Bangla music has a wide spectrum to choose from, and here is list of songs you must have a listen to, if you haven’t already, from three different genres; all Bengali songs, all beautiful.
Contemporary
‘Tor Jonno’ by Arnab
Tor Jonno is one of the tracks from the solo album, Hok Kolorob released back in 2006, by Shayan Chowdhury Arnab. During his years at Shantiniketan, Arnob had written the songs that have gone onto becoming compiled in this album. The album also happens to contain lyrics from Sahana Bajpaie and Taufiq Riaz.
‘Bondho Janala’ by Shironamhin
Bondho Janala, a song quite challenging for Shironamhin, is one of their earlier creations that has led to and shaped their fame today. The album had been a means for the band to experiment with different acoustic instruments such as the Esraj and the Silver Flute.
‘Tomakei Bole Debo’ by Sanjib Chowdhury
Tomakei Bole Debo, a song sung by the late Sanjib Chowdhury, who was a Bangladeshi singer, lyricist, and journalist. Along with Bappa Mazumder, he was one of the two leading members of the Bengali Band Dalcchut.
Festive
Ramjan Er Oi Rojar Sheshe
Without this song, can we Bangali folks even Eid? Your chand raat needs to comprise of this song being played in full blast; if you’re not humming this song all Eid, you need to go on a hunt for your lost Eid spirit. Not a lot of us know this, but the context of the song was based on the growing religious dispute between Hindu and Muslims in undivided Bengal, and it was written and composed by our national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.
‘Melay Jaire’ by Feedback
This is a song that has turned out to become a Pohela Boishakh anthem for Bangali millennials. Feedback is a Bangladeshi band, formed in 1976, and one of the few tracks which are still alive and playing, is Melay Jaire.
Patriotic
Amar Shonar Bangla
Written and composed by the poet Rabindranath Tagore in 1906 was Amar Shonar Bangla, the first ten lines of which were adopted in 1972 as the Bangladesh national anthem. This was written in the context of Bengal partition; Rabindranath had opposed Lord Curzon’s decision to divide Bengal in east and west.
Mora Ekti Phool Ke Bachabo Bole
At Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, the revolutionary radio station, songs were broadcasted to inspire freedom fighters. From the diary of lyricist Govinda Halder, 24 to 30 songs were composed; all these songs are known as ‘Joy Banglar Gaan’. Composer Apel Mahmud chose the lyrics for the song in question, and it was aired on the first week of June, 1971.
Ek Shagor Rokto Periye
Right after the declaration of Independence, Govinda Halder penned another masterpiece, Ek Shagor e Rokter Binimoye, a true tribute to martyrs.
#BengaliSongs #TorJonno #RomjanErOiRojarSheshe #KaziNazrulIslam #RabindranathTagore
