I have been out of touch with Bollywood music lately. Though it is very relative; in my case, when I say out of touch it means I hear new Hindi songs once or twice a week instead of 5 times a day - which was the case when I was on-air. I don't even watch the music channels as much, not that they show music anymore anyway. Basically exposure is low. Whatever I hear, also does not excite me much to explore further.
But what I have noticed is that I am unable to recognise the singers and composers most of the times. If I like a song, I immediately want to know the music composer and singer. The TV channels take no responsibility to show us their names; they just show us the name of the producer or music label. (which I vehemently oppose) and the radio stations cant go beyond the movie name and the actor names, except if its Yo Yo Honey Singh or AR Rahman. Anyway coming back to my thought - I am unable to recognise since there are many new voices showing up, which is nice. I like. However very very few of them take me to another plane, mesmerize me or impress me. Most romantic songs are sounding the same and trying to put m to sleep, others - well want to make me dance, but I don't even feel like moving a finger. I am not trying to be over-critical. The thing is, I have heard better. What happened?
Also, if there is more talent now than before, should we not have more variety? I was listening to the Latest Top 20 on one of the music streaming sites and I have two things to say - even with an average album like Highway - AR Rahman still outshines all other in that list and secondly, all songs can easily be put under two genres: Love or Party. Don't tell me that the indie scene will take care of variety in terms of themes and emotions - Hindi songs have delivered every emotion and every dimension of our lives has been captured through them since time immemorial.
Oh yes, one more thing - the singers. See, I am not saying you should sing like Mohd Rafi and all and neither am I saying you sing badly. But there is no strength in the voices of these new age singers. I was listening to Zehnaseeb from Haseen to Phasee and I realised that the song is delivering half of what it is capable of, simply because awaaz mein DUM nahi hai. There is no other word to describe that. Imagine KK, Shaan, Udit, Sonu singing that song? You know what I mean. While I write this I am listening to Kismat se tum humko milo ho from Pukaar. I rest my case.
Earlier even a crappy song in terms of arrangement or audio quality or mixing etc sounded sooo good since the singers just brought so much value to the table. and oh! The 'thehraav'... I am not even getting there. I think it's also the music directors to blame who have stopped approaching the awesome singers in lieu of Youtube stars. Once again, I have nothing against them, but... I mean... a Filmfare for Ayushmann Khurana - even he didn't approve of it much.
