Please stop bringing Jus Reign to comps

[Joda]

Ikagar who recently hosted DDA was on point... or worse comes to worse.. ill do it =] .. if being drunk on stage is ok with the committee lol jk

 

[kazminaut]

Thank u 4 support

Dude made an account to respond, nice.

 

[himynameis]

Thank u 4 support

Sayi banda ah tu.

 

[JusReign]

lol that picture above is just me being silly but I just thought id take some time out to address the thread.


So I'm new to this website… pardon my n00bness. I've heard about Bhangra team forums from many people and I can clearly see that a lot of people are very passionate about the Bhangra scene on this site, and there's a huge engaging community built around it, which is amazing to me. Me, being a Canadian who knows nothing, literally knows very little about this scene.


On the reals I do the Bhangra competition hosting gigs because they're always so much fun, the whole vibe, atmosphere, excitement, meeting so many wicked people from all across the US and I since I'm terrible at bhangra myself, its just exciting for me to watch all of the performances (even though I have a side view off stage with the curtain in my face half the time, and an organizing yelling me in an ear, but YO, still so awesome to see it all). We just don't have that type of environment set up in Canada like you guys do in the US, which makes me sad, and which is one of the reasons you are better than us, (only sometimes though alright)


I also think it's so cool when the culture and artform spreads to other communities as well (Asians, White people etc) especially since they aren't raised in this culture and for them to adapt it purely out of passion and dedication just speaks bounds about what the this type of music and dance are capable of. Which is another reason why I tend to bring them on stage to joke around with because I believe that its a beautiful thing that this culture crosses so many boundaries, and want to spotlight this phenomenon.


It definitely is always challenging to see what material runs at a Bhangra competition because the audience is so diverse, and there's also a lack of creative control you have when you're on someone else's schedule, plus stand up and live shows is still a very new thing especially for youtubers, but I always try my best to keep the audience engaged and laughing (hence the skits, bring people on stage, dance competitions) and do my best to learn the teams backgrounds and information so I'm not walking out with a piece of paper like a dingus. (I've messed up a couple times that's granted, UVA… you can yell at me, it's all good) I've seen competitions where dudes just come out all bland, reach a name, and bring on the next team… aint no body about that life.


Main point is, I always have a great time hosting these competitions and meeting all you guys, having the chance to kick it with yallz (when I'm not being hurried somewhere to do something lol) and it's unfortunate to see some of you guys feel this way. Meeting people at these types of events is always a mission because its always so chaotic, and sometimes I'm just not able to give full dedicated time everyone and each personally respectfully. (which is why God created beautiful things like meet and greets). Whenever someone approaches me, to this day always think its unreal and amazing, and will always take time out to chat and maybe snap a picture or two, and would never deny anyone that. YES I may come across socially awkward sometimes, but thats just me being a socially awkward penguin, and definitely not a depiction of arrogance (I will and always will look at myself like a dingus, that has never changed, and probably never will lol). And in terms of the actual show its also difficult to create and showcase material that is "Jus Reign" exclusive, since it isn't my show, but I'm running on someone else's standards… which limits my creative control


BUT YO, it's all good guys, I ain't mad. I take this as a wake-up call, and as a learning experience and like the dude said before maybe I just gotta step my open mic game up… and also maybe I've saturated the Bhangra hosting market a little too heavily (even I'm sick and tired of looking at my ugly bootha on posters at this point)


At the end of the day. I will always continue to support this dope culture that we have set up. It's crucial for our community and us as a people to leave some sort of mark in the Western or Mainstream world, whether it have to do with our colourful and vibrant culture, language, art, music, way of life, belief and value system, virsa, and these competitions are a great way to showcase that and I will always support and promote it til the day I expires. And which is also what I strive for when putting myself out there on the internets, as a Sardar. This whole online community oriented around this culture is beautiful to me, and I will also continue to support that as well, even though some of you may just want to deport me back to Canada every time I'm out there.


