Re: [arr] Roja..........still sounds amazing........and my take on general trends....
AJ, no probs I was also responding to Taimur's post. BTW since this post I was thinking of indian-ness in AR's recent songs and here is list I actually listened to today... 1) All songs of Jodha Akbar 2) Arziyan from Delhi 6 3) Mannipaya from VTV 4) Khili re Khili re from Raavan From: AJ To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, August 30, 2010 4:31:43 PM Subject: Re: [arr] Roja..still sounds amazing........and my take on general trends Ram, I agree with you. What I meant by "Indian-ness", I mean in a traditional way and only in degrees, not black and white. Yes, there are many ARR songs today with the Indian soul, but in my opinion, over time, there has been a lessening of the traditional ethnic Indian sound, simply due to film makers creating movies that are moving away from traditional themes. It's not ARR's responsibility at allhe creates what the film demands and what directors want from him. --- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, mb4zap® wrote: > > You've hit the right chords Ram! How was Dil Se Re indian!? Or the music in > Thiruda... or most of the 90's creation! > > I am not an Indian and I never used to listen to any.. I loved ARR and for > the > first time not because of his Indian-ness. I never fell in love with any > other > musician so madly because none come close of Rahman's sheer originality and > unique brilliance! And over the years I have been and am fan of many > international artistes (i wont go on to put examples coz it would be a very, > very long listing) but never could I respect anyone more than Rahman. > > Will be waiting for you writ-up :) > > -Moin Ali > > > > > > From: Ram Motipally > To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Mon, August 30, 2010 8:05:44 PM > Subject: Re: [arr] Roja..still sounds amazingand my take on > general trends > > > Friends, I have a slightly different opinion. AJ is right, but I think we are > jumping to a conclusion here and it is very fair, its human nature. We all > are > struggling to find the answer about what is different from AR's music of the >90s > > and say now, so any answer that might sound reasonable at the surface, there > is > > a danger of one accepting it, just to get rid of the bother of the question. > I > am myself struggling to find an answer to this question...just like many of > you. > > Roja when it was released in 1990 was a path breaker in all aspects. Chinni > Chinni had a reggae rhythm. How can it be called pure Indian ? AR's > brilliance > has always been in fusing indian tunes and sounds with western genres. Songs > of > > gentleman and thiruda thiruda were equally criticized by some in the 1990s > saying they are plastic music, computer music and too western. Just go back > in > that time period and think for yourself, werent these albums way ahead of its > times in the India of the 90s ? Is nostalgia messing with our minds again ??? > I > > would like to call this sweet pain ! > > And for now, listen to VTV and the same indian ness comes through. Mannipaya > is > > pure indianness by any AR song standard. AR's repertoire has evolved and > there > is a distinct difference in his work of now from the 90s. It is different. I > will though not say one is better than the other. > > Which other music director has inflicted so much pain (sweet pain) in > analyzing > > the music and messing with our own emotions ? How can one who has suffered > this > > sweet pain, not be an AR fan ... > > I plan to write something on what AR's music means to me.for those > interested, stay tuned > > Ram > > > From: Taimur Nadeem > To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com; purev...@... > Sent: Mon, August 30, 2010 4:24:08 AM > Subject: Re: [arr] Roja..still sounds amazingand my take on > general trends > > > > > AJ you hit the bulls eye the "INDIAN A R RAHMAN" , the indian flavour in > contemporary music no matter what genre A R RAHMAN took , thats what used to > be > > in SIR'S music. that made him unique, just one in the world. that made him a > musical wizard , combining the beauty of indian music with modern themes. > > yes i miss that A R RAHMAN. but the problem is raavan d6 JA didnt had the >magic > > of that standard of music. > > > today A R RAHMAN's muisc is mixing up with west , uniqueness lacking. take >DILse > > , saaathiya , hum se hai muqabla, jeans ,thiruda thiruda contemporary indian > music at
Re: [arr] Roja..........still sounds amazing........and my take on general trends....
