Remembering Michael Jackson - Beat It!

Michael Jackson was one of a kind. He was probably the truest trendsetter setting the world by storm through his trail blazing dance moves and electrifying music. He was an enigma pretty hard to dissect but whatever the outcome of his art was gobbled up by fans all over the globe. He had the knack of keeping his audience on tenterhooks and that carried through across his lifetime.

I still remember the day when the news of his passing away broke out on that ill fateful day on 25th June 2009. I had left home early for an audit to a company called Honeywell in Anna Nagar when I chanced upon the newspaper at the reception to read about the heart breaking news of the icons demise.

Everyone growing up in the 80s and 90s would have definitely not missed MJ in some way or other as he had such an unmistakable impact. World music was still pretty much in its nascent stages in the Indian market but the uniqueness in his sounds reverberated across the universe capturing hearts aplenty.

A small dedication of a good ol peppy MJ song from yesteryear 'Beat It'. Remembering the iconic legend on his remembrance day. MJ was an uncharted maverick and a pioneer of his times. There'll probably never ever be someone as mind zapping as a Michael Jackson going forward in history ever again.

When Aasa Kooda meets Tauba Tauba!

The current hot favorites in the reel world happen to be Aasa Kooda and Tauba Tauba. Both these numbers are instantly catchy & peppy causing a rage in the world of socmed. Almost every alternative sound byte comprises either of these two foot tappers and inevitably one tends to get on to their dancing shoes at the mere listen to these bits.

Catching on with the hype, I simply tried to blend or rather meet these tunes on the veena.  While it initially seemed odd to link the two as they happen to be differently constructed, the underlying punch of the dance element made it apt to bring both of these together within the same umbrella. There is also a musical harmony associated as both these numbers predominantly use the notes from the minor scale of the ever popular raga Natabhairavi.

Hence just a random experiment of playing minor bits of both these crunchy crackling numbers which has taken the nation by storm. Hope I am able to capture the essence of these chartbusters to a wee bit at least.

RDB's honey soaked melody - Pyaar Hua Chupke Se

There are certain songs from Hindi Film Music of the bygone era that I've thoroughly enjoyed and taken a liking. Inevitably a majority of those seemed to be composed by Rahul Dev Burman.

He can be considered a trendsetter with his unique retro style chartbusters not to forget some of his softer songs deeply steeped in soul. RDB also revolutionized hip hop and can be said to be a pioneer in Hindi film music raising the bar many a time.

His last movie 1942 A Love Story was brimmed with such mesmeric compositions that each number will make you want to feel in love with it. Within this oeuvre I chose one of my perennial favorites Pyaar Hua Chupke Se.

Wishing a very Happy Solar Return to the trendsetter of Bollywood - Rahul Dev Burman