13/365: Brimful of Asha

[valadilenne]

I first heard this song waaaay back in 2002, which was well after it came out, I think. My friend Julia made me a mix CD and this was the very first track on it. I had never heard it before then, and it was fascinating to listen to the mix of English and Hindi. When I Was Born For the Seventh Time was Cornershop's 1997 album (despite loving this song more than anything, their Handcream for a Generation is the one I prefer because it has a better House blend and is more integrated), and this song still does not fail to cheer me up when I feel bad. It's my go-to track for pretty much anything. It's upbeat and deep at the same time, I think.

So let's break it on down.



There's dancing behind movie scenes,
Behind those movie screens - saddi rani.
She's the one that keeps the dream alive
From the morning past the evening til the end of the light.

(Chorus 1)
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45
x2

And singing
Illuminate the main streets and the cinema aisles.
We don't care about no government warning,
About the promotion of the simple life and the dams they are building.

(Chorus 2)
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
everybody needs a bosom
x3
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Mine's on the 45

Mohammed Rafi - forty-five.
Lata Mangeshkar - forty-five.
Solid state radio - forty-five.
Ferguson Mono - forty-five.
Non public - forty-five.
Jacques Dutronc and the Bolan Boogies ...
The Heavy Hitters and the chi-chi music ...
All Indian radio - forty-five.
Two in ones - forty-five.
Ovvo records - forty-five.
Trojan records - forty-five.

(Chorus 2)

Seventy-seven thousand piece orchestra set
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Mine's on the RPM

(Chorus 1)
(Chorus 2)



Asha Bhosle is India's most famous Bollywood soundtrack artist--she's recorded hundreds of thousands of songs for the expansive and wealth-generating Indian movie industry. She has a very distinctive voice, because high-pitched singing is considered a very beautiful standard.

The word "Asha" is both her name and, translated, means "Hope." So it's both a Brimful of Asha Bhosle, and as you'll see, a Brimful of Hope for the Indian people.

Saadi rani means "Our queen" in Punjabi. The rest of the song is about how Indian moviegoers will never be swayed from the beautiful fantasies portrayed in Bollywood films--how despite the "government's warnings and promotion of the simple life," the colorful sets, lengthy dance sequences, catchy songs, and just plain silliness of the whole thing is always going to capture people's attentions.

The long list of famous performers includes Mohammed Rafi, who sings the famous "Jaan Pehechaan Ho" from the opening credits of Ghost World, and Lata Mangeshkar, who is Asha Bhosle's sister and the second most famous Bollywood singer.

But the real poetry is from that line

Seventy-seven thousand piece orchestra set
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Mine's on the RPM

That's the real majesty--imagine an orchestra as big as a city, all performing for one beautiful soundtrack. That kind of universal scale is so comforting to think about.

Best song ever.