"Different, yet Captivating" That's exactly what I would say, if I were to define ARR's standard in one sentence.. Through his journey from being "Musical Whiz Kid" to "Father of Modern Bollywood Music", Rahman has captivated my heart, soul and mind countless times, though not necessarily when I immediately hear the song.. There were times I had doubted whether he had lost his ability to reach up to his own "standard".. but he has proven me wrong in the later releases.. If I were to rate his 2008 albums by his own standard, "Different" factor rating scale: 1 to 5 (where 1 being "repetetive" and 5 being "never-heard-this-before") "Captivating" factor rating scale: 1 to 5 (where 1 being "boring" and 5 being "out-of-the-world")
Jodhaa Akbar In Lamhon Ke ("Different" = 5 + "Captivating" = 5) Azeem-O-Shaan (4+3) Khwaja (5+5) Man Mohana (3+5) Jashn-e-Bahara (4+4) Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Zindagi (5+5) Pappu Can't Dance (3+4) Jaane Tu Mera Kya Hai - Aditi (5+5) Nazrein Milaana (3+4) Tu Bole, Main Boloon (4+4) Kahin To Hogi Woh (5+5) Jaane Tu Meri Kya Hai-Jai (4+3) ADA Gulfisha (3+3) Gum Sum (3+3) Hai Dard (3+3) Hawa Sun Hawa (3+3) Ishq Ada (3+3) Meherbaan (5+5) Milo Wahan Wahan (3+4) Tu Mera Hai (3+3) Sakkarakatti Taxi (5+5) Marudhani (4+5) I Miss you (5+3) Yele (4+2) Yuvvraaj Tu Meri Dost (3+4) Shano Shano (4+4) Tu Muskura (5+5) Mastam Mastam (4+3) Zindagi (3+3) Dil Ka Rishta (5+5) Manmohini Morey (5+5) Ghajini (too early to rate.. but I will go with this one) Guzarish (3+4) Aye Bacho (4+3) Latoo (4+3) Behkha (5+3) Kaise Mujhe (3+4) IMO, any song with a total rating of 7 or less does not live up to his standards.. Sam --- On Sat, 11/22/08, Chord <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: Chord <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [arr] For those who say, "ARR not living up to his standards" To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, November 22, 2008, 8:04 PM This post is less of a complaint and more out of curiosity What exactly do you want in Rahman's music that you are not hearing in his music today? Please be specific like in terms of instrumentation, sound, melody, harmony, percussion, etc. I'm really curious to know, because I hear this with each and every single Rahman release in the past several years. The tone of many reviewers also is revealing, as if they're thinking, "Rahman composed this song or this style of music? HOW COULD HE? It's so beneath him! He can do better than this! Not at all up to his standards!" Karthik's milliblog review of Ghajini has the same exact tone, like "HOW COULD HE?" It's like if ARR doesn't come up with a Jodha Akbar each time with semi classical music, the soundtrack is not up to his standards, and some even said that JA was not up to his standards! Everyone is entitled to their opinion and to express it, fine. But, I'm curious to know exactly what you are missing in Rahman's music today. Take the albums he has released in 2008. If ARR is not living up to his own standards in 2008, why? Please explain in detail!