The Living Legend...Gurdas Maan .... Article by

Dipps Bhamrah 13 Apr 07, 11:27 AM [ www.bbc.co.uk ]

I have a question for you….how many artists do you know that appeal to a 6 year child, their 30 plus parents and their 70 plus granparents? How many artists can you think of, that would pay to watch another artist perform? Which artist has the respect to bring together different castes, communities and religions with the power of their music? Does anyone have the amazing ability to have that pull? Well within the world of Punjabi music there is one man who stands alone who can answer these questions….that man is the living legend, Gurdas Maan! For many people Gurdas Maan is the be all and end all of music. He is the leader of Punjabi music, culture and pride. A singer, song writer, composer, actor, he is the equivalent to Elvis Presley. His song, style, profile, mere presses, has an overwhelming effect on those who are fortunate to see him perfor or in person. In my personal opinion, the transition from artist to legend is cemented when the performer doesn’t even need to sing but can give his audience that look and still have them chanting his name. That’s Gurdas Maan!

Gurdas Maan has been the undisputed king of Punjabi music since making his debut back in 1980. His performance of ‘Dil Da Mamla Hai’, which he also wrote, caused nation wide waves in his homeland of India, since then, Gurdas Maan has become the world wide icon for Asian audiences. But why is Gurdas Maan so popular? What is different about him? What separates him for other artists in the eyes of the public?

The answer is simple….life and respect.

His music is kept simple and to the point. The unique aspect about Gurdas Maan’s music and in particular his lyrics, is that he writes and about life, real life. Where as the majority of the music world sing about drinking, dancing, women and violence, Gurdas Maan’s lyrical content captures the audience’s imagination and has the ability to make them visualise the words in their minds. His track ‘Chugliyan’ is about gossiping…how it takes place in all walks of life and the comical results it can have. ‘Mamla Garbar Hai’ translates to ‘There’s A Problem Here’ and talk about the complexity of some of life’s everyday situations.
A song which stands out for me is ’Babe Bhangra Paunde Ne’ which translate into ‘The Grandad’s Are Dancing’. The song is a comical smoke screen to highlight the plight and disrespect of the current generation of youth. The hook of the song is ‘Sit down young lad cos now the Grandad’s are dancing’ and that is something that today’s youth might not be able to do when they are older because of their lifestyle. He talks about lighter scenarios, where lads nowadays insist on using gel in their hair because traditionally used mustard oil smells. Laziness, obesity and even the issue of drug taking amongst boys is tackled. This is the pull of Gurdas Maan’s music and reason why he is so admired, because his music talks about his life, my life, your life….real life! A song which he’s written for his forthcoming album sums Gurdas Maan up…‘You can earn and eat your roti with pride, even if you’re a boot polisher’!

Respect! For someone who is the cornerstone of Punjabi music around the world, for someone who can demand anything with the power he has, Gurdas has always maintained a level of dignity and respect which far surpasses those around him.
His performances start and end with him praising and looking for divine inspiration. At the recent Alpha ETC Punjabi Awards, he presented the lifetime achievement award to Ranjit Kaur and in doing so said that he is no position to be giving this awards to her, he is in awe of her as well and touched her feet before presenting the award to her. A great mark of respect!

In particular songs, he’s penned and praised many of the legends of our music and culture and crediting their achievements. In ‘Punjabiye Zubane’ (Punjabi Language) he talks to the Punjabi Zubane as a physical being and goes on to talk to it about how its been ill treating treated by some and how its been respected by some. In the final verse he tells the language that legendry artists like Surinder Kaur, Parkash Kaur, Asa Singh Mastana have all does you a great service, writers and poets like Shiv Kumar Batalvi and Noorpuri have kept the language alive. The song ‘Pind Diyan Galliyan’, ‘The Streets of my Village’, he talks about the way life used to be in the villages of Punjab. In the song he credits another legend of Punjabi music in Kuldip Manak and talks about how he and previous generation all grew up hearing his tones being bellowed across the village.

Gurdas Maan respect is cemented by his own perception on himself. In songs which he has written himself he will write the line ‘Marjaane Maan Nimane Nu’ within the context of the song….which means ‘Small and down to earth Maan (himself)’.

From music to acting, songs about comedy situations to serious life issues, whether you’re a Desi head, hardcore Hip Hop or Grime fan, the legend Gurdas Maan resides in the hearts of all who know Punjabi music. He was, is and forever will be the leader of Punjabi music, culture and lifestyle. From India to Canada to right here at home in the UK, Gurdas Maan is the man who brings a smile to your face with his music and makes you proud to be Punjabi wherever you live!

Long live the legend…the living legend…Gurdas Maan!

Comments:

1. At 02:22 PM on 13 Apr 2007, Giddhean Di Rani wrote:
Brilliant blog Mr Bhamrah! Got all choked up reading it cos every thing you said about the living legend is spot on! He's the Maan!

