats the mark of a good track. Its from an album which sees DCS bringing back the recording styles of old and ‘Eh Dil’ stands out as a tracks that will become as common as mutter paneer and dodgy Dad dancing at Punjabi weddings around the world.
9. Garry Sandhu - Main Nee Peenda (August)
I sometimes love how the ‘Bhangra Police’ (basically the people who feel that their online views/ramblings/abuse/etc is the only qualified one, none negotiable behind login names as they know everything there is to know about Bhangra music...) react to certain UK born singers and producers....especially the newcomers. Yes i agree there are more bad then good but lets be honest, there are people who are just hell bent on complaining that UK singers should get more chances but then when comes along are considered a waste of Punjabi! Well 2010 will go down im my history books as the year when a few newcomers made a mark with Garry Sandhu being one of them. With no track record, no pre hype, no marketing Garry Sandhu kicked his career off with a solid debut single ‘Main Nee Peenda’ which became one of the dance-floor highlights of the year. Hailing from Punjab and now in the UK, Garry comes a background of Kavishri (a dynamic style of singing where the singer's gusto compensates for the lack of instrumentation) and teamed up the legendary Frantic Kam of his big hit of the year. Surprising opting not to go for a pro alcohol track, Garry left the intoxication duties to the Ishq to bring a groovy little number with a big voice. He dropped a second single in ‘Dil De De’ but ‘Main Nee Peenda’ was a great start to the career of Garry Sandhu with all eyes on his album in 2011.
8. Panjabi MC - Moorni (November)
Shock Horror...i know nothing about music by having Panjabi MC at number 8 (quote - Bhangra Police Force)! Lets start with the man Panjabi MC and The Raj. Indian Timing was exactly what it said on the tin and took forever to release and quench the thirst of PMC fans. So even the overload of emotion when the next album drops a few months later. ‘Jodi’ ft the legendary Kuldip Manak was the debut single but the impact that ‘Moorni’ has started to make on people is a very positive one. It’s a very new skool PMC sound from the loose, grimy and raw sounds i grew listening in the 90’s. ‘Moorni’ literally is a vocal, dhol, guitar and PMC’s iTumbi lead track with one key ingredient...a very catchy hook. If heard kids and their parents just randomly walking around singing ‘Balle Balle Balle Balle’ and that is a mark of a track thats made an impression. Now my reasoning for having it at number 8 is because even though its a good track i think it sits in the same train journey as ‘Eh Dil’ by DCS in that when the video drops in early 2011 the track will gain a lot more recognition to the casual Bhangra buyer and possibly leading it to be a bigger track in the new year. I wouldn't say its the best Panjabi MC album in his discography, ‘Moori’ is still most defiantly one of the standout tracks of the year....‘Balle Balle’!!
7. Surjit Khan - Jhuti (January)
At number 7 iv gone for a track that a lot of people may well have forgotten was released in January but deserves its place in my top 10 of 2010. A track that has a melody and composition, different style of music and designed to be a track which you appreciate for what it bring you on a pure musical level. Surjit Khan was always a singer that was known, respected but not someone who the audience who put in their instant list of Punjabi vocalists. Roll in UK’s acclaimed producer Ravi Bal who took on Surjit Khan’s talents and put together the album ‘Headline’. The standout track without a doubt was the opening track of the album in ‘Jhuti’ which has seen creativity in music a much needed boost. The track isn't your typical Bhangra track, its not a typical Bollywood track, its just a wonderful piece of music which is influenced by elements of rock, hindi cinema, Punjabi instrumentation and UK sounds. Coupled with the powerful vocals of Surjit Khan ‘Jhuti’ is that ‘something different’ that many of the consumers always ask for and with the interesting deep coloured video to accompany it, the Surjit Khan and Ravi Bal combination has taken off world wide. Looking back at tracks of 2010 the success of ‘Jhuti’ shows that there is still a place in todays world for great musical scores to be accepted and enjoyed. It just remains to been seen if Bhangra producers have got the inspiration and the ability to experiment to push forward more exciting music....more please from Surjit Khan & Ravi Bal!
