Friday, November 24, 2006

Mera Kuch Saamaan - Ijaazat


This song is too dear to my heart - I fell in love with all the songs from Ijaazat, growing up as a teenager in Toronto. I had newly discovered the genius of Gulzar and I was obssessed with learning about every song he had ever written. For me this was post-discovery of the phenomenon called R.D. Burman, and I drank in the film with my eyes, to absorb every element of it. The combination of R.D. Burman and Gulzar remains as my absolute favorites, and this film's soundtrack is the perfect harmony of both their talents.

The seriousness of the film's theme escaped me at the time, but the impact of the lyrics and the beautiful composition remained etched on my soul....This song is a request for a return of the mementos and memories that went along with a very emotional relationship. Sung by none other than Asha Bhosle, Anuradha Patel emotes this tender reminder to Naseeruddin Shah's character. One of Gulzar's finest songs, I have forever wanted to sing this. I offer my humble presentation to you......

Maya

O Sajna Barkha Bahar Aayi - Parakh


Based on Raga Khamaj, Salil Chaudhary's musical genius is perfectly showcased in Lata Mangeshkar's rendering of this song from the Hindi film Parakh. The lovely Sadhana sweetly sings as the rain pours down outside her home...Smiling shyly she lets us view the pouring rain through her soft eyes and we too start swaying to thoughts of love and the romance of the monsoon....

Lata Mangeshkar has also sung this lovely song in Bengali, which is titled "Na jeo na" and became a huge Bengali film song hit. Salil Da has retained the same romantic soft mood in both songs. The mixing on this recording is my own attempt, as was the song before, so please give me your genuine feedback so that I may improve my work - both in singing and mixing. Thank you.....

Indrani....

I will update this song here once I've re-recorded it. I am not satisfied with it. Thank you.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Tauba Tauba - Mr. Natwarlal


When I was growing up, there were three things I loved dearly: playing, my Mother and of course...like all kids at that time, Amitabh Bachchan. During exams, I was banished to the nearby room and while my family watched Chitrahaar and Chhayageet, I was expected to stick my nose in a book and actually *gasp* LEARN ! My mind and eyes were always however on the crack in the door through which I could keep tabs on what song was playing. The only time my jailors pitied and released me for a breath of fresh air, was when Amitabh came on screen.......

Mr. Natwarlal was one of my all time favorite movies, but I didn't appreciate this particular song until I was much older. Featuring one of my favorite actresses, Rekha, this song was another silky rendition by Asha Bhosle. Rajesh Roshan created, I think, one of his best soundtracks for this film. I present this one to your kind ears....

Chhappan Chhuriwali........

Sunday, November 05, 2006

On a roll...........


I recorded like 3-4 songs today...having them mixed soon and then going to post them here. This is a huge deal for me because I tend to take ten years to post any songs (as Murali will attest to) and I really need to get the ball rolling.
Anyways, stay tuned....

Saturday, October 14, 2006

The Dark One



Dark One, hear me, I am mad with visions.

Eaten up by separation, I wander from place to place covered in ash and clothed in skins.

My body is wasting all because of you.

Distraught and desperate, I go from forest to forest.

Immortal and Unborn One, visit your beggar.

Extinguish her pain with your pleasurable touch.

Mira says: "End this coming and going. Let me forever embrace your sweet feet."


-Mirabai

Monday, October 09, 2006

OMG...new job started today !



Thank you God for giving me this. Thank you. I needed this. The music is coming back........!

Monday, October 02, 2006

Bhaage Re Mann - Chameli


When I first heard this floral song, I too wanted to run away somewhere, like Chameli's heart...Sunidhi Chauhan has expanded her repertoire and sung this delightfully ethereal song that gives one visions of running barefoot through a rain-drenched green forest...without a care in the world. She silkily glides through the lush greenery, pulling us with her and makes us hum without our own knowledge....

Suffice it to say, this is one of my absolute favorite Sunidhi songs. She gives a lovely voice to Kareena Kapoor's "flower amidst the dirt" aka "dhool ka phool" persona in Chameli. Again Shubho's wonderful mixing is at work here. I offer this geetanjali humbly to you....

Pundarika.....

Saturday, September 02, 2006

My entertainment quota is getting filled....

Ok so wow...these weekends are delightful, here in Sunnyvale.

Last weekend I went to the RMIM meeting in Cupertino where music minded individuals celebrated their knowledge of music and trivia by chillin together.

The day after I attended Anu Kapoor's NRI Antakshari (I hate how they call it that and make it a point to keep repeating NRI before Antakshari. Ugh). This thing was awesome. Annoyingly loud, ostentatious and irritating, I enjoyed myself thoroughly...I was surprised that I was able to get like 85% of the answers. Rohit and I were like two teenyboppers at a Cheetah Girls or NSync concert (um I don't know any latest boy bands...sorry). Naaz was loving it too, but Rohit and I just about were turning crazy. Loved this show.

Anu Kapoor ain't too shabby a singer. He brought along two goodie singers; Niladri Debnath and Archana Parulekar (Bengali and Maharashtrian respectively) and they were just amazing. The other chick, Falguni Brahmabhatt is average, with her looks being the bigger lure than her voice. Archana's voice had me enraptured and Niladri was excellent...bong that he is...! The songs were fabulous and the teams were ok. I wish there was more MUSICAL talent on stage as well as lyrical knowledgeable pundits.

