Freaky Friday Playlist May-13-2011

Song: Yeh Dil Hai Nakhrewala
Album: Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji
Type: Bollywood
Singers: Shefali Alvaris
Music Director: Pritam
Lyricist: Neelesh Mishra
Rating: 4.1
A different-sounding pop-rock song. I really like this song for Shefali (who?) Alvaris' spunky, slightly nasal vocals and some pretty cool vocalizations ("Tu du du…"). There is another pop (populist?) version of this song sung by Antara Mitra which appears in the movie but after listening to Alvaris, it seems like a watered-down version (though I like Mitra's vocals too).
Song: Joh Wada Kiya Who
Album: Taj Mahal
Type: Bollywood
Singers: Mohd Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar
Music Director: Roshan
Lyricist: Sahir Ludhiyanvi
Rating: 5.0
Lovely, charmingly simple song.
Song: Stage Fright
Album: The Best of The Band
Type: Rock
Artist: The Band
Rating: 3.6
A relaxed song, with a profusion of piano and organ. Nice bassline.
Song: Mindathedi
Album: Thanmathra
Type: Mollywood
Singers: MG Sreekumar, Sruthi
Music Director: Mohan Sitara
Lyricist: Kaithapram
Rating: 4.7
An awesome meld of melody and rhythm. Utterly hummable. That said, I like Sujatha's version more.
Song: Meri Duniya Lut Rahi Thi
Album: Mr & Mrs. 55
Type: Bollywood
Singers: Mohd Rafi
Music Director: O.P. Nayyar
Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Rating: 3.9
One of the old-time qawalli, love songs that alternate between the slow/melodic and the rhythmic. Listen to it for Rafi's alaaps.
Song: Haira Haira Hairabba
Album: Jeans
Type: Koliwood
Singers: Unnikrishnan
Music Director: A.R. Rahman
Lyricist: Vairamuthu
Rating: 3.9
This is one example where melody and rhythm don't gel very well. I like the melody, not so much the rhythm. And I hate the "Haira Haira…" line.
Song: Aankhon Ke Saagar
Album: Fuzon
Type: Paki-Rock
Artist: Fuzon
Rating: 4.8
I cannot stop admiring the ingenuity of the Paki-rock bands who created this new genre of Hindustani/Sufi/Rock music. Shafqat Amanat Ali owns this genre in this song. Brilliant!
Song: Ilamai Ullasam
Album: Unnale Unnale
Type: Koliwood
Singers: Krish, Shalini
Music Director: Harris Jayaraj
Lyricist: Pa. Vijay
Rating: 3.5
A nice frothy, pop number with cool harmonies. Short.
Song: Tu Jo Mere Sur Mein
Album: Chitchor
Type: Bollywood
Singers: Yesudas, Hemlata
Music Director: Ravindra Jain
Lyricist: Ravindra Jain
Rating: 5.0
One of my all-time favorite duets. We don't appreciate Ravidra Jain's genius enough. Mind blowing composition! (Can't say the same about his choice of Hemlata though.)
Song: Jadugari
Album: Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji
Type: Bollywood
Singers: Kunal Ganjawala
Music Director: Pritam
Lyricist: Sanjay Chhel
Rating: 3.6
I really like the melody of this pop-influenced, acoustic number. But I would have liked it more if I had not been distracted by Kunal Ganjawala's vocals. In my opinion, he overdoes the breathy, sensuous bit to the point that it gets irritating.