Bengal's Corner

Hello, everyone!

This is the famous video of the Free Hugs Campaign that is all over the internet. I really like this song by Sick Puppies. If you wanna know the story behind the video, follow this link. There is an official page for this but I couldn't upload it few times so I'm not posting that link. More information on the music and band, check here.

Bengal,
offering free hugs too...

Hello, everyone.

Sad news: the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, has just died at the age of 73. He was a major inspiration for rap, funk and disco. Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia in Atlanta, GA, on Sunday. His agent Frank Copsidas said to the media Brown died around 1:45 a.m. (local time) this Monday. Among my favorites, "(Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" and "I Got You (I Feel Good)" are classics by James Brown. I'm sure you all know these and more...

Bengal.

Happy Holidays to you all!

Christmas is almost here and also the promise of a New Year bringing new accomplishments and great adventures... I'll spend the holidays far away from my family this year but I'm happy I have friends around to share this time with. I want to thank you all for the nice messages and emails, and to all the new friendships although this space is on the air for just few days. I'll do my best to keep Bengal's Corner dynamic bringing many interviews and information to you all.

Have a great holiday season and enjoy the carols!! There are so many great songs that are played just during this time of the year... so don't miss the chance!

Felicidades!

Bengal.

Hello, everyone!

This is a little bit of information on Jean-Jacques Goldman - a contribution from my dear friend Jean-Michel Fontaine, from Jean-Jacques Goldman : Parler d'sa vie. The web is in French but you will realize that many of the information, videos and songs can be very accessible for non-French speakers.

For the last twenty years, Jean-Jacques Goldman has been the most successful French language songwriter and singer, performing his own songs or offering them to performers as diverse as Céline Dion, Johnny Hallyday or Florent Pagny. He is little known outside French-speaking boundaries. Still, "D'eux" (aka "The French album"), the album that he wrote for Céline Dion in 1995, is the French best seller album of all times: more than six million copies in the world, including close to four million copies in France!Jean-Jacques Goldman was born October 11th, 1951, in Paris, France, the third of four children. Between the age of 5 and 17, Jean-Jacques learnt to play the violin and the piano, which allow him to write his own musical arrangements later on, which is quite unique. At the age of 16, Jean-Jacques discovered "Think", by Aretha Franklin, a real electric shock for him. He decided to stop the violin to play the guitar. His first high-school band was called "Phalanster".

After graduating from the lycée in 1969, he prepared for the highly competitive entrance exams to gain entry into the French Business Schools. He succeeded into attending the EDHEC, a prestigious French Business School located in Lille, in the North of France. He graduated in 1973 with his Business School Diploma, along with a Master of Sociology which he earned as a dual degree. During his military service, he sneaked out at nights to rehearse with a band in which he was the singer and a guitarist. This band was called "Tai Phong" ("Great wind" in Vietnamese), and was created by two Vietnamese brothers. Tai Phong's first album was released in 1975, and the first single, "Sister Jane", became a summer hit in France. Tai Phong's style is progressive rock, akin to Yes or Genesis.

In 1975, Jean-Jacques Goldman married Catherine, who was on her way to become a psychologist. They had three children: Caroline (born in 1977), Michaël (born in 1979), and Nina (born in 1985). Tai Phong releases two new albums: "Windows" in 1976 and "Last Flight" in 1979. Neither becomes a success. When Tai Phong wants to go on tour in 1978, Jean-Jacques Goldman refuses to go, because he does not want to leave his family. A new guitarist-singer is recruited: Welsh-born Michael Jones, who later on becomes Jean-Jacques Goldman's best friend.

In 1980, Tai Phong break up. Jean-Jacques Goldman goes his own way and tries to become a songwriter. . Unfortunately he is unable to find anyone who is interested in performing his songs. However, EPIC, CBS's new talents label, is interested by Jean-Jacques Goldman's voice. Jean-Jacques Goldman signs a five album deal. In 1981, Jean-Jacques Goldman's first solo album is released. It should have been called "Démodé" ("Out Of Fashion"), but CBS did not agree to the album's name. It shall bear no name. This album contains 11 tracks, including "Il Suffira D'Un Signe" ("One Sign Will Be Enough"), Jean-Jacques Goldman's first hit.

Jean-Michel Fontaine

And that's how it all began...
Thanks, Jean-Michel!

Bengal.

Hello, everyone!

If you are from Canada I don't have much to say, but if you are not and have the chance to be in Montréal (QC) by Dec. 30th, trust me - you don't wanna miss this show! I don't know Réveillons! but I know the other two groups announced in the flyer below and you won't be able to sit still! And there will be more artists on stage to offer you an unforgettable night! Dance to the québécois rhythm!

Bengal.

Hello, everyone!

Stax is back! This is the label that released many great legends of the Soul. Among them we have Isaac Hayes, famous for his theme from Shaft for which he won an Oscar. (For those without a clue yet, he was the voice of the character Chef on the series South Park - sexy voice!)

Concord, which acquired the legendary Memphis label as part of its purchase of Fantasy Records in 2004, will honor Stax’s 50th year by releasing definitive collections, rare performances and more. Also, the first new signings to Stax include Isaac Hayes and great vocalist Angie Stone.

More about the history of the Soul under this label can be learned at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and Stax Music Academy in Memphis, TN.

Bengal.

Hello, everyone!

Just a quick post to show one of my favorite songs by Jean-Jacques Goldman: Tournent les violons. [the video might take sometime to upload depending on your connection]

Bengal.

Hello, everyone!

Since last Dec 16th was Beethoven's birthday, I decided to start our journey talking a little bit about the composer of my favorite work of art of all (it's heavenly music!): the Symphony No. 9 Op. 125 (Choral).

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), the child of the court musician and tenor singer Johann van Beethoven, was born in Bonn (that now is part of Germany). Ludwig's father drilled him thoroughly with the ambition of showcasing him as a child prodigy. Ludwig gave his first public performance as a pianist when he was eight years old. At the age of eleven he received the necessary systematic training in piano performance and composition. Employed as a musician in Bonn court orchestra since 1787, Beethoven was granted a paid leave of absence in the early part of 1787 to study in Vienna under Mozart (another of my favorite composers!). Beethoven was soon compelled to return to Bonn, however, and after his mother's death had to look after the family. In 1792 he chose Vienna as his new residence and took lessons from Haydn, Albrechtsberger, Schenck and Salieri. Around the year 1798 Beethoven noticed that he was suffering from a hearing disorder. He withdrew into increasing seclusion for the public and from his few friends and was eventually left completely deaf. When the famous composer died, about thirty thousand mourners and curious onlookers were present at the funeral procession on March 26, 1827.

And if you want to read more about Beethoven, please check Lucare (where I collected all this information and learned much more...). At this website you can also listen to some parts of Beethoven's body of work (including my favorite!) and discover many stories about the Immortal.

Bengal,
listening to my favorite...

Hello, everyone!

Welcome to my petit musical corner...This is a space inspired by many dancing feet, smiling eyes and singing souls I've met while touring into the musical world. I'll dedicate this space to talk a little bit about many different musicians and their oeuvre. I have a very eclectic CD collection and I'll try to share with you a bit of these delicious sounds and rhythms I discovered so far. Except for RAP and HIP-HOP, you might find any other music style in this Blog. Nothing against these two styles. They are not my thing, that's all. Eventually I might mention one or the other though.

If you have any particular interest and want to share, please be my guest! Leave comments, questions, suggestions and complaints. Above of all, I want this space to be informative to everybody.

Enjoy your visit here and have a happy musical journey!

Bengal,
your host.