Ram, I agree with you. What I meant by "Indian-ness", I mean in a traditional way and only in degrees, not black and white. Yes, there are many ARR songs today with the Indian soul, but in my opinion, over time, there has been a lessening of the traditional ethnic Indian sound, simply due to film makers creating movies that are moving away from traditional themes. It's not ARR's responsibility at allhe creates what the film demands and what directors want from him. --- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, mb4zap® wrote: > > You've hit the right chords Ram! How was Dil Se Re indian!? Or the music in > Thiruda... or most of the 90's creation! > > I am not an Indian and I never used to listen to any.. I loved ARR and for > the > first time not because of his Indian-ness. I never fell in love with any > other > musician so madly because none come close of Rahman's sheer originality and > unique brilliance! And over the years I have been and am fan of many > international artistes (i wont go on to put examples coz it would be a very, > very long listing) but never could I respect anyone more than Rahman. > > Will be waiting for you writ-up :) > > -Moin Ali > > > > > > From: Ram Motipally > To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Mon, August 30, 2010 8:05:44 PM > Subject: Re: [arr] Roja..still sounds amazingand my take on > general trends > > > Friends, I have a slightly different opinion. AJ is right, but I think we are > jumping to a conclusion here and it is very fair, its human nature. We all > are > struggling to find the answer about what is different from AR's music of the > 90s > and say now, so any answer that might sound reasonable at the surface, there > is > a danger of one accepting it, just to get rid of the bother of the question. > I > am myself struggling to find an answer to this question...just like many of > you. > > Roja when it was released in 1990 was a path breaker in all aspects. Chinni > Chinni had a reggae rhythm. How can it be called pure Indian ? AR's > brilliance > has always been in fusing indian tunes and sounds with western genres. Songs > of > gentleman and thiruda thiruda were equally criticized by some in the 1990s > saying they are plastic music, computer music and too western. Just go back > in > that time period and think for yourself, werent these albums way ahead of its > times in the India of the 90s ? Is nostalgia messing with our minds again ??? > I > would like to call this sweet pain ! > > And for now, listen to VTV and the same indian ness comes through. Mannipaya > is > pure indianness by any AR song standard. AR's repertoire has evolved and > there > is a distinct difference in his work of now from the 90s. It is different. I > will though not say one is better than the other. > > Which other music director has inflicted so much pain (sweet pain) in > analyzing > the music and messing with our own emotions ? How can one who has suffered > this > sweet pain, not be an AR fan ... > > I plan to write something on what AR's music means to me.for those > interested, stay tuned > > Ram > > > From: Taimur Nadeem > To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com; purev...@... > Sent: Mon, August 30, 2010 4:24:08 AM > Subject: Re: [arr] Roja..still sounds amazingand my take on > general trends > > > > > AJ you hit the bulls eye the "INDIAN A R RAHMAN" , the indian flavour in > contemporary music no matter what genre A R RAHMAN took , thats what used to > be > in SIR'S music. that made him unique, just one in the world. that made him a > musical wizard , combining the beauty of indian music with modern themes. > > yes i miss that A R RAHMAN. but the problem is raavan d6 JA didnt had the > magic > of that standard of music. > > > today A R RAHMAN's muisc is mixing up with west , uniqueness lacking. take > DILse > , saaathiya , hum se hai muqabla, jeans ,thiruda thiruda contemporary indian > music at its peak . the music of these albums is completely unique . even > take > lagaan meenaxi mangal panday classic these three albums are. take Maa tijhe > salam wow wow , what contemporary masterpiece it is. > > > when A R RAHMAN used to sit in small dark studio in chennai , he produced > world > class music, now that he has studio's in every corner of the world , he is > famous in every corner of the world , he has lost universality in his music, > i > feel . A R RAHMAN will surely return back to his indian
Re: [arr] Roja..........still sounds amazing........and my take on general trends....
Dear Taimur, I love your interest in music and appreciate your efforts in exploring and listening to various AR songs. What I don't love is the usage of words when you criticize...again, it's the usage of words and not the criticism itself. Regarding the below post of yours, is there a confusion?? You say his music has lost uniqueness. On the contrary, you also say his music is not universal...I'm not getting the point here... I understand how much we still love 90's music but I strongly feel that's not the criterion for judging todays music, by any means, and that too just for the reason that those 90's songs made him popular... If you notice keenly, it's the new 'trend' that he introduced in the Indian film music that made him popular and unique...Now it's 20 years, and it can't be new any more...We see so many here following that style of music...To remain unique in this scenario, one needs to innovate and that's what he is constantly trying to do...So it is as simple as to forget the old song and keep creating something new and fresh...You keep innovating, you will excel, be it in any field...If you keep repeating, the job gets monotonous, tiresome, and will die soon, again be it in any field...And it just gets tougher and tougher in today's scenario with the exponential growth of listeners / fans of AR's music!! I'm not meaning that AR is perfect in every song that he composes...Inspite of honest attempts, during the process of innovation / experimenting, he has failed at times which is very human...In a nutshell, I'm just trying to say that expecting every song by AR to be a masterpiece or to sound like 90's songs is an overkill... On 8/30/10, Taimur Nadeem wrote: > AJ you hit the bulls eye the "INDIAN A R RAHMAN" , the indian flavour in > contemporary music no matter what genre A R RAHMAN took , thats what used to > be in SIR'S music. that made him unique, just one in the world. that made > him a musical wizard , combining the beauty of indian music with modern > themes. > > yes i miss that A R RAHMAN. but the problem is raavan d6 JA didnt had the > magic of that standard of music. > > today A R RAHMAN's muisc is mixing up with west , uniqueness lacking. take > DILse , saaathiya , hum se hai muqabla, jeans ,thiruda thiruda contemporary > indian music at its peak . the music of these albums is completely unique . > even take lagaan meenaxi mangal panday classic these three albums are. > take Maa tijhe salam wow wow , what contemporary masterpiece it is. > > when A R RAHMAN used to sit in small dark studio in chennai , he produced > world class music, now that he has studio's in every corner of the world , > he is famous in every corner of the world , he has lost universality in his > music, i feel . A R RAHMAN will surely return back to his indian magic one > day. > > and tell you first time i have affirmed your mail WOW. > > REGARDS, > > taimur > > --- On Mon, 8/30/10, AJ wrote: > > > From: AJ > Subject: [arr] Roja..still sounds amazingand my take on > general trends > To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com > Date: Monday, August 30, 2010, 2:34 AM > > > > > > > Can't believe it...heard Roja today after ages and the sounds are still > so clean, fresh, and breezy...not sounding that outdated at all, despite it > being 18 years old. Amazing compositions for ARR's debut..melodious, > sweet, earthy, straight to the heart. > > If there was one thing that I liked about ARR of the 90s that I don't hear > much of these days is that ARR's songs back then had a lot more breathing > room...there was more space in the songs and the song arrangements were > not as dense as they are today. The songs just breathed easier back then it > seems, if I were to make a very broad and general comparison to today's > songs. ARR also used minimal loops and more spacious arrangements, so you > could hear more of "silence" in the slower compositions. "Tu Hi Re" is a > great example of that. I hope you understand what I mean. Again, these are > just observations of mine. I like his past songs equally to his current > songs in general, but there are some broad differences, signifying Rahman's > evolution as an artist and adding and subtracting elements of his > compositional style and sound over time. I am just bowled over how NONE of > his songs from the 1990s sound outdated whatsoever even today. That says > volumes. > > One more thing..songs in those days...1990s to early 2000s in general > were more "Indian" soundingnot just with ARR, but with other MDs too. > The trend in bollywood and perhaps other industries too
Re: [arr] Roja..........still sounds amazing........and my take on general trends....
