| Song: Dil Hoom Hoom Kare Album: Rudaali Type: Bollywood Singer: Lata Mangeshkar Music Director: Bhupen Hazarika Lyricist: Gulzar Rating: 3.9 Nice and mellow. Music of Assam for Dummies, like myself. RIP Bhupen Hazarika. |
| Song: Banao Album: Soundtrack Type: Bollywood Singer: Papon Music Director: Papon and the East India Company Lyricist: Papon and the East India Company Rating: 4.8 Papon hails from Hazarika’s state and has the ability to finish the task that Hazarika started – that of bringing Assamese folk music into the mainstream. I saw him live at HRC, Bangalore once and boy did he have the crowd going with his folk songs! Singing for Bollywood hopefully will give him access to a wider audience and get him the attention he deserves. “Banao” itself is a light, mellow ode to marijuana, but the promise of Papon is evident. As Papon urges people to make a joint, one wonders how references to ganja made it past the censors. The song manages to hold attention with just an acoustic guitar and Papon’s powerful voice. His gravelly “right now” is a treat to listen to. Here is an artist who needs to be heard more. |
| Song: The Tide Is High Album: Blondie Type: Reggae Artist: Blondie Rating: 4.6 Blondie’s cover of John Holt’s original skyrocketed to the top of the charts in 1980. Listen to the song and you can imagine yourself chilling by the beach. |
| Song: Megha Chhaye Aadhi Raat Album: Sharmilee Type: Bollywood Singer: Lata Mangeshkar Music Director: S.D. Burman Lyricist: Neeraj Rating: 5.0 The Burman clan dominated 1971. If R.D. Burman challenged the established music directors with Hare Rama Hare Kirshna and Amar Prem, S.D. Burman sounded of with Sharmilee and Tere Mere Sapne that he was not done yet. Once again S.D. Burman melded classicism in a song that his household helps could hum. It’s amazing listening to the seamless transitions between the Western (electric guitar, accordion, bongo) and the Indian (sitar, tabla). And what does say about Lata in this song? People say she had peaked by then but I can’t hear a single flaw in her voice in this song. |
| Song: Anthiveyil Album: Ulladakkam Type: Moliwood Singer: Yesudas Music Director: Ouseppachan Lyricist: Kaithapram Rating: 4.8 A lot of Ilayaraja in the song and I mean that as a compliment. Very melodic and happy. |
| Song: Ee Bhoomi Album: Swarathma Type: Indie Artist: Swarathma Rating: 4.2 This is a favorite in Swarathma concerts because it’s simple and very easy to sing along with. I found the beginning a little oridinary but once the violin and the electric guitar kicks in, it’s all good. |
| Song: Jago Sonewalo Album: Bhoot Bungla Type: Bollywood Singer: Kishore Kumar Music Director: R.D. Burman Lyricist: Hasrat Jaipuri Rating: 4.6 This was a big song in more ways than one. It was grand in scale with a large orchestra and chorus and a melodramatic style. It was also R.D. Burman’s return as a solo composer after a 4 year hiatus following his first film Chote Nawab. His compositions for Bhoot Bungla were enough to keep him going till he gave his first blockbuster hit with Teesri Manzil. The only thing I didn’t like about the song is the abrupt way in which it ends. |
| Song: Raga Todi Album: Raga Jazz Style Type: Fusion Artist: Shankar – Jaikishan Rating: 5.0 While this early fusion piece is itself awesome, what I marvel at is that an entire album of fusion music was cut in India as far back as the 1960s. We can thank a film artist strike for the album since it gave Shankar – Jaikishan some free time to conceptualize this album – a fusion of Jazz and Hindustani Ragas. The album had film industry regulars like Manohari Singh (saxophone) and John Pareira (trumpet) but SJ pulled a coup by roping in the legendary sitar player Ustad Rain Khan. A must buy for all fusion lovers. (I found the CD on the Saregama website). |
| Song: Jigsaw Falling Into Place Album: In Rainbows Type: Alternative Artist: Radiohead Rating: 5.0 An intense Radiotrack that is remniscent of Creep for the way in which it builds up tension before the eventual release. Love it. |
| Song: Wundoo Yeredoo Album: I Am Type: Bollywood Singer: Rajiv Bhalla Music Director: Rajiv Bhalla Lyricist: Rajiv Bhalla Rating: 3.4 Not a great song but foot-tapping and interesting for its use of Kannada lyrics with Punjabi. |