On the dance floor

I’ve heard some fabulously inventive remixes floating around Bombay clubs recently:

‘Main Teri Hoon Janam’ remixed by DJ Aqeel: this is a lift of the Chariots of Fire theme from the soundtrack to Khoon Bhari Mang. Listen to clip.
A dance cover of the Kishore Kumar classic ‘Om Shanti Om’ from the 1980 movie Karz
A dance version of ‘California Dreaming’ by the Mamas and the Papas; it reminds me of the Birds classic ‘Turn, Turn, Turn’

Trini soca pioneer Lord Shorty also did a fun soca version of ‘Om Shanti Om.’ Listen to clip.

His breakout hit was ‘Indrani,’ and his Hindi pronunciation is actually pretty good. Listen to clip.

Indrani, the ol’ Indian chick,
she’s so bony, skinny like a whip…

Lelo, yeh duniya becha…
(Take it, I’ve sold this world)…

I beg she please translate for me
Indrani, oh she’s drivin’ me crazy…

Chutney soca - a mixture of soca music with a strong tassa beat, adding the East Indian influence. Drupatee’s [Draupadi's] “Mr. Bissessar / Roll up the tassa,” Sunny Mann’s “Lotayla,” to Rikki Jai’s “Mor tor.”

Ring bang - soca blended in Bajan [bhajan] cadence, with sharp drumming…

Tassa - … goat skin drums played with high level of intensity, creating a pulsating rhythm. It’s the source of the soca beat. Lord Shorty’s “Indrani” highlighted the tassa. [Link]

There’s also a soca artist from Barbados who goes by the name Rupee, real name is Rupert Clarke.