Outlandish

Outlandish are a multi-award winning hip-hop group based in Denmark. Formed in 1997, they consist of Isam Bachiri (born in Denmark and of Moroccan background), Waqas Ali Qadri (born in Denmark and of Pakistani background), and Lenny Martinez (born in Honduras and is of Cuban and Honduran descent). All three members are devoutly religious, Isam and Waqas being Muslims, and Lenny being Catholic. The band members live in Brøndby Strand.

Outlandish's hip-hop/R&B/soul music sound takes influences from their various backgrounds (Moroccan/Arab/Amazigh, Pakistani/Punjabi and Latin American), and although their songs are primarily in English, they usually feature lyrics in Spanish, Urdu/Punjabi, Danish, and Arabic. All these influences make the music of Outlandish somewhat unique and this is easy to notice from the variety of genres covered in their albums. Outlandish often include themes about Islam and contemporary issues facing young Muslims in the west in their music, and sometimes their songs define a unique nasheed-like urban genre.

Their first single "Pacific To Pacific" was used in connection with an Amnesty International charity event. Next came the single "Saturday Night", a song that was later to be included on the soundtrack for the Danish movie Pizza King. These singles were the prelude to their first album, Outland's Official (2000), which was only released in Denmark. The hit song "Walou" was later included on their second album Bread & Barrels of Water.

Singles from their second album made the most impact on the international music charts. Hit singles included "Aicha" (first made famous by Khaled) which made it to number one in Germany, and received a lot of airplay across many Asian countries, especially in South Korea. The video to "Aicha" also won a best music video award. "Guantanamo" also made a strong impression on the European charts. An old Hindi chorus running through "Peelo" made it a smash hit amongst Indians living in the West.

Closer Than Veins (2005) is Outlandish's third album. The first single was "Look Into My Eyes". The song's lyrics are based on a poem by Gihad Ali, a Palestinian who wrote the piece when she was a teenager; the poem expresses the plight of those suffering from America’s foreign policy with regards to Israel and Palestine. The video is based around the fairy-tale Little Red Riding Hood. It portrays an Israeli soldier as the Wolf and the Palestinian girl, wearing a Kaffiyeh, as Little Red Riding Hood.

This album showcased the group's more mature outlook compared to their previous works. Tracks such as "Just Me" and "Una Palabra" give a rare insight into the life in Europe today as seen through the eyes of ethnic minorities, whereas "Nothing Left To Do" perhaps the most daring and compelling track on the album boldly tackles the still taboo ridden issue of a young Muslim man catching HIV.

Outlandish performed a live percussion version of "Look Into My Eyes" at the "Islamophobia" conference held in Copenhagen, Denmark in May 2006 which was hosted by the Islam Channel and included many theological and political speakers and community leaders. Their club thumping single "Kom Igen" is featured on EA's FIFA 07.

Outlandish included two new (bonus) tracks "In Good Hands" and "Angels Lower Their Wings" on the deluxe version of Closer Than Veins. They were the only Danish act performing at the European MTV Awards 2006, where they also won the prize for Best Danish Act. Closer Than Veins was released in UK by Sony BMG in March 2007, with "Look Into My Eyes" being released as the first single on 5 March. The UK version of Closer Than Veins included a rendition of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song."

The band supported Sami Yusuf along with other acclaimed nasheed artists at the "Concert for peace in Darfur" held at Wembley Arena in order to raise money for the families of genocide victims in the region. The trio has participated in the Evening Of Inspiration concerts (in aid of Islamic Relief charity) since 2006 and most recently participated in the 2008 concert which also featured Seven8Six, Raihan and Kareem Salama amongst fellow performers." On 13 July 2008 Outlandish also performed at a concert for IslamExpo in London’s Olympia, Europe’s largest Muslim cultural event. Isam Bachiri features on the single "Still Strong" on Native Deen's recent album "Not Afraid To Stand Alone." The trio play at the Hard rock cafe on 11th July 2009.

Sound of a Rebel, Outlandish's fourth major production, was released on May 11 2009. The 1st single released from Sound of a Rebel was Rock All Day. Two of the three band members have also released their own solo albums (in Danish). The album is a departure from earlier work in many respects. The religious and social content has been all but toned down, and the album features two collaborations with female vocalists, a first for the group.