6. Popsy - Naag 2 (November)
Making music in a recording studio involved patiences, creativity and a certain amount of future predictions into what the audience may enjoy hearing. Making music on stage as a live musician involves a lot of concentration, sharpness and flair. Not many musicians have the ability to cross over between the two with success. The big man of Bhangra Popsy is definitely one of those who has and did again in 2010. Having started off his career in the mid 90’s as a keyboard player, most notably for Jazzy B, Popsy made his name as a producer with the cheeky little single called ‘Girl’ and went on to produce 3 projects. 2010 saw Popsy’s album Hyper feature a host of vocalist and non bigger than the ‘Crown Prince of Bhangra’ Jazzy B. The simplicity of the track is maybe the key element in why it cuts through with so much power. Vocals, dhols, bass guitar are the basis of keeping this track a UK folk piece. ‘Naag 2’ has been a much requested dance floor tune for the hard core desi massive and has one of the most extravagant Bhangra videos of all time. Jazzy, as usual, is making love to the camera in his unique style as the face of the video. A big look from the music machine Popsy as the sounds of live music and studio production come together on ‘Naag 2’.
5. Manni Sandhu - Door Ne Kulne (October)
The lack of music from some of the big hitters, and just the terrible state of some of the music that did come out in 2010, left the door open (pardon the pun) for new comers to shine. Enter Manni Sandhu who finally stepped up with his debut single ‘Door Ne Kulne’. Manni has had a very original and unique rise up the music ladder making full use of the free media available. He started off as a very young lad who would film himself in his bedroom doing production work and showcasing his musical talents, filming himself and posting them up on youtube. It created a bit of a buzz and left those following him in anticipation for something more official. Manni then sent an original production called ‘Pawara’ to the BBC Asian Network’s Bhangra Breakdown which was picked up by then presenter Ameet Chana as one of the outstanding grass roots talents and one too look out for....he got that spot on! Now Manni has stepped up and has produced one of the the most requested tracks of 2010 in ‘Door Ne Kulne’ alongside the vocals of Manak-E. Its a fresh, young sound with a very different lyrical topics. It captures the imagination of the buying youth and those who have ever experienced the word from Mother dear after a very late out on the town. Its catchy, its cheeky and as the songs says....if you have any issues from your parents ‘Roti Manak-E De Ghar Jaake Khaa’ - now we all have somewhere to go!
4. Foji - Dafa Hoja (March)
Quite possibly the most successful newcomer of 2010 comes in the form of the Midlands very own folksta Foji. Now allow me to be honest for a second, the career of Foji almost died a death before it even got going! After spending over a decade as the vocalist for Bhangra dance troop Nachda Sansaar, Foji decided to take control of his career and made his introduction with his debut single ‘Bondhl-Gai’. The song wasn't the greatest and as far as the video goes, well i don't think it did anyone justice (except maybe the ladies looking for a visual CV for a job as an exotic dancer!) Then along came ‘Dafa Hoja’ when erased all memories of the previous track. The track gained a cult following and when the video dropped it grew in momentum and popularity. Featuring the vocals of Miss Pooja the track is a full on, full fat Desi track which contain all the great elements of duet nakhre and dance-floor beats. It stormed the Official Asian Download charts and launched Foji around the UK as a performer. The icing on the cake is the tracks video which may well be the best video of the year. When i first saw it i honestly thought that the video was shot in Punjab because of it authentic and retro look. When Foji revealed to me that it was shot in the UK i had to tip my topi to the team behind it for depicting in amazing style and profile of retro Punjabi stage shows of the 70’s and 80’s. Followed up with a very eclectic album, Foji’s ‘Dafa Hoja’ has done wonders for 2010.
