Hi, great review man! I loved your analyzing of tracks rather than sticking to ratings which others do :)
Also nice introduction (Lol) --- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, "Rajesh Wadhwa" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Ladies and gentleman..... > Main hoon Raaj, Aap ka apna Raaj ('Raaj' nickname > for 'Rajesh') > Maaf karna Rahman sahib > They think Yuvvraaj music didn't live up, > They are wrong, very wrong > Thoda sa classic > Thoda sa epic > Thoda sa urban > Thoda sa groovy > Thoda sa emotional > Yeh sab mila ke, Yuvvraaj music is simply a masterpiece > > Aur Yeh India ke log > Jo sochteh hai ke Rahman ka poorest album hai yeh aur Gulzar ka > weakest lyrics > Na sur hai na taal > > Par Yuvvraaj benega Blockbuster..... Musically aur Film bhi.... > Toh o bekhabar, jaan lo ek raaz > Ab padhlo mera review of Yuvvraaj...... > > So, here we are.... Yuvvraaj music is out and it's out with a > BANG..... It's my most anticipated album, film, and everything > related with Bollywood this year. Did it live up the hype? Was it > Rahman at his best? What did the combination of Ghai-Rahman-Guzar > create? Aaja mein haawaon pe bitha kar le chalo..... Tum hi to meri > dost ho....... > > Here song by song review of Yuvvraaj: > > 1. Main Hoon Yuvvraaj > The magnificence of the album is immediately brought to the attention > of the listener with the first track, "Main Hoon Yuvvraaj With the > Fifth Of Beethovan". The track is a befitting introduction to the > main protagonist of the film, Deven Yuvraj, played by Salman Khan. > And so naturally we have Salman mouthing dialogues in his > characteristic charming, confident and unassuming manner, cashing on > his bad boy image. Salman's dialogues are well supported by > the "Fifth of Beethovan". Ludwig van Beethovan needs no introduction > to the followers of Western classical music and this (performed to > perfection by The Chennai String Orchestra) is the fifth symphony. It > is one of the most popular and well-known compositions in all of > European classical music, and one of the most often-played > symphonies. Why the genius music wizard A. R. Rahman has chosen this > particular piece (in all probability) is because Beethovan himself > had dedicated this symphony to two of his patrons, one of whom was > Prince Franz Joseph von Lobkowitz. And Salman plays the title role > of 'Yuvraj', a prince. > > 2. Tu Hi Tu Meri dost Hai > With such a brilliant and fulfilling start we move forward with huge > expectations and come across another brilliantly crafted "Tu Meri > Dost Hain". The lilting signature tune sung by the composer, music > maestro, A.R.Rahman that heralds the commencement of the track is > absolutely divine (and so very infectious that one simply cannot help > but repeat it!) and the portion that follows, heavenly. Rahman's > melody is breathtakingly simple and comes as whiff of fresh air in > this era of mediocrity and plagiarism. The musical arrangements are > mind-blowing- simple guitar strums, bead sounds and of course the > cello, (a stringed instrument, part of the violin family) played (in > YUVVRAAJ) by Katrina who is supposed to be a musician, adept at > playing the cello. Shreya Ghoshal and Benny Dayal are simply > extraordinary. Benny Dayal is a new find; he was fantastic in JAANE > TU YA JAANE NA and he shows that "Pappu "was not a flash in the pan > through some superlative rendition in the present track. He will > definitely earn a foothold in the music industry, in the field of > playback singing. He has a distinct voice that is very macho as well > as sweet and his voice structure matches that of Salman Khan > perfectly. Gulzar's lyrics are simple yet classy and very much > identifiable, giving an insight into the relationship shared by the > two main protagonists of the film, Salman and Katrina. In other > words, simply fantabulous! I am simply at a lost for words to > describe the beauty of this composition. Special mention also to > Gulzar saab for his gifted lyrics that add so much meaning to the > song. Honestly, if it wasn't for Rahman's earlier release this year > from Jodhaa Akbar i.e. the amazing Khwaja Mere Khwaja, this would be > my pick for the most outstanding track of 2008. Genius! > > 3. Shano Shano > After "Pappu Can't Dance" Rahman targets the Gen X yet again > with "Shano Shano" a very contemporary and in sync with today's time > dance floor composition. And, the initial beats are just rocking. > It's interesting to see what Gulzar delivers here because is > this "rock-n-roll" type of songs. Shano Shano made me all energetic > when listening. It has the groove, the mastee, and the smashing > composition of Rahman. The start of the vocals shifts the song into > another tone, and it mixes typical Bollywood