One of Goa’s most prominent musicians Colin D Cruz has decided to commemorate the memory of Mario Miranda acclaimed cartoonist this month. This year musicians will sing songs in languages as diverse as English, Konkani, Portuguese and Spanish. All these songs will be centered on Goa.
Colin said August 20th was celebrated as World Goa Day an initiative by UK based Goan Rene Barretto. He said “ It is an effort to bring the Goan diaspora together after being spread out all over the world. Goans, wherever they may be, can connect with their roots on World Goa Day with all kinds of cultural events that bring out the essence of beautiful Goa. This year due to the pandemic and restrictions on live events, Jazz Goa decided to do an online show in a very novel way. Goan icon Mario Miranda’s cartoons will come alive in songs about Goa. Many of the featured songs are originals in English, Konkani, Portuguese and Spanish. Each song will be animated with one of Mario’s cartoons leading to a whole slide show in the grand finale song”.
He said some of the featured artists are Sonia Shirsat, Zezinho Fernandes, Chico Fonseca, Ernest Flanagan, Laura Fernandez, Veeam Braganza, Verphina Dias, Diana D’Cruz, Sancho Menezes, Daniella Rodrigues and Donna Noronha. The show promises to be an out and out entertainer both aurally and visually. Goans around the world will enjoy glimpses of home right through the show, interspersed with Mario’s catchy cartoons. The show is scheduled to go live on Jazz Goa’s Youtube channel on September 12th. All drawings used in the broadcast is thanks to the Mario Gallery.
When asked why the delay in celebrating the World Goa Day, Colin said although August 20th was the official day, Goan organisations around the world celebrated it on different days depending on their convenience. In Jazz Goa’s case, he said the compilation of songs about Goa and animating Mario’s cartoons had taken a lot of time so the broadcast was scheduled later in the month.
Speaking about the music he said 8 of the 10 song that will be featured will be originals. Canadian singer Laura Fernandez sings ‘Sobit Goa’ an original in four languages English, Spanish, Portuguese and Konkani. Sonia sings an original in konkani about goa called Goa. Sancho sings a fun salsa song about Goa called ‘Goa song’. Zezinho sings a Portuguese song about Goa’s Latin Quarter called Marcha de fontainhas. Verphina sings a popular Konkani song ‘Mando Goencho’. Donna sings about the carnival in Goa in an original called ‘Viva Goa’. Ernest Flanagan does a tribute to Goa with ‘Sweet sweet Goa’. Finally, Colin sings an original ‘Goa going gone’ about the current state of affairs.
That should make for an interesting time listening to the music. It may still not be safe to go out and party and it could make better sense to stay at home and enjoy the music dedicated to Goa and also enjoy the work of one of Goa’s most celebrated sons.