7.21.2005

Aa Aah Music Review


It was almost one year since an A.R.Rahman’s direct Tamil album hit the audio market. After “New”, A.R.Rahman hits bull’s eyes with “Aa Aah” music. Though A.R.Rahman and S.J.Suryah combination gave a hit album with “New”, it was a very average effort considering the standards of Rahman but this album has lot of new sounds and new experiments and sure will reach the masses and become a blockbuster. Further knowing the song picturisation skills of SJS, songs will be liked even more after watching the visuals. Kavignar Vaali has penned the lyrics for all six numbers.

Aa Aah song is going to rock Tamilnadu in following days to come. The song’s lyrics sound like it is a hero introduction song and also it fits to A.R.Rahman and his fans as he is returning to Tamil after a long gap. The beats are extremely catchy and addictive. You will not move to the second track without repeating this song. The song is full of techno beats, electronic sounds and synth exceptionally programmed with which the tempo, energy and the rhythm is sustained till the end and makes your hearts jump as one of the lines in the song itself says “Viterrindha Pandhai polae ullam thullum”. A.R.Rahman’s voice is apt for the song and the Kids chorus part sprinkled all through the track adds to the peppy mood of the song.

Mayiliragae is a nice melody. After “Sakkarai” song’s success, Rahman repeats the magic of blending Nadhaswaram, Thavil with techno and electronic sounds in this song too but in a completely different way. I don’t think the instrument used is real Nadhaswaram though it sounds like. The song is high on melody as it proceeds to charanam with predominantly Tabla in the background. Somehow, the song sounds like yesteryear melodies of MSV. I still don’t know why on the hell Rahman goes to Madhusree again and again in spite of her pathetic Tamil pronunciation. I accept she has a good voice but her diction is a irritant to the melody and even after multiple listening, I could not find out what she actually sings. On contrary, Naresh Iyer is a great find. He is good in diction, expression and rendition while singing.

Varugirai is the most unconventional pathos melody I have heard in the recent past. You won’t accept what I am said about this song, when you listen to it for the first time. The pathos and melody is only in the vocals but the rhythm and techno beats in the background all like that of a hip-hop number and yet both gels well. And Rahman safely and aptly goes to Hariharan and Chitra for expressive vocals, as the song’s melody and meaning mainly depend on the vocals. The string piece that starts the song is quite good. The string section that accompanies in the BG with Chitra at the end is excellent. With this number, Rahman breaks another convention of pathos songs.

Thigu Thigu is again an instantly addictive sensuous melody. For those who have heard “Dacoit duel” from Warriors of Heaven and Earth, the sound of Taiko drums and Chinese strings that start this song will not be new but its blend with Tabla and Indian strings sounds quite new to ears. It sounds almost like a light Tamil Mujhra number with a classical touch in the tune in the charanam. This song also sounds like a soothing MSV’s composition except for the arrangements and electronic sounds. I think S.J.Suryah must be a great fan of MSV and he wants the same kind of melody in Rahman style. Sadhana Sargam has improved a lot in Tamil pronunciation and does a fine job in singing with right expressions.

Thaluvuthu is highly unconventional and one will definitely get irritated on listening for the first time. In spite of its odd format, the song works mainly because of expressive vocals of lead singers, continuously changing background rhythm with various percussions instruments. Shreya Ghosal is unbelievably perfect in Tamil pronunciation and expression, the songs adds to the versatility of her. What can I say about this legend SPB? He simply dominates the track with his charismatic voice and energy, just listen the way he sings “Thadumari Thavi Thavikiradhu”. Rahman brings back one of his unique styles of using voices i.e, the same voice will sing in extreme pitches in parallel in two different tracks. If you didn’t like this song even after many listening, just wait for the visuals.

Marankothiyae is the only average number in the album. Though it has got foot tapping beats and catchy interludes, somehow didn’t appeal much as like other songs in the album. All the voices in the song are computerized. Even the rap part of Blaaze is not at par. Anyway I feel even this song will sound good with the visuals.

