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Is it healthy to compare the talents of two artists

Topic started by Seetharaman.S (@ 3.houston-18-19rs.tx.dial-access.att.net) on Thu Oct 22 11:48:04 EDT 1998.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Hi guys,
Iam pretty much new. After seeing the forum this question arised in my mind.
I feel that each and every artist(here I mean MDs and lyricists) is unique and they have their own way of expressing themselves. Is it good to compare them?

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Responses:

• From: Udhaya (@ 205.218.142.217) on: Fri Oct 23 20:03:30 EDT 1998
  
  After the initial fever of the forum subsided, every DF regular must have asked this question you have posed in this thread. Such an impartial position would be the focus of a very even-tempered, wise, almost clinically maintained group. Fortunately and unfortunately, newtfmpage is not it. I agree there are a few here who would be fine with leaving each artist as a separate entity (but they are probably not regular visitors who invest any emotion, nor do they take film music as seriously as most of us do here), but even if they do this stance takes an immense resolve to succeed. To properly maintain this stance means, one wouldn't be provoked, or provoke another for his or her taste. This means, one would walk alone without forming alliance with another like-minded DFer.
  
  Given these factors, the DF, if it doesn't compare two artists (it must be in the Indian, especially Thamizh blood to do so) will experience very low participation, commotion, comradery, and passion.
  So, as long as comparison exists like arrested cancer, occasionally a thread may come along to shed some light on an overlooked aspect of TFM. Until then we will all begrudgingly, cynically put in our two cents worth and move on. Sometimes we get into a heated battle that's the equal of watching and cheering your favorite sports team. Sometimes it's a sincere rush to debate, however meaningless the debate. But mostly it's banal.
  
  If you take a good hard look at a majority of the DF threads. There is probably a maximum of four people exchanging ideas, the rest are just voices without ears mostly reiterating other voices or throwing digressive wrenches in the machine.
  
  Anyway, if you are the one who posted under the name "Sreedhar Seetharaman" then I would like to say that I mostly enjoy postings like yours where you seriously discuss music and its practice, the way singers and MDs have employed a certain ragam, etc. It will probably see four or five postings and die a quiet death in the archives. But I would have got something valuable out of it.
  
  
• From: N.C. Ramakrishna (@ 204-70-216.ipt.aol.com) on: Sat Oct 24 01:14:48 EDT 1998
  
  Good question Seetharaman. Before starting this thread I think you have read all the threads before which mainly is a comparison between two artists.
  
  Basically I enjoy music who ever may sing, compose, whatever language it may be as long as I can understand. Finally what matters to me is the output. But occasionally I think what if this would have been performed by other artist. Like one singer instead of the other. How the output would be if it were to be performed by others.
  
  I dont think it is wrong to compare each artist in music sense or getting a better output rather than comparing each other about their greatness, personailty etc.,. I do agree each artist is unique in their capabilties.
  
  If you start discussing pure music topics then I think the participation number decreases. You require knowledge to discuss music like which song was sung in which raga etc., But the topics like who is great etc., is like hot topic involving controversies attracts more people.
  
  
• From: Srinath (@ ss03.nc.us.ibm.com) on: Wed Nov 18 13:51:07 EST 1998
  
  Come on Pradeep Ananth. Let's hear why you feel ARR and IR should be compared !!!
  
  
• From: Sam (@ ecarh800.nortel.com) on: Wed Nov 18 18:07:13 EST 1998
  
  It is healthy to compare, but unhealthy to not respect others' values.
  
  It is healthy to be a fan, but unhealthy to be a fanatic.
  
  It is healthy to enjoy the best music from all the musicians, but unhealthy to stick to one musician and expect 100% all the time.
  
  
• From: Srikanth (@ slip-32-101-16-149.il.us.ibm.net) on: Wed Nov 18 23:17:25 EST 1998
  
  Sam Perfect words I follow what you have told.
  
  I belive others can also create, it is not only one person.
  