You've hit the right chords Ram! How was Dil Se Re indian!? Or the music in Thiruda... or most of the 90's creation! I am not an Indian and I never used to listen to any.. I loved ARR and for the first time not because of his Indian-ness. I never fell in love with any other musician so madly because none come close of Rahman's sheer originality and unique brilliance! And over the years I have been and am fan of many international artistes (i wont go on to put examples coz it would be a very, very long listing) but never could I respect anyone more than Rahman. Will be waiting for you writ-up :) -Moin Ali From: Ram Motipally To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, August 30, 2010 8:05:44 PM Subject: Re: [arr] Roja......still sounds amazing....and my take on general trends Friends, I have a slightly different opinion. AJ is right, but I think we are jumping to a conclusion here and it is very fair, its human nature. We all are struggling to find the answer about what is different from AR's music of the 90s and say now, so any answer that might sound reasonable at the surface, there is a danger of one accepting it, just to get rid of the bother of the question. I am myself struggling to find an answer to this question...just like many of you. Roja when it was released in 1990 was a path breaker in all aspects. Chinni Chinni had a reggae rhythm. How can it be called pure Indian ? AR's brilliance has always been in fusing indian tunes and sounds with western genres. Songs of gentleman and thiruda thiruda were equally criticized by some in the 1990s saying they are plastic music, computer music and too western. Just go back in that time period and think for yourself, werent these albums way ahead of its times in the India of the 90s ? Is nostalgia messing with our minds again ??? I would like to call this sweet pain ! And for now, listen to VTV and the same indian ness comes through. Mannipaya is pure indianness by any AR song standard. AR's repertoire has evolved and there is a distinct difference in his work of now from the 90s. It is different. I will though not say one is better than the other. Which other music director has inflicted so much pain (sweet pain) in analyzing the music and messing with our own emotions ? How can one who has suffered this sweet pain, not be an AR fan ... I plan to write something on what AR's music means to me.for those interested, stay tuned Ram From: Taimur Nadeem To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com; purev...@yahoo.com Sent: Mon, August 30, 2010 4:24:08 AM Subject: Re: [arr] Roja..........still sounds amazing....and my take on general trends AJ you hit the bulls eye the "INDIAN A R RAHMAN" , the indian flavour in contemporary music no matter what genre A R RAHMAN took , thats what used to be in SIR'S music. that made him unique, just one in the world. that made him a musical wizard , combining the beauty of indian music with modern themes. yes i miss that A R RAHMAN. but the problem is raavan d6 JA didnt had the magic of that standard of music. today A R RAHMAN's muisc is mixing up with west , uniqueness lacking. take DILse , saaathiya , hum se hai muqabla, jeans ,thiruda thiruda contemporary indian music at its peak . the music of these albums is completely unique . even take lagaan meenaxi mangal panday classic these three albums are. take Maa tijhe salam wow wow , what contemporary masterpiece it is. when A R RAHMAN used to sit in small dark studio in chennai , he produced world class music, now that he has studio's in every corner of the world , he is famous in every corner of the world , he has lost universality in his music, i feel . A R RAHMAN will surely return back to his indian magic one day. and tell you first time i have affirmed your mail WOW. REGARDS, taimur --- On Mon, 8/30/10, AJ wrote: >From: AJ >Subject: [arr] Roja..still sounds amazingand my take on >general >trends >To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com >Date: Monday, August 30, 2010, 2:34 AM > > > >Can't believe it...heard Roja today after ages and the sounds are still so >clean, fresh, and breezy...not sounding that outdated at all, despite it being >18 years old. Amazing compositions for ARR's debut..melodious, sweet, >earthy, straight to the heart. > > >If there was one thing that I liked about ARR of the 90s that I don't hear >much >of these days is that ARR's songs back then had a lot more breathing >room...there was more space in the songs and the song arrangements were >not >as dense as they are today. The songs just breathed easier back then it seems, >if I were to make a very broad and general comparison to today's songs. ARR >also >used mi
Re: [arr] Roja..........still sounds amazing........and my take on general trends....
