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Tag: music

  • Elvis Presley birth anniversary: Rocking tribute to the King

    Published in Free Press Journal; Date: 07.01.2018

    As a teenager, Elvis Presley used to hang around at the iconic Beale Street, the hub of the music scene in Memphis. Little did he know then that in few years he would become not only Rock ‘n’ Roll’s biggest star, but also a cultural force of the 50s. Kalyani Majumdar pays tribute to the King.

    Even today Elvis Presley’s soulful voice evoke the same magic that made him a star when the audience heard him on air for the first time. His music, dance moves and persona was something of a shock for the conservative 50’s American society, and it is safe to say that he did pave the way for the rock ‘n’ roll stars of the 60s. “Before Elvis there was nothing,” said John Lennon. That is just how big the Elvis phenomenon was.

    A humble beginning

    Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi to Gladys and Vernon Presley. He had a twin brother who was still born. His parents did several day jobs to get by. On his eleventh birthday he wanted a bicycle and apparently his second choice was a rifle. The bicycle was too expensive and the gun obviously was a bad idea, so his mother got him a guitar instead. In 1948, the family moved to Memphis, and it was here that young Presley got his music influences from. During his teenage years he spent his free time at the black part of Memphis. Beale Street was known for its Blues and Jazz clubs. He would regularly go there to listen to B.B King and other popular black artists of the time. He finished his schooling from Humes High in 1953. He took up a job as a truck driver, but he never quit singing.

    Meteoric rise of Elvis Presley to stardom

    Elvis Presley performing Jailhouse Rock

    In 1954, DJ Dewey Philips played Presley’s version of That’s All Right on his radio show for the first time. It was recorded at the legendary Sun Studio situated at downtown Memphis. After the song was aired the phones won’t stop ringing. The listeners were ecstatic and numerous requests poured in to play the song again. This was only the beginning of Presley’s popularity. In 1956, Presley became a national star. His songs, Heartbreak Hotel, Don’t Be Cruel, Hound Dog, Love Me Tender were all chart toppers. He was unstoppable.  He made his TV appearance with the Dorsey Brothers’ Stage Show and then on The Ed Sullivan Show. After conquering the radio and television, it was his turn to light up the big screen. Love Me Tender released in 1956 did not do that well. However, Jailhouse Rock in 1957 made an impact on the big screen. It had a strong storyline, fantastic songs along with Presley’s signature dance moves. One could even say that the title track of this movie was perhaps the first music video ever made.

    Elvis, the cultural movement

    It was the 1950s when Elvis Presley arrived in the music scene. The American society was conservative then. The demarcation between Black and White people was very stark. Cultural biases were very evident. However, Presley managed to blur that colour line between what was considered Black music and White music. No one before Presley had ever blended African-American R & B with country blues and gospel music, let alone a white Southerner. Unknowingly, he had broken the racial barrier through his music. His dance moves were considered provocative and he exuded sex appeal. He was not conventional and his music did not conform to the norms of that time. He was shaking and stirring the American society. His distinct edgy hairstyle and clothing were becoming a fashion statement for the teenagers. His fame was a clear sign that the youth wanted a change and he was epitome of that change.

    His dance moves were considered provocative and he exuded sex appeal.

    The King had arrived

    People would either like or dislike him, but no one could ignore Elvis Presley. Initially, the popular family television programme, The Ed Sullivan Show had announced that he would not feature Elvis Presley on his show because his music and dance was considered vulgar and was posing a threat to the American society, especially the youth. But seeing the viewership ratings for other shows featuring Presley, Ed Sullivan could not ignore him anymore. However, Presley was shown performing waist up and even then the viewership was phenomenal for that particular episode. Never before had the world seen such hysteria at a music concert. His good looks coupled with his voice made women go frenzy at the sight of him. Teenagers were tattooing his name. America didn’t know what to make of it. Elvis Presley was a phenomenon and was creating the same magic internationally too. Presley was nominated 14 times for Grammy and had won the Grammy three times and was also the recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He is believed to have sold more than one billion records worldwide, and his American sales alone had earned him gold and platinum awards.

    The U.S Army and Personal Life

    He was at the pinnacle of his music career when in 1958 he had to join the U.S Army. He served his country till 1960. It was also at that time that he met his future wife Priscilla Beaulieu. Post his stint in the army, Presley continued to give hits such as Are You Lonesome Tonight in 1960 and Can’t Help Falling In Love in 1961 to name a few. He married Priscilla in 1967, however the marriage didn’t last long and they divorced in 1972.

    If I can dream

    In 1968, Presley came out with his comeback special with a soul searching and socially conscious song, If I Can Dream. Till this day, it is one of the most powerful and emotional performances by him. It was recorded two months after Martin Luther King Junior’s assassination and it made the lyrics and the song even more relevant for the time.

    Graceland

    In 1957, Presley bought the stately mansion, Graceland. It is now Elvis Presley museum and is one of the most visited houses in the United States. Millions of fans from all over the world visit his house which is now a pilgrimage of sorts. Elvis Presley was known for his kindness, humility and generosity. He would often give money to strangers and was always dedicated to his fans.

