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ARR's LIVE concert in Long Island, NY

Topic started by Dorai (@ 216.217.47.130) on Mon Sep 25 10:01:44 EDT 2000.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Folks,
I had been to ARR's Live concert in Long Island, NY. Apart from 2 or 3 songs out of a total of around 25 to 30 songs all the Music was DEFINETLY played from tracks. ARR had hired musicians locally (ie., in the US) to make such a drama or what???.

Its totally a pity to see a established MD to trick and fool people with track music played in live shows. He should have tried to bring the real live music from his troop whether it comes out good or bad.

I saw most of the foreign musicians idle most of the time and the good part about it is that they did not pretend to play music as opposed to their Indian counterparts who were pretending all thro the show.

Any more obervations are welcome.

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Responses:

• From: Kumar (@ 128.96.104.62) on: Mon Sep 25 10:46:12 EDT 2000
  
  My observations are as follows:
  (1) Most of the songs were in tamil. Lots of hindiwallahs were frustrated and lined up for the gates when the show was 3/4th over.
  (2) ARR should have a separate person to handle compering. ARR did it himself and came across as a shy person who avoids talking beyond the bare minimum. His song and singers announcement were feeble. Javed jaffrey who filled the half time with a not-so-funny stuff would have been a better option. I am reminded of Gangai amaran and his contribution to any IR's live shows.
  (3) Mike arrangements: Hissing noise? In whiz-kid's show? Hard to believe. yet, it was there. Lots of time, it jammed up the music.
  (4) A nice experiment: Thani avardhanam and blending of Palanivel's thavil and vikku vinayakram's Ghatam separately. SPB sang Azhagana rakshashiye(Mudhalvan) and Kavitha sang(Kannode kanbathallem -0 Jeans) hindi version.
  (5) Looked like: Chandralekha(THiruda thiruda), Vande mataram, Chaiya chaiya were played from a tape. THere was a remarkable difference between music for these songs and others.
  
  
• From: Dorai (@ 216.217.47.130) on: Mon Sep 25 11:20:14 EDT 2000
  
  Kumar,
  Even "Thaneye.. Thanathaneya" from Rhythm was played definetly from Tracks. I observed, ARR not singing a single line in that song when in the original song you can hear ARR's singing as part of Chorus. Chandralekha, Vande Mataram, Chaiya Chaiya, the song from "TAAL" and many more are certainly from TRACK.
  
  I would say Haridhwara Mangalam AK.Palanivel's thaval show was excellent. Though, for the Jeans Song his playing was little different from the original one it kind of blended naturally with Kavita's singing. I met AK Palanivel this Jun when I was in India. He told me a lot about ARR and his style of composing etc. It looks like ARR would just give only the "time measures" and AKP played thavil for the entire song without listening to the complete song. I told him you playing of Thavil bended very very well with the song.
  
  IMO, I did not find anything extraordinary from Vikku's ghattam. SPB did not sing that well for Vikku's ghattam.
  
  
• From: Dorai (@ 216.217.47.130) on: Mon Sep 25 11:21:27 EDT 2000
  
  Kumar,
  Even "Thaneye.. Thanathaneya" from Rhythm was played definetly from Tracks. I observed, ARR not singing a single line in that song when in the original song you can hear ARR's singing as part of Chorus. Chandralekha, Vande Mataram, Chaiya Chaiya, the song from "TAAL" and many more are certainly from TRACK.
  
  I would say Haridhwara Mangalam AK.Palanivel's thaval show was excellent. Though, for the Jeans Song his playing was little different from the original one it kind of blended naturally with Kavita's singing. I met AK Palanivel this Jun when I was in India. He told me a lot about ARR and his style of composing etc. It looks like ARR would just give only the "time measures" and AKP played thavil for the entire song without listening to the song. I told him that his Thavil blended very very well with the song.
  
  IMO, I did not find anything extraordinary from Vikku's ghattam. SPB did not sing that well for Vikku's ghattam.
  
  
• From: Sai (@ 199.72.89.253) on: Mon Sep 25 11:51:19 EDT 2000
  
  Hi Guys,
  Even I had been there...
  Last three songs definetly ARR played the pre recorded one.
  
