Songs of Oslando

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Songs of Oslando

Oslando Anthony Xavier de Souza

Born 21.09.1930

Death 21.02.2016

Hailing from the Ararim ward of Saligao in Bardez, Oslando de Souza has made a considerable contribution to Konkani music. He has showcased the traditional folk songs Mando and Dulpod as well as humorous songs which he sang and recorded on cassettes and Compact Discs. They will forever remain as evidence of his great work.

Oslando recorded his first presentation, 'Poilo Paus' on HMV in 1971. The Mando 'Poilo Paus' was his original composition which became very popular. Then in 1975 he presented his second work again on HMV. This bore the title "New Konkani Hits" and included numbers which he had himself composed and set to music.

Then came the era of audio cassettes. Between 1978 and 1991, he produced four cassettes of Mando-Dulpod, folk songs and traditional Konkani songs: 'Soul of Goa' (1978), 'Goa Meu amor' (1981), 'Boas Festas' (1984) and 'Nostalgia' (1991). "Boas Festas" contains the traditional Goan 'Alvorada'. All these cassettes are now presented in the CD format as well. The specialty of all these songs is that Oslando has taken immense pains to present them in their traditional style. Apart from recording, Oslando presented several programmes of Konkani folk songs on All India Radio, Mumbai. Together with his orchestra 'Oslando & His Folklorists' he participated in such programmes as "All-India Folk Music Radio Festival" and "All-Asia Folk Music Radio Festival". His group has also presented several programmes of folk songs and folk dances on Mumbai Doordarshan. Oslando's most memorable TV show was the special presentation of "the Pick of the Week", a programme beamed by Doordarshan on 22nd December, 1986 exhibiting the artistic revival of the social graces and charm of the famous Goan Mando dance - performed with period costumes exactly as it was once danced by the Goan landed aristocracy some 100 years ago!

Here are the lyrics of his first Presentation Poilo Paus

Poilo Paus - Oslando de Souza

Ugddas eta kednaim maka, xiktaleanv tednam ami aulan,

Poilea pausak axetaleanv, ekistaim urben biztaleanv,

Dogaim ami ek sontri gheun, barabor tenkon re bonvtaleanv,

Kitlim vorsam khoxen, kheulleanv ami tea poilea pausan.....}x2

Voros ailem kedinch eunk nam toslem,

Pauss nanch zalo, madd-zadd sukon gelem,

Xeth vomplam tem, gormen piddear zalem,

Udok passun baimchem zalem toddem.

Dukhov poddon disgarss ailem,

Kiteak pun nirmilolem,

Akant sutlo kitem korchem,

Ekuch upai urlo korcheak magnnem.

Tokler fator dorun saiba,

Atu zoddun magtam Deva,

Dimbi gallun pauss magumea,

Bhavartan Sant Antonichea...}x2

Pauss xenta milagr ghoddta, goddgodd eun sogleak zoglouta,

Baim kodde manke rodtat, gorvam soglim axen ambetat,

Sukhnnim passun fiunim galtat, molbak pollon tim argam ditat,

Pauss voddta xetam biztat, goskoxe eun sogle vau bortat,

Sontreu gheun sogott biztat, lok khoxeal bhorit zatat...}x2

XIRBI MUJI GAI.

La la la, La la la, La la la, La la la

Xirbi muji gai ga, zota nibori,

Dandde-gundde gheunum ga rabtam bandari

Kamblem-fottem gheunum ga rabtam dongrari

Zotu anv mum taxita ga kombea sadeari

Ami goulim, Dudhuvalim, devon aileanv ghantavelim,...x2

Him goulim rupanu sundori, distai tim pollounku kumvori....x2

Ami goulim, Dudhuvalim, devon aileanv ghantavelim,...x2

Gumlun ailean tim Dudhsagori, Gumlun ailean tim Dudhsagori,

Sokalim uttonum fanteari, panttem gheun ami mateari,

Ami goulim, Dudhuvalim, devon aileanv ghantavelim,...x2

Xirbi mhuje gai, ga zota nibori,

Dandde gundde gheunum ga rabtam bandari,

Kamblem fottem gheunum ga rabtam dongrari,

Zotu anv mhum taxita ga kombea sadeari....}x2

La la la la, La la la, La la la, La la la

Yo Yo Yo Yo Re bab

Fellunk gela etlo ghara, fellunk gela etlo ghara