Quite often I say ‘This song is surely in my Top-10 list/Top-20 list/Top-50’. But then if I start listing out my top favourites, it would exceed 1000. Most importantly, I would find it next to impossible to rank the songs. First of all, will ‘ranking’ be justified? Would it not be a gross injustice?
So, rather than listing out and giving ranks to his
songs, I would prefer to just write about the song(s) and explain (briefly or
in detail) as to why I like the
particular song. This too is a tough call because his compositions are packed with so many details that it is difficult
to bring out everything in one single post. But
the fact remains that every time I start writing about his compositions, I learn
something new.
At the same time, there have also been times when I
just sit back, relax and listen to the song(s) like a small child. What matters
more, is the musical imagery created by the song. But here
too, I can’t help thinking about the instruments
used and about the raga/taaLa/scale.
Like many songs of his, ‘PoonthaLairaada..’ from ‘Panneer PushpangaL’(1981) gives some imageries, most of which are
indescribable.
Take the sudden transition in the beginning of the second interlude. Piano keys, lead guitar and the bass guitar play different melodies simultaneously making me
imagine a mountain, a beach with white sand and azure blue water and paddy
fields-all appearing simultaneously. But the silly mind also says ‘it is playing KeervaNi scale while the
Pallavi and the CharaNams play Abheri’. The chorus that follows, shows me the clear sky while the resounding bass guitar shows me the twinkling stars. The strings give me a vision of a
meandering river and the subtle flute
piece show the water birds with the bass
guitar drawing the pattern created by the fluttering of the wings of the
birds on the surface of the water.
I see the birds in the prelude too though these are different kinds of birds, tiny ones
going here and there with gay abandon.
Birds again in the first interlude, which could be due to the sound of the bird
call(made by the flute). Flight of
the birds in the strings section and romance of the birds when
the flute plays..
Ah, yes.. The Pallavi
and the CharaNams are soaked in
romance and somehow give me a mix of blue, green and orange colours.
Well, all these happened now when I listened to the song before writing the post. It could be an
entirely different experience when I
listen to the song again later.
After all, music
is subjective...
And that is why, I am taking an objective view.
If you find this contradictory, so be it. That is what
enjoying music is all about!
