Rangzen Shonu - 'We Tibetan Nomads'

[@tsheringgyeltshen4736]

Who’s here 2024, I’m not but this song gives me nostalgic feeling. Must have been Tibetan in my past life

[@t.palden2873]

Not many people know the true back story of how "Rangzen Shunu" came to be. Out of three members two of them : Tsering Paljor la, (the first one on the album/cassette cover) and Tenzin something...? pardon me, don't remeber his last name (the last one one...) were students of my (late step father) Prof. Nawang Jinpa of St. Joseph's college in Darjeeling. Unfortunately, i do not know who the gentleman in the middle (who i believe did the rhythm section of the guitar and back vocals. He (Prof. Nawang Jinpa) wrote all the songs except for "Nga tso boedh ki dropa" specifically as a tribute to His Holiness and the tibetan people's freedom struggle to mark and celebrate His Holiness's birthday back in the early eighties (i was still a teen 12 - 13yr old). But the tune and musical composition to the songs were mostly a creation of Paljor la (whose (late) mother was my (late) mother's best friend...so we were close family friends - and still are). After the songs were fully ready, they first perfomed them (except for nga tso boedh ke drokpa - which was composed later (by another tibetan monk) after paljor la graduated from St. Joseph's College and headed to Dharamsala to work for the TGIE.) These songs so well received by the public, yet, not many really understood the literary and poetical wordings/meanings in the lyrics which were profound, with deep patriotic, nostalgic, political overtones. However, it resonated with many and the college singing troupe (which also included a femal student) went on several tours as well. After Paljor la and Tenzin la graduated they went their own ways, and a year later the apparently got together and formed a band called "Rangzen Shunu" and produced this now famous and classic tape/recording album. Unfortunately, the only sad thing is: they failed to credit my late step father for the lyrics. Which is even sadder knowing the fact that they, specifically Paljor la was both a student of my late step dad, and very close family friend of ours. Also, a "true story"...it is said, when His Holiness first heard some of the songs, he was moved by the lyrics and poetry of the songs and inquired "who had written them." As He learnt it was Prof. Nawang Jinpa from Darjeeling...His Holiness wasn't surprised, since he was a honorary Geshey who His Holiness had personally assigned him to be the teacher/professor back in the early 70's at St.Joseph's College to educate and preserve higher tibetan learning.

[@tenzinnyinjey698]

For a long time, I've been thinking about the lyricist of not this song, but that of Gyalchay Luyang. Finally, found him: Prof. Ngawang Jinpa. Thank you for the information. I know the pain of not giving due credit. The famous song, Ama Jetsun Pema [I used to privately think she's not the Ama of us non-TCVians], was written by a Tibetan writer named Dhondup, who lives in Paris these days. Many years ago, when we first met in Dharamsala, I had a conversation with him; he was deeply pained by the fact that he was not credited as the lyricist of the song.

[@hamroviral540]

My dad Used to have a cassette which I had brought here but unfortunately I recorded something on it by mistake. Nothing beats the original and the acoustic guitar on it.

[@ten-zinc7506]

T.Palden: Tashi Delek, it's sad that people are not given due credit for their creative work. Do you know the lyricist of "Nga-tsho bhoe kyi drokpa" or do you have the lyric. I am trying to create a lyric video, but I am having hard time to comprehend the third verse of the song. Also do you have the other lyrics which were composed by the late Prof. Nawang Jinpa. It would be nice if you could give me some informations. Thanks

[@supriyagurungs1168]

I heard this song earlier and liked it but didn’t know the historical background of song . Thank you for enlightening me on it . I wished I had met prof nawang lak in person

[@dechenwangdi2798]

I listened this songs in childhood days,ranzen shonu was a first Tibetan pop band +singers...

[@ChonyiR]

ABOUT THE BAND: Rangzen Shonu is a Tibetan rock band that burst on to the exile music scene in the late 1980s, firmly establishing the genre of Tibetan rock and forever changing the landscape of Tibetan music. As one of the first Tibetan rock bands, Rangzen Shonu’s signature sound of soulful song and meaningful lyrics accompanied only by the acoustic and electric guitar captured the hearts and minds of Tibetans in Tibet and in exile. The release in 1987 of their self-produced album titled Rangzen Shonu albums marked a historic moment in the nascent Tibetan music industry. Rangzen Shonu’s three members were Tenzin Choesang, Norbu Choephel and Paljor. Their songwriter was Professor Ngawang Jinpa. The songs are folk-like in simplicity and sound, evocative of the old songs of the highlands, and yet nuanced and complex in meaning and melody, full of poetry and passion. These absolutely beautiful songs are infused with the spirit of freedom and resistance and resonate powerfully with Tibetans of all generations even today. Their song “We Tibetan Nomads”, one of the most popular Tibetan songs of all time, can be said to function as an unofficial Tibetan national anthem. Although Rangzen Shonu has now been disbanded for many years, Tibetan music lovers honor and remember their immeasurable contribution to Tibetan music. - yuthoklane.blogspot.com/2010/02/rangzen-shonu_08.html

[@tsheringwangdi9097]

Did one of the member form the "YAK BAND" later?

[@marie-nayelimagraner9473]

@@tsheringwangdi9097 YES!

[@tenzinthinley8764]

Gosh ! This was the first song played on cassette when my late dad bought his first “ Panasonic “ tape recorder. Memories flooding back 😢 I wonder what happened to the artists of this album.

