gr8 review. Will post my experience soon!! :-)
--- In [email protected], "jsrwm" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Superbly controlled review, well chosen words with factual emotions..
> Pretty much I feel that I had been to the concert.
>
> As mentioned in this article we must thank ARR for he helps us to keep
> upgrading our taste in music.
>
>
> --- In [email protected], Gopal Srinivasan <catchgops@>
> wrote:
> >
> > Growing with Rahman (Revisiting the Sharjah Concert)
> > AR Rahman's concert in Sharjah on April 18, 2008 -
> > his third in the UAE - had all the flavour and flourish one expects
> > from the Indian music composer.
> >
> > Leading a team of talented
> > singers includng Hariharan, KS Chitra, Sadhana Sargam, Karthik, Blaaze
> > and Naresh Iyer, among others, the concert - for a change - started on
> > time. Well, given the stretchable time standards of Indian stage-shows
> > in the UAE, call it absolute relief.
> >
> > The true pulse of the
> > concert, obviously, was in the Gallery and the Prime Standing area.
> > Considering that the chunk of VIP and VVIP tickets are 'freebies,'
> > there are sharper expectations from that cross-section of the
> > spectators which pays for their tryst with Rahman. These are the true
> > music-lovers. Imagine, shelling out Dhs100 from the lean-mean monthly
> > pay of Dhs1000 and then some. That is the sort of adulation Rahman
> > earns: Pay, if you must, but do not miss the man on his return to the
> > UAE after four years.
> >
> > At the risk of digressing, must say, the
> > Prime Standing Area was one happy picnic. Picture this: People
> > reclining on the grass, on a bed of newspapers (nothing less than The
> > National, UAE's newest paper); families munching into hot samosas;
tots
> > treading out of their prams... and the red-uniformed Security with
> > their machismo and 'beware-we-are-here' attitude. The festive mood was
> > nothing short of what awaits a temple fair in India, where
families and
> > youngsters congregate for unabashed fun.
> >
> > The stage looked much
> > smaller than Rahman's previous concert at the Al Ahli Football Stadium
> > in Dubai. The lay-out looked impressive, though.
> >
> > What would Rahman start off with? My contention was: "Oruvan oruvan
> Muthalali' from Muthu, though I knew it was a far shot. I just thought
> it was well, sooooo egalitarian. I was happy to be wrong.
> >
> > Rahman kicked off with Jaage Hain (Guru);
> > it was vintage Rahman - a man in control. The close-ups on screen
> > showed a man, eyes closed, engrossed in the music. Jumping ahead, must
> > say, one of the most delectable experiences of the concert was
watching
> > Rahman watch his singers sing - he listens intently, smiles and just
> > gives them the space to be...!
> >
> > Well, it is futile going into the
> > repertoire for the evening - I didn't take notes, and all I did was
> > dance, and sing along with Rahman. I sang through his heavenly humming
> > for the song Kabhi Neem Neem (Yuva) and irritated Varmaji (my
> > partner for the night - add his son Vishnu to the team; thanks to him,
> > the average age of the trio was diminished by a few decades.)
> >
> > But some eight songs into the concert, despite Rubaroo (Rang De
> Basanti) too being sung, we felt deprived. The energy simply was
> lacking. We
> > know: Without SPB or Shankar Mahadevan to anchor the show, it is hard
> > to charge the air. Hariharan tried but there is only so much he
can go.
> >
> > I think that also answered a part of the question, which I had posed
> to Rahman a week before during an interview.
> > I had asked Rahman who was more important to a song - the singer or
> > composer. He ascribed some of the song's success to fate. But I (and
> > Varmaji agreed with me on that) feel there is an added dimension that
> > singers like Yesudas and SPB give to songs. Call it energy, if you
may.
> >
> > And
> > then the Rahman magic erupted. He belted out a few of his foot-tapping
> > numbers in quick succession (don't ask which ones - I am amneisic in
> > the sheer delirium of being there), and the Concert was back on track.
> > The momentum was taken forward by Shivamani, who discovers rhythm in
> > everything he knocks on... and he passed on those infectious beats to
> > us. Hats off, Shivamani. You are one of a kind!
> >
> > The visuals that played on the screens to highlight the songs were
> good. The choreography (particularly Maiyya Maiyya) was excellent, and
> Hariharan knows what it takes to endear himself to the audience with
> his indefatigable energy (singing Chanda Re to the moon).
> >
> > With
> > Blaaze encouraging the spectators to lift up their mobile phones
> > creating several thousand star-like brilliance on ground, the
stage was
> > set for Rahman to sing to us, Pray for me Brother - an absolute
stunner.
> >
> > There
> > were several Rahmanesque moments: What more can a composer ask for
when
> > with the first note of his song, a whole stadium of people erupt to
> > cheers and even get to start singing!
> >
> > But undisputedly the song of the night was Khwaja Mere Khwaja.
> > Rahman had the spectators in a trance - the trance that perhaps he
> > personally was in, while singing. The song was defining for another
> > reason. It showed the growth of Rahman - as a person, a singer and
> > composer. That stamp of maturity was the take-home quotient of the
> > Concert.
> >
> > In another five years, you might not go to a Rahman concert for a
> Mukkkabla or Chaiyya Chaiyya.
> > Sure enough, these songs would be there - but Rahman will give you an
> > extra-high that truly marks his evolution as a musical genius.
> >
> > That
> > perhaps is the single biggest contribution of Rahman: With his growth,
> > he also elevated our own musical appreciation. He lifted us and we
grow
> > with Rahman.
> >
> > Rahman thanked us. No Sir, we thank you.
> >
> >
> >
>
http://rajeevsnair.blogspot.com/2008/04/growing-with-rahman-revisiting-sharjah.html
> >
>