2. At 03:13 PM on 13 Apr 2007, Ahsan wrote:
Bachpan Chalaa gya, Jawani chali gyee, mur mur yaad satawe pind diyan galiyan di.Classic Gurdas Mann at his best

3. At 03:16 PM on 13 Apr 2007, Roberto Carlos Alvarez-Galloso,CPUR wrote:
I am going to start hearing Gurdas. Thanks,

4. At 03:41 PM on 13 Apr 2007, dr manmohan singh wrote:
Gurdas mann, no doubt, is a great man and he is a great mann. I was surprised to see all british indians in Birmingham ERENA. Never saw such a big crowd of punjabi indians. I saw one young girl of 25 ish smoking just outside the hall in front of every one and wearing salvar suit. Main thing is Mann sahib was singing a song on our culture same time.May god give some sense to this new generation.

I forgot to take my camera to Mann show. Can anyone send me his pictures and videos of uk live shows. I am going to make a gurdas mann blog soon.

Thanks

Dr manmohan singh
coventry

5. At 08:46 PM on 13 Apr 2007, Anj wrote:
It's all true Mr Bamrah! Listening to his interviews now and he sounds so down to earth and humble, bless him- he is most definitely the man.
xx

6. At 08:56 PM on 13 Apr 2007, Anj wrote:
Its all true Mr Bamrah! Listening to his interviews now and he sounds so down to earth and humble bless him- he is most definitely the man!
xx

7. At 09:03 PM on 13 Apr 2007, Anon wrote:
His songs encompass not only a true reflection of punjabi society but he dares to sing about social issues that affect us all, bringing these into the public domain, whereas most of us would be happy to brush these under the carpet and pretend that they dont exist.

Not only is he pure in his gift of music he has what many of us aspire to achieve in our lives and that is a pure soul

8. At 03:44 PM on 14 Apr 2007, arehill wrote:
This article on GM is spot on! His music has the ability to transcend all cultural & religious barriers. Can't wait for him to get to Toronto.....11 Aug is the golden date!!!

9. At 12:51 AM on 15 Apr 2007, JAY SINGH wrote:
WHAT CAN I SAY HE THE LIVING LEGEND AND ALWAYS WILL AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID WHEN GURDAS STARTING SINGING THATS WHEN HE STARTED TO LEARN EVERYONE ABOUT LIFE
HE HAS A SONG FOR EVERY PART OF YOUR LIFE HE THE MAAN!!! GURDAS MANN

10. At 12:40 PM on 16 Apr 2007, Baljit wrote:
''Which artist has the respect to bring together different castes'' - Dipps Bhamra

Not Quite.

But Gurdas Mann is a living legend, his music, his lyrics can be educational to the youth about the punjabi culture. And he is very very down to earth which is one of the reasons of his success.

11. At 08:30 AM on 17 Apr 2007, Sanj wrote:
Cant say any more dipps

Living legend gurdas mann, beautiful read.

The one thing that gurdas mann does is speak the truth and stick by it.

remeber the track on the 5 rivers album, fail karage ja tenu pass? that wsa a diss track in style to dhaler mendhi when he said that he was bigger then gurdas. gurdas mann just replied by saying people like me and orther legends of music helped you on your way and now your having a pop at us, with gurdas asking the question should we fail you or pass you, you tell us.

honesty in his music, he is the man

12. At 10:06 AM on 19 Apr 2007, kam wrote:
Well all I gotta say is that I really enjoyed reading this blog about Mr Gurdaas Maan. Although I listen to all different Music genre but still he's still on my top list as all his songs are meaningful and are really to the point. I hope that in the future that Mr Maan will continue with all his good work and make all the PUNJABI's all over the world proud of their culture and what they are. I beleive that all his songs can be related to all generations. I love the song BABE BHANGRA POUNDE NE. And I hope that all the younger generations will appreciate his songs.

13. At 01:07 PM on 19 Apr 2007, Web & Walk Man wrote:
Amazing words for an amazing artist. There is so much you can say about him.

14. At 12:58 PM on 22 Apr 2007, Henry Ford wrote:
I went to his concert in Bristol last night, and loved it, even though I don't speak panjabi. I was struck by the way the music appeals to 80 year olds, and 5 year olds, and every one in between, and the words obviously struck home to everyone. One day I will learn enough panjabi to understand what he sings about.

15. At 10:29 AM on 28 Apr 2007, Shobana wrote:
its sooo gd i really like the info and the pictures are sooooo nice i love it!!!!!!

16. At 10:58 AM on 03 May 2007, Ravinder wrote:
Gurdas Maan is and always will be panjabi cultures greatest asset. all panjabis are able to hold their head up high and say we belong to the same culture as the legend himself. What a privilege this is. Long live Gurdas Maan

17. At 05:52 AM on 07 May 2007, nanna wrote:
gurdaas mann is the shaan punjab di &my favourite singer