Haunting and understated

Not much needs to be said about the following song...but I will say a little anyway. I am stuck on this song for the last couple of weeks. It reminds me of warm nights of Calcutta cooled by quick thunderstorms. For a brief time, I was thinking about what else, besides the notes, of a song are needed to reproduce it perfectly. Thoughts were running in the direction of, is it possible to digitize a voice signature, inflections and all. But songs like this put a rest (or want one to put to rest) to all such contemplations and make you feel the soul.

I like it because of the understated nature of singing that is essential to Mukhesh's way of singing. I heard this song several years ago and remembered it well enough to continue to sing to myself. Over years, my memory faded and I substituted my own way of singing. Now, when I hear back, I realized how I was complicating every simple turn and fading of phrases. Two particular areas are: When he ends the first phrase: Hum ne tujhko pyar kiya hai jitna, that jitna descends rather suddenly into a soft crackle of a broken heart, rather than follow the line dictated by the raga (Desh I think). Same can be said about: samne tere youn hus hus ke, that hus hus ke tempts you so much to sing it with an extra flare - but not giving to that temptation is the genius of it. Well...just ignore everything and listen to the song. Hope you like it.

Ali Farka Touré-Allah Uya

Some songs grow on you over time while others become an instant hit.  This one belonged to the second category for me.  Yesterday I heard a small clipping of this song as an interlude between two programs on NPR.  Those 10 seconds were enough for me to fall in love with the tune.  Once I heard the whole, it didn't disappoint.  In the last 24 hours I must have listened to the song about 15-20 times - carrying my iPad whereever I went, including grocery shopping.

I like it because...this song, as many others of its genre, seem to contain something of an indian melody but with a unique african warmth that is very pleasing.  It sounds like it is based on some raga - though I can't tell which one.  The simple and beautiful melody, the repetition,Touré's dexterous guitar playing and his laid-back voice made for an intoxicating effect.  If you caught me swaying to his music while driving or walking, you'd understand why, if you also listen to it.  No wonder that Touré (1939-2006) is a world famous artist, though I just discovered him now.  He was noticed on the world stage in 1994 and was ranked in the top 100 artists of all time by Rollingstone.


I don't have a clue about the lyrics or the meaning of the song, but having Allah in it makes me think it is in praise of God.  I must have some strange genes to be this influenced by songs that praise God without actually believing in Him.