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R for Rafi, Lata and the Likes

I am a huge huge fan of old music and so, today, we are going to cheat on the post with a collection of some of my most favorite songs. 

When I was small, my parents had a Blue cassette and a green cassette, both with old songs. My earliest memory of good songs were those cassettes. And what a collection that was. Some of the finest old classic songs. From my memory of those, here's a playlist you can listen to tonight!


Number 5 on the list: Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si
This song, from a 1958 movie, is so contemporary and ahead of its times. Even today, a version of this can be made and it will still resonate with the listeners.
And of course, Kishore Kumar's absolutely adorable antics.


At Number 4, Rajnigandha Phool
Amol Palekar fans know why I rate this song so high. Such an innocent song, capturing so many emotions, so well! 


Number 3 on the list: Raat Ke Humsafar
This song is so so so so beautiful. Sharmila Tagore in that absolutely stunning black sari and Rafi (not Shammi) serenading her in Paris. Stunner of a song.


At Number 2: Aapki Nazaron Ne Samjha
When I was smaller, this song always meant my Dad breaking into a hum, wherever he was. Even today, if I hear him singing, the probability that it is this song is very high. I don't blame him. It is one of the best songs Hindi cinema has produced. And when Lata Mangeshkar says, "Hans ke apni zindagi mein, kar liya shaamil humein", you can actually hear the laugh in her voice. 
So many sighs. Sigh. Sigh.



And at Number 1, I don't know if any song will ever beat this song. Abhi Na Jao Chod Kar.
Dev Anand, Sadhana, Rafi and Asha. If you used these 4 names in one sentence, there can be only one thing you can talk about. And when you add lyrics like:

Jo Roz yun hi jaoge, toh kis tarah nibhaoge,
Ki zindagi ki rahon mein, jawan dilon ki chaho mein,
Kayee maqam aayenge, jo humko aazmayenge
Bura na mano baat ka, yeh pyar hai, gila nahi.

All you can do is sigh, sigh and sigh.

Lesser I say, the better.




Such a happy feeling writing this post.

Have a great night! :)

Cheers!
Preeks

Comments

  1. And probably you love them all mainly for the memories of listening to it with your parents. I remember my mom had this bunch of Geeta Dutt songs that evoke a lot of nostalgia

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh My God our number is exactly the same as far as old songs go! :D
    Yep, old hindi music is absolutely nostalgia inducing :D wrt to parents!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh Gosh! I started singing Abhi Na jao after I read this. I would give an arm and a leg to have someone sing this to me. But with an arm and a leg I won't be able to leave for anywhere anyways. I digress. What a lovely, lovely song! The lilt, the passion, the longing, the love... It just overflows.
    Dev Anand was a huge influence growing up, thanks to him being dad's fav. And we even share birthdays! What a wonderful actor. RIP.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agree. Still consider him to be the most handsome man in Bollywood! :)

      Delete
  4. If you had to ever steal my phone and check my playlist, you'll find a lot of songs by metal bands like Iron Maiden, Opeth, Megadeth, Metallica, Pantera, Marilyn Manson, Judas Priest, Testament.......the list goes on.

    But you'll also find some of the classics you've listed above.

    Some of my favourites are O mere dil ke chain, Raat Ke Humsafar, Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi, Gulaabi Aankhein, Pukaarta Chala Hoon Main and a Hemant Kumar song titled 'Yeh Nayan Darey Darey' :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I love all the songs you mentioned! :)

      Delete
  5. Love the songs. Dad was a huge Rafi fan and as a child, I was drawn to his music...the pain and endearing quotient. Kishore-da is my all time favorite:)


    https://vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com/2016/04/22/rave-and-run/

    https://vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com/2016/04/23/a-to-z-challenge-salirophilia/

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