Amrit Kaur - Five River Flow | Ajj Aakhaan Waris Shah Nu - Amrita Pritam | Partition of India 1947
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Thank you for listening to me singing Amrita Pritam's famous poem Ajj Akhaan Waris Shah Nu (there are SO many different spellings) I first read this in Punjabi while studying History at SOAS, University of London and thought - I need to hear this sung by a woman - and at that time I couldn't find any! So I decided to compose my own version expressing my truth and my relation to this dark history. Both sides of my grandparents are from what is now Pakistan. Inspired by the power-house vocals of Reshma, Noor Jahaan, Abida Parveen as well as Etta James, Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin, I sung this in a play I was music directing and since then, it has become the opening of every set I've performed around the world. This was recorded in one-take. The goal was not a perfect performance but it is me finding a way to express the most intense grief of my people, of my family in the most universal way possible - through music.
As heard on BBC Woman's Hour, The Guilty Feminist Podcast & Jaipur Literature Festival.
Watch this space for the lyric/translation video coming up :)
Shot & Edited by Shivraj: linktr.ee/shivraj.tv
Recorded at the legendary RAK Studios, London
Original poem written by Amrita Pritam
Composed and performed by Amrit Kaur
Produced by Jonathan Quarmby
Single artwork by Ramanique Ahluwalia: www.ramanique.com
Follow me on:
Instagram: / ms.amritkaur
Twitter: / msamritkaur
"Born and raised in Tottenham, Amrit Kaur's music has been described by OZY Magazine as the place 'where Aretha soul meets Punjabi folk'. She is a singer-songwriter, Sarangi player and power-house vocalist in the genres of Soul, R&B and Punjabi folk. Praised by legendary record producer Rick Rubin for her live ability, Amrit Kaur has been named a BBC Introducing artist and a BBC Asian Network Sound of 2020 artist. Her notable performances include Glastonbury Festival, Jaipur Literature Festival, TEDxSOAS and UN General Assembly alongside Skip Marley. During the pandemic, she featured on the new version of 'One Love' by Bob Marley, alongside the Marley family and musicians from around the world in support of UNICEF. Amrit has composed music for BBC Television series and theatre productions. Five River Flow is the first single from her her first EP."
Пікірлер: 49
Here after listening to you on BBC Radio 4. I don't understand the language but this is truly transcendental beyond words.
@rafallojek1178
2 жыл бұрын
Same here love this
Was fortunate to watch you sing this live during the play ‘Tales of 1947’ in SOAS - London over a decade ago. Gave me goosebumps then, gives me goosebumps now. Amrita Pritam would herself love this soulful rendition if she could hear it. Bless you🙏
Just heard this on Woman's Hour on the BBC all the way down in Adelaide South Australia.......it stopped me in my tracks, and left me wanting.🙏
Ih aawaz sun ke waris bhaji jawega punjab wekhan ton pahla
I weep.
This is beyond cultural. This cuts to the heart of the human soul. Beautiful. Thank you.
Wow! Stopped in my tracks … just heard on Bobby Friction radio show… had to stop and listen again. A voice perfectly entwined with instruments and sentiment.
Puissant ! Interprétation qui me fait trembler.
Captures a nation's pain but rising from it this beautiful version of this poem by a fantastic artist. Stopped my day for 20 mins but will stay with me. Thank you
Heard you on woman's hour and your live performance shook me to my core. Never heard anything like it.. I cant understand the lyrics but I could feel the lost voices of a generation of South Asian women in your performance.. How are you not more well known in UK ?? Best Wishes🙏
Absolutely hauntingly beautiful, set to repeat
Just so haunting on so many levels....Amrit the song, your voice and what happened to those women (people) in 1947. It will be etched on the lives of so many, in so many ways. Waheguru🙏🏽
The sound gives the chills 🧊🧊😊
Heard you on R4 Woman's Hour. You made this won't-see'sixty-again man weep. So, so poignant and beautiful.
And there it is ….. get ready for the ride of your life Amrit Kaur ….
Amrit exudes such powerful emotions of a time we should never forget. What to say? Stunningly beautiful, heartbreakingly emotional.
BBC Radio 4 One of the most haunting and beautiful pieces of singing and playing I've heard, thank you.
Indeed, just heard the same on Women's Hour. Tracked it down to here. Life will not be the same...
Sorry for your loss.
Just heard this on the radio and found it beautiful and haunting. Thank you
Beautiful and extraordinary music.
Wow what a voice
Yes I too love RADIO4
Beautiful 🥰 please bless us with kirtan recordings x
I am the same as the other contributors listening and driving, your performance talked to my soul. A CD please I’m old and don’t live stream.
Incredibly moving.... it stopped me in my tracks during Radio4 - thank you for sharing
Wow!
Art.
Wow ...stunning 💙
oh pain.
Achha Laga 👌🙏😊
Incredible!!!
Absolutely haunting and magnificent!
Away Hypnotised mesmerised by your voice. Just wow ❤️👍🏽🫡🇬🇧
Very beautiful. Made me tear up, to be honest. Thanks for sharing it.
Stunning.
Beautiful 😍 sending love and condolences on your loss
Wow, Will try and come to Hootananny
Good
❤🖤💚
Any idea why the whole section of you explaining and then singing this song was removed from BBC Sounds repeat? Great shame as the program explained the context and you also spoke about the poet Amrita Pritam who wrote the poem... 🙏
@nancyp6013
2 жыл бұрын
I wondered the same. Of all the bits to leave out! 🤷
@AmritKaurMusic
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much Nick :) Yes - BBC have to remove pieces sometimes due to copyrights but I'm glad you found it here! More to come that I'm sure you'd appreciate.
@nancyp6013
2 жыл бұрын
@@AmritKaurMusic I've listened to it everyday. It really touches me deeply even though I can't understand it. Thank you, it's beautiful.
@AmritKaurMusic
2 жыл бұрын
@@nancyp6013 Wow. It really speaks to how powerful music is and how this song resonates and transcends continues to amaze me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Nancy. It will be on all streaming services from tomorrow :) Much love.
If it's of interest, it took me all of 2 mins to find a woman singing this and had posted to YT 3 years ago - Kavita Seth - she has a whole playlist of compositions set to Amrita Pritam's poetry - shame about the ads but her singing is very beautiful: kzread.info/dash/bejne/p4ep1KtqotbOaLg.html There are others as well posted from many years before this such as Yashpreet Kaur from 11 years ago.
@AmritKaurMusic
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for your research. I composed this piece in 2012. At that time, I could not find a woman singing it.
Wow!