Musical Flashback - 2004

2004 is almost over...well..there's still a month left but nothing big usually happens in December...Atleast on the musical front.. Yet another year has passed by and my cassette collection has grown by leaps and bounds. Its been a mixed bag this year with quite a few good albums peppered in between some really disappointing ones. Without getting into a detailed research with the help of the net on the number of movies released, cassette sales and the like, let me try and recollect 10 of the best songs of the year from my top-of-the-mind-recall.

Some of them have excellent rendition, some are genuinely wonderful compositions, a few might have stood out in my memory for the accompanying enchanting visuals in the movie, others for their lyrical briliance and quite a few might have become popular with me for the sheer number of times I've had to hear them...Here they are in strictly alphabestical order:

Aahista Aahista - Udit Narain, Sadhana Sargam - AR Rahman - Swades

I keep saying this to anyone who will lend me an ear.. You dont need a fiery storm to leave behind a place shattered.. even a gentle breeze can do it... N this is something one needs to feel... jes listen to this song...the way Udit starts has me absolutely rooted everytime and then the divine lyrics take over...Minimal music...and then the notes when SS and Udit sing together... this number rockssssssssssssss... a classic in the making...best heard in a dimly lit room...fantabulous number...

Aao Na - Sadhna Sargam, Udit Narain - SEL - Kyuun Ho Gaya Na

Hindi music's loss was Tamil music's gain for the last few years when the extremely talented but under-utilized Sadhna Sargam made waves with AR Rahman. In this delightfully soothing melody, she is almost flawless - wonderfully supported by the competent Udit Narayan. Though the tune reminds me of some other hit number, what works for this song is the minimal instrumentation and obvious dependence on the voices to pull it off. The lyrics are divine and the "sa sa..." humming that drifts in and out of the song is mind-blowing. I keep dreaming of picturising this song in the Swiss Alps/Greenland/Alaska like say, Kismet se Tum from Pukar :-)

Agar Main Kahoon - Alka Yagnik, Udit Narain - Lakshya

The conversational tone of this song - the kinda-cute lyrics - picturesque Delhi University, cool Hritik and Preity's weird hairdo ...all this and something more contribute to making this number one of my real favorites of 2004... There are so many memories associated with this song that I could go on and go but then i shall exercise restraint.. atleast here :-)

Badal Jo - Adnan Sami, Alka Yagnik - AR Rahman - Yuva

If I were asked to sum up this song in as few words as possible, then I would go for subtly seductive . Adnan’s voice oozes sensuality and the simple yet heart warming melody takes the song to dizzy heights. The start with soft beats and the unobtrusive synthesizer with Adnan crooning ’’Socho Zara - Mere yaara’’ is something to really look forward to. However if you thought it would be a full scale melody then you couldn’t be more mistaken coz Rahman fuses in the techno beats pretty soon - Neat juxtaposition this !! The under-rated Alka also does a grand job in this romantic duet but one does wish Asha, in her peak, had sung this song. (sigh) Lyrics are also neat.

Hum Tum - Alka Yagnik, Babul Supriyo - Jatin-Lalit - Hum Tum

At a time when the ARRs and the S-E-Ls are rocking the musical scene with their techno beats and sounds, this song is a timely reminder on why Jatin Lalit used to be my favorite composers not a long time back and why I still look back at that era with fond memories.. Soft and sentimental lyrics tuned to a haunting melody create the perfect setting for romance which is only accentuated by Alka's litling voice (why do i feel this song has a trace of sadness mixed with joy)

Khulke Muskurale - Bombay Jaishree - Bhavathaaraja - Phir Milenge

Bombay Jayshree's seductive husky voice and excellent orchestration is sure to remind one of Zara Zara from RHTDM but if i were to zero in on one reason as to why this song figures in my list, then it has to be the lyrics. At a time when the Sameers are still stuck with their Jaanams and Sanams, Prasoon Joshi shows what it takes to write lyrics for a sensitive number like this.

Utaar Gham Ke Mozey, Zamein Ko Gungunaney De
Kankaron Ko Talwon Main Gudgudee Machaney De

If that isnt poetry, then what is !

Ladki Kyuun - Alka Yagnik, Shaan - Jatin-Lalit - Hum Tum

Ched Chaad songs always work for me...Witty lyrics, cute picturisation and a very hummable tune, c'mon, how can someone not like this song. I am not sure if you feel the same way but somehow the conversations between Rani and Saif are more interesting than the actual lines sung by Shaan and Alka.

Mann Ki Lagan - Rahat Fateh Ali Khan - Ali Azmat, Shahi - Paap

It never ceases to amaze me how Bollywood always throws up surprises where / when we least expect it to... Paap had turkey written all over it thanks to a lacklustre star cast, a seemingly stupid story and an unknown director... But the biggest surpise for me was the music.. Save a few songs tuned by the irrepressible Anu Malik, the rest of them were really classy courtesy the Pakistani duo credited above.. And this number with clear Sufi influnces sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is enchating to say the least...

Tujhe Sang Bandhi Dhor - Sonu Nigam - Aadesh Shrivastav - Dev

Some of my friends think even Sonu does not love his singing as much as I do.. sigh... When will the world be rid of fools who exaggerate this much.. Of course, I am a big Sonu devotee but how can one not be...And this song is proof that his rerpertoire is vast...While lovey dovey duets are his bread and butter, Sonu can do ample justice even to classical music as long as the MD reposes his full faith in the singer...Jes chk out the higher ocatves in this song !!

Yunhi Chala - Kailash Kher, Udit Narain, Hariharan - AR Rahman - Swades

This is the most rollicking track I have heard in a looong loong time.. One song that I would not mind hearing even when I am driving and stuck in a horrible traffic jam (this is when i am at my irritable best).. Foot tapping, funky and absolutely cool, this one has been on my lips ever since i bought this album...might not stand the test of time but its the seasons flavor.. When the world had not even heard of Kailash Kher, I knew he would make it big.. No kidding coz I am probably one of that rare breed of 57 ppl who saw Waisa Bhi - 2 and loved Allah Ke Bandhe even on first hear...

Other honorable mentions...
Dhoom Machale - Dhoom
Bheege Hont - Murder
Main Hoon Na - Main Hoon Na
Wada Raha - Khakee
Huzur-e-Aala - Page 3

ONO