BONEY M STILL SELLS LIKE HOT CAKE IN MEGHALAYA

The 70s maybe passé, but definitely not Boney M. The Disco group still make the people here groove to its foot-tapping and index-finger-pointing numbers during this holiday season.

Every year several new Christmas albums are released in the state. This year three were released here - Christmas Everyday by Shillong Chamber Choir (SSC), Christmas Special Collection released by Peitngor Cable News and a Khasi movie titled Ka Kristmas.

But still the number one Christmas album in demand is Boney M Gold, according to several music stores here. The album is a collection of some of the greatest hits of the Disco band. Boney M Gold was released as a compilation in 1992.

“People from the rural areas forms our largest customer base during the Christmas season. Most don’t like the slow numbers and go for fast and catchy ones like the classics of Boney M,” Eva, from Eva Audio and Video a popular music store in Iewduh (Barabazar) said.

So they would rather prefer Boney M’s Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday, Daddy Cool, Brown Girl in the Ring to Rivers of Babylon than any slow numbers that doesn’t set the mood for a little foot-tapping and hip-swaying.

Other music albums from bands like Vengaboys and Aqua are also favourites amongst Eva’s rural customers. “The sale of music albums does go up during the holiday season,” she added.


Another music store in the area, says PCN’s Christmas album is doing fairly well, but SSC’s Christmas Everyday is not. “The price tag (Rs 249) is a big let down, moreover Christmas Everyday is an audio not like the others so people are least interested,” a shop owner in the area said.

Other old Christmas albums like Kristmas Basuk by Relina Wahlang, Kristmas La wan Biang by UN Sunn, a popular local artist, are on top of the buyers’ list, the store-owner added.

People today, perhaps the last day of Christmas shopping, were seen rushing to buy Pine trees for Christmas tree decoration and Mistletoes, besides clothes and other accessories. A Pine tree branch is being sold between Rs 200 to Rs 50 and a bunch of Mistletoes for Rs. 50 at Iewduh.