Music goes beyond borders and connects despite difference in language, cast, creed and gender. Good music is like sunshine that provides warmth to everyone alike. A few days back I was browsing through a few old songs and it dawned upon me – how the quality of music has changed over the years! The lyrics have gone under a metamorphosis from times when we had Naushad to P K Mishra. From music directors like Lakshmikant Pyarelal, S D Burman, R D Burman to Himesh Reshamiya. Earlier we had singers like Kishore, Rafi and now we have Himesh Reshamiya. With all due respect to the multi-faceted man, I am a BIG fan, so please don’t think otherwise.
Our generation, very fondly called Generation X, is a sandwich of
The young guns of today, the dudes and damsels in schools and colleges– branded as Generation Y
And the Oldies – our most revered elders – I wonder why they have not been christened as Generation W??!!!
I have often wondered if there was a conversation between the 3 on music, how exactly it would shape up. On a recent trip to Mumbai, I got pulled into an intriguing chat, while traveling in a bus. Interestingly, we had representation from all three generations. Here is an excerpt:
Gen X: “K L Sehegal?”
Gen Y: “K L who???”
Gen W: “Kya gaata tha Sehegal. Wah wah. Kitna dard that uske gale mein. He was a musical genius”. W hums a line of “Mera bulbul so raha hai”. And then starts “Jab dil hi toot
Y (wide eyed and open mouth) looks at W giving most incredulous looks, while I smile and continue looking on.
Gen X: “Lata Mangeshkar”
Gen Y: “Never heard of her! … Indian??”
Gen W: “You don’t know about Lata didi?!?”
Gen Y: “Hey! Take it easy. How am I supposed to know about your elder sister?” And then looks at me for approval.
I sigh and fondly think of the Indian Nightingale. I wonder whether the pride of
Gen X: “Kishore Kumar”
Gen Y: “I think I know this guy. Didn’t this dude sing for DJ Aqeel’s ‘Keh Doon Tumhe’? kind-a disappeared from the music scene after that”
Y winks at me, looking for affirmation. Not knowing where to begin, I start my explanation, while W raises hands in despair.
Gen W: “Hey Bhagwaan!”
Gen X: “How about Sanobar Kabir?”
Gen Y: “She’s awesome man! Ultra super-duper cool. You must have heard her song ‘Meri beri ke ber mat todo’ and the way she grooves to the ‘chubh – chubh – chubh jayega’.
Gen W: snubs Y “Oye khotey! That song is a distorted and provocative version of a classic song of our times originally sung by Lata didi”.
Gen Y: asks me in a hushed tone “Is W’s sister a singer too?”
I continue to look at W, as if I never heard the question.
Gen W: Aaj kal ke remixes I tell you! No talent left! These self-proclaimed DJs re-record old melodies, add their computerized jhang-bang and sell them as their creation. To add insult to injury, the music companies make cheap videos that lack taste and have no grace”. W further adds “Does our music industry have such shortage of talent that they have to stoop so low? And look at those scantily dressed models. Can anyone watch these videos with family?”
Gen Y: “Now that’s unfair. You flaunt IT, only if you’ve got IT. And have you seen FTV lately?”
Y sneaks up to me and speaks in a low conspirational tone “You gotta check out Mumait Khan in her latest video. She’s got her eye-brow and tongue pierced. I am planning to get it done too. It’s IN these days”.
The discussion has started warming up.
Gen Y: “What do you have to say about Himesh Reshamiya?”
Gen W: “Naam mat lo uska! Dimaag kharaab ho
Gen Y: “I do”, protests Y.
Gen W: “No wonder!!! I am so bugged with his nasal songs. At times all FM channels are playing them simultaneously. I have switched to my own recorded CDs or else one day I’ll end up hitting someone in a rage. How can anyone have a perpetual cold?”
Gen Y: “Oh no! He doesn’t have a cold. He makes up his voice like that.”
