The Buddha Bar compilation albums are a series of compilation albums issued by the French Buddha Bar establishment created by restaurateur Raymond Visan and DJ and interior designer Claude Challe.Anthony D'Andrea, Global Nomads: Techno and New Age as Transnational Countercultures in Ibiza and Goa (2007), p. 93. The albums, which have been published since 1999, consist of songs by international artists in such genres as lounge, chill-out, and world music.Stephen Fallon, Paris (2010), p. 294.
In 2001, a Billboard magazine critic placed the compilation in his "top ten" musical events of the year, stating of proprietor Claude Challe that "[t]he legendary master of pop and dance music in France has aroused the attention of the global chill-out community with this series of mixed compilations", and concluding that "Buddha Bar is not only a good restaurant in France but also one of the best music experiments to come out of France in the past few years".Wolfgang Spahr, "The Year in Music 2001 – Critic's Choice", Billboard (29 December 2001), Vol. 113, No. 52, p. 39. On a more critical note, the Oxford Handbook of Music Revival describes the music of the Buddha Bar collection as "close to muzak-like mixtures with neither recognizable original components nor clearly identifiable new structures".Caroline Bithell, Juniper Hill, Oxford Handbook of Music Revival (2014), p. 484.
Challe compiled and produced the first two Buddha Bar albums. The series thereafter continued with different DJs, including DJ Ravin, Sam Popat, and David Visan (son of Buddha Bar founder Raymond Visan).Phil Meadley, "World Chill", Global Rhythm (2002), Volume 11, Issues 7–12, p. 242. Republished as a review of the album at World Music CD Reviews Asia & Far East. The compilations have also included a few original compositions, credited to Buddha Bar.
Discography Buddha Bar I (1999) Mixed by Claude Challe
CD1 (Dinner) (75 min: 45 s) Craig Armstrong – "Weather Storm" Sina Vodjani – "Straight to the Heart" Deepak Ram – "Kitu" Tulku – "Anni Rose" Zehava Ben – "What Will Be?" Zohar – "The Merciful One" Pink Martini – "La Soledad" Aria – "Un Bel Dì" Zen Men – "Une table à trois" Zen Men – "El Fuego" (Trote King Mix) Anima Sound System – "Shalom" Jai Uttal – "Guru Bramha" Tulku – "Meena Devi (Goddess)" Armen Chakmakian – "Gypsy Rain"
CD2 (Party) (71 min: 54 s) Anima Sound System – "68" (Original Mix) Le Duc – "Touareg" MKL vs. Soy Sos – "Skin" (Original Abstract Mix) Faithless – "Drifting Away" (Paradiso Mix) Intro – "Psique" Kevin Yost – "Two Wrongs Making It Right" Huff & Herb – "Feeling Good" (Epic Mix) So Emotional – "All By Myself" Byron Stingily – "Flying High" (Masters at Work Brazilian Vocal Mix) Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – "Piya Re Piya Re" (Remix) Etti Ankri – "Eshebo" Malik Adouane – "Shaft" Metin Arolat – "Elveda" Willy DeVille – "Demasiado Corazón" (Live Version)
Buddha Bar II (2000) Mixed by Claude Challe