that inspires me to listen to some of his old songs as well.. starting with Roja now :) great post, AJ On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 8:04 AM, AJ wrote: > > > Can't believe it...heard Roja today after ages and the sounds are still > so clean, fresh, and breezy...not sounding that outdated at all, despite it > being 18 years old. Amazing compositions for ARR's debut..melodious, > sweet, earthy, straight to the heart. > > If there was one thing that I liked about ARR of the 90s that I don't hear > much of these days is that ARR's songs back then had a lot more breathing > room...there was more space in the songs and the song arrangements were > not as dense as they are today. The songs just breathed easier back then it > seems, if I were to make a very broad and general comparison to today's > songs. ARR also used minimal loops and more spacious arrangements, so you > could hear more of "silence" in the slower compositions. "Tu Hi Re" is a > great example of that. I hope you understand what I mean. Again, these are > just observations of mine. I like his past songs equally to his current > songs in general, but there are some broad differences, signifying Rahman's > evolution as an artist and adding and subtracting elements of his > compositional style and sound over time. I am just bowled over how NONE of > his songs from the 1990s sound outdated whatsoever even today. That says > volumes. > > One more thing..songs in those days...1990s to early 2000s in general > were more "Indian" soundingnot just with ARR, but with other MDs too. > The trend in bollywood and perhaps other industries too is to have more > Western and global musical styles in film music with gradual shifting away > from the ethnic Indian flavor of songs.not completely, but the trend is > there. ARR too used to have more "ethnic Indian" sounding albums back then, > even for contemporary films like Saathiya, Taal, Dil Se that were not period > films. Later, the "Ethnic Indian" sound would be confined mostly to period > film scores or situational numbers, but with some exceptions. Delhi 6, > Raavan, and Jodha Akbar are the 3 most Indian sounding albums recently and > look how beautifully all 3 music albums were received and raved about. I > think a lot of people are missing more of the "Indian" Rahman. Rahman's > music over time has become more "international" and less "Indian" as a > general trendagain with exceptions here and there. > > > -- --- http://roshanravi.com http://ramblingsoul.com http://cssheaven.org
Re: [arr] Roja..........still sounds amazing........and my take on general trends....
Same here, happened this past weekend. usually my daughter (age - 2) wants to listen to the trio "Sharon lois & bram" in car and was crying to play her fav songs. I just wanted to play something for me and played Roja. but when chinna chinna aasai (choti si asha) started, she just calmed down and started enjoying... So soothing to listen to and so fresh as AJ said... Others she lets us listen are.. * Jai ho - the biggest pacifier, we use :) * VTV songs - esp - Hosana :) Cheers, Bergin On Sun, Aug 29, 2010 at 10:34 PM, AJ wrote: > > > Can't believe it...heard Roja today after ages and the sounds are still > so clean, fresh, and breezy...not sounding that outdated at all, despite it > being 18 years old. Amazing compositions for ARR's debut..melodious, > sweet, earthy, straight to the heart. > > If there was one thing that I liked about ARR of the 90s that I don't hear > much of these days is that ARR's songs back then had a lot more breathing > room...there was more space in the songs and the song arrangements were > not as dense as they are today. The songs just breathed easier back then it > seems, if I were to make a very broad and general comparison to today's > songs. ARR also used minimal loops and more spacious arrangements, so you > could hear more of "silence" in the slower compositions. "Tu Hi Re" is a > great example of that. I hope you understand what I mean. Again, these are > just observations of mine. I like his past songs equally to his current > songs in general, but there are some broad differences, signifying Rahman's > evolution as an artist and adding and subtracting elements of his > compositional style and sound over time. I am just bowled over how NONE of > his songs from the 1990s sound outdated whatsoever even today. That says > volumes. > > One more thing..songs in those days...1990s to early 2000s in general > were more "Indian" soundingnot just with ARR, but with other MDs too. > The trend in bollywood and perhaps other industries too is to have more > Western and global musical styles in film music with gradual shifting away > from the ethnic Indian flavor of songs.not completely, but the trend is > there. ARR too used to have more "ethnic Indian" sounding albums back then, > even for contemporary films like Saathiya, Taal, Dil Se that were not period > films. Later, the "Ethnic Indian" sound would be confined mostly to period > film scores or situational numbers, but with some exceptions. Delhi 6, > Raavan, and Jodha Akbar are the 3 most Indian sounding albums recently and > look how beautifully all 3 music albums were received and raved about. I > think a lot of people are missing more of the "Indian" Rahman. Rahman's > music over time has become more "international" and less "Indian" as a > general trendagain with exceptions here and there. > > > -- www.berginroy.com
Re: [arr] Roja..........still sounds amazing........and my take on general trends....