So at last, the album is worth the wait and definitely a good (though not great) effort from A.R Rahman. He can definitely add this album to the list of his commercially successful albums. As always the album will disappoint big time on first listening. Stay cool and play the tracks again and as you start to unlace every layer of the sounds in the songs, you will jump with joy.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

gr8 revu buddy.
keep writing

Anonymous said...

Maramkothiye, is the remixed version (same tune) as Mayiliregae.. How come you didn't like it..?

P.S. Suresh Kumar said...

Hi,

I know but the computerised voices and too much DJ works tonned down the beauty of the melody in Mayiliragae and that is what i meant in my review.

Anonymous said...

Good review dude...
ah aah songs rocks....

Balaji said...

havent heard the songs yet. but very nice review suresh.

Anonymous said...

good review from you as usual - I am a regular reader of your mouthshut reviews - keep writing in mouthshut tooo - did you post this in mouthshut - I am also waiting for more reviews from you on Thiruvasagam

P.S. Suresh Kumar said...

Ramesh : Thanx
Balaji: do hear it. It rocks and waiting for ur revu.
mspmathi: I have posted the revu in mouthshut too. How can i leave MS, it still is my fav place to write. And i am thinking about of writing on it again...let me try...

Directhit said...

Good review.. though i felt the music is far below par of rahman standards...... I liked Mangal Pandey a loooot more! eagerly waiting for Godfather now (though ajith is not my cup of tea)... i liked varugirai song a lil bit and others are yet to catch onto me!

P.S. Suresh Kumar said...

Hi Anoop,

Actually songs will take time to grow, do listen to it again. If not for other songs, you will definitely like Title song and Mayiliragae.

Directhit said...

yup am hearing it atleast 10-15 times a day ;-) coz am a diehard rahman fan!! wht i was disappointed abt was tht it wasnt a classic from Rahman! (i enjoyed New better)

P.S. Suresh Kumar said...

Now i know the reason why you didn't like this album much. I think i liked the album better because i never expected Rahman's combination with Suryah to churn out a classic. Also practically, every album cannot become a classic. As my expectations were not sky high, i wasn't disappointed with the album. Rahman is becoming a directors composer these days unlike his early days in career and that is why some of his albums are great and some are average. Anyway, just trust rahman and let allow the songs to grow on you and if you are not convinced even then, wait for the visuals.

Directhit said...

no i guess even from the beginning he was a director's composer coz most of his GREAT ones have been with particular directors.... like Mani/Shankar/Rajiv Menon/Kadhir etc....again i do accept that his has time and again come up with great ones despite being one ... but his best ones have been with good directors.... SJS have been out with some good songs in his films (though his first two had copied songs) ..... I understand and am hoping that once the visuals are out and once we start listening the music grows with Rahman.... but wht i feel is tht this is not one of Rahman's good albums..... I guess even Udhaya (one of Rahman's least spoken abt) was a lot better than this! again likes and dislikes are one's own choices .. i jus tol wht i thought ..

P.S. Suresh Kumar said...

Hey,

Many of them feel so, probably they (and you) were expecting classics from ARR everytime. This album is for fun. I just regiser my opinions in my revu and those two lines are exactly based on how i felt about the album. I too know that i won't play this album after one month from now but for now i am enjoying the tracks. so, what is ur opinion on "Rising", is that also in your so-so list. anyway, let us wait for the next ARR album, hey do you know what it is?

Anonymous said...

Mayilarage is fabulous.
The song reminded me of anbe anbe from jeans.. and the interludes ie. the music inbetween the charanams have the "mudalvane" song 's interludes in a slow pace..
also the song made me think of kavithai arangerum neram from antha natkal very much ..
;) -laks.

Aatma said...

Hey Suresh, nice review, I like the songs especially the title song, Mayilirage and Thaluvuthu. In Thaluvuthu, both SPB and Shreya are excellent. Can anyone say that Shreya doesn't know a word of tamil after listening to her pronounciation. And SPB wow the guy after so many years still captivates his listners.

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