[@tash21684]

Thy are in Toronto.. Thy perform occasionally during Tibetan gathering

[@gunit7650]

This brings back to my wonderful childhood memories. Thank you so much guys for the original.

[@tsewangdorjee3970]

old is great........we loved to be called as TIBETAN.bhod gyalo.... looking forward for an old and patriotic songs like this......love this human spirit..

[@tsheringwangdi9097]

This song never gets old.

[@RTYCTornoto]

This recalls my childhood times. Thanks

[@Konchokhyen]

When I was a young boy I have only few cassettes to play on our flat tape recorder. I played this song over and over again.

[@tenzinzampa7354]

On right side is Tenzing La , He was student of CST Kalimpong and I remember we were 3 or 4 class junior

[@kd-yv4cp]

Good old songs. I have been looking for the original one. Brings back memories. 😀😄😘

[@gonpozawa]

love this song always from heart....

[@Loriendel]

I just discovered this band. One of the most original Tibetan bands. I am so sick of listening to sinocized and pop tunes. The open riff almost reminds me of Guantanamera...similar sentiments I supposed. Kuchi...someone post the lyrics :')) and thanks for the back story...that was interesting

[@kdickee]

thank for sharing these video clips... I spent one whole day looking for the original version. Does anyone know any of these band members? what a breed of talent!!!

[@MrRabgyal]

Love this song.

[@tibkailash]

Does anyone know where the original Rangzen shonu members are? I know one is in Toronto but where are the rest? We should respect them for their contributions to modern Tibetan music.

[@tenmoenbook]

Great song, loved it.

[@dorjeewangdue2746]

I really like this song.

[@tenzinsangmo4503]

Classic!

[@tsewangktm]

Really good song. Old is gold

[@nangsatibetan4498]

Mind blowing

[@tenzinnorzom9283]

Classic 🙌

[@tenzinzampa7354]

Song is very famous in Kalimpong Yak band

[@16082117]

thanks for loading such songs

[@dailychallenger3206]

Flashback. 👌🙃

[@jampatsundue6864]

old is gold...

[@tenzinwoeser7298]

Free Tibet

[@nintendoshareholder952]

རང་བཙན་གཞོན་ནུ་ = Tibetan Eagles

[@Jahtso]

It means "young freedom"

[@shonuDhamey]

I happened to be with this bus full of pilgrims from TIBET who were all headed to Baudh Gaya from Nepal. To my awe they knew the lyrics by heart - turns out that RangZen Shonu songs were very popular in Tibet those days ( ...because they understood the lyrics and the poetic beauty of it). Today's songs are all in colloquial and bear little texture when it comes to literary resonance- almost bordering to mediocre pop songs. FYI: Nga Tso Bho Kyi Drokpa was written by Norbu Choepel la from LTWA, ( Library of Tibetan Works and Archives) Dharmamsala- ( now in Madison, Wi). Rest of them were all composed by the Late Prof Ngawang Jinpa of St. Joesph's college, Darjeeling. Quite surprised they failed to honor the composer - perhaps too busy picking their head-shots for the album cover (?)

[@CedarArchive]

Thank you for sharing such a fascinating story and your insights on the song's significance! It’s deeply inspiring to hear how their music resonates across different communities. Just a small clarification: the composers are credited in all the official materials I’m aware of, including the official website (now taken down) and wikipedia, which is linked in the description. The biographies I’ve encountered all mention Norbu Choepel and Professor Ngawang Jinpa, although attributions by song can be harder to find. If you're referring to the original materials, such as the original cassette or lyrics booklet, that would be quite a treasure to see! Thanks again for sharing your stories and insights.

[@tensang98]

thanks and nice song!

[@tenzindawa8088]

Can i get a lyrics of this very goog song plz

[@karmatsering2487]

❤

[@Namdaq]

Can someone pls post the lyrics ?

[@tentenz4761]

ང་ཚོ་བོད་ཀྱི་འབྲོག་པའི་གཞས་ཚིག་བོད་སྐད་དང་ཨིན་སྐད་ཐོག་ m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/hH6ng4ChltuHm9U

[@norbuchophel3718]

Are you still looking for the lyrics? I can send you. I am one of the three in the group.

[@tenzinwangyal]

Can you please post its lyrics?

[@tseringwangmo6097]

Tenzin

[@PaldenKhe-Changsoo]

Does anyone know the chord progression to this?

[@norbuchophel3718]

We started with Dmaj-Emin-Amaj-Gmaj. These are the chords. I hope this response is not too late.

[@norden9999]

Beatles

[@malorybertie8046]

nonsense ,Tibet is the home to 6 million tibetan Chinese ,they actually do རང་བཙན Tibet .Tibet has nothing to do with tibetan Indian .

[@ithoughtso67]

Relax Malory

[@Bzdm0]

The band’s name is freedom youth। The song is about Tibetan nomads

[@Bzdm0]

Tibetans don’t permission to take pride in their identity you know।

[@malorybertie8046]

@@Bzdm0 anyway ,the 6 million Tibetan Chinese are Chinese ,they are the owner of China .are you Tibetan overseas ? hope you can visit Tibet in the future .welcome to China .kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnq3iGWZZ8t0hZo

[@Bzdm0]

@@malorybertie8046 When you are insecure, you have to state the same thing million times even on video with no relation to the topic.