Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na

Yep, I know it's been a looong while since I've posted anything. Just in a position where I fly so often with my computer and have to put up with so many empty hours. I'm back to blogging again. I think I'll go back and give Jodha Akbar a good go too, even though it has been quite a while since it released. It's an awesome album that I've had plenty of time to listen to as well. Well for right now, here's my 2 cents worth

When I compare the last 2 works of ARR I find that one surpasses the other in more than just one glaring aspect. Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na seems to be exactly what you expect to not expect from ARR. It’s young, fun, yet has its haunting numbers. It reminded me of Rang De Basanti because there were the fun-filled tracks but the awesome Khoon Chala is an unforgettable “haunter”. That’s exactly how I feel about the Jaane Tu Mera Kya Hai number rendered by Runa Rizvi. She sings it with a great amount of angst in her voice, somehow I wonder if college kids could actually feel that much in their increasingly brand conscious lives. Looking forward to videos. The song is made to sound simple yet is incredibly beautiful. This stands as my favorite, only because of its simplicity. She sounds great except for some points where I think she sounds annoyingly nasal.



Sukhvinder’s version of Jaane Tu Meri Kya Hai brought back Raat Ki Dal Dal from 1947 Earth almost immediately. Slower, louder and less smooth than Rizvi’s version, still beautiful. However, something about Rizvi’s version just touches me more, just seems more poignant.

Nazrein Milana sounds more like something the cool kids would croon. Light, fun and extremely cool. Not pop cool, but actually cool with guitar work peppered with the electric guitar and the harmonica. And this, my friends, is what ARR is all about. He doesn’t do pop, he does cool. ‘Course his stuff becomes pop(ular) after we listen to it a couple of times, makes its way to the top 10 without fail. I can’t wait to listen to an ARR version of a rock song.

Now one thing that isn’t great about JTYNJ is the lyrics. And I say this right before I give you my view about Pappu Can’t Dance on purpose. The lyrics suck for this song. Is it funny? Heck yeah! But stupidly so. The song is as always great when it’s an ARR dance one. Different indeed from Yaakai Thiri, not quite as spell-binding, but pretty darn good nonetheless. I don’t really find that much of a difference with the remix.


Kabhi Kabhi Aditi was my initial favorite, possibly because I’d had the Rahman several listenings effect growing on me then. I read a review saying that it sounded uncannily like Musu Musu, the only thing I find similar between the two are the theme of the picturisation where the hero and his friends are trying to coax the heroine to at least smile. Just a little bit. Please? AND the words Kabhi Kabhi in this song and the title of that movie. Kind of like Yun Hi Chala from Swades in how likable it is on just one listening. I particularly like how he breaks the monotony of the song by having Ali whisper the lyrics. I wonder if Rashid Ali and Javed Ali are brothers. Javed Ali of Jashn-E-Bahaara fame? They sound fairly similar with their lighter voices.

What sounds like the title song of the movie, ARR does it again after the Jillendru Oru Kaadhal title song with Tu Bole. He refrains from using unnatural sounds and sticks to unadulterated Jazz that brings to mind the image of a smokey old restaurant/bar from the 60s. The only real ARR touch is the best – his voice! Soul food!

Looks like Rashid Ali is ARR’s latest favorite. I think Naresh Iyer would have been a better choice for Kahin To Hogi. Oh well! The Maestro knows best. After the cool, hip, dance, jazz and the haunting we have a soft romantic number with Kahin to Hogi. You’d expect Iyer here. No such luck. I guess after listening to all the variety, this just adds to it to make it an all-rounder. As much as it’s a nice song, I found it, to put it mildly, boring. I didn’t find anything different in it that hasn’t already been before by someone else.Talking about differences, Ada’s songs sounded like old Hindi movie songs. I was appalled to say the least. There are ARR touches everywhere, but Gum Sum ad Gulfisha sound like songs from the 90s before ARR trailblazed his way into Bollywood. I will discuss it further after having listened to it more. I’ve already been listening to it, maybe this is just one of those albums that I just might not like – I didn’t like Vandi Solai Chinnarasu or Parasuram either. More to come.