Remo Fernandes
Remo Fernandes | |
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Citizenship |
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Occupations |
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Years active | 1975–present |
Children | 2 |
Website | remofernandes |
Remo Fernandes | |
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Origin | Fusion, Indian rock |
Instrument(s) | Guitar, flute |
Luís Remo de Maria Bernardo Fernandes (born 8 May 1953),
Writing and singing songs in English made his success more rare and distinctive in the context of the
He now writes and sings his songs in five different languages: English, Hindi, French, Portuguese and Konkani.
Life and career
1953–1977: Early life and musical influences
Remo Fernandes was born to the well-known
"After about a decade of going crazy over Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, The Shadows, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, one of the greatest influences in my life was the psychedelic music of the 70s..."
— In an interview to The Week.[9]
In school, Remo developed his guitar playing skills along with a group of friends (Alexandre Rosario, Tony Godinho, and Caetano Abreu) and formed a school band with them, named 'The Beat 4'. He wrote his first songs around age 14. He won prizes best composer, best vocalist, and best lead guitarist in all-Goa competitions.[7]
After graduating from school, Remo went on to earn a bachelor's degree in Architecture from Sir J.J College of Architecture in the city of Mumbai, greatly influenced by Lucio Miranda (Mario Miranda's cousin, who is an architect and musician). His love for music continued, and he often bunked classes to work on his technique.[7] He continued writing his own songs, playing solo or playing with different bands, including one of Bombay's top bands, The Savages, with whom he released an album, Ode to the Messiah, on Polydor Records in 1975.[10] Mumbai being one of the few cities in India at the time with a niche audience for rock music, Remo played in concerts and venues such as Shanmukhnanda Hall, Rang Bhavan, and in all the major college campuses of the city. Remo brought an Indian element to his music with his sitar/guitar, and taught himself to play the Indian flute.[9]
1977-1985: Career beginnings
After graduating, Remo traveled in
Remo recorded his maiden album Goan Crazy (in 1984) and a subsequent album Old Goan Gold (in 1985) on a four-track cassette TEAC Portastudio recorder in his home under the banner of 'Goana Records'. In these albums he played all the instruments, sang all voices, and was the only composer of its music and lyrics. He engineered the recording and mixing and designed the album covers. He had cassettes produced in Mumbai and personally went about distributing the cassettes from shop to shop in Goa with an illustrated book of poems he wrote (called Leads), and postcards and T-shirts he designed.[2][7][11]
1986–1994: Pack That Smack, concerts, Jalwa, subsequent successes and marriage
After releasing his first hit album Pack That Smack in 1986 and Bombay City the next year, he became the highest-selling English rock musician in India and the only one in the country to be awarded Gold Discs for this category.[11] Pack That Smack was his first album to be released by a national record company, CBS. This was an anti-drugs themed album, especially against addiction to heroin, which contained songs such as "Just a Hippie" and "Down with Brown", as well as asocio-political satire titled "Mr Minister", a nursery rhyme-styled song on politician who went to sleep once elected to power; and "So Wie Du", a recording of an award-winning live performance of his from the Dresden Song Competition. Bombay City contained hits such as "Against you/Against me", "Ocean Queen" and a hilarious take on the condition of telephone services in India, "Ode to Graham Bell".[12]
Later in 1986, he was invited to play at an official government function in Goa for the Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was visiting. There he sang a song titled "Hello Rajiv Gandhi", which spoke about the hurried completion of Kala Academy just before Prime Minister Gandhi's arrival, and requested Gandhi to visit Goa repeatedly to increase the speed of other construction work. The song caused an uproar in the local press and subsequently in the national press. Remo mailed these critical press clippings to the Prime Minister, who immediately replied saying that he and his wife Sonia had loved the song and had found nothing objectionable in it. This letter, together with the whole story in pictures, was published in many publications in the country.[13]
Later the same year, Remo sang in Bombay at a concert called Aid Bhopal, aimed at raising funds for victims of the
He composed and performed music for
He played music on the streets during the Konkani language agitation of 1986, spreading a message of peace to the violent protestors.[14]
When invited to attend international music festivals and concerts, Remo again started travelling around the world. His first international event was at the 1986 Dresden International Song Competition in former
During a 1987 trip to Kolkata, Remo visited Mother Teresa as he was stuck for a day in the city. She managed to influence him deeply and he wrote the songs "Take Me to Calcutta" and "Welcome My Child" on the flight back home.[15] He had initially planned to release an album dedicated to her in 1990, with the tentative title of That Lady in Calcutta.[13] However, these plans never came to fruition till 2019.
