Remixes - the word itself needs no elaboration for the general Indian music lover. The last 4 years have been full of remixes.
Firstly, what is a remix? According to me, a remix is an adaptation of old tunes to a new arrangement. Is this justified? Well, this is a question that has created quite a stir in the Indian music circles. A huge anti-remix wave has risen, spearheaded by none other than the veteran music maestro Naushadji. Singers like Lataji have openly voiced their bitterness over the remixes that have hit the Indian market. I am going to jot down both the sides of the coin. So here goes.
REMIX- A CURSE
A song is not made up of just the tune and the https://lyrics. The arrangement is an integral part too. What is arrangement? Well, the music arrangement consists of the background music of the song, the rhythm patterns, the bass line, the counters etc. And the remixes directly attack this very soul of the original song.
For example, can you ever think of the song Pehla Nasha without thinking of those lovely introductory piano notes? That is arrangement.
I remember they had come out with the remix of the song Meri pyaari Bindu from Padosan. Well, personally, I cannot imagine the song without that typically Bengali rhythm, with the bengali iktara. And that was exactly the thing which came under the axe of the remixers. Can we say that they have done justice to the people who worked hard for the original number- Kishore Kumar, R.D.Burman and others?
Talking of R.D.Burman, he was the biggest victim of the remix wave. Most of his songs were distorted by these modern day Panchams. It is indeed very sad when people say that the song Wo chali wo chali is by Bombay Vikings, or that the song Kahin karta hoga is by Anamika. These are nothing but the remixes of one great musical brain, R.D.Burman. Same goes for greats like Laxmikant Pyarelal, Salil Choudhary, Shankar Jaikishen and others.
One may as well say that this is a cultural sabotage. Let us see at these two incidents of recording.
Incident 1
Year- 1968. Place- a huge studio at Mumbai. The musicians arrive at 10 am. The music arranger gives them the notations and they start practising. Every musician knows exactly what everyone is playing and what he is supposed to play. With every rehearsal, he slowly starts improvising on his particular piece, of course, with the music arranger's and the music director's permission. Then there is a grand rehearsal alongwith the singer.say Lataji. Then finally, they go for the take. All instruments are balanced and the recorder swings into action. Every musician knows that he has to play with perfection. No mistakes allowed, cos it will mean recording the whole thing again.Everything has to be perfect.
Incident 2*
Year- 2003. Place- a small apartment studio in a corner of Mumbai. No musicians needed. One self proclaimed DJ, his computer, and a bagful of CDs. He decides on the loops, the heavier the better! A struggling lyricist sitting beside him, trying to squeeze in some meaningless words to fit in the RAP interlude for the DJ. Sample CDs, Loops, programming softwares and wierd sounds. No perfection needed. The computer can take care of the flaws. Just keep the tempo going. After all. it is a remix.
So, friends, do you see what lacks in the remix? Yes.the soul!
REMIX- WHAT CURSE?
As I said earlier, a remix is nothing but old tunes set to a new arrangement. And the arrangement of the song is what decides its genre. It is what tells us of the current times.
Remember the oldies with few rhythms and a song violin(as in K.L.Saigal's songs)? That arrangement was left behind by Shankar Jaikishen, who brought in the strings section. Even at that time, musical thinkers like C.Ramchandra and Salil Chowdhury were thinking on the lines of western arrangement. The sixties brought in R.D.Burman who genuinely believed in adopting foreign tunes to his arrangement.
I repeat- The sixties brought in R.D.Burman who genuinely believed in adopting foreign tunes to his arrangement. Now, now, now! What have we here?
According to me, R.D.Burman is the GOD of music. But even he did that! Have a look at the list below:
Chura Liya hain - Adapted from If it's Tuesday.
Mil gaya - Adapted from the ABBA number Mammamia.
Sapna mera - Adapted from Life of a Soldier.
And lots lots more can be cited.
You think today's music guys are the first to remix someone else's tunes? You are wrong!
You think Bappi Lahiri was the first? You are wrong again!
You think Rajesh Roshan started the trend? Wrong again!
You think R.D.Burman was the first one to do it? Guess what.you are wrong again!
So can we say that the remix guys are totally wrong? Well, Mr.Naushad.have a look here!
- Aaja Sanam(Music by Shankar Jaikishen, Film: Chori Chori, 1958)
Inspired from the Italian Folk tune Tarantella.
(NOTE: The same Italian song was also behind the S.D.Burman composed Chahe koi Khush from the film Taxi Driver.)
- Ik ladki bheegi bhagi si(Music by S.D.Burman, Film: Chalti ka naam gaadi, 1958)
Inspired from the song Sixteen Tons, made in 1955.
- Lakhon hain yaha dilwale(Music by O.P.Nayyar, Film: Kismat, 1968)
Inspired from the western- Red River Classic.
- Ek Haseena thee(Music by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Film: Karz, 1980)
Inspired from George Benson's We as love.
And these are not all.for some more such facts, do visit the site https://iespana.es/i2fs/. Remixes have been a part of Indian film music since the very beginning, and Naushadsaab himself is not 100% original. Every music director does get influenced by some tunes and remixes them in his own style of arrangement. That being the case, how much are we justified in criticising the current generation for their effort of adapting the old tunes to the music of their times?
MY POINT
Well, my point is simple. I have just listed down both the sides of the coin. The reader can take his pick.
As for me, there is nothing wrong in remixing a song, as long as you are retaining your creativity, at least in arrangement. R.D.Burman, S.D.Burman, Salil Choudhary, Shankar Jaikishen, Rajesh Roshan- all did it! I just feel that our generation should try and make it more innovative, more ear-friendly.
Remixing a song in today's world- a world which has understood the importance of sound, is not an easy task.
However, I feel that the music videos of most of these remixes are the real culprits behind the remix controversy. Showing half naked girls doing offensive movements is something which should be stopped immediately. The makers call it eroticism or art.I call it vulgarity! I sincerely believe that these videos played a big part in starting the anti-remix wave in India. I do hope that the channels and the music companies take their social responsibilities more seriously. As for the songs.I believe that a good remix can indeed become a musical treasure for the sincere music lovers.
Of course, each to his own opinion. You can write yours in the comments section.