Gen W: “Don’t tell me!!! Why does he have to make up his voice like that! And I do not understand the reason why he has to have dogs howling at the beginning of each of his songs. Is he trying to impress Maneka Gandhi?”
I choose not to speak as emotions fly high between generations. So, I continue listening.
Gen Y: “Are you serious? That ain’t no dog! It’s Himesh crooning.”
Gen W: “You call that crooning! This guy needs serious singing lessons.”
And then suddenly, without any warning, W starts howling. Oops, wrong word, I mean crooning.
“Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Aashiq banaya, aashiq banaya, aashiq banaya aapne
Aa aa aashiqi mein teri, jaa jaa jayegi jaan meri
Aashiq banaya, aashiq banaya, aashiq banaya aapne
Jhalak diklaa jaa, jhalak diklaa jaa, eik baar aaja aaja aaja aaja aaaaaaaja
Aashiq banaya, aashiq banaya, aashiq banaya aapne
Tanhaa jiya na jaye, tanha jiya na jaye
Aashiq banaya, aashiq banaya, aashiq banaya aapne
Zara jhoom jhoom, zara jhoom jhoom, zara jhoom jhoom, zara jhoom
Samjho na, kuch to samjho na
Tera tera tera suroooooooooooooooooooooooooooor,
Aashiq banaya, aashiq banaya, aashiq banaya aapne
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo”
I end up laughing uncontrollably throughout this impromptu performance, while Y listens, expression changing from shocked to sullen. But, I must add that the entire piece sounded like 1 song!
Gen Y: “Atleast he doesn’t copy anyone else.” Y protests without conviction.
Gen W: “And what is it with this multi-talented producer cum music director cum singer and his cap? And his videos! Tauba!!! Microphone aise pakadta hai jaise lassi pee raha ho!”
I realize that W is one of the biggest Himesh haters and might as well start a hate-club. But, I see point in most of the accusations he made. As a matter of fact, I am yet to meet a real Himesh fan! But, there has to be someone out there who buys his music. W can call him nasal and repetitive, but as of now he’s here to stay!
I realized that almost half the bus was now intently listening to our discussion. This was FUN. So, I did my bit to diffuse the tension…
Gen X: “What about the lyrics? Do you feel that they are awful too?”
Gen W: “We do have some good lyricists in our industry, but they have taken a back seat! Have you heard the song ‘Teri Bindiya Re’. The lyrics are sensual but so gracefully written, handled and filmed. Very matter of fact and elegantly rendered. And off late you have lyrics which are mere word-vomit. Distasteful and appalling.”
W continues, “At one time, someone was asking Rukmani about her post-marital exploits. Then, you had choli-peepers looking for what lies beneath!!! Someone was heard asking for chumma unabashedly. Leading lady ‘telephone-dhun mein hasne lagi !’ Khatiya became the favorite place for the new breed of the lyricists! Some aflatoon was shouting obscenities and the lyrical attack continued…”
Gen X: “Good or bad, such lyrics have a niche audience too. They have found their own place and many of these songs have been BIG hits.” I gave my opinion.
Gen W: “Maybe! But I think such songs becoming HITS has more to do with sensationalism than quality”
Y has given up on the discussion and does not offer anything. W finishes off with a few grunts and groans and finally peace prevails.
Though it’s been days, but the conversation stays etched in my memory. I saw point in the accusations as well as the subsequent protests. The new musical culture – a cacophony of bhangra, hip-hop, pop, jazz, techno and what not, has become the trend of the day. Though most of the songs I hear already sound like remixes, I am guilty of shaking a leg listening to them in discos and pubs. Being part of the sandwich generation, I have had the chance of witnessing the musical transformation from “Teri Bindiya Re” to “Jhalak Diklaa Jaa”. I often wonder if the music would change for better or worse. But, there is a lot of hope. Nonsensical lyrics and loud music are still being annulled by soul soothing melodies and excellent lyrical expressions. We have an insatiable appetite for all kinds of music. What the heck, as long as we enjoy it!
So, let the music play baby!
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