the goan I network
PANAJI
Goa' pop icon Remo Fernandes released a new single on Covid-19 and did what he's known to do best “ lyrically sting Goan society in particular for despicable traits that tend to discriminate and demean 'other' communities.
The song 'When Will You Learn Man' was uploaded on YouTube Friday, and according to Remo himself, came about in "just half an hour".
The lyrics are about "general human mentality" and "behaviour" before, during and after the pandemic, Remo said in a brief introduction to the song.
They scorn at the tendency of Goans to demean migrants by addressing them derogatorily with the term 'ghannti' and also take a dig at people generally discriminating on community lines in the wake of the pandemic.
"Before this pandemic, we screamed: Ghannti, immigrant, Muslim, Christian and Hindu. After this pandemic, we shall scream: Ghannti, immigrant, Muslim, Christian and Hindu" go the lyrics of the song.
The music score is styled, in Remo's own words, on the lines of "the late 70's rock bands playing in garages".
In his brief introductory statement on the song, Remo said only live rock band instruments - - electric piano and electric, bass and acoustic guitars were used to produce the music. Also, a one-drum track, which Remo himself programmed, is used.
Other portions of the song's lyrics say that humans and the world order will not learn their lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic, just as lessons weren't taken from the two world wars or past pandemics including the Black plague and Spanish flu.
With the lyrics, Remo in the later part of the song calls the bluff of blaming the pandemic on the Chinese thus: "But right now we can't blame any of these. Right now we are down on our knees. Right now we dare not even sneeze. So we transfer our hate to the Chinese!"
The chorus questions: "When will you learn, man, that love and only love will save the clan... not greedy power plans."
The video clocked over 23,000 views within hours of it being uploaded on YouTube.
A Padmashri awardee, Remo is known to have strong views on social, cultural and political issues as well. His songs over the decades have taken the critique hue, as he did not shy away from calling out personalities with his lyrics, barring of course for the music he did for the film industry and show biz, where he has significant hits under his belt.
The most memorable and famous of his performances taunting personalities through his lyrics was arguably in the 80's when, he sang live to the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, his song "Hello Rajiv Gandhi" at a State dinner.
The lyrics poked fun at the late Prime Minister for riding on dynastic power. The bold act then had earned him the leader's accolades, in sharp contrast to artistes facing courts and jails in current times for creative critique.
Friday's release of a song by Remo came as a surprise to his fans, especially after he recently responded to calls for making music, negatively.
On a social media site to friends egging him to belt out some music so they can listen up through the lockdown, Remo had commented thus: "You will understand that one needs to be in the right mood for singing... and these days, honestly and unfortunately, I’m not in such a mood. As soon as I feel like singing again, I promise I’ll do just that."
On Friday, the iconic popstar kept his word.
