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Can hariharan be considered an able successor of SPB ?

Topic started by vijay (@ 129.252.29.219) on Wed Jun 10 19:08:42 EDT 1998.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

With hariharan getting to sing a song in almost every film including films done by IR there is a popular notion that he might be the next SPB.But my doubt is whether he would create the same impact that SPB had in the last twenty years, or would he fade away soon? also is he capable and versatile enough
of holding the top spot in TFM ?awaiting your opinions.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: Sriram Lakshman (@ sf-dnpqi-041.compuserve.net) on: Sat Jul 25 15:41:47 EDT 1998
  
  Veera Saar,
  Romba narayya paattu kettirukken.From MKT to KL saigal, MRafi, KK . Music of Ilayaraja, Sajjad Husain, VR, Naushad for atleast 20 years.
  Please note the point when I mention lengthy meters (in Tamil it is called Sandham). Do you mean to say that Ilayanilaa gave ample scope to Balu for improvisation ? IR is a great composer. But you just have to concentrate on the santham and the natural expression in the tune to judge if the tune provides the scope for improvisation.
  
  
• From: Veera Akkoor (@ 1cust198.tnt2.det2.da.uu.net) on: Sun Jul 26 19:36:45 EDT 1998
  
  Mr Sriram,
  
  I do accept that in Illayanila there is no "lenghty meter" as told. But there are innumerable songs of IR that Balu has done a great job. "Kanmaniye kaadhal enbadhu","Idhazil Kathai","Vedham" from Salangai oli, Ilanjolai Poothatha from Unnakagave Vazhgiren.
  
  By telling this I am not trying to overide your statement. Please excuse my words in my previous mail. I have listened to a lot of old hindi and tamil music. Every day I am learning a new lesson. For example thanks to you when you mentioned the concept of lengthy meters. So far I have observed songs with music interludes and background follow etc. But this sustaining of voice I did not get an idea to observe. May be I could observe about it in future.
  
  So I am sorry to hurt your feelings. I am very young and still feel a lot is there to listen to good quality music before passing judgement on any music.
  
  Thanks
  
  Veera Akkoor
  
  
• From: Sriram Lakshman (@ sf-dnpqb-103.compuserve.net) on: Mon Jul 27 00:55:42 EDT 1998
  
  Dear Veera,
  You made me feel old with your comments. No,I did not feel bad about your earlier post. You are right about the fact that Balu has done a great job in some songs of IR. Some more songs of IR-Balu combo, Vaa ponmayile from "Poonthalir" , "Naan pesa vanthen","Oru naal unnodu oru naal"
  
  Thanks
  
  Sriram
  
  
• From: Ajay (@ lr915-m5.ppp.temple.edu) on: Mon Jul 27 00:57:43 EDT 1998
  
  Getting back to the topic folks, reg Hariharan's ability to touch the high notes, you forget that he moulds his voice differently every now and then. If his voice in "Vennilav..." sounded strained while singing "Penne..Kanne..", its because he chose to sing thus. But in "Kadhali Kadhali..." in Avvai Shanmughi, he sings the whole song at quite a high pitch and without any strain showing at that!
  
  Anyway, is clarity of voice in high pitches really always appreciated? Not necessrily. Eg. the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
  AJ
  
  
• From: vijay (@ news.ntu.edu.sg) on: Mon Jul 27 01:30:42 EDT 1998
  
  i frankly don't find any point in comparing spb with HH.obviously both of them have completely different styles.there is no dougt that with very little formal music training what SPB has donbe in the indian music world is highly commendable.the number of songs that he has sung and the period for which he dominated the scene also deserve a very special mention.
  but just these things can't be taken into account to say that SPB can't be compared with HH.anyone with the slightest musical background will agree that HH is one of the greatest singers today(thogh he was quuite unlucky to get a breakthrough earlier).the amount of emotion and feeling with which he sings every one of his songs is absolutely remarkable,i would say incomparable,even with the great SPB.i really can't understand how anyone could say that HH struggled to sing certain songs.for god sake HH has spent so many years singing ghazals and has been very successful too and the range for which he can sing is probably unparalleled.
  finally i can say is this ,
  HH is beyond doubt one of the best play back singers around today,i would say the best('cause he is definitely my favourite)and there is nothing wrong whatsoever to compare him with sp:)
  
  
• From: Anand (@ peso.ntu.edu.sg) on: Mon Jul 27 05:22:44 EDT 1998
  
  Dear TFMfriends,
  
  I am a BIG fan of Hariharan and not of SPB(though I like a few of his songs).Who said HH is not better than SPB?....I am totally against that view...
  
