Heartbeatgoa.memories -Greatest Konkani Song Hits - Newsletter #3 - Francis Rodrigues, Toronto

The boy loved music. The beautiful exciting sambaand rhumba and bossa nova of his native Brazilthat gave the world the gorgeous "Girl fromIpanema"... And the guitar. He even thought he might become afamous guitar composer like Heitor Villa-Lobos. But today he needed a song, and as he climbedaboard the tram at Rio, he had no inspiration. He dozed off. Half an hour later, he felt a softhead on his shoulder quietly weeping. He tried to comfort the beautiful stranger byhumming softly, and the rhythm of the tram turnedit into a sweet little waltz. When he got off the tram over half a century ago,his shoulder wet and the girl gone, he had hissong. Today the Portuguese and Konkani world stillsings "Encosta Tua Cabecinha" written by PauloBorges in 1954, when he got home from that tramride in Rio. But you don't have any need of tears! For, that beautiful story, and the completesheet-music, chords, lyrics, translations andguitar tab, with a rare DVD of "Encosta TuaCabecinha" and lots of others, are coming your wayon 20 August, when the "Greatest Konkani SongHits" book is released. "Encosta Tua Cabecinha"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37_tY9_9xDo Twenty-seven days left......and counting! Enjoy! Musically yours,Francis.

Heartbeatgoa.memories -Greatest Konkani Song Hits - newsletNter #2 - Francis Rodrigues Toronto

The girl was slender with the most beautifultresses. The boy was tall and tanned and fell inlove with her poetry. When they finally met it waslove at first sight, but...... Her father would have none of it! So they fled to Italy, and Elisabeth and RobertBrowning became the most famous Romantic poets inhistory. And she wrote these magical lines for him - "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..." Almost a hundred and thirty years later anotheryoung poet from Mangalore, India, also wrote - "How do I love thee? And yet I cannot have..."Mog tuzo kithlo axelom, thitloi labonk na maka Wilfy Rebimbus was asked to compose the music forthe 1977 Konkani movie "Mog ani Moipass",out of which emerged this fabulous melody. A unique Indian flavour in a Western tune.... And therein lies the beauty of Konkani music.But you don't have to elope to grab this lovely! "Mog Tuzo Kithlo Axelom" is another diamond fromthe "Greatest Konkani Song Hits, Vol.1" SongBook,coming your way on 20 August. Enjoy the full version on the free DVD includedwith the sheet-music, lyrics, chords, etc.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1FKxv7ljBE The countdown's on! Twenty-eight, twenty-seven...... Enjoy! Musically yours,Francis.

Heartbeatgoa.memories -Greatest Konkani Song Hits - Newsletter #14 Francis Rodrigus, Canada

They tripped and twirled round the ballroom. "I love you, I love this city, I love Spain!" the manwith the golden voice sang softly to his new bride. "Cadiz means heart in Konkani too, only we say'calliz'!" she whispered back. Of course they were wedding in the long-tonguedport in southern Spain, after his latest album. It was 1968, and they'd been dancing to Lulu. "I like this tune," he gurgled, "it describesexactly my heart booming to you!" "I'll make a Konkani version.....calliz hemboom-banger bang, boom-banger bang, boom bangzatha, will be my chorus!" he warbled triumphantly. "Stick to the traditional, our old-timePortuguese please Alfred" she begged softly. "Cadiza-za-za za-za za!" she repeated loudly, andthe band immediately struck up the march. They whirled down the steps to the bridal limousine,and down the drive, tin-cans clattering. Two Spanish guarda stopped their honeymoon train. "That noise is polluting the environment!" theysaid sternly. "A thousand pesos and your ID's please!" "Oily police!" swore the crooner softly, "Alwaysextorting down the centuries!" "Ha! Ha!" his bride chuckled, handing over themoola "that's an original concoction ofCadiza-za-za and Olha Policia, Alfred!" "Ah, well you know me," he murmured modestly,"always originally inventive!" And he always wondered why she laughed so hysterically! More original legends, and the completesheet-music, chords, lyrics, translations andguitar tab, with a rare DVD of "Cadiza-za-za-za"and lots of others, are coming your way on 20August, when the "Greatest Konkani Song Hits"book is released, for World Goa Day. Thirteen days left......and counting! Enjoy! "Cadiza-za-za/Olha Policia"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKDmir-maJI