    On August 16, 1977 he was found dead by his then girlfriend, Ginger Alden in his bathroom in Graceland, reportedly of a heart attack. He was only 42.

    Play it again, Elvis

    While we may or may not see the ghost of Elvis walking in Memphis, he surely comes alive the moment his deep and heartfelt voice floats from the speakers and we can’t help falling in love with him all over again.

  • World Radio Day

    As we celebrate the World Radio Day on 13th of February, KALYANI MAJUMDAR sums up the trajectory of one of the significant inventions of humankind that shaped our world and saw us through some of the epochal moments in history.

    Published in Free Press Journal

    The sound crackled a bit. You turned the knob to clear the radio static as the song Radio Ga Ga by Queen came alive on air, and you sang along the lines… ‘Radio…someone still loves you.” There was a time, when if you wanted to listen to a song you loved, you had to go all the way to a music store to buy music, or you had to wait for your radio show to play that song and even then you were left at the mercy of the announcer to play that song. Sounds unbelievable now, right? Today, if you like a song, just stream it online and buy it in a second. However, radio was not just for entertainment purpose, it was also a source to get news and information.

    Invention: The twists and turns

    Guglielmo Marconi

    The idea of developing radio came from the invention of the telegraph and the telephone. Based on Scottish scientist, James Clerk Maxwell’s theory on the existence of radio waves, in 1886, German scientist Heinrich Rudolph Hertz, demonstrated the projection of electric current of rapid variation into space, in the form of radio waves.But the real question was, could it transmit music and speech invisibly?Although, the credit for inventing radio goes to an Italian Guglielmo Marconi, the Mercury Coherer that was used by Marconi was the exact copy of the one invented by Jagadish Chandra Bose in Calcutta, India. In fact, in 1895 Bose gave a public demonstration of electromagnetic waves at the Calcutta Town Hall.

    He solved Hertz’s problem and the waves could penetrate through walls or water. His demonstration had left everyone spellbound, especially when he passed the wave through the body of Lt Governor of Bengal. However, Bose was looking at it from an academic point of view whereas, Marconi was looking at its commercial viability. Also, Bose believed in free sharing of knowledge and didn’t go for a patent initially. The story doesn’t end there. Nikolas Tesla was another contender for the invention of radio. He was working on it since 1884. He even took Marconi to the court. However, one must understand that often a number of scientists work simultaneously to find different solutions to one problem and sometimes their research is built on works of other scientists. Hence, such overlaps does happen in the world of scientific inventions.

    Radio during the World Wars

    During the First World War, radio technology was still in its early stages of development. The equipment was still bulky, thus difficult to be carried around in the war field. Interestingly, the US army had adapted the design that was known as the horse-pack set, wherein, the entire radio transmitter and receiver could fit into a saddle.During the Second World War, radio transmitters were used by aircrafts, submarines, tanks, and on battlefields. There were codes used for communication. Winning wars depended on breaking codes. Radio played a crucial role.

    Radio and India’s freedom struggle

    Azad Hind Radio was a propaganda radio service that was started under the leadership of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in Germany to encourage Indians to fight for freedom. Bose addressed the people of India from Berlin. You can listen to the recordings online. During the Quit India Movement in 1942, when the British had banned free circulation of news within India, an underground radio station was operated by the Indian nationalists. Freedom fighter, Dr Usha Mehta organised it with the help of ham radio operators. People of India would hear her voice announcing: “This is the Congress Radio calling on (a wavelength of) 42.34 meters from somewhere in India.”

    When Radio was the star

    Before television really became popular, it was the radio that was the main source of listening to news and music. Therefore, radio stood witness to some of the greatest events in history and was broadcasting those events real time. It was the radio that announced the Indian independence when Jawaharlal Nehru gave his momentous speech: “Tryst with destiny”. It was the radio that broadcasted HG Wells’ famous novel, War of the Worlds as a radio drama presented by an entertainer Orson Welles. He performed it as if the alien invasion was happening real time. That radio show caused widespread panic among the audience. Overnight, Welles became a star. You can listen to the radio show online.

    ‘You are listening to All India Radio’

    In India, radio had its humble beginnings. In 1923, the Radio Club of Bombay made the first broadcast in the country and in few months it was followed by Calcutta Radio Club. In 1930, the Indian Broadcasting Service was commenced under the Department of Industries and Labour and in 1936 it became All India Radio (AIR). From only six stations in 1947, today AIR’s home service comprises around 420 stations and is a broadcasting giant that broadcasts in 23 languages and 146 dialects. It also operates FM stations and is the main source of information and entertainment for the masses. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose the radio as the medium to address the nation through his programme called Mann Ki Baat.

    Did internet kill the radio?

    Radio networks worldwide have made a comeback. Recently, a radio and digital project called Radio Garden by Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision came up with an idea to bring the world closer through radio broadcasts. You can download the application and enjoy a global experience. While radio might have competition from all the new technologies, but radio comes with its heritage, nostalgia and identity that is unique. While listening to radio, there is always a certain amount of anticipation of what would be the next song and that element of surprise is missing when you play songs online, isn’t it?