  
  
  Srikanth
  
  
• From: Murali Sankar (@ 129.252.26.121) on: Thu Nov 19 00:04:28 EST 1998
  
  A slight digression:
  
  Has anybody compared SPB and KJ previously. egs I may give are:
  (1)enathu Gaanam - from ' thaayin sabadham'
  (2)Agaram ippo sigaram - from 'sigaram'
  (3)Poonthalirada - The mallu version of this song has been done by KJ. Believe me it is not as impressive as SPB's
  
  
  
• From: Ravi (@ envy.cs.umass.edu) on: Thu Nov 19 11:24:06 EST 1998
  
  Murali: Try searching the archives for this. BTW this is not a slight digression, but the antithesis of this topic. :-)
  
  
• From: MS (@ ) on: Sun Jun 11 20:32:18 EDT 2000
  
  Now that this topic itself is archived for quite sometime I am digging it out with a catty bent of mind :-)
  
  To say that I derive immense pleasure in comparing KJY and SPB versions of various songs
  is an understatement. It is a perennial conflict in my mind as to who pleases me better thorough their vocal stunts and sweetness. Curious..ain't I ? so what ? :-)
  
  IMO, there are many songs sung by KJY which were redone by SPB mainly in telugu. One such song is " maasi maasam aaLaana poNNu". The song in tamil has been raved much for its unconventional percussion and the trance it imparts to the listener. Other than the above good qualities, it has also earned a place of importance in the texts of scatology due only to its lyrical (dis)content.
  
  But, the song was probably not discussed from the singers' viewpoint. To give you toast of what SPB and Chithrea had done to it, I give here the link to the telugu version of the song.
  
  http://164.67.92.197/songs/Dharmakshetram_Enno.ram
  
  To me, it appears as if SPB had really infused a new life into the song (though I know as much telugu as much I know japanese). An imagination of what SPB could have done to the tamil song takes your excitement to a plane very different.
  
  But chithra ? The "bhaavam" is excellent. When it comes to blending her voice with the choral harmony she takes a backseat. Swarnalatha's voice had something more magical.
  
  This is just a beginning :-)
  
  
• From: eden (@ 61.1.250.249) on: Sun Jun 11 23:54:08 EDT 2000
  
  It is definitely healthy to compare `renderings' (i.e. the execution part) and it's possible to do such benchmarking with reasonable objectivity...but to compare the `creations' may not be without bias and will be very subjective; hence that may help pass time and increase one's arguing and sometimes linguistic talents, but may not be a very healthy mental exercise.
  
  All IMHO:-)
  
  
• From: MS (@ 129.252.22.9) on: Mon Jun 12 00:04:12 EDT 2000
  
  eden :-)
  
  
• From: SL (@ snfca060-0607.splitrock.net) on: Mon Jun 12 00:40:40 EDT 2000
  
  MS, intha Naradar vElai thEvaya ? :)) POi rajaG pOtta tune-a practice paNNu......
  You can checkout the Telugu version of "Thoongaatha vizhigaL reNdu" and let me know your comments.And also the telugu versions of "Nilaakaayum NEram saraNam" and "Nee oru kaathal sangeetham" , all sung by SPB.
  
  MS, continue with the main topic of discussion....:)))
  
  
• From: aruvi (@ webcache.ccs.yorku.ca) on: Mon Jun 12 00:58:36 EDT 2000
  
  MS
  
  Ummakku irukku, konja naal porum aiyya:-))
  
  
• From: aruvi (@ webcache.ccs.yorku.ca) on: Mon Jun 12 01:02:56 EDT 2000
  
  Actually, I think I agree with you on that song though:-)
  
  But the was a bigger craze in telugu. As per reliable info. I think latha is pretty good with emotion, though she excels more in sad songs. For ex. 'yaaro oruvan' and 'poralae'.
  