Alrighty, well I just wanted to throw my side of things out here and address some concerns that were brought up here, since I feel like i've met a majority or have worked with a majority of you at this point. No hard feelings to anyone, (UVA… you can still punch me though) and as a token of gratitude, I'll take the time out to learn about this beautiful online community thats been created, and you beautiful ass sexy dancers even more.


BHUL CHUK MAAF IF ANYTHING GALT WAS SAID.


SSA.


AND LONG LIVE MANMOHAN WARIS.

 

[superdholi1994]

Welcome to Bhangra Teams' Forum Jus Reign

 

[hardeep_singh]

AND LONG LIVE MANMOHAN WARIS.

yes!
Sohniye Aa Ja Ni-Manmohan Waris

 

[AnkurK]

Joda would be the best MC hands down. No contest.

 

[voxanimus]

lol that picture above is just me being silly but I just thought id take some time out to address the thread.

props for being forthcoming.

 

[RsKderpu]

Gurdas Maan as MC

 

[Jags209]

#LL

 

[Gabbah Shareef Bhalwan]

I didn't choose the Thug Life. The Thug Life chose me. =D

No it didn't.


Anyway.
***


I love this thread. It's got balls.


A problem, I think, is that many Punjabi-Americans (/Canadiens) obsessed with this "supe Punjabi" identity use bhangra as a tool to articulate that too much. After a point, it amounts to doing violence to this art form for their own ends—to use and abuse it as a symbol. On the other side, I think most people involved in the North American bhangra scene are more purely interested in the dance/music as an art form (etc etc) - they generally are not obsessed about the identity politics stuff.
So, the two sides don't "click" together.
You need hosts that have a true passion for bhangra— not ones who just say they do because it's the "Punjabi" thing to say, or because they may feel that they wouldn't be "proper Punjabis" without some sort of bhangra cache. Hardcore bhangra fans tend to look down on this, as style over substance.


And of all of the articulations of Punjabi identity, that generations in the Diaspora have done over many decades, this blackface minstrel-like one seems the most ridiculous. The kooky logic of it all must make some sense in Toronto (Brampton, whatever), but the further you step outside those areas, the more bizarre it looks...yo. It's like the route to being "more Punjabi" is by being Tommy the Hip-Hop Clown - a waaay too circuitous route to work for representing bhangra to a general/mixed audience.

 

[faizan]

Very insightful and honest post gabbah. Made me really think.

 

[hardeep_singh]

And of all of the articulations of Punjabi identity, that generations in the Diaspora have done over many decades, this blackface minstrel-like one seems the most ridiculous. The kooky logic of it all must make some sense in Toronto (Brampton, whatever), but the further you step outside those areas, the more bizarre it looks...yo. It's like the route to being "more Punjabi" is by being Tommy the Hip-Hop Clown - a waaay too circuitous route to work for representing bhangra to a general/mixed audience.

it's fairly common in other parts of north america (nj/ny, parts of cali). the latest generations of punjabis in north america seem to have had a strong desire to integrate into the culture which has led to a little bit of over compensation (blackface minstrel). everyone wants to be a part of whats trendy at the time whether its hip hop culture or hipster culture. generally people grow out of it after realizing that the values of their own traditional culture; some just stick with their new identity either because they feel that it is a true expression of themselves or because they're too insecure to give it up.

 

[rajkaran]

First, I do have to applaud JusReign for having the guts to take time and actively address us h8rs in a graceful manner. You've got to admit, that kind of thing always takes guts.

A problem, I think, is that many Punjabi-Americans (/Canadiens) obsessed with this "supe Punjabi" identity use bhangra as a tool to articulate that too much. After a point, it amounts to doing violence to this art form for their own ends—to use and abuse it as a symbol. On the other side, I think most people involved in the North American bhangra scene are more purely interested in the dance/music as an art form (etc etc) - they generally are not obsessed about the identity politics stuff.
So, the two sides don't "click" together.
You need hosts that have a true passion for bhangra— not ones who just say they do because it's the "Punjabi" thing to say, or because they may feel that they wouldn't be "proper Punjabis" without some sort of bhangra cache. Hardcore bhangra fans tend to look down on this, as style over substance.


