http://www.naachgaana.com/2008/10/16/yuvvraaj-sheru-bhais-music-review/
Yuvvraaj is my most awaited film of the year. Part of the reason why I am eagerly awaiting this film was because of the Ghai-Rahman combination. When they got together for Taal…it was pure magic. Just a week ago I revisited Rahman's Taal and after hearing the album I thought to myself that it is going to be a hard task to even come close to this album. So can Ghai and Rahman create magic once again…does Yuvvraaj come close to Taal??? Main Yuvvraaj - This isn't a song, it's just Bethoven's famous instrumental and Salman's famous showoff speach combined together. As usual Salman is bragging about himself…that he's this and that he's that…WHATEVER, JUST SKIP. Tu Hi To Meri Dost - Just when your hear Banista Banista echoing in the back, you instantly tell yourself that Rahman has a wonderful composition up his sleave. Yes, wonderful it is. Rahman Saab uses violins and the piano to create a foot tapping, chart busting track. Doesnt Benny Dayal sound like Kamal Khan? Anyways, Benny does a marvellous job here. This goes out to show how much trust Rahman has in his singers. This song could have been sung by Sonu or Udit, yet it went to a newcomer. Rahman enters the track towards the end as he combines his voice with Shreya's. Shreya is perfect on this track. She sounds more mature and sultry here. This is a catchy track that you will fall for instantly. Shano Shano - Rahman picks up the pace as he uses hip/hop/RnB/techno beats to create this number. The techno beats really stand out and add flavor to this track. This track itself is all over the place. There is a lot going on and sometimes it's hard to catch the lines. Yet the lines that we do pick up are very catchy, for example, "Shano Shano get on the floor". Srinivas and Karthik are decent on this track, while Sonu obviously stands out as he enters the scene towards the middle of the track. Some people will like it, some people will hate it. I adore it…this is the best track to play in your car…trust me lol. The remix version is high on hip hop and rap. As usual Indian singers are trying to act like North American rappers. It's a good remix, today's youth will relate to it….no dull moments for sure. Tu Muskura - After two foot-tapping numbers, Rahman decides to slow the pace down. Rahman gets the 90's singing queen, Alka Yagnik, to lend her voice to this smooth, soft, lovely composition. I've been hearing a lot of complaints about Alka on this forum. But hey, she's survived throughout the 90's and she is still giving us some great songs till today…show a little respect please. She shines in this number. She is not screechy, she isn't over the top. She's just perfect. Javed Ali excells on this track. Ali has a lot of range and Rahman knows it, picks it up and uses it wisely. Finally we get some decent lyrics from Gulzar Saab here. Very impressive track indeed. Mastam Mastam - Rahman starts this track off on a different note. Rahman adds some African tribal sort of arrangements and then blends in some European-Scottish type of beats & claps. The only thing annoying are those animal noises in the background. Sonu brings his charisma into this number. He is sauve, witty, clever and smooth. He's the perfect choice for this track. Alka supports him wondefully. You get a glimpse of Rahman's magic towards the end of this composition where he brings in all his arrangements together and amazes you. Nice track indeed. Zindagi - First of all let me say that I am very proud of this track. What brings a smile to my face is that this track will be picturized on my favorite actor…Anil Kapoor. This track has Rahman written all over it. The harmonica is brilliantly used. It's a mellow, smooth, hearty song that touches your soul. The show stealer here is Srinivas. Srinivas where have you been??? I hope to see more of this singer because he is just way too talented. This is a stand out number. Rahman slows everything down and let's Srinivas shine like never before. Gripping and touchy track indeed. Dil Ka Rishta - One song that even comes close to any song in Taal is this track. This track proves that Rahman Saab is the best musician we have in India. I don't think even the top producers in North America can compose a track like this. Dil Ka Rishta is a haunting yet very touching track. Gulzar has given lyrics in english and hindi for this track. The track is pure magic from the moment Roopkumar Rathod enters the scene. Sonu's vocals blend in beautifully with Rahman's background score. While Rahman's saregamapa ni sa re sa act lives on. The biggest applause goes out to the background vocalists who do an amazing job on this number. They take this track to a higher level. Instrumentation…we got cello's, piano's, guitars, saxaphones, trumpets, violins and drums…Rahman has it all on this track. I can't wait to see the picturization for this track…this is my favorite from the lot. Manmohini Morey - Is this suppose to be a remix version of some old classical track??? I do not know. All I know is that is more like an experimental track for Rahman Saab. Vijay Prakash…I don't remember who he is? But he has done a excellent job here. He is definitely a fine singer and it shows. This man is totally in command of this track. Rahman adds his own flavor to this classical number. He adds some of the latest beats and turns this track around. Good track indeed. So…where does this all leave us. The people that know me on this forum also know how much I was awaiting the music for this film. Some might say I am being bias. I am a Rahman fan, Ghai fan, Anil fan and gulzar fan…yeah I think Katrina is hot as hell. But I loved the music here. It doesn't come where anywhere near Taal. No where near Dil Se. No where near Lagaan. Yet it leaves a mark. It's an album that should be bought. Several years down the line you can see yourself listening to these tracks. It's not Rahman at his best, it's Rahman delivering as usual. I would go on and say that this is his best album this year…for me it's leaps ahead of Jaane Na Ya Jaane Tu…and fairly better than Jodha Akbhar. I thought I would be disappointed after hearing so many mixed responses…but Rahman has lived up to my expectations. Gulzar's lyrics aren't that great here…I agree. Ghai's vision is there, Rahman's arrangements are there, but Gulzar's lyrics aren't really there. Many will go on to compare this album with Taal and write it off…but Taal and Yuvvraaj are totally different films…therefore the music will be totally different as well…but like I said…Yuvvraaj doesn't come close to Taal…yet it's not a disappointment. -- -A http://viewsnmuse.blogspot.com