Please, this is not an Argument or Comparison thread. AJ has just penned out how ARR's Roja is fresh as of date. And yeah, who will not like he just creates an album just similar like that of Roja. Insha Allah, we hope this happens any time in future. When he just sit back and relaxingly compose some music, despite of doing it on a tight schedule. On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 6:40 PM, hibath rahman wrote: > > > hey,folks.. U guys always cum up with the same thread of 90's rahman and > present one.. I totally agree with Aj on this.. Man that is what keeps > rahman from all other MD's.,he has evolved from being a synth based composer > to a composer needed/most adored by all ace filmmaker.. > > > On Mon Aug 30th, 2010 7:23 PM IST AJ wrote: > > >"yes i miss that A R RAHMAN. but the problem is raavan d6 JA didnt had the > magic of that standard of music." > > > >I was expecting this same exact response from you, Taimur. You're very > predictable. What you said is only your opinion. Most people in this group > and elsewhere would not agree with you about that. > > > >I like the ARR today just as much as ARR of yesterday. What I wrote were > just observations of trends, not a judgment of what I like more or what ARR > has lost over the years. ARR has changedand to me, that's it. What I > miss from ARR today is compensated by what ARR didn't emphasize before but > now is emphasizing as a more mature and seasoned composerlike symphonic > refinement, greater genre diversity, and more varied global styles and > textures. He has expanded his repertoire and you don't hear anyone calling > him repetitive anymore, a label that stuck with him by critics back in the > 1990s. I like today's ARR just as much as the ARR of yesterday. Maybe you > don't, but many people here in this group and elsewhere feel that ARR has > changed and grown, matured as a composer, emphasizing more global music. And > the Indian ARR is very much aliveKhwaja Mere Khwaja, Man Mohanna, Maula > Maula, Khili Re, Ranjha Ranjha, Tere Bina, Aye Hairathe Aashiqui, > Jashne Bahaar..etc. etc. > > > >I made a compilation CD of my favorites from ARR and Mani Ratnam, putting > old and new songs side by side and listening to all them together. I get the > same number of goosebumps when I hear Tu Hi Re or E Ajnabi as I do when I > hear Behene De or Ranjha Ranjha or Tere Bina. Which song one likes better is > only a matter of opinion, not truth. For me, the feelings I get when I > listen to old ARR are matched by the feelings I get when I listen to new > ARR. I just go with the flow and I keep nostalgia in check. > > > >You have very little insight into how nostalgia plays a role into judging > music from the past. > > > >--- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com , > Taimur Nadeem wrote: > >> > >> AJ you hit the bulls eye the "INDIAN A R RAHMAN" , the indian > flavour in contemporary music no matter what genre A R RAHMAN took , thats > what used to be in SIR'S music. that made him unique, just one in the > world. that made him a musical wizard , combining the beauty of indian music > with modern themes. > >>  > >>  yes i miss that A R RAHMAN. but the problem is raavan d6 JA didnt had > the magic of that standard of music. > >>  > >> today A R RAHMAN's muisc is mixing up with west , uniqueness lacking. > take DILse , saaathiya , hum se hai muqabla, jeans ,thiruda thiruda > contemporary indian music at its peak . the music of these albums is > completely unique . even take lagaan meenaxi mangal panday classic these > three albums are. take Maa tijhe salam wow wow , what contemporary > masterpiece it is. > >>  > >> when A R RAHMAN used to sit in small dark studio in chennai , he > produced world class music, now that he has studio's in every corner of the > world , he is famous in every corner of the world , he has lost universality > in his music, i feel . A R RAHMAN will surely return back to his indian > magic one day. > >>  > >> and tell you first time i have affirmed your mail WOW. > >>  > >> REGARDS, > >>  > >> taimur > >> > >> --- On Mon, 8/30/10, AJ wrote: > >> > >> > >> From: AJ > > >> Subject: [arr] Roja..still sounds amazingand my take on > general trends > >> To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com > >> Date: Monday, August 30, 2010, 2:34 AM > >> > >> > >>  > >> > >> > >> > >> Can't believe it...heard Roja today after ages and the sounds are >
Re: [arr] Roja..........still sounds amazing........and my take on general trends....
