Comments on: Desi Redux

Desi Redux

Rothko — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 00:08:35 -0800

Cornershop's "Brimful of Asha" and Panjabi MC's collaboration with Jay-Z don't mark Desi's lone inroads into mainstream European and North American culture. The creative hybridizaton might not be widespread, but the impact is felt well beyond pop music, from examples that often range from the comedic to the dramatic to the controversial, giving a glimpse into the ongoing conversation between widely disparate cultures and traditions, going beyond convenient media stereotypes.

By: dhruva

dhruva — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 02:05:55 -0800

This may be entirely apocryphal, but i think i read somewhere that when Cornershop was asked in an interview whether they'd heard from Asha Bhonsle about the song, they were completely unaware that she was still alive. There are tons of other musicians who have contributed to the spreading of desi culture, and I think Night Song (a collaboration between Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Michael Brook) is one of the best fusion albums ever.

By: asok

asok — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 02:17:59 -0800

I like the fact that reggaeton artists are using desi sounds, that's some post-modern cross-pollination! Musically, I suppose it is all a bit last year, Rishi Rich and Brittney Spears (pop-ups), Mis-Teeq and of course Missie Elliot. Still, got to love the chutney. Hollywood seems unable to convert desi into film revenue, which I find amusing considering the succes of Bollywood. Oddly, searching for 'desi' one gets rather alot of lewd links.

By: dhruva

dhruva — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 02:43:22 -0800

heh. Contextually, the desis abroad are all pardesis.

By: gen

gen — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 02:52:05 -0800

This topic was previously discussed in this thread: http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/30211

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 05:43:02 -0800

Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow, mine's on the forty-five surely, one of the best lines ever, from one of the best songs ever. Contextually, the desis abroad are all pardesis no, they are not. they are NRIs. speaking of pardesis, though... Pardesi pardesi jaana nahin Humein chhod ke humein chhod ke Pardesi mere yaara vaada nibhaana