Outlandish did their first U.S. tour in Summer 2008 with the "Voices for Change" tour hosted by the Muslim American Society - Youth. Venues included New York, Tampa, Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, and Los Angeles. The message that the tour promoted is the following: "We need to stake OUR claim on entertainment, as people striving for MORALITY: We are demanding entertainment with a message like Outlandish who bring it — a moral message! Outlandish will be headlining MAS Youth's Voices For Change in their first United States tour.

The band have recently helped form the umbrella organization, Music With Meaning, that aims to bring together like-minded artists in order to promote and produce inspirational and meaningful music. Its motto is "If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything."

The albums:

2000: Outland's Official

2002: Bread & Barrels Of Water

2005: Closer Than Veins

2009: Sound Of A Rebel

Outlandish official web page.

Budapest - Capital of Hungary

Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it serves as the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation center and is considered an important hub in Central Europe. In 2008, Budapest had 1,702,297 inhabitants, down from a mid-1980s peak of 2.1 million. The Budapest Commuter Area (or Greater Budapest) is home to 3,271,110 people. The city covers an area of 525 square kilometres (202.7 sq mi) within the city limits. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with a unification on 17 November 1873 of right-bank Buda and Óbuda with left-bank Pest.

Aquincum, originally a Celtic settlement, was the direct ancestor of Budapest, becoming the Roman capital of Lower Pannonia. Magyars arrived in the territory in the 9th century. Their first settlement was pillaged by the Mongols in 1241-42. The re-established town became one of the centers of Renaissance humanist culture in the 15th century. Following the Battle of Mohács and nearly 150 years of Ottoman rule, development of the region entered a new age of prosperity in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Budapest became an alpha world city after the 1873 unification. It also became the second capital of Austria-Hungary, a great power that dissolved in 1918. Budapest was the focal point of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, the Hungarian Soviet Republic of 1919, Operation Panzerfaust in 1944, the Battle of Budapest of 1945, and the Revolution of 1956.

Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, its extensive World Heritage Site includes the banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, Andrássy Avenue, Heroes' Square and the Millennium Underground Railway, the second oldest in Europe. Other highlights include a total of 80 geothermal springs, the world's largest thermal water cave system, second largest synagogue, and third largest Parliament building. The collections of the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts are also significant.

Some popular sights include:

The neo-Gothic Parliament, containing amongst other things the Hungarian Crown Jewels.

Saint Stephen's Basilica, where the Holy Right Hand of the founder of Hungary, King Saint Stephen is on display.

The Hungarian cuisine and café culture: for example, Gerbeaud Café, and the Százéves, Biarritz, Fortuna, Alabárdos, Arany Szarvas, Kárpátia and the world famous Mátyás Pince Restaurants.

There are Roman remains at the Aquincum Museum, and historic furniture at the Nagytétény Castle Museum.

Castle Hill and the Castle District; there are three churches here, six museums, and a host of interesting buildings, streets and squares.

The former Royal Palace is one of the symbols of Hungary – and has been the scene of battles and wars ever since the thirteenth century. Nowadays it houses two impressive museums and the National Széchenyi Library.

The nearby Sándor Palace contains the offices and official residence of the President of Hungary.

The seven-hundred year-old Matthias Church is one of the jewels of Budapest. Next to it is an equestrian statue of the first king of Hungary, King Saint Stephen, and behind that is the Fisherman's Bastion, from where opens out a panoramic view of the whole city. Statues of the Turul, the mythical guardian bird of Hungary, can be found in both the Castle District and the Twelfth District.

In Pest, arguably the most important sight is Andrássy út. As far as Kodály Körönd and Oktogon both sides are lined with large shops and flats built close together. Between there and Heroes’ Square the houses are detached and altogether grander. Under the whole runs continental Europe’s oldest Underground railway, most of whose stations retain their original appearance.

Heroes’ Square is dominated by the Millenary Monument, with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front. To the sides are the Museum of Fine Arts and the Palace of Arts, and behind City Park opens out, with Vajdahunyad Castle.

One of the jewels of Andrássy út is the Hungarian State Opera House.

Statue Park, a theme park with striking statues of the Communist era, is located just outside the main city and is accessible by public transport.

