Random Thoughts

If you want to know the personality of a person, just look into his iPOD.. His choice of music will be a good indication. (And its true, my own has Classical music nestling along side hard rock and some metal. The fact that I don’t have bubble gum Pop is the only hint that I am not diabolical).

One of my favorite things to do when I am getting to know somebody is to ask them what music they like. You can after a while make good calls on how the two of you will get along. I generally say that I can like anything that has a strong foundation in lyrics but not country style of lament (i.e. my wife left me, the dog ran away, etc.). Words move me. I can listen till the end of the world to a melodious voice reciting words that pierce your soul (funny, this is usually visualized as AB reciting his father‘s poetry. Wow.. That voice….it sends shivers down my spine). And today as I was looking at my iPOD, I thought why not write about my favorite songs. But then it got messed up as I could not pick a single song from a genre and hence redrafted the blog as a list of favorite in different genres. I decided that to do justice to this topic, I would post it as a series. The theme will be evident, I like the lyrics and hence the singers, music directors all become secondary. Also, to keep my sanity, I am only going to deal with Hindi/ Urdu/ Marathi songs.

So for the first slot, I thought why not start with what I am listening to right now.. Ghazals.

If images of Pankaj Udhas and the new generation of singers flashed before your eyes, then you don’t really know me. I like classic Urdu ghazals with some well written exceptions. So my top of the chart is Jagjit singing Ghalib (Soundtrack of the TV series, Mirza Ghalib). I have to admit that its Ghalib that I like and I also have Lata and Mehdi Hassan singing some of the ghazals.

And let the drums roll….. the #1 on this list is “Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi ”. What lyrics! I love these lines “muhabbat men nahiin hai farq jiine aur marane kaa
usii ko dekh kar jiite hain jis kaafir pe dam nikale”

Also from the same album and a close second is “Aah ko chahiye” where Ghalib writes,
“ham ne maanaa ke taGaaful na karoge lekin
Khaak ho jaayenge ham tumako Khabar hone tak”.

Now the list gets to be free for all and the picks are not in any order of preference. Two more by Jagjit but written by Gulzar, from his album Marasim. “Ek Purana Mausam Lauta” and “ Zindagi Yun Hui Basar Tanha”. They are both soulful rendition of fine lyrics. And this from a person who is not a Jagjit fan! Believe me the only Jagjit albums that I bought were the two mentioned above and the ghazals from films that is a Jagjit and Chitra album. And that I have 4 of his songs in my top 10 surprised me too.

Then, comes the golden voice of Begum Akhtar. I have picked and erased so many songs and its difficult to stick with just one but I am going to go with “Wo jo hum mein tum mein qarar tha”. This is not my ultimate choice but is definitely a top one. Then comes Ghulam Ali with “Chupke Chupke”. Mehdi Hassan’s “Abke Bichde”. I don’t know why I like this one .. I just do. Though, Abbeda’s Kabir is more dear to my heart, I had to add her “Kal Chaudhwin ki Raat” to this list.

Then comes, Ghazals from films. I do like the entire Umrao Jaan album (Music by Khayyam and Lyrics by Shahryr, a great combination and top it off with Asha singing, unbeatable!). But I am sticking to my original task and am going to pick just one.. (recited Innie, Minnie… and was left with) “Yeh Kya jagah hain”. Gulzar’s “Tujhse naraz nahin” (Film : Masoom, Singer : Anup Ghoshal , Music Director : R.D. Burman), “ Mera Kuch Saman” (Film : Ijazat, Singer : Asha Bhosle , Music Director : R.D. Burman), “ Piya Basanti” (Album :Sunset Point, Singers: Chitra Singh and Ustad and ) make up the end of the of this list.

If you were asked to pick a favorite in this genre, which artist and song would you go with?

Labels: Friday Audio, Music