CD1 (Dinner) (72 min: 31 s) Trumpet Thing – "Need You (Right Now)" (Ambient Mix) Omer Faruk Tekbilek – "I Love You" Consuelo Luz – "Los Bilbilicos (The Nightingales)" Karunesh – "Alibaba" Deepak Chopra feat. Demi Moore – "Desire" Govinda – "In Through Time" Oliver Shanti & Friends – "Onòn Mweng (Rainbird)" Atman – "Spirit" Deadbeats – "Funky for You" De-Phazz feat. Pat Appleton – "Mambo Craze" (Extended Edit) Nino – "Amor Amor" Sa Trincha – "Smell of Paradise" Intro – "Farruca" Funky Lowlives – "Nota Bossa"
CD2 (Party) (74 min: 09 s) Sun Trust – "How Insensitive" Rollercone – "Daydreaming" Wally Brill – "A Loop in Time" (Banco De Gaia Remix) La Roca – "Drama of Japan" Great Barrier – "Cairo" (Duke Monster Mix) Angel Tears – "Inshalla" dZihan & Kamien – "After" Suba – "Felicidade" Sidestepper – "Logozo" Kerri Chandler & Joe Clausell – "Escravos de Jo" (Robust Horn Remix) Soul Ascendants – "The String Thing" Attaboy – "New World"
Buddha Bar III (2001) Mixed by DJ Ravin
CD 1 (Dream) (66 min: 59 s) Nicos – "Secret Love" John Kaizan Neptune – "Golden Lotus" Yorgos Kazantzis – "Sorocos" Karunesh – "Solitude" Platon Andritsakis – "Via Pajuta iii" Tulku – "Spiral Dance" Manuel Franjo – "Solo por tu amor" Gustavo Montesano & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – "Tango Serenato de Schubert" Adrian Enescu – "Invisible Movies Part 1" Deepak Ram – "A Night in Lenasia" Amr Diab – "Tamally Maak" Frederick Rousseau – "Danya" Eden – "Mavis" Oliver Shanti & Friends – "Sacral Nirvana" Jesse Cook – "On Walks the Night"
CD 2 (Joy) (76 min: 49 s) Gotan Project – "Triptico" Zeb – "Sufism" Osman Ismen – "Kale" Freeman – "My Dear Masters" Ekova – "Starlight in Daden" (Aurora Remix) Talvin Singh – "Veena" Ravi Prasad – "Indian Gipsy" Hasan Cihat Orter – "Flirting Shadows 2 (Schnaz Longa) Anna Vissi – "Den Me Agapas" Nacho Sotomayor – "Don't Do Anything" Badmarsh & Shri – "Sitar Ritual" Kodo – "Strobe's Nanafushi" (Satori Mix) Livin' in Da Ghetto feat. Moktar – "Arabian Song" (Da Ghetto Fuckiro Club)
Buddha Bar IV (2002) Mixed by David Visan
CD 1 (Dinner) (63 min: 40 s) Frederick Rousseau – "La Fille De Pekin" Tibet Project – "Tibet (A Passage To...)" Jade Or – "Opium" Nitin Sawhney – "Moonrise" Nash Didan – "A Window of My Dreams" Agricantus – "Amatevi" Manuel Franjo – "Tiempo" Guadalupe Pineda Con Los Tres Ases – "Historia De Un Amor" Armen Chakmakian – "Distant Lands" Nickodemus – "Desert Dancer" (Zeb's Slow Camel Ride Remix) Flam – "Monsoon" Tulku – "Rahda Ramana" Natasa Theodoridou – "Tora to Thimithikes" Gotan Project – "Una Musica Brutal"
CD 2 (Drink) (60 min: 20 s) Outsized – "Karma" (Extended Mix) Time Passing – "Party People" Panjabi MC – "Mundian to Bach Ke" Ishtar – "Comme Toi" Chris Spheeris – "Dancing with the Muse" David Visan & Carlos Campos – "Irish Coffee" Llorca – "The Novel Sound" Loving Paris – "Loco" Roland Louis – "Percussion's Rhythm (Dimitri from Paris Re-Edit)" Dan Lacksman's Alliance – "Louxor in Vegas" Angie Samiou – "Agoraki Mou Amr Diab – "Aktar Wahed" Celia Cruz – "Yo Vivire (I Will Survive)" Usual Masters – "Nocturne in Paris"
