http://www.bollyspice.com/music-reviews.php/blue-music-review.html
Oscar winning composer A R Rahman is back in Bollywood with his compositions
for the upcoming underwater adventure Blue.
The film with the tagline: "250 feet below is a treasure waiting to be
discovered", is something never seen before in Bollywood; especially
with the many scenes filmed underwater. Blue is directed by
Anthony D'Souza and stars Akshay Kumar, Zayed Khan, Sanjay Dutt and
Lara Dutta. Rahman is known for making each OST different than the ones
he has done before and with Blue he achieves that yet again.
Supporting
the maestro are ace screenwriters Abbas Tyrewala and Mayur Puri, as
well as Sukhwinder Singh and Raqueeb Alam, who each contributed lyrics.
Some of the best singers in the business participated, including
Sukhwinder Singh, Rashid Ali, Sonu Nigam, Udit Naryan, Madushree and
Shreya Ghosal. So, does Rahman create something special? Read on to
find out if the music sings, or sinks and goes glub glub!
The beginning of Aaj Dil Gustakh Hai has that trademark Rahman-ness of new
sounds put together in a cool way
and this track imbibes that with its new agey sounds that are very hip!
The music changes to something completely different with the joining of
singers Sukhwinder Singh and Shreya Ghosal. A very fast paced number,
both singers sound great, but somehow the music does not seem to match
the lyric phrasing. In fact, it sounds a bit discordant, there are too
many sounds, too much going on in the background. Plus, with the echo
effect added to their voices at the mixing board, it makes it even
harder to listen to. This is proved at about 4:00 into the song, when
the music is pared down a bit with Sukhwinder's voice, and I really
noticed the change and how much better I liked it. Not one of my
favorite Rahman songs. I think if he kept in the same new agey mood
that he began with and had in the middle change-up, the song would have
been better.
Bhoola Tujhe is a gorgeous song that you must listen to and add to your
Bollyfavs
playlist. There is lovely violin beginning with beautiful melody. The
song transforms to a more popish ballad with a gorgeous acoustic guitar
line. Rashid Ali is outstanding on the track; he gives such feeling in
every note he sings. The background music grows to a full orchestral
piece that enhances the great guitar and then the addition of the
trumpet is a high note in true Rahman style. This is Rahman at his
best, music with such a full sound it fills you up - from the first
note to the last it is just music to the ears and soul. So far, my
favorite song on the OST.
A very modern track, the Blue Theme has a hard hitting beat and vocal, that I
am sure will match up to the
action that is going on onscreen. Lots of different voices are heard on
the track including Blaaze, Raqueeb Alam, Sonu Kakkar, Neha Kakkar, and
Jaspreet Singh and they all have a fantastic inflection that adds to
the strong beat of the song. There is also quite a mix of styles that
range from new age, to hip-hop, to club and some Bhangra thrown in the
pot as well. This song has a new sound, and I think onscreen it will
definitely add to the coolness factor! If you have seen the promo, the
boys, Zayed, Sanjay and Akshay, are playing on their jet skis and the
music just matches it perfectly!
I am sure you have heard that Australian hit singer and Bollywood newcomer
Kylie Minogue is performing the item number Chiggy Wiggy in Blue.
She has a great voice and an amazing range. This is a very Western club
song with a fab sound and cool beats. I'm not sure I'm into the 'chiggy
wiggy wid you' lyric, but the sound is really wicked. (How do you
chiggy wiggy, anyway? I guess we will see in the film!) To bring in the
Indian flavor and get Akshay moving in the number is Sonu Nigam. He
sounds great, and Rahman mixed the two styles and voices very well. I
think Rahman again tried to push too many instruments and notes: it
gets a bit overwhelming and takes away from the singing and also the
enjoyment of the song. Overall a great beat, but by the end, I wanted
to turn it down, not up.
Originally supposed to be performed by Farhan Akhtar, Fiqrana has instead Vijay
Prakash at the mic and he sounds terrific. Rahman has
a good mix and match of voices, music and beats, with a new age vibe
that works and gives a cool, fresh feel to the song. Shreya Ghosal is
heard again, she has such a lovely voice and it shines in her sections.
The music is good, but maybe relied a little too heavily on the synth
drumbeats. I would have loved to hear an old school drum set. Rahman
comes up with a song that has a new sound and it is good. Amazing?
No... but good. I think this one will play really well within the film!
Rehnuma is another slow song sung by Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghosal. It has a
jazz influence to the music in the beginning but then it transforms to
more full orchestral number, while retaining its ballad-ness. Shreya
Ghosal is wonderful; she gives the song the voice it needs with her
range, her emotion, and her amazing talent. The music reminded me
somewhat of a Bond theme in parts and feel. Sonu Nigam is right there
as well, though I don't feel the music matched him as well as it did
Shreya. It develops into a very complex song musically and it's
wonderful. Rahman really is amazing at adding the orchestral movements
to take the song up to something more. Very dramatic and very good!
Yaar Mila Tha is very Indian in voice and beat but it also channels a hip-hop
vibe.
With Madhushree and Udit Narayan, these two marvelous singers are of
course top notch and make the song with their energy and classic
voices. A very peppy beat in both music and vocal. I did not love the
extra more modern vocal, but it did not detract either. Many will say
it is their fav on the album but for me it's just a fine song with
amazing singers and worth a spin!
When you see AR Rahman listed as music director you know to expect something
new and special. With Blue,
he definitely lived up to the new sound, but I think he tried a bit too
hard to make it that way and overdid it a bit. You have to admire his
arrangements and, of course, the singers' performances, but this OST
misses the boat just a bit. I really liked 'Rehnuma' and 'Fiqrana', but
besides loving 'Bhoola Tujhe', I was a bit disappointed. This album is
very situational and I think seen in the context of Blue and in
the feeling of the film, it will play brilliantly. It is A R Rahman, so
of course, you have to hear it for yourself. So, give it a try - it may
float your boat!
