Asha Bhosle & Code Red : 
GETTING TOGETHER
At the Channel [V] Music Awards 1997, a surprise performance by Code Red and Asha Bhosle of a duet called We can make it, left the entire audience charmed by the concept, and the fact that the latter was singing in English. A few days later, on October 21, Code Red and Asha Bhosle officially released the group’s debut album Scarlet, featuring a duet. Apparently the concept of the duet was the brain child of Vinay Sapru and Radhika of Polygram (India), and when the bosses abroad and Code Red’s management got wind of it, they were so hot on the idea, that they immediately got down to executing it. Being Ashaji’s first attempt at singing in English, she was a little nervous about it. When queried about her having to adjust to the boys’ vocal style, and whether it was tough doing so, she replied “The vocal style used in the duet is very easy, there is really nothing to it. But what was actually tough was the fact that I had to sing in English. I was really nervous about it. But thanks to the Polygram gang and to Leslie ‘Lezz’ Lewis, who together helped me with my pronounciation, I managed to do a pretty good job of it.” As per Code Red, they were extremely thrilled about the duet. “It’s a first for us, that is cutting a duet with another artist, and now that we know who Asha Bhosle actually is, we feel honoured to have got the opportuntity to record with such a big name in the Indian music industry,” said Phil of Code Red, commenting on the single. “Besides, the concept of the duet, it is also an excellent ballad. Atleast we think so,” added Roger with a chuckle. When asked about her future plans to sing in English, Asha Bhosle confidently repiled, “Just like cutting a Hindi pop album was a challenge, singing in English is also one, and if I could do both, I don’t think it would be a difficult task for me cut an English album now.”

Code Red, who were awarded the Hot Tip of the year at the Channel [V] Music Awards, 1997, wasn’t originally formed through any song and dance auditions or artist management groups. In fact, unlike all other boy groups in which the members rarely know each other before they found, the English foursome were close friends to begin with. Apparently, six years back, Lee Missen encountered Roger Ratajczak while skiing. With a liking for the same music, namely R&B and Soul harmony stuff, the two became close pals. “It was amazing as to how we both were hot on Black American harmony quarterts,” said Lee, adding, “And when we met Phil Rodell and Neil Watts through a friend of Rogers, and discovered that they too were tripping on similar music, the four of us became instant friends. After meeting each other, we would often hop into each others’ houses and we’d sit together for hours, working out a Boyz-2-Men track or other similar stuff. And every time we’d do that, it would sound really good,” said Phil. Although the boys had become pretty good and had even thrown in a few dance steps, for them their act was only a hobby until producer Nicki Graham saw them, heard them, groomed them and clinched a recording deal for them with Polygram. “Nicki’s gaught us everything we need to know about the music business, he’s been a real guide to us,” said Phil. Soon to follow was the release of the quartet’s mushy ballad This is our song, which due to their Boyz-2-Men influence, sounds exactly like a Boyz-2-Men track, and the mid-tempo ballad Can we talk . The success of the two tracks in the UK and in Asia found the four lads touring the UK, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore this year. And following the release of their debut album Scarlet, their popularity seems to be growing in leaps and bounds.

When queried about being compared with Boyz-2-Men and other all-boy groups, quipped Roger “I’d like to clarify that we aren’t a boy group. Rather we all are in our Twenties and that makes us an all-male quartet, ’cause we are adults now. As for being compared to Boyz-2-Men, they are our idols and we’ve been influenced by them tremendously, so it’s an honour if anybody thinks that we sound like them. I think Code Red is quite different from other similar song-dance outfits, ’cause other groups concentrate a lot on dance routines and less on their vocals and harmony. We first emphasize on our vocal harmony and then add a few dance steps to liven up the song. We are singers first and dancers next, so no comparison arises between us and other similar groups,” said Phil. According to tabloids and music journals abroad, if any one were to close their ears and listen to a Code Red single, they’d be convinced that it was an all-black male quartet and not a white one.

At the Cyclone Club (Leela Kempinski) the boys put on a fascinating act for half an hour, displaying good dance routines, piercing harmonies and even pure acapella singing, before an audience of half crazed teen girls, who had crowded the place. After gauging their pouplarity here, the lads expressed the desire to return for a proper live concert performance, besides also cutting a track fully in Hindi, if possible, and that too in four-part harmony. As per their Indian experience, Roger and Phil loved the desi food. Lee was amazed at seeing Indian cows gingerly walking the streets and Neil was dejected that he hadn’t met enough Indian girls.

Considering the fact that the guys are friends to begin with, and taking into account their vocal harmony prowess, Code Red’s chances of sticking around for a long time look very bright.