romantic songs with the > Rahman groove and roll. This is unique stuff by Rahman and that's > what he always does. When was the last time you heard such a song? > Never. Rahman experiments and delivers big time here. I'm already in > love with this song. It has the requisite thump, required disco > beats, the usual rap and combined with (at times) quite unique as > well as funny style of singing by a host of artists like Sonu Nigam, > Srinivas, Karthik, Timmy, Sunaina, Vivienne Pocha and Tina makes it a > happening song and dance number. What must be kept in mind is that > the picturisations will be superb (with Ghai at the helm of affairs) > and so it will definitely serve as a tension reliever. > > 4. Tu Muskura > The soundtrack then diverts itself onto the SOUL of Yuvvraaj with the > utterly spellbinding Tu Muskura. The cello marks a sensational return > and solo cellist V.R. Sekar and Elidh Martin (K M M C Faculty) do > Rahman proud with some fine performances. Their cello play is > underpinned by a percussion that hypnotises you soothingly from the > start and keeps you firmly in a trance until the very end. As if that > wasn't enough, the allure of a previous melody (belonging to Tu Meri > Dost Hain) sweeps past you briefly as Rahman magically weaves it into > the song via the deft strings of Seenu's Mandolin play. > And yet, we have not even discussed the true catalyst of the song. So > many have written her off but Rahman as we know, is loyal to his > singing dynasty. And so marks the return of an old favourite: Alka > Yagnik. Alka Yagnik sounding a bit like the nightingale of India, > Lata Mangeshkar, holds fort in this soothing love ballad , "Tu > Muskura" and Javed Ali who impressed all with "Jashne Bahara" > supports her with his high octave singing. Well in my opinion (based > on her singing here) it will be a travesty if she is not nominated > for the best female playback singer (award) for a performance that is > as mesmerizing as the musical backdrop that she sings against. She is > simply a transformed singer here, sometimes unrecognizable and from > recollection, her last performance of such magnitude was Rang Hai > (Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities) which confirms the mastery of ARR > over his singers. Javed Ali did a great job in Jashn-e-Bahaara but > plays second fiddle here to the bewitching vocals of Alka. Gulzar's > lyrics grab your inner soul and churn out what is left of your > emotions WOW! This is definitely one step closer to musical > heaven .you could quite literally waste away hours, even days > listening to this soul stirring masterpiece! > > K M M C - KM Music Conservatory, an Institution, started by Rahman > this year. > > 5. Mastam Mastam > After such an emotionally draining roller coaster that was Tu Muskura > one feels the need for a break and a diversion. Rahman duly obliges > with Mastam Mastam, a delightfully uplifting track that also ranks as > the most innovative of the soundtrack and also one of the best of > 2008. The music is simple yet oozes witchcraft (the dhol and cello in > tandem, play mind games on you like you have never heard before!), > playful but at times melancholy, witty but with an underlying > message. The interaction between the singers, Sonu Nigaam > (outstanding as ever), Alka Yagnik, Naresh & Benny, is another > highlight as are the incredibly unique and diverse lyrics, hats off > to you Gulzar saab! The Broadway musical influence shines through in > Mastam Mastam. Now, with this, as with most other tracks of this > album, picturisation would play an important part in its > appreciation. Seems like a heavily choreographed fun song, with > references to cats and other animals and the same captured in the > sound effects. Extremely dramatic and lively the song stands out for > its skillful use of backing vocals, a touch of accordion and a robust > rhythm section. The rock and roll touch and the style of singing take > us back to the era of the fifties and sixties, the Shammi Kapoor > times. However, once again the plus point of the song are the lyrics > by Gulzar .We have heard of Hinglish but Gulzar Sahab comes up with > Hindi-Persian, although this is not the first time that he has done > it to perfection before. Who can forget his classic super hit, all > time favourite number "Zee haal-e-maskin makun ba ranjhish" > (J.P.Dutta's GHULAMI)? All in all another superlative number that > will look fabulous on screen with some frenzied, rock and rollish > dancing. > > 6. Zindagi > The soulful journey of Yuvvraaj passes through Zindagi in which the > composer continues to amaze in more ways than one. Depending on your > preferences and mood swings, you could potentially enjoy this more > than Tu Muskura. First up expect to be blown