SO.........yesterday...I'm on my way to my god awful job (you know, the kinda place that makes you want to get a gun and shoot your brains out each and every single day you walk in) and I get a text message from Lisa Tsering, Entertainment and Awesome Reporter Extraordinaire, saying, "Sonu tmo. nite - want to come?" --------- um YEAH...my exact words to her. This guy has just ripened perfectly as a singer. I hate his ham-like ways, but his talent is unbeatable. Can't mock that. His Jesus haircut? Deserves a mock. His amazing talent? Deserves a "waah" ! I was happy for all of the afternoon until I got sick sick sick. Am still sick and have to get better by tonight. Can you believe I have to work on Monday when everyone else is not ?? It's a holiday and I'm going to work. Life sucks but then you get to go to a Sonu Nigam concert and doll up and all's right with the world again.

PS I am seriously thinking of giving Lisa the title of "Kaumudee's Personal Entertainment Planner" for all the fun shows and events she sends me to.

I will post my review tomorrow. Let me sleep for an hour or so. Toodles !!!

Chiaro di Luna

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Miss Torsekar goes to the opera...

Wow what an experience....definitely something I want to do again. It was a compilation of music from different operas. I felt like Cher from Moonstruck...I even had a new hairdo and gorgeous gown. However I have no grey hair, so didn't have to color anything. The opera was called Merola Grand Finale and featured music from The Barber of Seville and Béatrice et Bénédict to name a few. My personal favorite was Street Scene by Kurt Weill speaking of the delights of icecream in America...That was too good, as was the new Italian American immigrant styling that was done on the piece. Fun stuff !

Didn't stay for the whole thing but would have loved to. I think I want to go again....Thank you Lisa.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

What do little geeks dream of.....? COMPUTERS of course !!!



Time to record again....my new computer comes home tomorrow. I will record then. Thank you for the constructive criticism, good wishes and encouragement that you all have sent my way....I have been working on one song, which I just can't wait to record. With the new computer the sound is going to really be much better. Stay tuned....

Monday, August 07, 2006

Aao Na Gale Laga Lo Na - Mere Jeevan Saathi


Classic rendition by RD Burman and picturized on who else, but the Mallika of Sensuality, Helen. It is strange to begin my audio posts with a seduction song but somehow the composition got to me years ago and now again when I was scoping out tracks to do.

RD's orchestration is remarkable and the full band is of course unbeatable. Sung originally by her royal highness, Asha Bhosle, I have merely attempted to mimic her by skimming the surface of her rendition.

Finally....I did a song....



This was decent...not awesome. Decent. My homage to the Goddess Asha. She is ultimately the artist I would like to transform into. I have grown up listening to her. I think she has kept me company more than any other singer; in my teenage years I used to sleep to her sultry renditions of sensual numbers. The gentle fires she lit with Gulzar's beautiful lyrics and the images of utter and complete romance she created remain etched in the recesses of my mind. I will forget all else, all others, but her.

I present to your kind ears, a humble recording. I am still trying to dust the cobwebs on my vocal chords so please forgive the mistakes. I promise to get better; I aim to be a perfectionist, so your guidance means a lot.

PS, music classes start soon :-)

Chandni

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Did a little recording experiment...

I need someone's help on this...with CoolEdit Pro. So turns out, my soundcard is a piece of CRAP on a CRAP CRACKER ! I can't hear myself singing. So the notes come out unsure and uncertain. I recorded two songs...both sounded mediocre at best. I didn't know what was going on............................UNTIL:

I recorded with one ear open and the other covered by the headphone. When I heard myself in the room, I was able to project better. All this time everyone I asked said, you don't know what you're talking about but you can actually hear the music and your singing. Fix your sound card.

Well tell you what people: SOMEONE HELP ME CONFIGURE MY COOLEDIT SO I CAN HEAR MYSELF SINGING. PLEASE. I CAN'T DEAF-SING. I'M NOT THAT TALENTED :-P

Thanks,
Muniya !

Monday, July 10, 2006

My Asha......


Just wanted to put her photo with me up here. No good reason to do so. Just wanted to.


Isn't she AWESOME ????

Saturday, July 08, 2006

I am MOOOOVING !!!

It feels like a bovine experience either way....I'm chewing my cud (that being my ridiculous crap that I have around the house) in a slow manner, much to the chagrin of my family and dear friends.

So guess what sports fans --- the music's gotta wait. I'm about to have an emotional breakdown right about now...

Hope I can live up to all the expectations of me. Murali and his one man advertising crew has already got musical hopefuls thinking I've got some remote sense of talent ! Hee hee...kidding....

So yes, I will record, but in a few days. I'm sorry. Maybe I can put just one on here and then do the rest later. So maybe today. Toodles !

Komdi !

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Having difficulty with mic and Cooledit

And truly have been distracted...things should calm down by Friday....I'm hoping to have some recordings up by the weekend. Super excited :)

Sunday, July 02, 2006

I found some Karaoke tracks...

That would suit my voice well and also show my range. I have 2-3 by Asha, 2 by Lata and one by Kavita. I suspect I'm going to get some more nice goodies. I'm looking for some newer songs as well. If you or anyone you know have some goodies by Shreya and Sunidhi, let me know...I wanna record their stuff too. Also I'm comfortable with most scales, so even if it's an Ila Arun or Usha Uthup song I'll do it....

I plan to record in a few days but I want to do the prep by practicing everything and removing the cobwebs on my vocal chords.....

Wish me luck !
Komdi