Children from the Rudolph Steiner School in Crouch End with comedian Keith Allen (centre left) and artist Damien Hirst punch the air in victory after completing painting to mark the release the single 'Vindaloo' by Fat Les/Tony Harris/PA/Getty Images
Qalam strives to explore the interpenetration of different cultures. To this end, we have decided to launch a series of playlists in which music mediates between different geographical and ideological spaces. Our first playlist is called ‘West to East: One Hundred Best Songs’. It will be updated several times a week, and its curation will focus on how Western pop culture has reflected the realities of the East, whether they are musical, geographical, religious, or political. (The terms ‘West’ and ‘East’ should be taken as broadly and arbitrarily as possible.)
Vindaloo is a curry dish that originated in the Goan and East Indian communities of western India, but is equally famous in its British Indian form. Known for being extra spicy, what sets this dish apart is that the meat is marinated in chilies and vinegar with mustard seeds, and the English version has potatoes in it. Fat Les was a British supergroup, or rather a team, considering the football-themed nature of their songs, consisting of Blur bassist Alex James, actor Keith Allen (the father of singer Lily Allen), and artist Damien Hirst (yes, that Damien Hirst!). ‘Vindaloo’ is a frenzied football anthem written for the 1998 FIFA World Cup and was initially meant as a parody. At that time, London was not quite the gastronomic centre it is today, and the pubs all came without the ‘gastro’ prefix. Thus, the fiery Goan vindaloo was an indispensable accompaniment to beer, football, and related street activities.