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Kathmandu Wednesday February 07, 2001 Magh 25, 2057.
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Music always makes people tap their toes
By Shraddha Shrestha
KATHMANDU - At present pop music has the largest fan following among the
Nepali masses. The craze for the so-called ‘pop bands’ have lured the youths to
follow on their footsteps.
Long coloured hair and weird dress imitation by the youths trying to look
similar to the pop stars explains it all. But this craze is not new; it has been existing
here since the last 30 years.
The Pakhes, The Melody, Chimpang, The Muscut, The Diamonds, The Daffodil
among others were popular Nepali bands in Kathmandu some 30 years ago. Long coloured hair
and abnormal dress-up were their style as well.
The band members had a hard time as there were no good quality instruments
available in Nepal. The bands managed to keep their banners flying high by entertaining
all by playing on whatever instruments they could find. For them, stage shows were the
only option as no other mode was available to show-off their talents.
The instruments were played a lot then and songs of the Beatles, Rolling
Stones and Santana were popular. Typical Nepali devotional instruments and modern Nepali
pop numbers were also included in their performance package. A little bit of twist here
and turn there would be added to the final touch.
"We used to scale the walls to watch the bands perform" said B N
Vaidhya, of Kamlachhi. Vividly remembering his past he says that those were the days when
instrumental numbers, English or Nepali used to rule.
But, now after 30 years hardly anybody remembers the band or the band
members. All of whom are now in different professions other than their beloved field of
music.
Sanu Kaji Manandhar a member of Chimpang group says " As time passed and
family responsibilities came upon the shoulders of the band members, they opted for steady
career one after the other and finally there were none left in the band." Manandhar
is currently running a grocery shop.
Despite all the hardships of life, music always has been a moment of peace
for all the music band members. Now even after 30 long years music still counts a lot
although their professional work comes first.
Every morning I practice singing and play on my musical instruments. If music
had not been there in my life, then a better part of myself would not have existed, says
Ramesh Shrestha, 53, of Daffodil band.
Thirty years ago it was a tough job to record a song for Radio Nepal. The
lyrics had to be given a green signal by the board members before the song could be
recorded.
"imitations of western music and songs ruled the stage,then, but the
perfection was there. Whatever we used to sing used to be true in itself," says
Shrestha.
No doubt, the material of the guitar strings have changed as well as the
design of the instruments but the essence of the music produced by all the instruments
remains the same as DO,RE,ME—. Of course, the present day lifestyle of the listeners
has changed.
"In my opinion, music of our time was and still is very appealing and
the lyrics touching; and will live forever. Whereas the present day style of music is, no
doubt, very much entertaining to the present generation but short-lived," says Robert
Sharma of Pakhes band.
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