3. PBN - Kaun Nee Jaandha (April)
Since the turn of the millennium Panjabi By Nature was considered by many as an alright producer who made a couple of great tracks. That all changed in 2009 with his Homegrown album which transported Hepz to one of the most successful producers of our generation. His tracks like ‘Aashiq’ & ‘Dancefloor’ firmly established his style and all doubters eyes were on Hepz for 2010 to see if he could follow up his success. He kicked off with the success of his collaboration with ‘Paunda Bhangra‘ for Malkit Singh MBE, continued with his hook up with KS.Bhamrah (Apna Sangeet) for ‘Mitran Da Dhol Vajda’ but it was from his own album Crowd Pleaser which showcased his talents as someone who is a consistent deliverer of great dance anthems. ‘Kaun Nee Jaandha’ became one of the dance floor essentials of the year for all DJ’s. Its a tracks which every ‘unsure of his ability’ DJ will keep to one side to use as a track to get everyone back on the dance-floor. It retains that unique PBN style and groove, beefed up with the dhol talents of the internationally acclaimed Dhol Foundation, topped with the surprising vocal choice of Daljit Mattu and Hepz brings Bhangra fans another hit. With collaborations alongside XLNC, Lehmber Hussainpuri & Jassi Sidhu set for 2011, whether you like the tag or not, the ‘Hitmaker’ Hepz delivered another bagger leaving every saying....PBN nu ‘Kaun Nee Jaandha’!!
2. Kulwinder Johal - Johal Boliyan (May)
2010 was a history making year for Asian music as the first Official Asian Download chart was conceived and launched which handed power to the people to decide which music they wanted to buy and influence the charts. The debut single from Derby’s Kulwinder Singh Johal was one of the biggest success stories of not just the year but of the charts. Released in May it was an official number one for 2 months and still in the top 40 come the end of the year. Kulwinder Singh Johal’s career has always been something of a caged animal waiting to be released in all its wild glory. His high pitched, raw, powerful vocals have graced some big desi numbers from the camp of Specialist & Tru Skool....with 2010 seeing his debut album being released which featured ‘Johal Boliyan’. The track also introduced one of the most anticipated vocal potentials in Raman Aujla. A lot of eyes and ears were wondering how the powerful desi vocals of Kulwinder Johal would sit alongside the voice of a UK born female vocalist. Under the guidance and tutorage of Tru Skool the results were a UK-Folk master piece. A Punjabi fimli cover version delivered with attitude, conviction in the true style of UK Bhangra. It’s given, one of the nicest guys iv ever had the pleasure of meeting in this industry, the anthem of his life that dance-floors will forever enjoy....it’s what we call in the trade as a ‘Big Tune’!
1. DJ Sanj - Teray Hussan De Maare (July)
The man has never been short on confidence, controversy or a thing or two to say about the music industry. The other thing that this man has never been short of throughout his career are great tracks and with his return in 2010, DJ Sanj treated us all with the biggest track of the year. Lets be honest, it’s been more than just a roller coaster career for Sanj but with ‘Teray Hussan De Maare’ he has reestablished himself as one of the key players in Bhangra. From selling mixtapes on street corners in America, storming charts in the early 2000’s , BPI investigations, Bollywood exile & adventures, the long awaited album American Desi saw Sanj unleashed his new sound. Would be considered a great album? No, but the hook up with vocaling marvel Master Saleem gave the radio and dance floor track. A great melody, simple yet solid beats, hook lines, vocal alaap which gets everyone bellowing along while dance and a nice happy Bhangra track. The video saw some get chemistry between Sanj & Saleem which shows that they may well have struck up an understanding for more music in the future.
So we have my top 10 of 2010. Some great standout tracks from a whole batch of not so great ones. If i had to sum the year year up in one sentence - ‘Bhangra was in a coma from January to May, came to life in June and was kept alive via life support machine for the rest of the year’. Im sure many of you will and agree and no doubt millions will disagree with my selection...so get posting and share your Top 10’s of 2010 and i’ll see you in the new year - Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!
Dipps Bhamrah
www.dippsbhamrah.com
www.facebook.com/dippsbhamrah1
www.soundcloud.com/dippsbhamrah
www.youtube.com/dippsbhamrah
www.myspace.com/dippsbhamrah
www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/breakdown
