The great news many of us received from her son, Anand, is that Asha Bhosle has now entered the Guinness Book of World Records.
References: Bollywoodworld.com / Hindustantimes.com
The Godmother, the Grandmother and Le Grande Dame of Indian Music, I would have thought this absolute timeless, ageless and peerless singer would have already been in the Guinness Book.
Better late than never.
I would also think that, if she hasn’t already, Asha Bhosle should also be honoured in the Annual Queen’s Honours List.
Long before A R Rahman, there was Asha Bhosle and what many don’t realize is the “hip and cool value” of this remarkable lady.
Remember Cornershop and their one and only hit, Brimful Of Asha?
Well, that was their homage to Asha Ji.
Then there was the track, “The Way You Dream” with R.E.M’s Michael Stipe on the ground-breaking “One Giant Leap” project.
When at Universal Music and remixes was almost a new word, I worked with Hong Kong’s Digital Cutup Lounge and which brought together a stunning looking newcomer at that time named Nelly Furtado together and Asha Bhosle.
The work was rough but remains one of my favorites and also that of Miss Furtado.
And why not? It still sounds bloody good.
LISTEN: We-Enhance.com (Like A Bird)
Meanwhile, as always, a concert by Asha Ji in the UK is a guaranteed sell-out.
Many wish to record with her, but she – and Anand – pick their work carefully.
The last I know about any “outside work” was her duet with Sri Lanka’s Bathiya and Santhush.
What I am most proud of are two tracks we produced featuring Robbie Williams and Asha Bhosle.
Produced in India by Shameer Tandon and in Hong Kong by Morton Wilson and myself, I still think what a crappy job EMI did in promoting these two tracks.
LISTEN: We-Enhance (Better Man) / We-Enhance (Rock DJ)
Call it chest-pounding, but I think they are still pretty amazing – a great blend where East truly met West.
What happened to these tracks?
There was type of “sync deal” with Ericsson mobile phones and then … and then, well, nothing.
Perhaps with this new honour bestowed on Asha Bhosle, EMI can go to their vaults and resurrect these tracks and give them the priority they always needed.
Meanwhile, here’s hoping to hear more East-West musical partnerships between Asha Bhosle and such as David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Damon Albarn, Michael Stipe, Adele…
There’s a new album and accompanying musical waiting to happen, Anand.
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