away by the Woodwinds > play by P M K Naveen Kumar. If you recover from that, there is the > enticing piano and strings of the Chennai String Orchestra. Rahman's > fusion of these incredible sounds is the best remedy for a stressful > mind! The distinct vocals are instantly recognizable but this is not > Hariharan listeners, this is Srinivas, another long time favourite of > Rahman who also sang in the brilliant Yeh Jo Zindagi Hai (Earth > 1947). In fact with such awesome vocals, one wonders why we have not > heard more from him. Gulzar outdoes himself once again and for his > complete collection in Yuvvraaj, runs away with the best lyrics of > the year award. Zindagi is another must listen. > > 7. Dil Ka Rishta > After this, Dil Ka Rishta follows the suite, and what can I say here? > The song starts with a grand opening - a terrific start. It moves you > completely and puts you in a trance. The song is an epic musically. > Beautiful, soulful, colorful, fascinating..... I mean, words aren't > enough really. Dil Ka Rishta is a musical novel literally. It > completely took me in awe. The composition is as unique as it can get > really. Again, who others could have composed this? Some could have > tried, but they certainly couldn't have reached this level. Rehman's > classical vocals are just off the charts. The songs blends Indian > classic with Western folklore. And, Yuvvraaj's background plays with > so grinding resonance. The song clearly demonstrates a magnum opus. > It's like those Shakespeare's plays, but in musical tones. This is my > favorite song of the album, and the best song of the year. > Dil Ka Rishta begins with a full-blown orchestral prelude and the > song takes off from there. The track enjoys a fusion of styles, > Indian, and western classical, instrumental and vocal, with Rahman > doing a bit of voice percussion as well. The penultimate track Dil Ka > Rishta is a diversion of a completely different kind that takes you > by complete surprise! Initially you don't realize as a beautiful > piano introduction is cut short by a cello play but your senses are > instantly awestruck by the powerful nature of the drums and the full- > blown orchestration that follows immediately after that. Welcome to > the PASSION of Yuvvraaj and another unique twist to the soundtrack! > This one has it all; a catchy tune, peppy beats, symphony orchestra, > English verses (by Blazze) and some killer vocals by Sonu Nigaam, > Roopkumar Rathod and ARR himself. Rahman puts this potpourri of > ingredients to amazing use and delivers another winner even thought > strictly speaking, the song is clearly situational and is attached to > the relationship of the three brothers in the movie. Fascinating yet > irresistibly Rahman! One is amazed at the versatility of the creative > genius called Allah Rakha Rahman and the YUVVRAAJ soundtrack dons a > magnificent garb through this track. And before the song gets all > instrumental and hi-fi in comes Sonu Nigam and Roop Kumar Rathod and > the number assumes a completely new shade with normal peppy tune, > English lyrics by Blazze and chorus singing by Suzanne D'Mello, > Clinton Crejo and Viveinne Pocha. A truly world class composition > this one! > > 8. Manmohine Morey > Manmohini Morey starts so melodiously. What a humming start. It's > those classical Indian songs, but with urban beats and modern music. > Rahman beautifully mixes Indian classic with modern beats. It's so, > so good classical number. It's picturized on Anil I think and on the > screen - Anil will create fire with this one. It's among the best > trans-composition I've heard and Vijay Prakash sings it like an ace. > The lyric is simple here, but serves its purpose. Superb fusion of > cello string sounds and mild classical alaap brings forth "Manmohini > Morey". Those who loved the "Man Mohini" of HUM DIL DE CHUKE SANAM > will definitely relish this one here is another treat in store for > the die-hard semi-classical patrons who do not mind some good fusion > with normal commercial tunes. Vijay Prakash shows his vocal control > and is quite good. The "Tu Muskura" cello piece gels with the > composition and a sense of pain and suffering and of being separated > from the beloved is conveyed well through it. A fantastic conclusion > to a brilliant album. > > > The year 2008 has been a good one for Rahmanics, what with JODHAA > AKBAR, ADA-A WAY OF LIFE and JAANE TU...YA JAANE NA (and GHAJINI to > follow!) all hitting the stands, which is very rare as Rahman has > become very selective of late. Well, we want to say 'Eureka' as we > finally run into YUVVRAAJ! One just cannot find a single composition > that can be classified as less than masterpiece. > > NOTE: Grab the YUVVRAAJ audio album, snatch it or go ahead and even > steal it! >