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Asian wedding music By Kuljinder Singh |
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Describe the atmosphere and live music at a local pub, restaurant, festival, church or temple, club night.... inspire other people to check it out!
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听听 (0'32) to the winning song, Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna
British Asian weddings are colourful and vibrant occasions, with much of the celebrations centred around music. There are some songs played at almost every wedding, like Bollywood soundtrack classics Aaj Meri Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai () and Teri Rab Ne Banai Jori and some songs that are played for certain traditions in specific cultures. For example, Joote Dedo Paise Lelom celebrates the Hindu tradition of hiding the groom's shoes only to return them for a reward. But of course all weddings have their very own personal soundtrack.
The wedding ceremonies from different Asian traditions take place with a variety of religious music, and the departure of the bride usually has melancholy chanting or songs. But in modern times it's the wedding receptions where the music really comes into its own. Here at the wedding reception, the bride and groom will share their first dance and the families will celebrate their unity.
Since the 1960s there have been part time musicians and singers performing at Asian weddings receptions in the UK. These small groups would sing traditional folk songs in small clubs, community centres or public houses. These artists were mainly Punjabi, singing early Bhangra songs, but they were booked by many different communities, as they brought homeland memories to the celebrations.
By the 1980s the second generation Bhangra bands were writing their own songs and becoming more professional in their approach. Albums were being recorded and artists were touring, but their lifeblood was weddings. Groups such as Apna Sangeet and Alaap have been playing at wedding receptions for decades. The albums and club gigs were merely seen as promotion for the entertainers, and the lucrative wedding market was where the regular money was. Now in the 21st century, these bands have largely been replaced by wedding DJs, with many bands also diversfying into the more manageable arena of live roadshows.
Many Asian artists have recorded wedding songs, some of which have become classics and are played in banqueting suites almost every weekend. Bhangra band Apna Sangeet have even released a song called the cake song, which is now played as the bride and groom cut thier wedding cake. Bollywood musicals continue to churn out wedding themed songs, like the winning song Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna (), played at the festivities the night before the wedding as the bride has Mehndi applied to her, and Saajan Ghar Aiya, which is a song about the groom coming home. Here we celebrate these songs, as we launch the hunt for the best Asian wedding song.
Visit the show to listen to the top five Asian wedding songs. The winner is Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna
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