Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Honey-soaked voice

At the beginning of this millennium, when hindi film-music industry was falling apart due to lack of good female singers (wokay I think I am exaggerating a bit) and when most of us were deafened by Alka ji’s, sadhna ji’s, Kavita ji’s, Sunidhi’s monotonous vocal torment and not to forget, once amazing, unbeatable sisters asha tai’s and lata ji’s shaky vocal torment, there entered a voice that left us all enthralled; a voice that charmed us; a voice that captivated our hearts; a voice that sometimes felt like a cool breeze and sometimes like a deep ocean. When we heard her for the first time, we all exclaimed at once- "ah! whatay"

Okay, I am talking about Shreya Ghoshal.
Twenty something Shreya has a voice that’s difficult to replace. I don’t think any of her contemporaries can sound as good as her. Maybe few, but not all. And please let's not talk about few singers whom I am not too “fond of”. Can Alisha howtospellherastname sing a note without going flat? Or can Sunidhi-falsetto specialist-Chauhan for once sing without murdering a tune? I do feel Sunidhi, Kavitha, Alka and Sadhna sargam are better than most of the talent show winners; like that moaning-groaning singer and that other aggh sounding singer. These girls are better off doing moaning-groaning numbers (alright alright I know it sounds errmm.. somewhat crude, but don’t they sound horrible with their ooh’s, ahh’s and mmh’s?).
Anyway in my opinion Shreya is a fabulous singer. Period.

I thought of sharing two of her songs today:

Bhor Bhaye (Delhi 6): I haven’t stopped listening to this wonderful album (Delhi 6) since its release. And thanks to ARR this thumri in Raag Gujari Todi is neither remixed (like what Imsail darbar did to Albela sajan in Hum dil de chuke sanam) nor murdered. It is kept as it is. And mind you it's not easy to sing this fabulous thumri, what with it's complicated sargam and taans, you'll go crazy. Shreya does a commendable job. Well, few of them might compare this to the original piece, sung by Ustad Bade Ghulam ali, which is unfair I tell you. Coz this man is God. Nobody can sing like him.

Enjoy the song.

Tere Naina (Chandni Chowk to China): With a movie name such as this, one can hardly expect a nice soothing number. But Shankar, Ehsan & Loy give us a sweet romantic number with Tere Naina. Not their best though. Shreya matches Shankar Mahadevan with ease. Not only that, she also out-performs him this time. A sweet cute SEL-ish song.

Here are a few other songs by Shreya I recommend listening to:
Dheemi Dheemi si (Shiva),
O Saathi re (Omkara), Silsila yeh chahat (Devdas), Chalo tumko lekar (Jism), Tumhe jo maine dekha (Main hoon na), Barso re (Guru), Naam ada (Yahaan), Wada raha (Khakhee), Ishq hua (Aaja Nachle), Mere Dholna (Bhulbhulaiya), Thode Badmash (saawariya) and Teri ore (Singh is King).

Let me know how you liked these songs :)

12 plate meals:

Swaram said...

Wow Shruthi! A come-back and that too with such a post :P Melody all the way ... lovved it. I love Shreya Ghoshal's voice. Have been following her since the time she appeared in Sa Re Ga Ma and she is just wonderful.

Shruthi said...

@Swaram, thankuu :) and yeah she has come a long way isn't it.. I forgot to mention few of her Tamil and Kannada songs :( specially Munbe vaa from Sillunu oru kaadal and Malhe nintu hoda mele from Milana.

Maanasi said...

I love Bhor Bhaye....And I like your list...I esp love the moaning groaning part...hahahahahahah

Shruthi said...

@Maan, teeheehee and thanks for liking my list :)

Unknown said...

Nice!Inthaha ondu post namma "Janagi amma" melu barabahudallave?

Shruthi said...

@Arch howdu maaDbohudu aadre sikhapaTTe kashTa.. so many saangs are there you see..

zzzzzzz said...

u broke my heart.. :(

dont talk about alisha like that...she's the sexiest voice EVER.... listen to tinka tinka.... NO other female could have sang that song like her :(

Shruthi said...

@Prax, why did I know you'll support her :p yes yes you must be the only one to like her, of course you have company, anu malik and alisha herself muhahahah..

zzzzzzz said...

who cares about anu malik... thuu

i like alisha becoz she is the only one who can bring sexy into her singing....rest all can be cute, sensual, passionate what not....she's the only one who can sing sexy.....

Shruthi said...

the only song of hers which is worth listening to is Kaate nahin from Mr. India. Other all songs are 'dabba' only :P

Blogger said...

I am not sure what made you find so bad with Lazy Lamhe (Anusha Mani) and Zara Zara Touch Me ( MONALI).

And yes, I think Sunidhi is a Falsetto Queen! My day starts listening to her voice.

Nagendra Pratap Singh

Shruthi said...

@Nagendra, the thing is both these songs are mediocre and the singing doesn't help either