hey,folks.. U guys always cum up with the same thread of 90's rahman and present one.. I totally agree with Aj on this.. Man that is what keeps rahman from all other MD's.,he has evolved from being a synth based composer to a composer needed/most adored by all ace filmmaker.. On Mon Aug 30th, 2010 7:23 PM IST AJ wrote: >"yes i miss that A R RAHMAN. but the problem is raavan d6 JA didnt had the >magic of that standard of music." > >I was expecting this same exact response from you, Taimur. You're very >predictable. What you said is only your opinion. Most people in this group >and elsewhere would not agree with you about that. > >I like the ARR today just as much as ARR of yesterday. What I wrote were just >observations of trends, not a judgment of what I like more or what ARR has >lost over the years. ARR has changedand to me, that's it. What I miss >from ARR today is compensated by what ARR didn't emphasize before but now is >emphasizing as a more mature and seasoned composerlike symphonic >refinement, greater genre diversity, and more varied global styles and >textures. He has expanded his repertoire and you don't hear anyone calling >him repetitive anymore, a label that stuck with him by critics back in the >1990s. I like today's ARR just as much as the ARR of yesterday. Maybe you >don't, but many people here in this group and elsewhere feel that ARR has >changed and grown, matured as a composer, emphasizing more global music. And >the Indian ARR is very much aliveKhwaja Mere Khwaja, Man Mohanna, Maula >Maula, Khili Re, Ranjha Ranjha, Tere Bina, Aye Hairathe Aashiqui, Jashne Bahaar..etc. etc. > >I made a compilation CD of my favorites from ARR and Mani Ratnam, putting old >and new songs side by side and listening to all them together. I get the same >number of goosebumps when I hear Tu Hi Re or E Ajnabi as I do when I hear >Behene De or Ranjha Ranjha or Tere Bina. Which song one likes better is only >a matter of opinion, not truth. For me, the feelings I get when I listen to >old ARR are matched by the feelings I get when I listen to new ARR. I just go >with the flow and I keep nostalgia in check. > >You have very little insight into how nostalgia plays a role into judging >music from the past. > >--- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, Taimur Nadeem wrote: >> >> AJ you hit the bulls eye the "INDIAN A R RAHMAN" , the indian flavour in >> contemporary music no matter what genre A R RAHMAN took , thats what used >> to be in SIR'S music. that made him unique, just one in the world. that made >> him a musical wizard , combining the beauty of indian music with modern >> themes. >>  >>  yes i miss that A R RAHMAN. but the problem is raavan d6 JA didnt had the >> magic of that standard of music. >>  >> today A R RAHMAN's muisc is mixing up with west , uniqueness lacking. take >> DILse , saaathiya , hum se hai muqabla, jeans ,thiruda thiruda >> contemporary indian music at its peak . the music of these albums is >> completely unique . even take lagaan meenaxi mangal panday classic these >> three albums are. take Maa tijhe salam wow wow , what contemporary >> masterpiece it is. >>  >> when A R RAHMAN used to sit in small dark studio in chennai , he produced >> world class music, now that he has studio's in every corner of the world , >> he is famous in every corner of the world , he has lost universality in his >> music, i feel . A R RAHMAN will surely return back to his indian magic one >> day. >>  >> and tell you first time i have affirmed your mail WOW. >>  >> REGARDS, >>  >> taimur >> >> --- On Mon, 8/30/10, AJ wrote: >> >> >> From: AJ >> Subject: [arr] Roja..still sounds amazingand my take on >> general trends >> To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com >> Date: Monday, August 30, 2010, 2:34 AM >> >> >>  >> >> >> >> Can't believe it...heard Roja today after ages and the sounds are still >> so clean, fresh, and breezy...not sounding that outdated at all, despite it >> being 18 years old. Amazing compositions for ARR's debut..melodious, >> sweet, earthy, straight to the heart. >> >> If there was one thing that I liked about ARR of the 90s that I don't hear >> much of these days is that ARR's songs back then had a lot more breathing >> room...there was more space in the songs and the song arrangements were >> not as dense as they are today. The songs just breathed
Re: [arr] Roja..........still sounds amazing........and my take on general trends....
Friends, I have a slightly different opinion. AJ is right, but I think we are jumping to a conclusion here and it is very fair, its human nature. We all are struggling to find the answer about what is different from AR's music of the 90s and say now, so any answer that might sound reasonable at the surface, there is a danger of one accepting it, just to get rid of the bother of the question. I am myself struggling to find an answer to this question...just like many of you. Roja when it was released in 1990 was a path breaker in all aspects. Chinni Chinni had a reggae rhythm. How can it be called pure Indian ? AR's brilliance has always been in fusing indian tunes and sounds with western genres. Songs of gentleman and thiruda thiruda were equally criticized by some in the 1990s saying they are plastic music, computer music and too western. Just go back in that time period and think for yourself, werent these albums way ahead of its times in the India of the 90s ? Is nostalgia messing with our minds again ??? I would like to call this sweet pain ! And for now, listen to VTV and the same indian ness comes through. Mannipaya is pure indianness by any AR song standard. AR's repertoire has evolved and there is a distinct difference in his work of now from the 90s. It is different. I will though not say one is better than the other. Which other music director has inflicted so much pain (sweet pain) in analyzing the music and messing with our own emotions ? How can one who has suffered this sweet pain, not be an AR fan ... I plan to write something on what AR's music means to me.for those interested, stay tuned Ram From: Taimur Nadeem To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com; purev...@yahoo.com Sent: Mon, August 30, 2010 4:24:08 AM Subject: Re: [arr] Roja......still sounds amazing....and my take on general trends AJ you hit the bulls eye the "INDIAN A R RAHMAN" , the indian flavour in contemporary music no matter what genre A R RAHMAN took , thats what used to be in SIR'S music. that made him unique, just one in the world. that made him a musical wizard , combining the beauty of indian music with modern themes. yes i miss that A R RAHMAN. but the problem is raavan d6 JA didnt had the magic of that standard of music. today A R RAHMAN's muisc is mixing up with west , uniqueness lacking. take DILse , saaathiya , hum se hai muqabla, jeans ,thiruda thiruda contemporary indian music at its peak . the music of these albums is completely unique . even take lagaan meenaxi mangal panday classic these three albums are. take Maa tijhe salam wow wow , what contemporary masterpiece it is. when A R RAHMAN used to sit in small dark studio in chennai , he produced world class music, now that he has studio's in every corner of the world , he is famous in every corner of the world , he has lost universality in his music, i feel . A R RAHMAN will surely return back to his indian magic one day. and tell you first time i have affirmed your mail WOW. REGARDS, taimur --- On Mon, 8/30/10, AJ wrote: >From: AJ >Subject: [arr] Roja......still sounds amazingand my take on >general >trends >To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com >Date: Monday, August 30, 2010, 2:34 AM > > > >Can't believe it...heard Roja today after ages and the sounds are still so >clean, fresh, and breezy...not sounding that outdated at all, despite it being >18 years old. Amazing compositions for ARR's debut..melodious, sweet, >earthy, straight to the heart. > > >If there was one thing that I liked about ARR of the 90s that I don't hear >much >of these days is that ARR's songs back then had a lot more breathing >room...there was more space in the songs and the song arrangements were >not >as dense as they are today. The songs just breathed easier back then it seems, >if I were to make a very broad and general comparison to today's songs. ARR >also >used minimal loops and more spacious arrangements, so you could hear more of >"silence" in the slower compositions. "Tu Hi Re" is a great example of that. I >hope you understand what I mean. Again, these are just observations of mine. I >like his past songs equally to his current songs in general, but there are >some >broad differences, signifying Rahman's evolution as an artist and adding and >subtracting elements of his compositional style and sound over time. I am just >bowled over how NONE of his songs from the 1990s sound outdated whatsoever >even >today. That says volumes. > >One more thing..songs in those days...1990s to early 2000s in general were >more "Indian" soundingnot just with ARR, but with other MDs too. The trend >in bollywood and perhaps other industri
Re: [arr] Roja..........still sounds amazing........and my take on general trends....
