” Life is like a beautiful melody and only the lyrics are messed up,” said Hans Christian Anderson. That’s about life coming to songs I just switched on music channels and the first song I heard was Coca-Cola Tu that quenched my thirst for music at least for that part of the day, I don’t know if I should say the lyrics were all messed up. A peppy number surely may make youngsters feel good but made me ponder.
The countless discussions on music seemed to indicate a changing trend where the songs were still composed and sung beautifully but the melody was missing. The sweetness ( svar ki madurtha) is what I felt was missing. I could still sing and dance to the new tunes. The meaning of the songs too may have changed. Yet again there are exceptions but what was there plenty earlier seems to be disappearing.
Each era from the 40s to now has there own list of beautiful songs and as you reminisce them you may note the change. From Jawan Hain Mohabbat ( Noor Jehan ), Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki ( Mohd Rafi ), Jane Woh Kaise log the ( Hemant Kumar ),Tadbeer se bigadi Hui taqdeer bana de ( Geeta Dutt ), Tumne mujhe Dekha hoker meherba ( Mohd Rafi ), Lag ja gale ( Lata Mangeshkar),Isharo share mein dil lene wali ( Asha Bhosle Mohd Rafi ), Aanewala pal Jane wale hai (Kishore Kumar ), Kahin door jab din dhal Jaye (Mukesh ), Phir wahi raat hai (Kishore Kumar ), Naam gum jayega (Lata Mangeshkar ). Many innumerable songs after that too which have been rendered beautifully coming to now where we have Chikni Chameli, Coca-cola, Remixed versions, Nashe Se Chad Gayi, Param Sundari, Kala chashma, etc, etc.
The thing about music is that it caters to a wide audience while I may be stuck with melody there would be many who may not care much about the same just want to end their day with something to chill with. My daughter loves rap I can already see the differences in our choices though she does hum some old songs !!! That generation gap will always be there. But music still breaks many barriers I noted between young and old.
Yes, indeed we have moved on from the 40s to 50, 60 ,70, 80, 90 to now. The expression and styles have changed. I guess that’s what creative thinking and song lyrics do, it gives wings to take your imagination to places unknown and unexpressed and in the process, a great song would be able to lift your heart, warm the soul and make you feel good.
Reflections 