Around this time Remo married Frenchwoman Michele Delahaye, with whom he has two sons, Noah and Jonah. He has an ancestral home in the village of Siolim, in Bardez taluka of Goa, where they all lived.[13] Remo and Michele later separated.[16]
The next album he released in 1992 with
1995–2000: Playback singing, advertisements and collaborations
In 1995, Remo finally moved into Hindi pop and film music to become a playback singer, by teaming up with the director Mani Ratnam and composer A. R. Rahman. He sang the song "Humma Humma" in the Hindi dubbed of Tamil film Bombay.[18] The song went on to earn Remo a Double Platinum. "Huiya Ho" was the next hit he composed for the film Khamoshi: The Musical which was released in 1996.[17][19]
In 1995, during the
When Pepsi entered Indian markets in the 1990s as Leher Pepsi, they signed Remo for an endorsement deal and got him to star in their first two launch ad films. He also advertised for Raymonds.[13]
In February 2005, Remo collaborated with
Remo has long participated in and promoted a local festival called the Siolim Zagor.[23][24]
2001–2009: Microwave Papadums accident, its impact, reunion concert and subsequent projects
In 2001, three Microwave Papadums band members, Dharamedra Hirve, Selwyn Pereira and Victor Alvares, along with Remo's personal assistant Sunil Redkar, were killed in a road accident in Kanpur after a concert there.[25][26] Remo was devastated and stayed away from music and performances for a year.
In 2002, Remo released two albums, Symphonic Chants and India Beyond.[27] Tracks from India Beyond were signed to and released by Buddha Bar, Paris, France, and Opium Garden, Miami, USA. In India these albums went unnoticed.[28]
In 2003, on his 50th birthday, Remo held a reunion concert in Goa with many of his former bands; The Beat 4, Indiana, and The Savages, besides friends like The Valadares Sisters and Lucio Miranda. It was a 4-hour concert attended by 25,000 people.[28][29]
In 2007, Remo released the album Muchacha Latina. For the title song he scripted, directed and edited the music video himself.[30]
In January the same year, he was conferred the
2010–2014: Music close to his heart and political career
From then on, Remo made songs which were closest to his heart right from the start: socio-political comments and critiques, exposing corruption, communalism and other evils in India, and motivating people against them. He distributed these songs on the Internet for free, together with their music videos. Once again, they were scripted, directed and edited by him. The most memorable of these are "India, I Cry" (2009),
In 2011, Remo was approached by the
Remo was later seen working on three personal albums, one of them being a re-recording of his very first Goan Crazy!, in 2013.[38] He later gave his tunes and voice to the title track of Luv U Soniyo which released on 26 July 2013.[39]
In December 2013, he signed up as a member of Aam Aadmi Party, a political party, for Goa constituency.[14] He wrote a jingle for their campaign for the 2014 Indian general election,[40] but announced that he had left politics by March 2014.[41]
2015–Present: Acting debut, son's incident, move to Portugal and subsequent projects
Remo appeared in the 2015 Anurag Kashyap film Bombay Velvet as a Portuguese nobleman, marking his debut in acting. While he had previously appeared in films (singing his own songs), this was his first speaking role.[42]
In 2015, he was involved in a case of the alleged verbal abuse of a young girl recovering in
By 2016, Remo had resettled to
Discography
Studio albums
- Ode to the Messiah (with The Savages, 1975)
- Rock Synergie (Paris, 1980)
- Venus and the Moon (Netherlands, 1981)
- Goan Crazy! (1984)
- Old Goan Gold (1985)
- Pack That Smack (1986)
- Bombay City (1987)
- Politicians Don't Know to Rock'n'Roll (1992)
- O, Meri Munni (with his band Microwave Papadums, 1998)
- Symphonic Chants (2002)
- India Beyond (2002)
- Muchacha Latina (2007)
- Teresa and the Slum Bum (2019)
Singles
- "Flute Kick (The Flute Song)"
- "Hello Rajiv Gandhi"
- "Ode to Graham Bell"
- "Take Me to Calcutta"
- "Welcome My Child"
- "Bombay City"
- "Maria Pita Che"
- "India, I Cry"
- "Cyber Viber"
- "India Against Corruption"
- "Vote: Tit for Tat"
Soundtracks
Year | Film | Songs |
---|---|---|
1985 | Trikal (Past, Present Future) |
|
1987 | Jalwa | "Iss Jadu Ke Dande Main" "Teda Meda Main" "Dekho Dekho Yeh Hai Jalwa" |
1995 | Bombay | "Humma Humma" |
1995 | Ghatothkachudu | "Priya Madhuram" |
1996 | Beqabu | "Lenga Lenga Lenga" |
1996 | Sapoot | "Mumbai Liyo" |
1996 | Khamoshi: The Musical | "Shinga-Linga" "Huiya Ho" |
1997 | Daud | "Daud" |
1997 | Aflatoon | "Aflatoon - Aflatoon" |
1998 | Pyar To Hona Hi Tha |
"Pyar To Hona Hi Tha" |
1999 | Sangharsh | "Manzil Na Ho" |
2001 | Ittefaq | "Bom Mat Mar" |
2010 | Brindavanam | "Yuvakula" |
2013 | David |
"Maria Pitache" "Light House Symphony" (instrumental) |
2013 | Luv U Soniyo | "Luv U Soniyo" |
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Ek Villain | Caesar (Guru's boss and a crime lord) | |
2015 | Bombay Velvet | A Portuguese man | |
2016 | 99 Songs |
Awards
- Press Critics Award, Audience Favorite Award, and overall Second Prize at Dresden International Song Competition. (1986)
- Padma Shri by Indian Government. (2007)[50]
- Karmaveer Puraskaar by Delhi-based NGOs. (2007)
References
- ^ "Questions over legality of Remo's National awards". The Goan EveryDay.