"yes i miss that A R RAHMAN. but the problem is raavan d6 JA didnt had the magic of that standard of music." I was expecting this same exact response from you, Taimur. You're very predictable. What you said is only your opinion. Most people in this group and elsewhere would not agree with you about that. I like the ARR today just as much as ARR of yesterday. What I wrote were just observations of trends, not a judgment of what I like more or what ARR has lost over the years. ARR has changedand to me, that's it. What I miss from ARR today is compensated by what ARR didn't emphasize before but now is emphasizing as a more mature and seasoned composerlike symphonic refinement, greater genre diversity, and more varied global styles and textures. He has expanded his repertoire and you don't hear anyone calling him repetitive anymore, a label that stuck with him by critics back in the 1990s. I like today's ARR just as much as the ARR of yesterday. Maybe you don't, but many people here in this group and elsewhere feel that ARR has changed and grown, matured as a composer, emphasizing more global music. And the Indian ARR is very much aliveKhwaja Mere Khwaja, Man Mohanna, Maula Maula, Khili Re, Ranjha Ranjha, Tere Bina, Aye Hairathe Aashiqui, Jashne Bahaar..etc. etc. I made a compilation CD of my favorites from ARR and Mani Ratnam, putting old and new songs side by side and listening to all them together. I get the same number of goosebumps when I hear Tu Hi Re or E Ajnabi as I do when I hear Behene De or Ranjha Ranjha or Tere Bina. Which song one likes better is only a matter of opinion, not truth. For me, the feelings I get when I listen to old ARR are matched by the feelings I get when I listen to new ARR. I just go with the flow and I keep nostalgia in check. You have very little insight into how nostalgia plays a role into judging music from the past. --- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, Taimur Nadeem wrote: > > AJ you hit the bulls eye the "INDIAN A R RAHMAN" , the indian flavour in > contemporary music no matter what genre A R RAHMAN took , thats what used > to be in SIR'S music. that made him unique, just one in the world. that made > him a musical wizard , combining the beauty of indian music with modern > themes. >  >  yes i miss that A R RAHMAN. but the problem is raavan d6 JA didnt had the > magic of that standard of music. >  > today A R RAHMAN's muisc is mixing up with west , uniqueness lacking. take > DILse , saaathiya , hum se hai muqabla, jeans ,thiruda thiruda > contemporary indian music at its peak . the music of these albums is > completely unique . even take lagaan meenaxi mangal panday classic these > three albums are. take Maa tijhe salam wow wow , what contemporary > masterpiece it is. >  > when A R RAHMAN used to sit in small dark studio in chennai , he produced > world class music, now that he has studio's in every corner of the world , he > is famous in every corner of the world , he has lost universality in his > music, i feel . A R RAHMAN will surely return back to his indian magic one > day. >  > and tell you first time i have affirmed your mail WOW. >  > REGARDS, >  > taimur > > --- On Mon, 8/30/10, AJ wrote: > > > From: AJ > Subject: [arr] Roja..still sounds amazingand my take on > general trends > To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com > Date: Monday, August 30, 2010, 2:34 AM > > >  > > > > Can't believe it...heard Roja today after ages and the sounds are still > so clean, fresh, and breezy...not sounding that outdated at all, despite it > being 18 years old. Amazing compositions for ARR's debut..melodious, > sweet, earthy, straight to the heart. > > If there was one thing that I liked about ARR of the 90s that I don't hear > much of these days is that ARR's songs back then had a lot more breathing > room...there was more space in the songs and the song arrangements were > not as dense as they are today. The songs just breathed easier back then it > seems, if I were to make a very broad and general comparison to today's > songs. ARR also used minimal loops and more spacious arrangements, so you > could hear more of "silence" in the slower compositions. "Tu Hi Re" is a > great example of that. I hope you understand what I mean. Again, these are > just observations of mine. I like his past songs equally to his current songs > in general, but there are some broad differences, signifying Rahman's > evolution as an artist and adding and subtracting elements of his > compositional style and sound over time. I am just bowled over how
Re: [arr] Roja..........still sounds amazing........and my take on general trends....