  
• From: aruvi (@ webcache.ccs.yorku.ca) on: Mon Jun 12 01:05:31 EDT 2000
  
  But I don't agree that Latha's voice had something more magical. I just mean that there was more emotion, or to give a better example, something more of how SJ would have done.
  
  BTW, I think Latha does a better job in her songs than SJ. This is my beginning:-)
  
  
• From: aruvi (@ webcache.ccs.yorku.ca) on: Mon Jun 12 01:08:41 EDT 2000
  
  I think SPB does a better job in rendering romantic songs than KJY. Even HH can't meet SPB, because SPB infuses life into his songs, unlike the other 2.
  
  
• From: gundu (@ l-coe012.win.icaen.uiowa.edu) on: Mon Jun 12 01:20:14 EDT 2000
  
  Hi,
  
  talking about SPB is always a great thing .. he is just too good ... just try to compare his rendition of "raja rajathi raja" from agni nakshatram in the telugu version with the tamil version.. I never knew that IR sang it in tamil until I heard it recently .. honestly I think, IR had absolutely no emotion in the song .. it was more like he just wanted to sing it ..so went ahead types ...
  
  
  
• From: MS (@ 129.252.22.9) on: Mon Jun 12 01:38:29 EDT 2000
  
  guNdu :
  
  seekkiramE balti adikka pOren. please wait :-)
  
  aruvi :
  
  you fall into traps so easily :-)NOM. LEt us have good discussion.
  
  SL:
  
  Naradhar vElai ? appadinna ? :-)
  
  
• From: aruvi (@ webcache.ccs.yorku.ca) on: Mon Jun 12 01:53:57 EDT 2000
  
  MS
  When one knows that they are being taunted and fall in purposely, is that victorious for the other person considering the possible outcomes?:-)
  
  Gundu,
  I agree.
  
  
  
• From: aruvi (@ webcache.ccs.yorku.ca) on: Mon Jun 12 02:16:20 EDT 2000
  
  MS,
  I know I am digressing but can't help but ask...
  Where are all the old timers like Kanchana, Nov, Geetha, Srikanth, Nirubama, P.Lakshman etc.?
  
  
  
• From: eden (@ 61.1.250.239) on: Mon Jun 12 08:48:44 EDT 2000
  
  yArappA adhu, IR singing without emotion'nu solradhu? That lyric itself is penned keeping IR in mind and he has sung with necessary amount of feelings, IMO!
  
  Please listen to `thenpANdi cheemayilE' of nAyakan in which both IR & KH sings and compare the emotions! IR is a clean winner over there!
  
  
• From: Kamban (@ d173-fx101h1-lond-pdi.attcanada.net) on: Mon Jun 12 09:20:42 EDT 2000
  
  aruvi:
  
  I thinkn it is the "nAradar vElai" by MS that keeps the old timers away :-)))))))
  
  
• From: Kamban (@ d173-fx101h1-lond-pdi.attcanada.net) on: Mon Jun 12 09:23:31 EDT 2000
  
  ms:
  
  Eagerly waiting for part-2 and 3, and.... (of your dissertation) !!!
  
  
• From: Geetha (@ 62.232.77.146) on: Mon Jun 12 10:21:21 EDT 2000
  
  Aruvi: I think that a lot of 'Us' oldies are only reading and commenting only when necesssary, as there is a lot of un-healthy discussion these days. I participate once in a while, but read threads a lot. Time is also a constraint at the moment, being a married person now......
  
  
• From: MS (@ 129.252.22.9) on: Mon Jun 12 10:42:11 EDT 2000
  
  aruvi:
  
  As Geetha said many are in the ROM (read only mode). It is only for the likes of jobless entities like me that newtfmpage is an asylum :-). and for the traps - I don't feel victorious but happy having pulled your attention to a have a good discussion ? (intha samaaLippu Okyaa ? :-))
  
  Kamban:
  
  Your name should have been vamban :-)I will soon be writing about another song where KJY punches SPB :-)
  
  

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