Buddha Bar IV sales
Buddha Bar V (2003) Mixed by David Visan
CD 1 (Dinner) (66 min: 36 s) Jade Or feat. Bielka Nemirovski – "Nie Kantshaietsa" Mikis Theodorakis – "I've Kept a Hold of My Life" Refractory feat. J.C. Sindress & Youn Sun Nah – "Road" Trumpet Thing – "Far Away" Mystic Rhythms Band – "Gesso's Guitar Song" Angelique Kidjo – "Iemanja" Elie Karam – "Baadima" David Visan & Michaël Winter feat. Ani Choying Drolma – "Tamtra Tibet" Mariza – "Loucura" Maria Papadopoulou – "Maskaremeni" David Visan & Carlos Campos – "Indra Story" Laurent Dury – "Silk Road" Alihan Samedov – "Sen Gelmez Oldun" Frederick Rousseau – "Princess W. Cheng" Operatica – "Mon Amour"
CD 2 (Drink) (66 min: 58 s) Emma Shapplin – "La Notte Etterna" dZihan & Kamien – "Just You & I" Sarma – "Muel" DJ Disse – "Egyptian Disco" (Buddha Bar Edit) Gipsyland – "Salaam" (duet with Anoushka) Mondo Candido – "Meglio stasera" Latour – "Blue" Despina Vandi – "Gia" Giampiero Ponte feat. Moran – "Sphynx" (Club Mix) Julie – "Blinded" (Original Opera Mix) David Visan – "Czardas" Rubin Steiner – "Wunderlande" Ritchie Lawrence – "Laurence d'Arabie" (Ambient Mix)
Siddharta, Spirit of Buddha Bar (2003) Mixed by DJ Ravin
CD1 (Emotion) Bliss – Wish You Were Here Riccardo Eberspacher – Osiride Mars Lasar – Sacrifice Grassskirt – Burundi Bedsong Nicos – Passione BNM Corp. – Bach to the Future Mikael Delta feat. Tania Tsanaklidou – Mia Agapi Mikri (Faithful Mix) Max Chorny – Gde Trava ? (Siddharta Remix) Sezen Aksu – Adi Menekse Dreamcatcher (2) – Seventh Heaven Michalis Nikoloudis – Déjà Vu Infernal – Adeel Bliss – Long Life to You My Friend (Christophe Goze Remix) Al-pha-X – Mi Corazon Cantoma – Marisi
CD2 (Passion) Alihan Samedov – Sen Gelmez Oldun Ziroq – Ziroq Melih Kibar – Mesaj Mikael Delta – No One Santos – Ke Dolor (Banzai Republic Remix) Agricantus – Orbi Terrarum (DJ Rocca Deepmix for Maffia Sound System) Rey De Copás – Frontera Del Ensueno (Jerez De La Frontera Mix) Oi-Va-Voi feat. Ben Hassan – D'Ror Yikra El Cosmo Group – Maha Lakshmi Femi Kuti – Do Your Best (Faze Action Remix) Dr Kucho! – Negritos Mogambos Big Bud – Mombassa DJ Aqeel – Tu Tu Hai Wahi
Siddharta, Spirit of Buddha Bar Vol. 2 (2003) Mixed by DJ Ravin
CD1 (Awakening) Bliss – Sleep Will Come Afterlife feat. Cathy Battistessa – Speck of Gold Ratnabali – Breeze (Baul Dimension & Murphy Remix) Cirque du Soleil – A Tale-Bliss (Munchausen Mix) Banzai Republic – Never Feel Karsh Kale – Letting Go Sand System – Lover's Nocturne Electro Mana – In Flight Nitin Sawhney – Fallen Angels Cantoma – Moonsmith Hidden Id – Afro Dub Gaudi – Sufani Baul Dimension – Lake Palace Bent – King Wisp Dariuz – Dusk