AJ you hit the bulls eye the "INDIAN A R RAHMAN" , the indian flavour in contemporary music no matter what genre A R RAHMAN took , thats what used to be in SIR'S music. that made him unique, just one in the world. that made him a musical wizard , combining the beauty of indian music with modern themes. yes i miss that A R RAHMAN. but the problem is raavan d6 JA didnt had the magic of that standard of music. today A R RAHMAN's muisc is mixing up with west , uniqueness lacking. take DILse , saaathiya , hum se hai muqabla, jeans ,thiruda thiruda contemporary indian music at its peak . the music of these albums is completely unique . even take lagaan meenaxi mangal panday classic these three albums are. take Maa tijhe salam wow wow , what contemporary masterpiece it is. when A R RAHMAN used to sit in small dark studio in chennai , he produced world class music, now that he has studio's in every corner of the world , he is famous in every corner of the world , he has lost universality in his music, i feel . A R RAHMAN will surely return back to his indian magic one day. and tell you first time i have affirmed your mail WOW. REGARDS, taimur --- On Mon, 8/30/10, AJ wrote: From: AJ Subject: [arr] Roja..still sounds amazing....and my take on general trends To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, August 30, 2010, 2:34 AM Can't believe it...heard Roja today after ages and the sounds are still so clean, fresh, and breezy...not sounding that outdated at all, despite it being 18 years old. Amazing compositions for ARR's debut..melodious, sweet, earthy, straight to the heart. If there was one thing that I liked about ARR of the 90s that I don't hear much of these days is that ARR's songs back then had a lot more breathing room...there was more space in the songs and the song arrangements were not as dense as they are today. The songs just breathed easier back then it seems, if I were to make a very broad and general comparison to today's songs. ARR also used minimal loops and more spacious arrangements, so you could hear more of "silence" in the slower compositions. "Tu Hi Re" is a great example of that. I hope you understand what I mean. Again, these are just observations of mine. I like his past songs equally to his current songs in general, but there are some broad differences, signifying Rahman's evolution as an artist and adding and subtracting elements of his compositional style and sound over time. I am just bowled over how NONE of his songs from the 1990s sound outdated whatsoever even today. That says volumes. One more thing..songs in those days...1990s to early 2000s in general were more "Indian" soundingnot just with ARR, but with other MDs too. The trend in bollywood and perhaps other industries too is to have more Western and global musical styles in film music with gradual shifting away from the ethnic Indian flavor of songs.not completely, but the trend is there. ARR too used to have more "ethnic Indian" sounding albums back then, even for contemporary films like Saathiya, Taal, Dil Se that were not period films. Later, the "Ethnic Indian" sound would be confined mostly to period film scores or situational numbers, but with some exceptions. Delhi 6, Raavan, and Jodha Akbar are the 3 most Indian sounding albums recently and look how beautifully all 3 music albums were received and raved about. I think a lot of people are missing more of the "Indian" Rahman. Rahman's music over time has become more "international" and less "Indian" as a general trendagain with exceptions here and there.
[arr] Roja..........still sounds amazing........and my take on general trends....
Can't believe it...heard Roja today after ages and the sounds are still so clean, fresh, and breezy...not sounding that outdated at all, despite it being 18 years old. Amazing compositions for ARR's debut..melodious, sweet, earthy, straight to the heart. If there was one thing that I liked about ARR of the 90s that I don't hear much of these days is that ARR's songs back then had a lot more breathing room...there was more space in the songs and the song arrangements were not as dense as they are today. The songs just breathed easier back then it seems, if I were to make a very broad and general comparison to today's songs. ARR also used minimal loops and more spacious arrangements, so you could hear more of "silence" in the slower compositions. "Tu Hi Re" is a great example of that. I hope you understand what I mean. Again, these are just observations of mine. I like his past songs equally to his current songs in general, but there are some broad differences, signifying Rahman's evolution as an artist and adding and subtracting elements of his compositional style and sound over time. I am just bowled over how NONE of his songs from the 1990s sound outdated whatsoever even today. That says volumes. One more thing..songs in those days...1990s to early 2000s in general were more "Indian" soundingnot just with ARR, but with other MDs too. The trend in bollywood and perhaps other industries too is to have more Western and global musical styles in film music with gradual shifting away from the ethnic Indian flavor of songs.not completely, but the trend is there. ARR too used to have more "ethnic Indian" sounding albums back then, even for contemporary films like Saathiya, Taal, Dil Se that were not period films. Later, the "Ethnic Indian" sound would be confined mostly to period film scores or situational numbers, but with some exceptions. Delhi 6, Raavan, and Jodha Akbar are the 3 most Indian sounding albums recently and look how beautifully all 3 music albums were received and raved about. I think a lot of people are missing more of the "Indian" Rahman. Rahman's music over time has become more "international" and less "Indian" as a general trendagain with exceptions here and there.
