Via Pickled Politics, here is an upbeat track from a British singer named Bishi:
She’s rocking the sitar, and the music has kind of a new wave synth feel, with a driving bass. (Or whatever — we could also just call it London pop music.)
There’s also this slower song (with a pretty silly video).
Bong a gong, get it on. I hate seeing a fun post like this not get any comments. I can’t decide if her sound is hopelessly derivative and pandering or fresh and vital so I’ll just wait for one of you to tell me. How do we feel about her Tagore meets Winehouse eye make-up?
She’s not only rocking the sitar but the iconic imagery as well. Looking over her pictures reminded me of her (Josephine Baker) and her (Klimt’s Athena). Thanks, amardeep, for this post!
the first video reminds me of an ad (from England) that I saw a long time ago, where a (Sardar) Elvis impersonator was playing a sitar strapped across his chest; he was hawking poppadums to the tune of some Elvis song 😉
Zen, Are you talking about this Tagore? It’s all good.
as a relative used to say, “just enjoy-la, pandering or vital-la, it’s not intended to feed the brain but move the kundi-la.”
she needs to hook up with Juan Maclean (NSFHomophobes) and they can have a great big punky (and live, live, live!) danceathon where jam-band fans and hipsters can mingle in an atmosphere of almost unbearable social anxiety.
Oye! Vivek, see you’re getting the icon-vibe too, yaar.
So clever! Is this some modern dance piece, Nayagan, because I can’t wait to see it. (And here I thought you only did the classical stuff.) Ready to move my kundi-la! (and to stop spammin’ this post with my comments-la ; )
That’s like 3 minutes of my life which I won’t get back. Yet another talent-less hack.
its aight. Perfect for the crowd who has seen it all and are looking for the next new thing. Maybe if she didnt sing…..
I guess Ananda Shankar (RIP) comparisons are inevitable. There used to be a cottage industry of sitar-rocking banglas*. Back in big brother Doordarshan’s time, you could catch some interesting sitar rock on Calcutta Doordarshan. This bit in her bio was interesting. “Singer, multi instrumentalist & DJ, Bishi was born in Earls Court to a Bengali musical family; her mother is an EMI signed artist to this day. She has studied Sitar at The Ravi Shankar School for Music…â€
Note to pedants: I know AS is not bengali.
So Shodan-san, you still haven’t said whether you like or dislike her sound…
Here’s a PRI interview with Bishi, for those who have three minutes to spare, unlike 6pac Shakur, who must have loads of fascinating board meetings to attend or sit-ups to do.
Yes. Sepia is like my release. Doesn’t mean I have to like Bishi.
bess = Bishi ?
6pac Shakur, I’m not Bishi, but maybe bessishi…thinking about that one…yes, sounds great! Thanks for the inspiration. (And as I’m truly talentless, I want to thank you for the 3 secs it may have taken ya to toss that one off ; )
9 · Shodan said
Umm..Anand Shankar is born to bengali parents (although in UP) and was brought up in Bengal. So how is he not a bengali ? Whatever.
I like Bishi’s music here. Although her singing is not up to the par, points for trying something new.
Bess, I like her music. Not crazy about her singing. Zuni, You are right. Shall beat up my sources for claiming him as theirs.
Someone should tell her that putting your leg in the air when you are wearing a skirt will allow people to see your baby maker. Unless that is what she wants, in that case tell her to have brighter lighting.
This is music no guy can listen to according to guy code just like there are movies that guys cannot watch by themselves, like “Fools Gold” or “Atonement”, without feeling like your penis turned into a vagine.
Case in point, look at the 2 min mark in the video and a guy starts twirling around in the background. Any music that causes a guy to twirl is a big no no.
15 · ShallowThinker said
Hilarious. Now I actually want to watch the video. 😉
is it just me – or does everyone find british desis annoying? their accent, hairstyles, clothes..eek!!
I was going to mention that — does it make you at all uncomfortable? Maybe I am hyper-PC, and it’s creeped into my pores so that even appropriate things make me uncomfortable. 🙂
/cue sarcasm
Oh yes, I find ALL British desis annoying. I particularly find their use of the Queen’s English — so close to that of my Nanaji — especially tiring. And with the clothes! Why do they wear them, anyway?
/end
17 · jawbreaker said
Yeah, it’s just you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love the word ‘babymaker’ for that, ShallowThinker 😉
Gawd, that was awful!
Hopefully just you. I think British Desis rock.
Camille I’m looking at it from a different reference point. In my view, or should I say projection, she’s chosen strong female imagery. I’m wild about strong women who make the kind of music that causes guys to twirl.
And, hey, it’s more than a babymaker. Beware vagina dentata!
Poor Ananda Shankar , must be reeling in the afterlife! The music reminds me of my early cooking efforts, just throw in all the masalas and hope for the best. Not that there’s anything wrong with that:-)
yea heard her on friction…btw…someone needs to talk about how the1shanti got signed to mos’ defs former label rawkus and released an album this year…
Meh, looks and sounds like the current crop of Brit School singers, with some table and sitar added. Next!
she is the kind of girl who i would pretend to like just cuz she’s cool, but secretly i don’t listen to her that much… which i do. go figure.