Yasmin Taj

Kathmandu:

Music transcends boundaries — be they those of physical handicap or death. Difficult to digest? Think Beethoven Think Ray Charles.

Charles, a Blues legend, who was slowly blinded at seven by glaucoma owing to extreme poverty and lack of medication, is today one of the most dominating talents in music even after death. A true paradigm of rags to riches, of triumph overcoming tragedy and of light transcending darkness, he has the distinction of being both a national treasure and an international phenomenon. His album ‘Genius Loves Company’ has won a leading eight awards in the 47th Grammy Awards, including “Album of the Year” and “Best Pop Album”.

The movie ‘Ray’ — a biopic on Charles — has been nominated for the “Best Picture” category besides eight other categories for the Oscars. Charles who passed away in June 2004 would have never imagined being adored so, posthumously. His drug abuse, self-destructive streak, his relationships with various women and racial discrimination never deterred him from creating timeless pieces of music such as “Unchain my Heart”, “Hit the road Jack”, “Georgia on my Mind” and “Crying Time”. In fact, “Georgia on my Mind” is now the state song after the governor of Georgia apologised to Charles for banning him from performing there ever following his protests against racism there during the 60s and the 70s.

During the 60s or 70s — the flower power era — Rhythm and Blues or “Race Music” (as it was then called) was probably the most popular genre of music amongst those who were looking for a deeper meaning in life. But the patrons of this kind of music are a select few in contemporary Nepal. Charles was not only a Blues artiste but also a singer of Jazz, Gospel, Country and Western music. He was the one who created the unique Soul music, which is the fusion of Gospel with Country and Rhythm ‘n Blues. In fact, he faced a lot of criticism and was accused of being sacrilegious because people could pick out that Gospel music was being incorporated into something that went beyond the sound they heard in church. Some thought it was too innovative while some thought it was plain vulgar.

Though Charles is now a world famous music figure, this artiste and his music still haven’t gained much impetus in our part of the world. In fact, many don’t even know who this personality is and the few who have heard of him are courtesy Grammy and Oscar Awards.

Constance Golding Jones, counsellor for public affairs, US Embassy, Nepal, says the phenomenon is due to the unique sociological history of Nepal. Though the Nepalis are musically very gifted and are greatly in love with the art, besides being naturally talented in anything that involves sound and having innumerable great poets and lyricists, irrespective of financial class (the late queen Aishwarya was a writer of songs), they had a slight bias against music that originated in the west. That despite the exposure to the west through Hippies, trekkers and tourists. There were a select few who were freeminded enough and who had access to western music, maybe, because they were the ones who were usually rich or affluent, and they were the ones who knew Ray’s music. As for the rest, they had no clue.

Post-globalisation, when the country “came of age” they entered directly into contemporary music bypassing the entire generations of musicians that earlier enchanted the world. A precious few youngsters have actually heard Ray who, Jones, insists, is “wonderful and a must-hear for music lovers worldwide”. “Radio Nepal had not been playing his songs earlier, that’s another reason why people aren’t exposed to his creations,” says she.

“Ray Charles is not so famous in our store as there are only a select few who come in to buy his CDs. The youngsters prefer to listen to Hip Hop and Alternative,” says Sunil Tuladhar, owner, Tik ‘n’ Tok Music Store, New Road. On the contrary, Raju Manandhar, owner, All in One Music and Movies, says that Ray Charles is quite a popular name among his customers, “Even before the Grammys, people were buying his music. Even youngsters are fond of him.”

Walking on the streets of Thamel, one can hear all kinds of music being played in different pubs and restobars. Only a faint sound of Blues can be at heard at times from some unheard restaurants. “It’s mainly the tourists who listen to music like that here. Youngsters have become aware of Charles only post-Grammy,” says Nabin Maharjan of Nepa Music Point, Thamel.

“The demand for the movie ‘Ray’ has risen these days and so has the music CD because of which we are now facing a shortage,” says Amit Gurung, owner, Suwal Music Plus, New Road. “Earlier too, Ray Charles was a favourite here among Jazz lovers but the popularity has increased now.”

Singers too are equally in the dark. Musician, model and choreographer Pooja Rana Kansakar admits that she has never heard of Ray Charles. “I draw from Folk music and a select few international tunes. I have never come across Ray,” says Kansakar.

What could be the reason behind the fading out of such kind of music amongst the youngsters here? Probably trends! One tends to follow the latest trends, the latest fashion, and the latest music. If it is “in”, then you HAVE to like it though you don’t like it. Ironic isn’t it?

Blues or Soul seems to remind one of the Flower Power days when Hippies were almost omnipresent with long side burns, flowers in their hair, dope in their hands, a tinge of depression and an “I don’t care” attitude. But, perhaps, today’s people prefer to live only in their closed practical worlds of humdrum and self-centredness.