Songs I'm listening to

Khoya Khoya Chaand, Thirak Thirak
Genre: Hini 60s?
Exactly the kind of songs I'd love to be playing back to back till I get tired, then give it a break, then B2B again. Nice tempo. I normally don't find Hindi lyrics very nice-sounding- the ones I do like have so much Urdu in them. I was told these songs were shuddha-hindi. I really like the carnatic infusion in Thirak Thirak

Pollathavan- Engeyum Eppothum
Genre: Tamil Remix

Remix of Old Kannadasan song. Brilliant item number lyrics (for the 70s!), SPB and Yogi B's rap. Now if you haven't heard Yogi B and Natchatra - the Malay Rappers album Vallavan- you are missing something in life. Tamil Rap has come of age and so brilliantly- without the inclusion of Sankar-style tanglish, sticking to metaphors of the 60s and 70s, interweaving English content only when necessary for the melody- Vallavan has it all! The most popular remix has been doing its rounds on Youtube, but the album is original. Yogi B, though he screams into the microphone a-la DMX style, he's got his thing going. Much more refreshing than plain old Blazee.

Azhagiya Tamizh Magan- Ponmagal Vandal
Genre: Tamil Remix

ARR is not really a fan of remixes, but if he ever does one Yuvan can go hide behind his dad's glory! I really like the voice of Aslam who sings the Ponmagal tune, do you know which one this is? I am a bit concerned about the infusion of excess English lyrics into it- now would my average Ilaya Talapathy fan connect to it? Now this song can seriously cross-over to clubs world-over because of the hip-hop, lounge feel to it- like its from some Nelly album and I am guessing at least pretentious chennai nightclubs could play this every now and then. As for the rest of the songs- ARR must stop succumbing to demands from perceived acceptance of randomized Western pop music interludes by Tamil audience. We hate it.

Malaikottai - O Baby
Genre: Tamil/Telugu Koothu

Now this is what makes me fall in love with Tamizh and Telugu culture over and over again. Clearly taken from some telugu songs - Mani Sharma is the music director after all. Close your eyes, shake your hips, gyrate to some koothu and dream of Puratchi Talapathy Vishal

Bheema - Ragasiya Kanavugal
Genre: Tamil Folk Melody

November 9th is the day I will fall in love again. First day, first show- Bheema. Now its Harris Jeyraj trying to do a Samy- not quite close, but has pretty decent numbers. Take for instance, "Range Rangamma" with Kailash Kher- parts of it reminds me of Rakkamma Kayyathattu. Ragasiya Kanavugal has the right melody, a very ethnic touch with it (esp the part with the solo violin). After a two year hiatus Vikram is back, with Trisha- whom I've grown to like after some Telugu films in which she did a pretty decent job- better make-up men there I guess...

Pollathavan- Neeye Sol
Genre: Tamil Arabic fusion

Persian-inspirations replete, GV Prakash is proving that versatility is in his blood (ARR's nephew after all). Love Sunitha Sarathy's rendering. The other Bombay J song- well looks like GVP has been listening to Akon!

Partner- Soni De Nakhre, You're My Love
Genre: Punjabi/Bollywood club

Now you've got to give it to the folks up North, what they lack in substance they make up for it in clever packaging- costumes and music.

Om Shanti Om- Ajab Si, Dard-e-Disco etc.
Genre: Melody, Bollywood club Arabic fusion

Ajab Si- KK is back. This takes me to good old Pehla Nasha times when music reminds you of all that makes you happy in this world! KK does sound like he had a cold (or more cold than usual)
Dard-e-Disco- totally worth the 6-pack, Sukhwinder's voice needs a bit of getting-used to for some reason...

The Train- Woh Ajnabee
Genre: Bollywood Lounge

Love the girl's sound, very groovy, very lounge.

Himesh Reshamiyya - Shaka Laka Boom
Genre: Bollywood club

I respect anything that's a commercial success- or at least in Indian entertainment, it reflect so much of the moods of society. Auto drivers playing Himesh says something. And if you ever want to work out for Bollywood music, this guy is perfect for you!

Jhoom Barabar Jhoom
Kiss of Love
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom

I've sure Shankar is behind the carnatic infusions. Good old classical melodies meets Bollywood packaging :-)

Unnale Unnale- Unnale Unnale
Genre: Melody

Harris redeems himself for the 80s pop, Boys2Men- inspired rest of the album from this terrific Yedho-Ondru-style harmony!

Kreedom- Vizhiyil
Genre: Classical Melody

Strange, I've never cared for Sonu Nigam until I heard this song. Although reminiscent of tens of old ARR, this one is a lovely piece to listen in the background and not get tired of.

Paruthiveeran- Ayyayo
Genre: Illayaraja Folk Melody

That opens a Youtube link to the song. My all-time favorite song, video, movie :-)

Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi- Baawra Man (Male)
Melody

Would love to know what raagam this this. Can't get over the song. Lovely movie.

Tamil M.A. - Unnakagathane, Paravayin Kootil, Para Para
Melody

Yuvan's new marketing style- where the song is lacking slightly in substance, he gets his father to sing it- at least it's much better than delivering it himself. He should restrict his voice to Dhanush-Selvaraghavan combos. Speaking of that, if you've missed the wonders in Pudhupettai then listen to it now! My favorites are It all comes down to this, Gangster's marriage party.