Heartbeatgoa.memories -Greatest Konkani Song Hits - Newsletter #6 - Francis Rodrigues, Toronto

The cabbie smiled. It was late, but his favourite passenger washere. Tall, handsome film-hero Celestino (C.Alvares) stooped into the tiny taxi at Bandrastation and........but wait! A stranger was getting into the back seat...... Alvares fumbled for a notepad and pencil, quietlytold the cabbie to take them both to his friendFrank Fernand's house, but to slow at every streetlamp. He conversed softly with the mysterious stranger. The cabbie was fascinated. As they drove, Alvares wrote a beautiful new songat breakneck speed. At every street-lamp hechecked it. When he hummed it, the stranger in the back-seatmurmured mysteriously. An hour later when they both alighted at Fernand'shouse, the cabbie saw Alvares title the finishedsong "Claudia" in his beautifully flowing script. An immortal classic was born. "Claudia" of course, is the great hit from "Nirmonn". But who was the mysterious stranger? Perhaps we shall never know. Many say it was amystery "R" - either Romeo Mendes (who was said tohave collaborated on the song) or Remmie Colaco. Both Celestino and Romeo are gone. God rest them. But what is here is........ You know it!!! ALL this great music and more - lots, lots more -in the "Greatest Konkani Song Hits" book releasing20 August. There's more - Goa's prestigious Kala Academy too is so thrilledat the quality of this work, THEY'RE hosting theGoa launch on Sunday 9 August (4 pm) at theirBlack Box in Panjim!!! You gotta be there early! No formal invites, it'sopen house - free seating, free concert, freerefreshments. And to those thousands of you who're writingdaily from around the world - we'll let you knowin the 2nd week of August, exactly how you too canget a copy wherever you are! Now.....enjoy! "Claudia"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20GX2Xhh9U0 Twenty-four days left to August 20th....... Musically Yours,Francis.P.S. Do keep those mails coming in - even if it'sjust a line of encouragement - we hope you'reenjoying these newsletters, and learning more ofour great tradition.

Heartbeatgoa.memories -Weekend Short Story #5 - Francis Rodrigues, Toronto

Tales Of The Unexpected======================= "IXTTAGHOT" (a modern retelling, with a twist, of the great classic Greek taleof true friendship, "Damon and Pythias". The concluding verses of M.Boyer's "Ixttaghot" actually recounts in song, the original legend). * Syracuse, Greece, circa 4 B.C. The boy Pythias loved mathematics - fascinated, he went to study furtherat the feet of Pythagoras, where he met the consummate logician Damon.Instantly bonding, they swore friendship until eternity, Pythias evenpledging his soul to his new friend. When Damon quietly expressed hurtat mistreatment by their tyrant ruler Dionysius, Pythias bristling, setout to assassinate Dionysius, but was unfortunately caught and condemned. Damon smoothly offers his own life as security so Pythias can return hometo bid his folks farewell. Pythias returns almost too late as Damon seemsprepared to pay the forfeit. Dionysius is so impressed with their loyaltyto each other that he pardons Pythias. Arm in arm, the great friends walkoff together, Pythias gasping for breath and scarcely believing his luck. Damon leads him to the banquet hall and as the doors close, Pythias plungesinto the bowels of hell. Stunned he angrily questions the strongly-claspingDamon, who points out Pythias' promise of a bond to eternity, even unto hissoul. "I have only come to collect" says his false friend, "for I am Demon!

