Great write up..
--- In [email protected], Vithur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > http://music.binaryturf.com/guru-by-ar-rehman/ > > Guru by A.R. Rehman > > No popular musical reference would be complete without the mention of the > legendary A.R. Rehman. I share a very special connection with Rehman's music > touches some never reached corners of the heart and expresses and draws out > emotion like none other. As a run follower I also find it in order to > mention that all his music is not as effective and at times doesn't even > sound like music. But look at the marvel, his reputation as an artist and > his recognition as a master remains unfazed. He is a musician whom the highs > and lows don't affect. His music style is unique and very distinguishable > than the lot while he does direct a variety of melody and musical genres > with ease and equal effect. > > Let me divert a little and mention another artist without which the mention > of A.R. Rehman is incomplete. That would be none other than Sonu Niigaam (or > Nigam). Sonu's musical prowess can't really be praised enough. However in > the current context, Sonu is to Rehman what Kishore was to R.D. Burman. > Sonu's perfection in vocals and the quality of his voice is a surreal match > made in heaven. Together they create magic. While this cannot be established > as the popular opinion, and facts stands as witness. A south Indian movie > dubbed into Hindi "*Duniyan Dil Walon Ki*" rose to popularity at the time > of release. Most of us will recall the songs like "*Mustafa Mustafa* don't > worry *Mustafa*". However there were other songs that never saw the light of > the day. I liked "*Ja Ri Ja Ae Hawa*" and "*Oh Meri Jaan*" - both rendered > with the divine perfection and melody. The album is extinct and after > hunting for several years, I did manage to find a seller selling it online. > I finally had it imported from the UK for several times the price in the > Indian market. > > My bond with the music is more special than with other albums of Rehman. For > me it's the musical of a life time. I had just undergone engagement to my > then future wife. Emotions of a lifetime bond with the melody and got framed > into unforgettable memories. They touched and embedded deep and flow out > when I experience the melody again. While not every song in a Rehman-album > is close to the heart, those which are leave an ever lasting impression. You > won't ever stop being fond of them. Let's go through Guru. > > *Barso Re* - The not so melodious songs of Rehman aren't necessarily devoid > of the sweet, melodious preludes and pieces that captivate the emotional > pleasure. The song has markedly difficult to produce vocals and is > punctuated with steep highs and lows. Rehman's songs are "contextually > targeted" to mention an analogy with today's online advertising. Songs, > lyrics and expressions form a part of the movie's story. The song is just > what its purpose is to carry the story forward. It emotes the feelings of > a young woman in love, enjoying the virtues of the nature and dancing in > rain. > > *Tere Bina* - The song has two versions - the other in the form of "*Ay > Hairathe*". The song is special in the sense that a slight alteration to the > lyrics and the musical "*bhaav*" sets the two versions aside - both emoting > love - one with a personal companion and the other with the divine. This is > the sweetest and the most melodious in the album, however it will be > difficult to say which version is better. The vocals are rendered by none > other than Rahman himself who may not have the finesse of the classical > vocalist but has an established hold on the notes while also known for his > reach to the higher octaves. > > The song "Tere Bina" is dedicated to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Saab - fondly > remembering his association with me through this decade. > > -AR Rahman > > *Ek Lo Ek Muft* - Nothing much in this song to write back home about except > the fact that it does its duty and carries the story forward. Thankfully > it's a Rehman creation so not all that unwelcome as another song could have > been had it come from a different director. > > *Mayya* - I'd like to commend the singers and Rehman for this song. While > the melody is beyond the tastes of the Indian audience, it is accurate and > relevant to the context. Vocals like these are a task and can be testing on > the abilities of the singer. However in today's digitally advanced > technically influenced studios, there's little that would be impossible. And > we'd never come to know for sure whether it's the art of a singer or a > technically sound audio engineer. > > *Aye Hairathe* - The song slowly fades in and is a perfect pleasure to > listen to. With all the ease in the rhythm, in the accompaniment of modified > bass instruments rendered by a legendary classically sound artist Hariharan > the song is nothing but perfect perfect to listen to, perfect for > inspiring vocals and perfect in melody and emotion. The lyrics depict two > romancing lovers. There are several fine and beautifully rendered "*murkis*" > which jell perfectly with the melody and carries the mood to a more > pleasurable state. Alka has contributed with her unique ease and melody in > vocals perfectly complimenting Hariharan's finesse in this memorable song. > > *Jaage Hain* The song comes with a warning which sounds out-of-place in > the musical context - this song is extremely depressing and may have unknown > effect of the faint at heart. The effect is devastating on even those better > and sound at an emotional level. The saddest lyrics I've come across coupled > with the most depressing music induce and captivate the emotions and remind > of moments where you dreamed of things which never witnessed the light of > the day. They put you into the shoes of a person at loss of dreams, > achievement, hope and beyond. It leaves you wounded and possibly imagining > and dreaming of fulfilling the dreams in a reincarnation or second life. It > is one song which it extremely easy to relate to as disappointments and > set-backs form the background of every human soul. The voice of Rehman as > the song concludes adds pain while the chorus induces a sinking feeling and > pinches you to realize that you've been carried far and deep. > > This album is a must have for all Rehman fans. I'd have loved a song by Sonu > Niigam but then Rahman can be too particular about minute details and his > choices. > > > -- > regards, > Vithur > > ARR in my Heart; > His Music in my Blood; >
