If you saw the Filmfare'Family' Awards function last Saturday, chances are you were left scratching your head at the logic behind some of the nominations, and throwing eggs at your TV set when the winners were announced!
And if you went to see a movie(?!) called'Bewafa' the next day, chances are you're rolling on the floor, crying insanely like Salman did in Tere Naam. I didn't, though I came terribly close.
But as always, it's music to the rescue, the one thing that helps me disconnect from the rest of the world, the one thing I can't do without. And that's what makes me compile this list - the Top 10 songs of the year 2004, in no particular order.
I'm sticking to one song per movie, or else half my list would read Veer Zaara while the other half would read A.R.Rahman! Kisna and Black Friday miss the list by a few weeks, but you can surely expect them next year. And though I feel the Close-Up commercial song - Kya Aap Close-Up Karte Hayeeenn.! - was the best in the year, having the most beautiful lyrics, and rocking vocals, it also stays out until Close-Up decides to pay me advertisement money!
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Lakshya - Lakhsya
Perhaps the most under-rated album of the year. The title track of Lakshya starts with the sound of chopper blades, and from there, Shankar Mahadevan's powerful vocals make this song a winner. I also liked the way the choral group is used to hum the interlude, which sounds somewhat similar to the theme of Lord Of The Rings(or maybe I'm just dreaming!). And if you're wondering why I chose this song over the more popular Agar Main Kahoon, it's simply because, this song grew in hearing, the latter started losing its appeal after sometime.
Aao Na - Kyun Ho Gaya Na
Melodious and serene. Shankar Ehsaan Loy's fantastic music and Sadhana Sargam's exquisite voice, especially the way she sings Saaz-e-dil, chedo na, makes this the romantic song of the year, despite the presence of an ageing Udit Narayan. This one's for the girls!
Tan man mein kyun aisi behti hui, thandi si ek aag hain.
Aitraaz - Aitraaz
The female equivalent of Bheege Hont, this song is passionate, right from the lyrics to the singing by Sunidhi Chauhan. Some may complain that the vocals are screechy, but it works for me, as it signifies the mad frenzy, the uncontrolled desire that accompanies this song. Close your eyes while listening to this one and flashes of Priyanka in a pink business suit, taking advantage(!) of Akshay fill up your mind. The song ends rather abruptly, the same way it does in the movie, but for its 5-minute duration, it's raw, wild, passionate. Check out how the flute and the violin have been used towards the end of the song.
Main na jaanu kaisi yeh pyaas hai, kyun chubhta har ehsaas hain.
Teri saason ki mehek se, uth raha hain sanam, dhuan dhuan pyar ka.
Chinnama Chilkamma - Meenaxi
The lyrics don't make much sense to me, but inspite of that, I love this song, which brings together Rahman and Sukhwinder Singh - the Chaiya Chaiya pair. ARR has excellently blended western and folk music elements to create a gem, which is lifted to greater heights by the flute piece. Sukhwinder's controlled vocals are a welcome departure from the loud and high-pitched Lagan Lagan Lagis he's been singing of late. And though this may sound weird, I just love the way the chorus sings 'Judu Judu Judu.'!
Main Yahan Hoon - Veer Zaara
A difficult choice, considering it had Do Pal, Yeh Hum Aa Gaye Kahan, Kyon Hawa and Tere Liye for competition. Udit Narayan tries to sound too sweet in the beginning, but sings beautifully for the rest of the song. What also worked in favour of this song other than the singing, was its beautiful picturisation in the movie, something that I can't exactly say for the others. Javed Akhtar's lyrics make this song a memorable one.
Goonjhta hoon dil mein toh hairan ho kyun,
Main tumhare hi dil ki toh awaz hoon.
Sun sako toh suno, dhadkano ki zabaan.
Dil De Diya Hai - Masti
The swan among the ugly ducklings, this is a perfect example of a beautiful song lost among a bundle of trash. At a time when I wanted to leave the theatre during the movie, this song kept me back. What strikes you first about the song are its vocals. Sung by the music director Anand Raaj Anand himself, the soulful voice compliments the lyrics and mood of the song perfectly.
Mere ashq keh rahe meri kahaani, inhe samjho na tum sirf paani.
Ro ro ke aasuon ke daag dhul jaayenge, in mein wafaa ke rang ab ghul jaayenge.
Man Ki Lagan - Paap
What's most attractive about this song is that there isn't much attractive about it! And before you start thinking that I've lost my marbles, let me clarify - this is the simplest song I've heard, yet the most effective. No complex instrumentation, no modern beats, just great lyrics and great singing by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Thanks, Mr. Bhatt, for introducing us to this song, and to Pakistani music, which makes it first entry into this list.
Gali gali ghume, dil tujhe dhoondhe, tere bin tarse nayan.
Fanaa - Yuva
If I were Eddie Jordan, I'd make Karthikeyan listen to this song while he's on track! The lyrics take a backstage here, as the electronic sounds and techno beats dominate the song. The way Rahman's voice resonates to'Fanaa.', followed by the beats gradually rising to a climax, is the icing on the cake! Turn up the volume, guys, and let go.this is techno-trance at its rocking best!
Aadat - Jal Pari
Never heard of this song? Nor had I, until my cousin introduced me to it. The second Pakistani song in my list, this one is a rage in Pakistan from what I've heard - and I can tell you why! Superb guitaring, melancholic lyrics combined with awesome vocals make this a helluva great song! If you thought Kunal Ganjawala has a rocking voice, wait till you hear Atif. Living up to its name, Aadat has become a habit of sorts with me.along with another song from the album - Woh Lamhe(Bheegi Yaadein).
Dur jitna bhi tum mujhse, paas tere main,
Ab toh aadat si hain mujhko aise jeene mein.
Yaadein gehri hain itni, dil doob jaaye.
Yun Hi Chala and Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera - Swades
These two songs are poles apart - one is based on the guitar while the other boasts of an innovative use of the shehnai the former is fast-paced and zippy while the latter is slow and touching. Even the situations that accompany these songs in the movie are completely different. But what's common to both songs is, undoubtedly, A.R.Rahman's magic. Take a bow, ARR! The fact that he figures thrice in this list just asserts that he is the best composer at present. Yun Hi Chala or Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera - take your pick, for I surely can't!
And before I start my Rum Dum Dha chant, let me mention some other worthy songs that failed to make the list -
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