Plagiarism and music

Plagiarism and music

There was a time when I actually found Hindi music catchy and appealing. There was also a time when I found rehashed classics, also known as remixes, interesting to say the least. In retrospect I’m left wondering what was going through my mind back then. Maybe it was just the fact that I couldn’t yet appreciate the classic rock n roll that the Beatles and Elvis were dishing out on my pop’s stereo. Maybe I was just stupid, but alas realisation is bound to dawn on you one fine day and I’ve come to realise how myopic and dead Hindi film music really is. Just a few stupid lyrics and a non existent score both contribute to an utterly boring and disgraceful front for the sacred name of music. If the song was a hit among the ignorant masses then there’s sure to be a rip off of the song, conveniently rechristened as a remix for the next generation. How dare these fools that go by the tag of “disk jockeys” mess with and degrade what were once revered classics of Indian music, jewels with immense lyrical and poetic value, even if the musical component was a little less prominent. Who do these Akbar Sami’s and Suketus cater to? The brain dead svelte and swish set of the city, with a truck load of cash to blow? Are these the levels that Indian music has stooped? Are we so devoid of creativity that we are left to cleverly rehash foreign tunes to suit the Indian ear canal and then claim to have drawn inspiration from them? Inspiration? That can mislead the uneducated masses who have been brought up on filmi music, but not the educated and specially those exposed to international music.

No wonder that those jerks who constitute the so called Indian music industry are put to shame, no are literally confined to the gutters where they rightly belong. Why does Indian music, with its rich and varied styles to draw from, fail miserable at the international level? “Directors” stake claim to the fact that they package Hindi music to suit the masses are liars. Blasphemous liars who know nothing about music, all they do is cater to the ordinary junta who are bought up on those embellished nursery rhymes called film music. They know nothing either, it’s just a vicious cycle of the ignorant blindly following those who have the guts to take the lead. Down with the cheapos, let the cream rise. I’m not claiming to be much of a aficionado or an authority when it comes to Hindi music, but I know good music when I hear it. Jal, Junoon, Strings and the like have been the pioneers of an alternate style of music; Sufi infused rock with infectious riffs and lyrics. That’s the way to go folks.

Ravi Iyer, Banks, and that bald guy who’s on Launchpad (Nitin Malik) were all there when musical styles were changing and its good to have some advocates of the counter culture around to bring it to the masses. I heard and liked the work of one band on Launchpad in particular, Decibel, specially their rework of the classic nagin refrain. Lovely work that. And oh yeah speaking of Launchpad, its great to see a platform finally materialise that promises to make successful musicians of out struggling, long haired axe men and skin beaters. Long live them.

And the Hindi bashing continues now. But the scene is not all that grim. There were some songs that I really appreciate that I’ve “seen” in some Hindi movies. Examples include the ones in that Amir Khan starrer, Dil Chahata hain. Now that was Indian music at its best. But look at the new crop of nonsense. Himesh that lunatic, with that stupid cap on his head, pouring out the musical equivalent of sour milk. Now what does he know about music? Does he play an instrument? Can he? I don’t think so. But why single him out, most of those so called playback singers cant wither. But all they can do is hog all the limelight after a song’s success. What about the underpaid musicians whose fingers and mouths are put to use to provide the strains behind that “great” singing? Who gives a thought to them? Who even knows their names? Not many.

And what of all those so called talent shows that claim to provide a platform for budding singers to be seen? What happens to the eventual winners? 15 minutes of fame and then obscurity? Isn’t that the rule more than the exception?

Who cares about them anyway? Fools.

But look at the emerging bands all across the country, writing their own music from the bottom up. I’d pay to buy their work anyday. Let them grow and compete with the world’s best. Let them shine. Pentagram, Vaayu, Bhayanak Maut, Decibel, Level 9, Parikrama et al. Go!

Why stagnate and mull over the past? Let it die with them losers. Let’s move forward and take Indian music to even greater heights.

Peace.