  IT's better that you people listen to all the songs that he has sung in the past few years.HH learnt Carnatic music in his younger days and then also learnt Hindustani...He is an expert Ghazal singer.(which I suppose all of you might be knowing).
  
  Now, the point is , where, and in which department SPB better than HH?-Melody,Brigaas,rendition,versitaility?....
  
  Listen to HH singing songs like "Romeo aatam pottal","Kannai Katti Kollathey","Vennilave,Vennilave","Malargaley,Malargale","tamizhaa,Tamizhaa",.......look at the variety.Listen to his "Let me see the Love in your eyes" in the COLONIAL COUSINS" album....I bet no one can sing Hamsadhwani better!!!!.It's simply Fabulous...so are the other songs in that Album....
  
  Guys, tell me if anyone can bring more emotion and feeling to a song than HH??Look at the involvement he puts into every song he sings.
  
  HH I think is the only singer who can sing almost 3 octaves.....and his voice neither shakes or flutters.He is simply great!!....Also note all the improvisations that he makes in all the songs that he sings...the suttle brigaas, and the variations every time he sings the song...What I mean is,that,no one other than HH himself can sing the songs as he hid in the particular film...that is,it is easier to reproduce SPB's songs by another singer than HH's.
  On the contrary, listen to SPB sing the swarams in the film "Sankarabharanam",and in the film "Duet"....they are both equally pathetic!...
  
  And about the awards and the number of songs that SPB has sung,please note that Hariharan has been singing in TFM only for about less than 3 years and has already sung 150-200 songs!..He has just begun his career as a TFM playback....and as for the national awards, He must've got a couple more...it was hard luck,that's all to it.
  
  But let me make one thing clear-there is no point arguing about the two without fully listening to them and analysing their songs....and I am not here to try to convince people to become HH's fans , but just to defend HH's status as the best singer of Today....
  
  Anand
  
  
• From: Shankar (@ webgate0.mot.com) on: Mon Jul 27 09:22:15 EDT 1998
  
  Anand,
  In which deptt SPB not better than HH??
  I 'm sure u haven't listened to Balu's good songs.
  Take any of his songs in 70s and 80s and early 90s. He's done all type of songs showing every other expression.
  Man, U can feel what that particular character feels ,listening to balu's rendition.
  His voice fits almost all actors of diff generations.
  Starting with MGR 1000 nilave vaa (adimai penn)
  Sivaji- poopole un punnagayil (kavariman)
  Sivakumar -Kana kaanum kangal mella(agni saatchi)
  Kamal-Countless
  Rajini- All songs
  Arjun-malare mounama (karna)
  Prabhu-Chinna chinna (senthamizh paattu)
  Ajith-Unai paartha pinbu naan(kaadal mannan)
  Listen to this song - I got the message of the song more by listening to that song that watching it(i preffered listening it -Ajith is not upto the mark when it comes to acting)
  
  Try substituting Balu's voice with that of HH for the above mentioned actors.I don't have to say about the quality of the song...
  HH voice suits only Vijay (he himself sings!!)
  prabu deva
  Murali (IR is a better choice, any day)
  Again I 'd like to remind U, Balu has NEVER undergone any formal training in CARNATIC music or any other form of music.If a guy who 's a virtuoso and highly experienced classical can't even go to high pitch
  ("penne" in vennilave - HORRIBLE)
  why do u call him a good singer??
  He could not render "meetaadha oru veenai "(Poonthottam) better than Mahalakshmi (a relatively new comer).
  India today had a column saying HH took 14 takes to OK that song.
  For ur info, Balu is the only singer other than Md. Rafi to directly sing a song without rehearsal
  (even the great KJY rehearses).This was told by IR and son of Md. Rafi.
  Balu got award (state /national -i don't know) for Shankara baranam.The movie was hit mainly bcos of the songs.
  It ran for 250+ days in trichy and it's a telugu movie.People watched the movie JUST for the songs.
  Try playing some of HH's classical song (let it be tamil ,if there are any!!),i'm sure it won't have the impact Sankarabaranam had.
  Coming to duet.If not for balu (kadri is ofcourse there), the songs would not have been hit.Mettu pOdu and en kaadale were the top 2 songs of the movie.Even "vennilavin therileri" was a so-so hit only.
  