Heartbeatgoa.memories -They tripped and twirled round the ballroom. - Francis Rodrigues, Canada

"I love you, I love this city, I love Spain!" the manwith the golden voice sang softly to his new bride. "Cadiz means heart in Konkani too, only we say'calliz'!" she whispered back. Of course they were wedding in the long-tonguedport in southern Spain, after his latest album. It was 1968, and they'd been dancing to Lulu. "I like this tune," he gurgled, "it describesexactly my heart booming to you!" "I'll make a Konkani version.....calliz hemboom-banger bang, boom-banger bang, boom bangzatha, will be my chorus!" he warbled triumphantly. "Stick to the traditional, our old-timePortuguese please Alfred" she begged softly. "Cadiza-za-za za-za za!" she repeated loudly, andthe band immediately struck up the march. They whirled down the steps to the bridal limousine,and down the drive, tin-cans clattering. Two Spanish guarda stopped their honeymoon train. "That noise is polluting the environment!" theysaid sternly. "A thousand pesos and your ID's please!" "Oily police!" swore the crooner softly, "Alwaysextorting down the centuries!" "Ha! Ha!" his bride chuckled, handing over themoola "that's an original concoction ofCadiza-za-za and Olha Policia, Alfred!" "Ah, well you know me," he murmured modestly,"always originally inventive!" And he always wondered why she laughed so hysterically! More original legends, and the completesheet-music, chords, lyrics, translations andguitar tab, with a rare DVD of "Cadiza-za-za-za"and lots of others, are coming your way on 20August, when the "Greatest Konkani Song Hits"book is released, for World Goa Day. Thirteen days left......and counting! Enjoy! "Cadiza-za-za/Olha Policia"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKDmir-maJI Musically yours,Francis.

Heartbeatgoa.memories -The traffic cop stood transfixed. - Francis Rodrigues, Toronto

She was more beautiful than he had ever seen.Dancing eyes, dimpled chin, a dancing queen. Her name was Hema Malini.Hindi movie mega-star. And that afternoon in Vasco, Goa, almost fourdecades ago, she paralysed traffic andpedestrians alike. The following week, at the nearby Natraj theatre,three young studs in matching black-and-whiteoutfits walted onstage, yodelling to rapturousapplause. The Mendes brothers. After the intermission, a piece of miracletheatre. A beautiful young blonde hippy girl,impersonated to perfection by Derrick Mendes,strolled to and fro, to catcalls. Then, Felix Mendes, approaching perfection inpink crimplene top and silky jeans, unbelievablyportrayed Hema Malini in Goa again, dancing andsinging a beautiful soprano. The crowd wasdelirious. As he exited, the piece de resistance. A gorgeous, dark-skinned, statuesque thick-lippedmulatto, announced as "Monica from Mozambique!",played by the final Mendes brother. The audience grew out of control. And when "Monica" parted those huge orange lips,and a beautiful treble emerged singing "EncostaTua Cabecinha" the crowd rioted. Notes wereshowered onstage, many wiped a tear, and wildcheers shook the rafters. Such were the progeny of the great AnthonyMendes. A comedic genius who towered aboveKonkani tiatr, a master of gesture and farce whohimself rose to fame on a brilliant piece of song,"Taxi Driver". Who can forget his Charlie-Chaplin imitations inthe classic "Amchem Noxib" as Vales, the heroDr. Monteiro's zany compounder sidekick? In the "Greatest Konkani Song Hits, Vol. 1",amongst the many treasures, you'll find"Bencnaita Pai", or "Sweater Kori", as Valesdelightfully serenades his beloved Maria. Just eighteen days....officially....to go! In the meanwhile, enjoy! "Sweater Kori"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGm6ML12AIQ Musically yours,Francis.P.S. Of course, you do remember, copies at theSongBook's Goa launch, on Sunday 9 Aug. at theKala Academy (4 pm), will be available at a 20%discount. Just once. And of course, don't missthe free concert, free refreshments, freeautographs - bring a friend, bring the family,make it an unforgettable date!