And of all of the articulations of Punjabi identity, that generations in the Diaspora have done over many decades, this blackface minstrel-like one seems the most ridiculous. The kooky logic of it all must make some sense in Toronto (Brampton, whatever), but the further you step outside those areas, the more bizarre it looks...yo. It's like the route to being "more Punjabi" is by being Tommy the Hip-Hop Clown - a waaay too circuitous route to work for representing bhangra to a general/mixed audience.

Very, very interesting post! Hopefully I understood it correctly...I, for one, definitely use bhangra (music, dancing, comp scene, etc.) as a means to connect with and share my Punjabi identity. But I definitely see where you're coming from when you say it's being overused and abused. I believe it's a result of the boom North American bhangra experienced in the past few years. We see this sort of boom happening in the UK and I'm curious to know if they think they're going to experience this same sort of over-use. My hunch is that they won't, or at least not to the same degree, because the Punjabi population there is much more well-known. However, I do have to respectfully disagree on one point you mentioned- I don't think competitive bhangra is the most ridiculous articulation of Punjabi culture. Sure, it gets out of hand and can be sorely inaccurate at times, but it is easy to comprehend at the most basic level. Just like food! That's why whenever elementary school children celebrate International Day (at least I did), there's always food and dances from countries from around the world.

Def let me know if I misunderstood. I'd love to see this topic grow...perhaps the mods can pin this up in a separate thread unrelated to competition hosts.

Oh, and I don't know if having a comp host who is truly passionate about bhangra is a great idea. Having been a show organizer and audience member, all I essentially need is someone (regardless of cultural background) who is going to keep the show moving without awkward pauses and keep the audience entertained without offending anyone.

 

[Gabbah Shareef Bhalwan]

However, I do have to respectfully disagree on one point you mentioned- I don't think competitive bhangra is the most ridiculous articulation of Punjabi culture. ...Def let me know if I misunderstood...

Sorry I was unclear, rajkaran. I wasn't referring to bhangra there, I was referring to the burlesque of Black American culture, which some people do as a really complicated and circuitous way of identifying as "Punjabi" in North America. I think that in most cases it is an affectation that has to do with the whole "negotiation of identity" thing. I can see there is a logic to it, but it is a pretty crazy logic.
White Americans in the 19th century, especially the working class, also used stereotypical / stage-y ways of "acting Black" to negotiate their position in society: between working class and rich, North vs. South, American vs. English. The product was the popular culture called blackface minstrel music. The "conversation" wasn't really between White and Black people, it was between one set of White people and another - though stereotypical representations of Black-ness were the vehicle used to position themselves. Initially, at least, it was racist but racism without "hate." That is, though most people's thinking was racist, what they were doing wasn't a gesture intended to go against Black people (who, again, was not really the audience being addressed). Rather, performers were using another culture, in a pretty crude way, to say something about who they themselves were. People "got" what they were doing, because it became enormously popular; other White people, around the world, wanted to see White people acting stereotypically like Black people...and this whole sort of cultural imitation for the purpose of signifying is the basis for so much American culture that is still with us. Plenty of people brought up in North American society become adept at "performing" this sort of "imitation", and that includes Punjabi-Americans nowadays. (I believe some are even operating under what I consider to be a delusion, that they are acting in "solidarity" or as "allies" to "other people of color.") When you take a few steps back and look at it, I think you can see how bizarre it really looks.
At the same time, a certain amount of burlesque of Punjabi pendu culture (or even Jatt culture) has often been done in North American bhangra, but 1) I think (just my observation) that that is much less nowadays - and people deeply in the bhangra scene get this (i.e. that it is less appropriate as it once was) better than those outside it; and 2) this doesn't appear so bizarre because it is Punjabi culture after all.