  I don't have to say about HH's voice shaking or fluttering.Most of his songs stand testimony for that.
  
  His expressions are never good.
  COmpare "naanaaga naan illai thaye(done by Balu and IR).Both r equally good at expressions.But Balu is preferred bcos of his voice.
  
  Same way, compare "ennai thaalatta varuvalo"
  though HH is better than IR in voice deptt.IR wins when it comes to pronunciation and expression.
  The same case with "vaanathu taaragayo" from poonthottam.
  Just listen to IR singing "suttum sudar vizhi paarthu" and HH rendering the same lines.
  I bet ,if u r not biased ur vote will be for IR.
  
  --shankar
  PS:I certainly am a fan of HH (after all. he's better than udit,mano,suresh peters, ARR etc) and have listened to almost every song of his.
  
  
• From: spb_fan (@ 206.139.13.242) on: Mon Jul 27 10:35:03 EDT 1998
  
  Hi,
  Anand:,
  
  Think HH sining Nan than Sakalavalavan-
  - Every one would have slept by the end of the song.
  - He cannot come near the speed and the clarity of sylables etc...
  Think HH singing Rum Bum
  * will be end up like a Devotional
  ---Lol (Laugh out loud)
  
  "Guys, tell me if anyone can bring more emotion and feeling to a song than HH??Look at the involvement he puts into every song he sings. "
  
  
  Nilave Va - Have you heard this song, I dont think so.,Raja enbar mandri enbar - ---
  Suma Emotions adhu idhu katha udadheega...
  Balu emotions are very many.
  
  Tell me few songs of HH emotions ..avaruku elame ore mathiri.. you will not be able to identify whether it is a love song or a happy song or a sad song.
  Especially the anbeeee anbeee song in Jeans -
  Pathetic tune by ARR - just like a christian Devotional and HH voice makes it 100% devotional..
  (out of context:the chords and beat are same as Aai Aai Yo Oh bohlo in Rangeela.)
  Suma kupinu yeruthu kick enaaku:
  Singari Saraku -- if HH sings Singari Sarku eann aagaum.... LoL...
  
  Sankarabaranam and duet are pathetic..
  HH is a good singer - but comparing him with Spb is too much , SPB is versatile..HH is not..
  very much less Kambeeram in the voice, I brand him for simple love songs and sad songs.
  
  Listen to the harmony he tries in Annakonda song in KK (HH version) (the last few lines of the song..)
  Suthama harmony gali--sruthi gali...poor guy what will he do - his voice limits him from doing that.
  
  He has sung Ghazels - yes!, all his songs sounds more like Hindi ghazels. frankly Thunga munjee voice.
  
  Buddy I tell you , it is a Long way for HH to compete with the gaint (also physically) allrounder SPB.
  
  SPB fan:
  
  
• From: Kitcha (@ dhcp80-33.ee.ufl.edu) on: Mon Jul 27 11:55:58 EDT 1998
  
  This is the same posting that I made in the "Hariharan's pronouncing" thread...thought it wud fit in here better!!
  *************************************************
  Sorry to poke my head into this.....Long time since I did this, as Gopal,pg(and NOV,are you there? ) would agree.
  :-)
  
  Hariharan has a good voice.Period. I know not much about shruti,and all those high-sounding carnatic terminology that you throw into this thread to ward off ignorant souls, like me, from the discussion.
  
  But one thing I noticed about HH.....he seems to think that he can get away with all that subtle nuances(?) that he manages to creep into his numbers.
  
  Personally I like SPB...not only for the sheer magic in his voice but also for all that extra something he puts into a song, like that "siruppu" in Pani Vizhum malarvanam or his verstaility in singing a song like "raathiri velayalil"(Anjali) or doing that "kukukuku koo" in "Hey! Or aayiram" (Meendum Kokila).
  
  Now HH tries doing that too and falls flat on his face...His yodelling or modulation or whatever you call it, in some of his songs can really make your nerves stand on edge!!
  Like "aval varuvaala"....or "malargale malargale", he suddenly seems to go out of tune...dont know if thats still in "shruti"...but it definitely sounds like a old gramaphone player dishing out music at "variable" speed !! For a layman like me it sounds terrible.
  Now if there is an explanation for this in Carnatic music then I would humbly listen, but still not accept it!!
  
  

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