  
• From: RG (@ 203.126.228.21) on: Tue Sep 26 02:59:36 EDT 2000
  
  AS LONG A R RAHMAN PRESENT TO SHOW IS ENOUGH TO ME.
  UNNECESSARY COMMENTS ARE NOT TO BE ENTERTAINED.
  
  
• From: bb (@ 63.93.106.189) on: Tue Sep 26 03:17:22 EDT 2000
  
  RG, "as long as arr is present to show"????? i don't think this is "that" kind of a show:-)))))))))
  
  
• From: SL (@ 63.253.227.153) on: Tue Sep 26 03:33:02 EDT 2000
  
  RG, this is a public forum...please tone down :--))
  
  
• From: Dorai (@ 216.217.47.130) on: Tue Sep 26 10:16:14 EDT 2000
  
  RG:
  I did not go to the show paying $150 just to see his face and his track music, but to see his live performance and it was a total disappointment. ARR is a total HYPED UP guy.
  
  I also wish to add one more line, even SPB's concert which happened sometime end of July in NJ was far far better than ARR's. Atleast, I saw live music in his show for only $15 and ofcouse great singing by SPB.
  
  
• From: rg2 (@ 63.226.195.89) on: Tue Sep 26 10:32:35 EDT 2000
  
  Dorai sir
  why did you go then ?.
  we all knew well ahead it will be 60% karoke show,
  knowing it is harmful - you took up smoking (for $150) -- , more than arr - I blame people like you who attend these concerts.
  
  
  
  
• From: Dorai (@ 216.217.47.130) on: Tue Sep 26 11:21:51 EDT 2000
  
  RG,
  The show was entitled "Musical Extravaganza" by ARR. If it was entitle "Karoake Music by ARR" then I would not have been there. He has clearly cheated the public. Public cannot be blammed for this as it is all ARR's fault
  
  
• From: dorai (@ 216.217.47.130) on: Tue Sep 26 11:22:32 EDT 2000
  
  entitle == entitled
  
  
• From: Dorai (@ 216.217.47.130) on: Tue Sep 26 11:26:30 EDT 2000
  
  RG,
  The way he played music from Tracks and pretended to be singing and performing live further shows that he can only perform in bits and pieces in his studio and cannot reproduce his own compostions (so called) in a live session and still people consider him to be great!. If he is a good music director who has written all the Musical notes for his composition, then he should be able to perform his composition live.
  
  Of course, cut and paste kind of work cannot stand in live shows!!!
  
  
• From: rajaG (@ 207.43.195.202) on: Tue Sep 26 11:47:57 EDT 2000
  
  yaarO oru dheergadharisi pala maasangaLukku munnadiyE warn paNNinadhu - uhm....you can take a horse to the water, but you cannot.....:-)
  
  
  From: Concerned Fan (@ daecfp02.sprint.com) on: Fri Jul 7 12:35:26 EDT 2000
  A serious degenerating trait developing in musical performances:
  Did you know that in both the much publicized "live show by ARR and his group" performances in Malaysia and Dubai, NONE of the songs were played by ARR or his musicians (yes that includes Sivamani, Naveen, etc). They all ACTED in front of the audience but the actual music was played through a DAT tape. For most of the songs, the singers sang live to track music. For some of the songs, even the singers faked it - which explains why we saw Malgadi Subha (singing i.e. acting) for Caroline's Thee thee thithikkum thee. All this I believe, so that the audience is given only the 'best'.
  Tell me! Would you like to churn out Megabucks to see ARR's "pretty face" when you know that he is not 'performing' on stage. I would like to know the opinion of DFers on this topic, as this disturbing trend is creeping into second tier performers too.
  
  
• From: chandy (@ 131.230.25.38) on: Tue Sep 26 12:08:30 EDT 2000
  
  RajaG, You are abso correct. It was a public knowledge that ARR's concerts are not 100% "live".
  
  Dorai, I agree with RG2. You are a regular DF-er and I'm sure you didnt miss those heated arguments that went on here about the "live" concert of ARR. If you knew it and still went ahead to check out, you are to only blame yourself. Why spent soo much money and then crib about it?? If i you missed those "theergadharisi" arguments in newtfmpage earlier, again, I can only sympathise with you for having missied them.
  
