Music
An appreciation for good music
A WELL known Fijian musician once lamented at how fellow Fijians take for granted the beauty and skill of local music and it’s only when they visit other Pacific countries that they see the appreciation...
Music festival to feature over 100 performers
THIS year’s 2018 Vonu Uprising Festival of Music, Dance and Lights is expected to be bigger and better for music lovers as the countdown begins towards the November 10 show. In this week’s Backtracks column, we talk to the producer of the event (Pacific Coast Events and Promotions) Darlene Underwood and how the boutique music...
Reviving the Fijian pride -Tulua ni vuki
“TULUA ni Vuki Tulua ni Dro”, a song written about former education minister Taufa Vakatale in the ’40s, is among a list of old chants, songs and meke that will enthral audience in an upcoming concert to celebrate Adi Cakobau School’s 70th anniversary. The October 5 concert hopes to showcase and revive interest in compositions...
Record label secures right to promote new album
REFRESHING a long-time friendship, Procera Music signed a contract with the Dokidoki Production as official promoters for Leba Boi Yawa E Lomai Nasau’s new music album, volume 7. Speaking at the official signing, Procera Music managing director Mohammed Akif said Procera Music was also a distributor for Voqa Ni Delai Dokidoki’s volume 1 and 2...
Chand tries to make changes in people’s lives with his music
YOU would usually see him rushing around with his cameras on the football field at local tournaments, but little do people know that Avikash Chand is making a name for himself in lokgeet (Hindi folk singing). Chand, 40, grew his interest in singing at the age of 10 since his father was a talented bhajan...
Sandalwood Rhythm
IN the 1970s, the country’s best musicians would take leave from their respective gigs every Sunday and gather at the Suva Civic Centre. The impromptu jam session was the brainchild of Suva businessman and entrepreneur, Tony Philp. The informal musical gathering was known as Sunday Showcase and the band that backed the star-studded singers who...
Vanessa Quai to perform at Procera Music Festival tonight
THE Procera Music Festival received a big boost today after Vanuatu’s sensational music artist Vanessa Quai agreed to perform at the festival tonight. Vude Queen and renowned local artist Laisa Vulakoro confirmed this saying Quai will be performing at 9:15pm to 10pm at the Valelevu grounds in Nasinu. Vulakoro said Quai just happened to be...
A passion for music
FOR just a few minutes, Leslie Kaiyatia captured many passerby’s attention with his soothing ukulele gospel beats while sitting outside The Fiji Times office in Butt St, Suva. Even with the passer-by busy schedules many stopped to look and listen to the calm music that Leslie played. Being from Naiiviivi Village in Qamea, Leslie uses...
Cher turns back time with album of ABBA cover versions
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Making a cameo in the “Mamma Mia!” movie sequel gave Cher a taste for the music of ABBA. Now the singer and actor is releasing an album that will feature cover versions of the Swedish pop group’s hits, and going on tour to promote it. “Dancing Queen,” to be released next...
Senivutuvula band, the pride of Vaturova
THEY are the true essence of Vaturova hospitality, instilling in every stranger a feeling of being at home. This was the feeling of a recent government entourage to the village led by Minister for Employment Jone Usamate as they were being serenaded by the Senivutuvula band. Back in the days, the original Senivutuvula band was...
Turkey fines TV channel for Pink’s video with dancing of ‘homosexual nature’
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey has fined a television channel for showing a music video by Pink that featured “erotic dance figures of a homosexual nature”, a ruling made by its television watchdog showed. Broadcaster AS TV was fined by the Turkish Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) over the video for “Secrets”, which it said...
Respect within Fiji’s music industry
RESPECT is a rhythm and blues song originally recorded and released by US singer Otis Redding in 1965, but it was Aretha Franklin’s 1967 version that took the world by storm. Respect is what Aretha got because she gave it. Despite her mega success as a recording artist and performer, she never forgot her gospel...
Band makes it big
HIS passion for fighting crime led Qica Vosamana to joining the Fiji Police Force, became a policeman and led young boys in his village in Macuata province to form a musical group — which is now creating airwaves in Fiji. The Vesidrua Village lad, together with his cousins and brothers, formed the Savu Rogoyawa kei...
Bishop sorry for embrace of Ariana Grande at Aretha funeral: report
(Reuters) – The bishop who officiated at Aretha Franklin’s funeral has apologized for being “too familiar” when he embraced singer Ariana Grande after her tribute to the Queen of Soul. Bishop Charles H. Ellis III of the Greater Grace Temple was criticized by many social media users for appearing to touch the side of the...
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Fans pay their last to Aretha Franklin
DETROIT (Reuters) – Aretha Franklin’s body lay in repose on Tuesday while her soaring voice poured out from loudspeakers outside a Detroit museum, stirring fans to sway and sing along and others to weep as they lined up for a last glimpse of the Queen of Soul. Franklin died last week at the age of...
Prakash’s growing love for ‘kirtan’
MY music will tell you more about me than I ever will. This was the sentiment of local kirtan artist Praneel Prakash Charan who has been singing for nearly two decades now. Prakash’s love for kirtan began when he was in class six through his father Ram Charan — “SP Boy” — who himself was...
Howlett is Fiji’s first Grammy winner
WORLD renowned musician and music producer Mike Howlett is a Grammy award winner. He has also rubbed shoulders with the best in the business. As a producer he has worked with some of the biggest English pop groups including Tears for Fears, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and the Thompson Twins. As a bass guitarist...
Eagles hits album tops ‘Thriller’ on all-time sales list
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The Eagles’ greatest hits compilation featuring rock classics such as “Take It Easy” and “Witchy Woman” has dethroned Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” as the top-selling album of all time, according to industry data released on Monday. The album, called “Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975,” has racked up sales or streams of more than...
‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin dies aged 76 – AP
NEW YORK, Aug 16 (Reuters) – Aretha Franklin, the preacher’s daughter whose powerful voice made her the long-reigning “Queen of Soul” with such hit songs as “Respect” and “Chain of Fools,” died on Thursday at the age of 76, the Associated Press reported. Franklin, who won 18 Grammys and had some 25 gold records, died...
Rap, hip-hop in focus
FIJIAN band, Tolu (Three) plans to introduce new musical genres into the iTaukei music industry to make it more diverse and appealing. While many are used to hearing iTaukei love ballads, duets, jazz, and hymn singing, the band is slowly introducing rap and hip-hop in Fiji through new numbers yet to be compiled into an...
