Listen Up!

Rahat Ali Khan in concert… LIVE in Toronto!

If you haven’t caught on yet, Rahat Ali Khan is scheduled to sing live in Toronto on Sunday, November 30. As I write this post, I can hear strains of “O re piya” starting up in my head. I’m a fan, I admit it! The man with a silken voice is here. Woo hoo!

For those who haven’t heard too much of this talented singer, there’s a lot to catch up on. Nephew to the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahat Ali Khan has come a long way in setting up an identity that isn’t synonymous with his famous uncle. Living up to a family legacy may not be the easiest thing to do as is probably the case with many second generation musicians like the Anoushka Shankar or Ayaan and Amaan Ali Bangash. Despite this, Rahat Ali Khan has established himself as a singer of repute and Toronto will have a great opportunity to hear this extraordinary musician live.

If you were to ask me to put together a list of songs that everyone should listen to, I’d be at a loss. I’ve heard some of his popular film numbers as well as other commercial work. Yet I distinctly remember a BBC Urdu live session at which Rahat Ali Khan showed he was a master at his art. Continuously improvising and showing off his vocal dexterity, Khan wowed the host of the show as well as many viewers who tuned in to listen. Definitely a surreal moment there…

 

Going back to the concert in Toronto, I’m looking forward to an evening of good music from an artist I respect and admire for his musical abilities. I haven’t hear him “live” before so this should be an interesting experience. I’ll definitely be able to visualize the moment when I have to resort to listening to his albums on my iPod again…

So I look forward to seeing some (or all!) of you at the Roy Thompson Hall on November 30 at 7 p.m. Watch out for my post-concert review which will be posted…well… post-concert! (no pun intended!) Now, about those tickets I have to get...

For more details on this concert, check out this link or visit Mybindi.com.  

Music and a Good Cause

I’ve been meaning to write about an incredible event that I attended last month. There’s been a lot of media coverage since then but it’s a great cause nevertheless. The event was called Me to We and had thousands of kids supporting and encouraging volunteerism and charity.

 

It could’ve been any other event but it wasn’t. The sheer energy and vibes at the venue was electric. In fact, at the end of it, I almost felt like I could go out and make a difference in the world as an average, everyday person. To feel that positive and full of enthusiasm, especially as a young person, has to be a phenomenal high. And to their credit, the founders of Free the Children, Marc and Craig Kielburger, made every attempt to reach out to the hordes of kids who came in believing in the human spirit. Whether it was telling the audience real-life stories about experiences of child soldiers or child labourers, or asking some famous celebrities to describe their first-hand experiences in a developing country, what shone through was that kids do care. And kids can make a difference. All it takes is a little organization and lots of enthusiasm.

 

You can’t have any big event without music and this one was no exception. You had super cool, alternative band Crash Parallel play some of their hits and some new material. Then there was Sarah McLachlan sing her dreamy ballads in a way only she knows how. You had a nifty DJ who managed to get the crowds in frenzy every time a particular song was played. Incidentally, everyone seems to love Chris Brown and his music. Maybe ‘cos it’s peppy and youthful but the kids are definitely digging this artist. But rather than just bring a bunch of musicians together and have them play songs in between more “serious” stuff, the organizers did a great job of asking the musicians themselves to speak to the audience.

It is truly amazing how musicians so far removed from the every day lives of kids can somehow cross all barriers and speak to them as one of their own. Almost every musician on stage came across as genuinely interested in the cause of kids supporting other kids in developing impoverished nations. The organization aims to build a hundred schools this year in various countries, many of which are in Asia and Africa, using funds and support generated by kids in Canada and North America. Their big moment in the spotlight came with their appearance on Oprah sometime last year and since then, the organization has been covered everywhere.

Despite the O-approval, the Kielburger brothers, are doing a great job at inspiring kids all across the world. And sometimes, that’s all you really need – the belief that you can make a difference. It’s not easy to be optimistic in a world that’s becoming increasingly cynical. But even if they drop shy of the hundred school mark, there are thousands of inspired and motivated kids who are now learning to share and think about the world at large, and not just about their own lives in a safe, comfortable setting.

The video images of poor farmers trying to make a living in rural parts of India and other Asian nations made me feel motivated and guilty all at once. How often do we take our lives here for granted and don't spare a second thought about people in other parts of the world who have to struggle for their day to day living? What about all the times that we throw hundreds of dollars for pleasures like a big-screen TV or a luxurious holiday when there are thousands who could use that money to have clean water, or a better home. Life certainly is not fair but we are still responsible when it comes to making a difference. And a change for the better. Think about it...

You can read more about the organization at www.metowe.com or check out www.freethechildren.com.

You can check out videos of the event here: http://www.metowe.com/events/