The city is home to the largest synagogue in Europe (Dohány Street Synagogue), the largest medicinal bath in Europe (Széchenyi Medicinal Bath) and the third largest Parliament building in the world, once the largest in the world.

The third largest church in Europe (Esztergom Basilica) and the second largest Baroque castle in the world (Gödöllő) are in the vicinity.

Hush

Hush is a Danish popduo consisting of singer Dorthe Gerlach and guitarist Michael Hartmann, who has been in existence since 1997.

Michael Hartmann had contact with Dorthe Gerlach, and they formed the first group with three other musicians who played more crowded tempo and rock music than they later became known for. The group was based in Randers, but after three years, the two agreed to move in Copenhagen. Here they searched for a long time to get a record deal, but although they got the song "If I Was" as a soundtrack for the movie "Monas Verden" in 2001 but they had no luck in getting a contract.

They decided to go in London in 2002 where they played for a number of English professionals. One effect of this was that they got an English manager. In 2003 they went to Nashville to exchange ideas with American songwriters, and this confirmed them in that they had a special musical expression.

In 2004, Hush released their first album, "A Lifetime", which gave Golden a sale of over 20,000 copies in Denmark. Since then the group has toured much of Ireland and various other countries, including Canada. The group has also played as a warming of Turin Brakes and Stephen Fretwell in 2005 and Jamie Cullum in 2006.

Hush's music is characterized by simple instrumentation which accompanist Dorthe Gerlach voice. The songs differ somewhat from other Danish name songs mid-2000s with melancholy without being a sob. The group also differs from other names by using instruments that are unusual in pop music, such as mandolin, banjo and mellotron.

Danser Med Drenge

Danser Med Drenge is band formed in Copenhagen in August 16th 1992. This bad became very popular in Denmark today. They have a great audience everywhere and that's because they are very good in concerts singing a good quality live music.

Danser med Drenge is also known as DmD. They had another frontsinger in the 90's. Her name was Philippa Therese Holme Bulgin. She tragically died in 1993 at 26 years old because of a cancer disease. Anyhow she left for the band this hit called Hvor længe vil du ydmyge dig?" (in English:"How long will you humiliate yourself?")

These are the lyrics of this song (English translated in italics):

Nogen kommer til verden med tårer
og nogen tar' hele livet så let
Nogen stræber mod det de vil nå
mens du, du står bag i køen og kigger på
og går i stå.

Some come into this world in tears
and others take life very casually
Some strive towards what they want to achieve
while you stand back in the line watching
and come to a standstill.

Hvor længe vil du ydmyge dig?
Hvor længe vil du trædes på endnu?
Hvor længe kan du blive ved.
før de slår dit hjerte helt itu?
Sig mig hvor længe vil du finde dig i det?
Hvor længe vil la' dem trampe på dig?

How long will you humiliate yourself?
How long yet do you want to be stepped upon?
How long can you go on
before they break your heart entirely?
Tell me, how long will you accept that?
How long will you let them stomp upon you?

Åh det piner mig og se på dig
så sig mig hvor længe vil du la' det ske?
Hvor længe før du lær' sig nej

Oh, it pains me to look at you
so tell me, how long will you let this take place?
How long before you learn to say no.

Hvor, hvor er din stolthed og vilje?
sig mig hvorfor la' du dem udnytte dig?
Jeg ved du ikke har været sådan altid... nejeeh
og jeg gir' alt hva jeg har for at få min ven tilbage igen

Where, where is your pride and willpower?
Tell me, why do you let them use you?
I know you haven't been like that always... oh no
and I am giving everything I've got to have my friend back again

Hvor længe vil du ydmyge dig?
Hvor længe vil du trædes på endnu?
Hvor længe kan du blive ved.
før de slår dit hjerte helt itu?
Sig mig hvor længe vil du finde dig i det?
Hvor længe vil la' dem trampe på dig?

Åh det piner mig og se på dig
så sig mig hvor længe vil du la' det ske?
Hvor længe før du lær' sig nej"

The band members are: Rie Rasmussen - voice, Klaus Kjellerup - bass, Henrik Stanley Møller (aka Onkel Stanley)- keyboard and second voice, Steffen Qwist - guitar, Morten Bolvig - keyboard, Kasper Langkjær - drums

DmD have also their own channel on youtube here and they have also a website at this address.