The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Usha stirs up a select crowd

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Sunday, Jul 20, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Usha stirs up a select crowd

M. Raghuram

She is as youthful as she used to be

Inimitable: Usha Uthup performing in Bangalore on Friday.

BANGALORE: What could be the best way to celebrate the launch of a budget hotel, than a pop music concert? And who would be better than our own diva of pop, Usha Uthup, who could belt anything from those numbers from the Hard Rock Café to the Afro-Arabic numbers. But alas, not many could hear her and enjoy, only a few lucky ones could do on Friday evening at the launch of the new business class hotels by the ITC Welcomgroup in the city.

One could say Usha is as youthful as she used to be and over the years since she became Uthup from Iyer she has matured into a full scale entertainer and musician. She is the same if there is a legend bridging the East and the West, it is Usha. With her music and charm, she has transcended the barriers of caste, creed, language and nationality. Accolades have come from all over the world and she has sung for Prime Ministers and Presidents alike. Indira Gandhi, Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel Arap Moi and more recently Nelson Mandela have all been her ardent admirers. Her endearing charm and powerful vocal chords have given Usha fans of all ages, from all over the country.

She is best heard singing medleys. She can sing the hard rock number from Sting or Knopfler and change the pitch, to something similarly subtle to Emilyou Harris or Tanya Tucker without a second’s delay.

Not many musicians can do it in the world. One of the most difficult songs to sing is the 1956 number ‘Fever’ which is a song credited to Eddie Cooley and “John Davenport” (a pseudonym for Otis Blackwell).

The song was a rhythm and blues hit for Little Willie John that crossed over and became a pop standard after being transformed, with additional lyrics, by Peggy Lee. BoneyM is credited to have resurrected it in the 80s. Usha sings it effortlessly.

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