  
  
• From: UV (@ 134.113.200.35) on: Tue Sep 26 12:45:06 EDT 2000
  
  Guys
  seems there are lot of dissappointment in the recent ARRs concert in NJ.
  My friend who attened it told me that lot of north indians objected for singing tamil songs due to this SPB has to stop in between Azhagana Rakshishye song and left the podium ,there was no proper compere and ARR messed up in compering being a shy person he is.
  And over that they did a karokee. And to top it all when Zaved Zaferri asked the audience 'Did you all like it' the audience in one single chorus said 'NO'..
  So much for the much hyped concert,hope in future they can play some real music..
  My friend said only solace is the Vandhe Mataram song..
  
  
• From: commentor (@ 207.134.200.30) on: Tue Sep 26 14:16:43 EDT 2000
  
  Hope he changes the show before he does the toronto one. It would be better if they put one hindi and another tamil one after the other so people won't get bored.
  
  
• From: Srinath (@ 24.25.12.230) on: Tue Sep 26 14:37:06 EDT 2000
  
  ARR can now sing "Paalooti valartha kili" to the Hindi audience ;-) This is the music they so wholeheartedly encouraged. Why complain now ?
  
  
• From: rajaG (@ 208.24.179.211) on: Tue Sep 26 15:05:07 EDT 2000
  
  Srinath: Or he could tell them "I am following Daler Mehndi's foot steps":-)
  
  
• From: fan (@ 216.190.255.35) on: Tue Sep 26 15:19:18 EDT 2000
  
  this chap is a quick learner...he is capable of changing things in matter of minutes. remember He has a group of talented musicians, talent never fails.
  
  ...3 more shows to go, for now I will retain the archanai tickets, pefer to use it after these shows.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• From: paamaran (@ 207.188.29.253) on: Wed Sep 27 14:49:00 EDT 2000
  
  kumudam has an article on this
  http://www.kumudam.com/nazar.html
  
  www.kumudam.com
  
  
  
• From: bb (@ 216.217.80.201) on: Wed Sep 27 15:46:59 EDT 2000
  
  the kumudam article is interesting, since kumar said "Most of the songs were in tamil. Lots of hindiwallahs were frustrated and lined up for the gates when the show was 3/4th over."
  
  
• From: e.hari (@ 199.67.138.20) on: Wed Sep 27 15:56:03 EDT 2000
  
  Now, it seems that you cant satisfy all the people. Most of the reviews in RMIM, says that most of N.indians did not like tamil songs and Coz the show. Kumudam article says the opposite. If I relate this to the recent event in DC, where lot of S.indians were unhappy about vajpayee taling in hindi, it is better to have two different functions, one for hindi speaking, another for others.
  Now, according to rediff, vajpayee told the crowd that one should speak in a language, which is comfortable, irrespective of the nature of crowd.
  Glad that ARR did not follow this advice of our beloved PM and talked in tamil there, may be I wish, he should have. Anyhow, unless both sides are trying to be tolerant, there is no way, any one can make them satisfied.
  
  regards
  e.hari
  
  
• From: Sasikumar (@ 138.15.102.32) on: Wed Sep 27 16:41:34 EDT 2000
  
  Hi folks, I have been to AR Rahman Live concert was held on 23rd Sep 2000 at Nassaucoliseum auditorium. Tamilians across u.s. travelled a long distance to see this show. Many travelled
  for 4 to 5 hours from boston, new hamshire, atlanta, chicago etc. The cost of the concert is also very high when compare to any other american show. It was 25,35,50, 75 and 150$. But
  inspite of all this, AR Rahman live concert had 99% of hindi songs. The show started with two tamil songs and ended with three tamil songs. Totally 5 tamils songs in 3&1/2 hour show.
  All tamilians who came to show are very much disappointed. Everyone started requesting to put tamil songs ,padaiyappa , kathal desam etc., but with no luck. AR Rahman has highly
  disappointed all tamilians over here. This AR Rahman show was marketed as if it is a south indian show by TV-ASIA group, but the show had all hindi songs
  only. This was very highly disappointing evening. You can also see the fwded mail below, where they were marketing for their next show in california, which is going to disappoint lots of tamil
  fans, not only by time but also by money. I would appreciate if you can bring this news to the knowledge of entire public in California. Atleast all hindi speak can enjoy the show and avoid
  more tamilians to get disappointed. Thank you, SASIKUMAR ssasi@eudoramail.com
  FORWARDED MAIL
  ==============
  Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2000 12:09:25 -0400 From:
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