10 essential songs that changed band music in Bangladesh

10 essential songs that changed
band music in Bangladesh

When solid gold is extracted from its ores by mechanical means and separated from other metals by chemical processes, it gleams like this - 10 essential songs changing the face of band music in Bangladesh. Writes Faizul Khan Tanim

So why did these songs change band music? Because no matter how old they are, whether it is playing in the car stereos, at sports events, or in congregations, you are still humming them all along. Be it in the shower; performing them at live concerts or used as soundtracks, they invite you to sing along and establish the phrase – evergreen songs from all aspects.

Abar Elo Je Shondha (Cholona Ghurey

Ashi Ojana-te)

by Happy Akhand, Lucky Akhand and the Windy Side of Care
This hit illustrates the early sound of band music in this country. The chorus is so irresistibly catchy that it forces you to sing along in every trip you make…in every outing you take. This is one of the first songs, which oozed out the bohemian-ness and the craving to be carefree.

A very emotional Lucky Akhand reminisced, ‘this song was written by S M Hedayet and composed by the band Windy Side of Care, which included both Happy and me during a tour to Naogaon district in 1974. The track was then recorded in 1975 at the Ipsha Studio in Dhaka and was first performed by the band at a television show in 1975.’

‘I guess the very first telecast made history, as the crowd sang along every time it was performed on stage and it was also later used as a soundtrack in the film Ghuddi in 1982’.

Mon Shudhu Mon Chuyechche

by Souls
One of the finest lyrics, one of the sweetest tunes ever produced and sung by one of the most-endeared vocalist of our nation – Tapan Chowdhury. It turned out to be one of the greatest ballads in the history of band music in this country, because every time one listens to this song, they comfortably fall in love all over again.

‘It was written and composed in 1978 and after recording, the song was released in the self-titled debut album of Souls in 1981 and hummed, sang at cheered at- till this day in 2008,’ said the lyricist and composer of the song, Naquib Khan, after a brief chuckle.

Mela (Melai Jaire) by Feedback
Everywhere one went in the troubled years of 1991-2, one would hear Maqsoodul Huq’s immortal refrain: Bashonti rong shari pore lolonara hete jaye…melai jaire. Even today, because of the song’s extremely catchy intro, chord progressions and lyrics, it is the most played song after the Boishakhi anthem Esho he boishakh during Pahela Baishakh.

Maqsood says, ‘this was both written and recorded in 1988 and I started performing the song with Feedback from 1989 and believe me it was a massive hit! Its official release in 1990 on the album Mela allowed fans to listen to it at home and not just at concerts’.

Few songs like Mela do so well that they truly unite

jubilance rock and festival pop in 5 minutes 32 seconds of pure bliss.

Bangladesh (Rail Line er Oi Bosti Te)

by Azam Khan with his band Uchharon
This is probably one of the greatest socio-politically motivated songs. And there is our Guru from back then – the lanky long-haired and bearded, imaginative composer who ignited socio-political theme with his songs and sang the song Bangladesh, which spoke of love, discontent and frustration in it’s own way, during the early 70’s.

This straight-down-the-line magnetic song even today makes not only our hair stand up but also urges thousands of people in concerts, at stadiums around the country, to salute, spell out letters with their hands and arm gestures, and shout aloud one word – Bangladesh. It becomes a pure, passionate, phenomenon when you sing this song.

Shei Tumi (Cholo Bodle Jai)

by LRB
Leaving Souls and forming LRB was probably the best decision made by the veteran musician Ayub Bachhu. And who knows, if that incident did not happen, we would not have been blessed by this truly amazing song. Tumi keno bojhona tomake chara ami oshohay…amar shobtuku bhalobasha tomay ghire…Could Ayub Bachhu have ever imagined that this would be one of the most familiar lyric lines in the history of rock ballads in this country?

Chaad Tara Shurjo Nou

by Miles I do not have a single memory during the early to the mid 90’s Eid festivals, which does not have this song in it. A lot of well-known drama and film sequences has this song stitched to the background as the soundtrack and we would see music enthusiasts rocking out to this classic hit in their cars, or in their houses- a reflection of what so many of us had been doing since the release of this mind-blowing monster track. It is catchy, alive, and easy to sing along with full of killer hooks, and it defines what we know as pop-rock perfection.

Taray Taray Rotiye Debo

by James / Nagarbaul

Stylishly longhaired James of NagarBaul in his punjabis, denims and combat boots around the 90’s, brought about a transformation of lyrics and wardrobe style within heavy rock music fans.

James said, ‘this song is taken from different verses of the poetry Uttor by Shamsur Rahman. It was recorded at the studio Audio Art and released in the album titled Nagarbaul when our band’s name was Feelings’.

With the entrancing Taray taray rotiye debo tumi amar, James showed us all how an ordinary musician could transform himself into a music idol. Sing along this song and you can actually imagine yourself there!

Ekti Chele

by Warfaze
When Sunjoy first sang this song in his shrilled and exciting voice, to many it was total madness. But for those screaming heavy metal and hard rock, it was pure revolution. Yes, a music revolution, which had rollicking riffs, thumping bass lines, exciting drum rolls, and killer guitar solos. Most importantly, Ekti Chele shouted urgent lyrics, coming out of the conventional wording style, which many bands used to follow at that time.

The former Warfaze vocalist Sunjoy said, ‘Babna wrote the lyrics and composed this song. And it was the BAMBA concert (a concert where all bands had to perform their own Bangla numbers and no English covers) of December 16 1990 where we first performed this song. To our astonishment, we had a good response’.

‘That was the driving force for the band to want to record the song and an album. But we soon realised that no one was interested. Then God sent Badal and Sentu bhai and blessed us with their Sargam Studio where we recorded Ekti Chele in 1991. Music enthusiasts would come often, listen to the track, and ask about its release and when the song was finally released…I guess you know the rest’, added Sunjoy with a smirk.

Mon Kije Chai Bolo

by Winning
This song was probably one of the illustrious hits in the country. And what very few people know is that this song foresaw the future rise of Hyder Husyn, who is the lyricist and composer of this song.

The band’s drummer Tipu said, ‘when we were performing this song at live concerts in 1987, we received huge appreciation and the song was finally released in 1991, fans were humming Mon kije chai bolo…jarey dekhi lagey bhalo…mon keno badha porena…kijani keno janina with greater passion’.

Sraboner Meghgulo

by Different Touch Where would events like informal gigs be without the song Sraboner Meghgulo? It is possibly one of the most memorable sing-along songs in history. Regardless of how it had very simple lyric and composition, it soon had the world singing along, and particularly, the chorus.

The one-hit wonder band Different Touch, unfortunately, can no longer be traced.