Week 6: Assignment

Due: March 10

CH 5. Part 3 (Popular Music of South Asia)

1. What genre of music is called filmi or filmi git in South Asia?

2. What is “playback singing” in South Asian popular music, specifically in the Bollywood
music industry? Provide an example of one playback singer discussed in your textbook
(and arguably the most well-known female playback singer in Bollywood history,); see
the following examples to help with your answer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkQAfGo3V8Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV0-rrdPJKw

3. Compare and contrast the original song-and-dance sequence, song titled “Jimmi Jimmi
Aaja” from the 1982 Bollywood movie, Disco Dancer with M.I.A.’s remix version which
was released in 2007:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUdJQSUcK_Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBECisSkAu4

4. Compare and contrast the following versions:

popular rendition sung by Pakistani vocalist Musarrat Nazir (1989)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1MSUIGk4dc

song-and-dance sequence, song titled “Mera Laung Gavacha” from the 1991 Bollywood
movie, Naagmani

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISd13QICKs8

Bally Sagoo’s UK-Punjabi British, reggae dancehall or “ragamuffin” remix version

(1993) which was released in 2007:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wcBUy1zrxs
5. What is bhangra music and dance (see pg. 111; include traditional contexts and
traditional instruments featured in folk performances; able to identify the signature beat)?
What is “bhangra remix” music and how would you define it? Listen to the following
examples of bhangra (first example) and bhangra remix to help you answer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI-m_YPAi-c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4AhRFOH-z4

and a remix of bhangra remix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6_uYzX6Xj8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLrSeNX7llk

more bhangra dancing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Is-p5cqH-A

6. How would you define this genre of music? Do you notice any traditional Punjabi
musical instruments?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gsy5sJy5_34

7. Junoon is a rock band from Pakistan and is one of the earliest bands of its kind from the
country. How would you characterize its sound in this example?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8anr6et3Lw

8. What might you call this genre? Nav-47 is an artist from the southern state of Tamil
Nadu, India.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAVj3lZaM_s

9. What genre would you classify this Punjabi artist’s music? (RIP Sidhu Moose Wala)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seEO3--
Sy3c&list=OLAK5uy_kaPq5YlWbGkkRYz8G5n7uoebUU1XG-K6A&index=21

10. The genre in South Asia called the ghazal is foundational to South Asian popular music
and the basis for Hindi-language cinema and film songs, or Bollywood (as well as
Lollywood in Pakistan and other regional industries in India). Ghazal was originally a
form of Arabic poetry. In this classic example of a ghazal by the singer Begum Aktar,
typical ghazal themes are depicted. What are they and what are you opinions of this style
 given your knowledge now of classical and popular music of South Asia? Here are some
of the lyrics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzq1rpuFMig

Woh Jo Hum Mein Tum Mein Qaraar Tha, Tumhe Yaad Ho Ke Naa Yaad Ho
Wohi Yaani Waada Nibaah Kaa, Tumhe Yaad Ho Ke Naa Yaad Ho
That steadiness/agreement that we had between us, whether you remember or
not,
That promise of staying loyal, whether you remember or not.

Woh Naye Gile, Woh Shikaayatei, Woh Maze Maze Ki Hiqaayatei

Woh Har Ek Baat Par Roothnaa, Tumhe Yaad Ho Ke Naa Yaad Ho
Those displeasure, those complaints, those light playful amusing stories,
That sulking of yours on every matter, whether you remember or not

Kabhi Hum Mein Tum Mein Bhi Chah Thi, Kabhi Hum Se Tum Se Bhi Raah Thi
Kabhi Hum Bhi Tum The Ashana, Tumhei Yaad Ho Ke Naa Yaad Ho
Once there was desire between us as well, once there was joy between us as
well,
once even we had friendship between us, whether you remember or not

Jise Aap Ginate The Ashana, Jise Aap Kehate The Baavafaa
Main Wahi huu ‘momin-e-mubatala’, Tumhei Yaad Ho Ke Naa Yaad Ho
Whom you counted as a friend, whom you called loyal,
I am the same suffering Momin, whether you remember or not.