CD2 (Euphoria) Ganga – Luna Grassskirt – Tonite Lonesome Echo Production feat. Mutabaraku – Spirit of Drums Grassskirt – Mamaso Microman & Vito Ingrosso feat. Angel – Pretend (Early in the Morning) Sekouba Bambino – Découragé (Charles Webster Remix) Lonesome Echo Production feat. Liliana Chachian – No Colo Do Mar H-Foundation – Passage of Time Cirque du Soleil – Sun Drum Fun (Carmen Rizzo Toumany Remix) Choc Electrique – Da Hood (Part 2) (Philippe Lussan Remix) Cirque du Soleil – Oscillum Pete Tha Zouk vs Di Simmon – Enchantments Native ID – Devotion (Original Mix)
Buddha Bar VI (2004) Mixed by DJ Ravin
CD 1 (Rebirth) (63 min: 24 s) B-Tribe – "Angelic Voices" (Rebirth Remix) 1 Giant Leap – "The Way You Dream" Dolphin Boy – "Shake It Loose"' Daniel Masson – "Sonargaon" Deew – "She Will Never Learn" Erik Satie – "Gnossienne No. 1 (Buddha Bar Remix)" Cellar 55 – "Por-Do-Sol" Ryukyu Underground – "Kanasando" (Rebirth Remix) Ganga – "Chair" Dos Hombres – "The Alkemyst" Slow Train – "Naturally" Quicksound – "Cold Winter" Touch and Go – "Straight to... Number One" (Dreamcatcher's Remix) Cantoma – "Essarai"
CD 2 (Rejoice) (63 min: 47 s) Baul Dimension – "Bangla Soul" Table vs. Ludovico Einaudi – "Memory" Slow Train – "Trail of Dawn" Loopless – "Pink Blue Hotel" Télépopmusik – "Breathe" (Banzai Republic's X-Hale Remix) Sarah Vaughan – "Whatever Lola Wants (Gotan Project Remix)" Bliss – "Manvantara" Baul Dimension – "Baul Dimension" Afterlife – "Sunrise" (DJ Thunda & K20 Allstars Mix) PQM feat. Pilgrim Soul – "Nameless" Casa Flava – "De Moma De" (Paris & Sharp Remix) Perfect Sense – "Bumba" (Stereo Sax Mix)
Buddha Bar VII (2005) Mixed by DJ Ravin & David Visan
CD 1 (Sarod) (77 min: 07 s) Bliss – "Breathe" My Phuong Nguyen & Thierry David – "Huong Vietnam" Riccardo Eberspacher – "Light Signs"' Al-Pha X – "An Indian Summer" Afterlife feat. Dannii Minogue – "Take Me Inside (Christophe Goze Mix)" Ustad Sultan Khan – "Aja Maji (Sacred Rhythm Version by Joe Claussell)" Bigtétény's Finest – "Lovasok A Szakadék Felé" Federico Aubele – "Postales" Vargo – "The Moment" Salif Keita – "Moussoulou (Remixed by Charles Webster)" José Padilla – "Light my Heart" Bebel Gilberto – "Aganjú" (John Beltran Remix) Ramasutra – "Magma Mama" Peppe Barra – "Core Nire" (Azoia Remix) Da Lata – "Distracted Minds" Laid Back – "Happy Dreamer"
CD 2 (Sarangi) (71 min: 03 s) Kirpi – "The Song" Sainkho Namtchylak – "Ohm Suaa (Remixed by Martin Morales)" Lonesome Echo feat. Mutabaraku – "Spirit of Drums" (SUMO Afrobounce Remix) DJ Nasha – "Flute Fantasy" Ryukyu Underground – "Mo Ashibi" (Jason Bentley Remix) Supervielle – "Perfume (Remixed by Campo)2 Mambayaga Project – "Joy on a Stick" King Britt presents Oba Funke – "Uzoamaka" Phatjak vs. DJ Hamoodi – "Ritmo Caliente"' Harem – "Medusa" Mo' Horizons – "Drum'n Boogaloo (Full Vocal Mix)" Mambayaga Project – "Clockwork (Shantel vs Mahala Rai Banda Remix)" Tito Rodriguez – "Mama Guela (STUHR Remix)" Les Negresses Vertes – "Sous Le Soleil De Bodega (Bodega Di Moko)"