10 Songs that put you into Pensive mood
In the second edition of this series, I would like to present 10 assorted songs that put you in the pensive mood or at least intend to. This list is obviously non-exhaustive and not even the best songs in that category in my opinion. But they are damn good anyways. I’ve tried to cover multiple languages, multiple generations and multiple artists in one genre- contemplative music. Of course, tens of songs from Kishore, Rahman, Ilayaraja and countless other artists across the world (most of whom I would have never heard of), have been left out, I have tried to give some very good songs with my (alarmingly) limited knowledge of music. Here it goes:
1. Manithan Enbavan Deivam Aagalam: P. B. Srinivas (film: Sumaithangi, composer: Viswanathan-Ramamurthy): The softest voice of his generation, P. B. Sreenivas can blend into any type of song and deliver a wonderful result. This is probably his best one. A song that is best heard at a low volume during the night.
2. Kuch To Log Kahenge: Kishore Kumar (film: Amar Prem, composer: R. D. Burman): Shankar Mahadevan loves this song and no wonder why. Rajesh Khanna consoles Sharmila Tagore and asks her not to care what the society says (“Pushpa, I hate Tears”!). What an album!
3. What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong (single, composers: Bob Thiele and George David Weiss): Louis Armstrong’s thick voice was exactly the X-factor that was required sent the charts soaring. At the end of the song you would have realized, it’s a wonderful world indeed. Used in an effective fashion in Michael Moore’s Bowling For Columbine (2002).
4. Keladi Kanmani: S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (film: Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal, composer: Ilayaraja): One of the few Ilayaraja albums where each song is better than the others every time you listen to it. S. P. B.’s rendition is as smooth as it gets.
5. Aasman Ke Paar Shayad: Shankar Mahadevan (film: Rockford, composer: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy): A nostalgic trip that you will cherish for a life time. The song captures the mood right from the starting “San sana…” chorus and takes you back to your school age like the film itself.
6. Scarborough Fair/Canticle: Simon & Garfunkel (single, composer: Martin Carthy): Later taken for the soundtrack of Mike Nichols’ The Graduate (1968), the song is so melodious and low-key, that you feel the song finished too soon, leaving you craving for an encore.
7. Kathalankattu Vazhi: Jeyachandran (film: Kizhakku Cheemayile, composer: A R Rahman): There are not more than a handful of singers in India paralleling the evocative voice of Jeyachandran. Unscathed by age, his voice is at the peak of its prowess in this song that generates the perfect pathos for the situation in the film.
8. Allah Ke Bandhe: Kailash Kher (film: Waisa Bhi Hota Hai, composer: Amar Mohile): Kailash Kher is dubbed as the “Man with the Golden Voice” in India. This song proves why. A bit more inspiring and cheerful of the lot, the song is one which can be heard any time, any where, any number of times and at any volume.
9. Chariots Of Fire Theme: Instrumental (film: Chariots Of Fire, composer: Vangelis): A song that proves you don’t need words to put people into a thinking mood. A very inspiring song for the romantic and a very moving one for the rest.
10. Kurai Ondrum Illai: M. S. Subbulakshmi (single, composer: Rajaji): Probably the only song by a politician I have ever listened to. M. S. Subbulakshmi’s god-like rendition should not be critiqued by a person such as me and so I will skip that part. Perhaps the only carnatic song that is as famous as a mainstream one (No, Maha Ganapathi is not in the competition).
