Topic: Music
Hey Govind Hey Gopal by Jagjit Singh (Vaishnodevi website)
Govinda by The Radha Krsna Temple (The Rada Krsna Temple)
Govinda by Kula Shaker (K)
Whatever you think of the blue god of India and his devotees, you have to admit that he’s inspired a lot of music.
Today we’ve got three selections in praise of Krishna in his Govinda, or “cow-protector,” manifestation. The first, by the renowned ghazal and playback singer Jagjit Singh, is pretty much your typical Hindu devotional song in the popular style.
Next up is The Radha Krsna Temple, a recording made at Apple Studios in 1970 and produced by George Harrison, who was then deep into the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON), whose penchant for child abuse was not yet known. You can find the whole album here, including the hit “Hare Krsna Mantra.”
And finally we have a relatively recent rock devotional from Kula Shaker, who had a hit back in the 1990s with “Tattva.”
I tend to find Krishna devotees a difficult bunch, but I really like all three of these songs.