- ^ ISBN 9788170226192.
- ^ "Goan pop star Remo no longer Indian citizen: Cops". The Times of India. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ISBN 1-85109-636-1.
- ^ "Article on Remo titled 'THE INFLUENCES'". Archived from the original on 9 February 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2006.
- ^ "Remo: An Introduction". Goacom.com.
- ^ a b c d "A did you mean article on Remo Fernandes". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2006.
- ^ Srivastava, Shuchi (18 February 2008). "Blame It on Panjim". Outlook. Outlook Publishing. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g Eremita, Bosco (July 2004). "Digging Up The past". The Week. India. Archived from the original on 8 July 2006. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ a b D'Souza, Jerry (15 November 1986). Indian Rocker Returns With Song-Fest Win. Vol. 98. Billboard. p. 78.
- ^ a b "A Biography of Remo Fernandes". Retrieved 16 July 2006.
- ^ "Panaji: Remo Fernandes to Re-launch Anti Drug Album". Daijiworld.com. 26 March 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Rahman, M. (30 September 1990). "From a small-time Goan musician, Remo Fernandes emerges as India's number one pop star". India Today. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ a b "AAP tunes up in Goa, signs up Remo Fernandes as member". NDTV.com. 30 December 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
- ^ "Bollywood Playback Singer Remo Fernandes Biography, News, Photos, Videos". nettv4u. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ a b "Remo: Discography". Goacom.com.
- ^ Sen, Shomini (22 December 2016). "Remo Sir's Reaction on The Humma Song Is Justified: Tanishk Bagchi". News18. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ Pandya, Sonal (25 January 2018). "Kavita Krishnamurthy's hat-trick – birthday special". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ Sanghvi, Vir (6 October 2007). "Have you ever tried the classic Led Zepp test?". Livemint.com. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ Kusnur, Narendra (21 January 2006). "Never a Tull moment". DNA India. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ "Article on the Siolim Zagor festival". Archived from the original on 7 November 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2006.
- ^ "Siolim & Cortalim Zagor". Goa-world.com. Archived from the original on 13 January 2006. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ "Goa mourns for Remo's musicians". Goa News. 21 September 2000. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- ^ "U. P. STATE ROADWAYS TRANSPORT CORPORATION v. SHRI. SIMON PEREIRA (DECEASED) THROUGH LRS". CaseMine. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- ^ Chandawarkar, Rahul (9 December 2001). "Peace, space and beyond". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- ^ a b Noronha, Frederick (25 February 2004). "Remo rage against bankrupt Bharat - Singer rues Bollywood monopoly". The Telegraph. Kolkota. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- ^ de Souza, Sigmund (10 May 2003). "The Concert That Rocked Goa". Goa Messenger. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ "Remo's back with a bang in B'wood". News18. 28 January 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ "Remo refuses award from Goa government". Rediff.com. 17 August 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ "Remo to be conferred with ICONGO award". Hindustan Times. 3 November 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ Iyer, Anita (16 October 2009). "Remo Fernandes - 'I refuse to have musically challenged people sit in judgment and make decisions on my music'". RadioAndMusic.com. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ Rodrigues, Collin (10 September 2011). "Goa has gone to the dogs: Remo Fernandes". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ Dsouza, Alfie (11 April 2019). "Goan Super-Singer Remo Unleashes His Catchy & Witty Election Song". Mangalorean.com. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- ^ "Remo Fernandes: Remo moves from music icon to electoral icon". The Times of India. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- ^ Jha, Subhash (15 January 2013). "Remo Fernandes to perform live in Mumbai". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ "Remo re-mastering 'Goans' Crazy' new technology". RadioAndMusic.com. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ Kejriwal, Rohini (21 February 2013). "To me, music is like breathing". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ "AAP guarded over pop singer Remo Fernandes' legal trouble in Goa". The Economic Times. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ "Remo Fernandes: I was too shy, self-conscious to act". NDTV Movies. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ "Singer Remo Fernandes' son Johan appears before Goa Police". DNA India. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ "Goa: Children's court acquits Remo Fernandes in verbal abuse case of minor". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ "Remo case: Court found differences in testimonies". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ "Remo was Portuguese citizen when given Padma Shri: Lawyer". Business Standard. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ "Goan pop star Remo no longer Indian citizen: Cops". The Times of India. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ "Remo seeks crowdfunding for upcoming album on Mother Teresa". Outlook India. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
- ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
External links
- Official website
- Remo Fernandes at IMDb