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Why IR is reluctant to use new technology in his Music?

Topic started by Rex (@ cse-211-f14.circa.ufl.edu) on Mon Oct 27 22:36:23 EST 1997.
All times in EDT +9:30 for IST.

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Responses:

• From: Rex (@ cse-211-f14.circa.ufl.edu) on: Mon Oct 27 22:41:37 EST 1997
  
  While all the other MD's including ARR and Deva are tapping the full potential of the new Digital Technology, in their music composition, it is sad to see IR not paying attention to the new technology.
  While ARR offers the so-called `quality' stuff by just meddling with the computerized key-boards, why doesn't Raja use them?
  Is it because of his ego (ARR baniyile nAAma pOganuma enna?), that he is choosing to ignore it?
  I would like to hear your comments.
  (While giving your response remember IR's movies like Vikram,Agni Natchatiram,Dhalapathy, Anjali, and Punnagai Mannan too!!)
  
  
• From: t.madhan (@ 202.41.117.3) on: Tue Oct 28 09:36:17 EST 1997
  
  Dear REX,
  
  Ennadhhaan computer use panninaalum, it should only be done to add beauty -adhaavadhu merugetruvadharku, otherwise KAZHUDHAIKKU pattu selai kattinadhu pol irukkum. Computers need not crown IR's glory
  
  
• From: Amar (@ worf.qntm.com) on: Tue Oct 28 12:57:10 EST 1997
  
  Rex:
  I understand what you are trying to say. I have the same sentiments.
  The whole world knows that IR is a genius with no comparisons. He can come up with good melodies and great fast numbers in no time. But, it will be a lot nicer if he could apply the new technology wherever it applies to please the new generations too.
  He should look at it as an "Enhancement" rather than as a "replacement".
  I also feel that he is reluctant to go because I think he doesn't want to get branded as following ARR.
  
  
• From: aruLarasan (@ 134.124.160.10) on: Tue Oct 28 13:10:15 EST 1997
  
  Guys,
  
  I think your perception is wrong. IR has used keyboard in lots
  of songs but the beauty is he does it as madhan puts it to
  merugEtRify. I will try to collect some songs where he has used
  "artificial sounds" and post the list here later.
  One can complain
  only that IR doesn't pay much attention to advances in recording
  technology. But, hey, I personally believe that a well recorded LP
  is better than a well recorded cd.
  
  Later.
  
  
• From: TRV (@ tvenkata.qualcomm.com) on: Tue Oct 28 13:33:21 EST 1997
  
  I have to agree with Amar and Rex on this.
  True, Ilaiyaraja has used the keyboard, sampled
  sounds, effects etc. to good effect in some of
  his songs. But, if you see the pre Rahman era,
  Ilaiyaraja seemed more willing to use synth sounds
  -- like in Agninatchathram. But, very often,
  Ilaiyaraja just drifts back to the standard
  "Jhum, Jhum, Thak - Thak, Jhum, Jhum" tabla beats
  in the charanam of his songs. I like Ilaiyaraja,
  but sometimes he does follow a set pattern in his
  music. A lot of you might take offense to what
  I've said, but again, its just my opinion.
  Ilaiyaraja does seem very reluctant to embrace
  new technology and I think its our loss that he
  chooses not to!
  
  
• From: pg (@ igw3.merck.com) on: Tue Oct 28 15:29:50 EST 1997
  
  I have a name for this "Jhum, Jhum, Thak - Thak, Jhum, Jhum" type of IR songs : thagara dappa songs. Being an ardent IR-fan I cannot tolerate such junk from the maestro. I listened to an album called Thaalaattu - what trash ! Similarly I had the misfortune of listening to an IR -compilation of Mano's so-called hit songs ! My God ! What a torture !
  
  But of late IR is using synthesizers quite heavily - KadavuL, Chandralekha for example.
  
  But Synthesizers are only a tool - they are not a creative instrument. Why IR doesn't give good numbers is bcos - he is just bored with these junk films and he has no business accepting them just for money. When a film interests him, synth or no synth I am sure IR can do wonders. However I do agree he needs to catch up on recording technology. He himself admitted so in a recent interview and hopefully his new studio will resolve this problem.
  
  
• From: Guru (@ proxy.unicentre.edu.au) on: Tue Oct 28 20:31:13 EST 1997
  
  I think IR's choice of not relying too much on 'pre-prepared', off the shelf rhythm/ sound samples in his music is a more philosophical one rather than the reluctance/ egotistic protest to use such material. ARR uses these off-the shelf material so much in his songs that it lacks originality to a certain extent. You hear one rhythm today and the next day, Deva or Vidyasagar is using it (or ARR might use it in yet another song somewhere down the line). IR is a composer in the truest sense as he 'manufactures' his own sounds and that's his image. I can't say much about his cintemporaries, other thant that they just good equipment operators.
  
  
• From: Guru (@ proxy.unicentre.edu.au) on: Tue Oct 28 20:31:49 EST 1997
  
  I think IR's choice of not relying too much on 'pre-prepared', off the shelf rhythm/ sound samples in his music is a more philosophical one rather than the reluctance/ egotistic protest to use such material. ARR uses these off-the shelf material so much in his songs that it lacks originality to a certain extent. You hear one rhythm today and the next day, Deva or Vidyasagar is using it (or ARR might use it in yet another song somewhere down the line). IR is a composer in the truest sense as he 'manufactures' his own sounds and that's his image. I can't say much about his contemporaries, other than that they just good equipment operators.
  
  
• From: aruLarasan (@ psiphi.umsl.edu) on: Wed Oct 29 10:36:04 EST 1997
  
  I am also of the opinion that Guru has expressed above.
  
  
• From: Ravi (@ greed.cs.umass.edu) on: Wed Oct 29 11:47:59 EST 1997
  
  aruLarasan: ungaLukkum sErththu Guru athai rendu thadavai sollitaarA?
  
  
• From: Rex (@ wei-410-g06.circa.ufl.edu) on: Wed Oct 29 16:24:43 EST 1997
  
  PG:
  I beg to differ with your opinion regarding the branding of Jhum Thak ...style of songs of IR as thagaradappa songs.
  I think IR excels mainly in that, and it is his style to use the tabela like that. I don't think it is trash.
  Did you hear the recent hit of RAMAN ABDULLA in which the song Muthamizhe..Muthamizhe mutha chattam ....? It is based on the Jhum Thak..style only. Is it not pleasing to your ears?
  I heard my Prof. say once that there is no one capable of giving that stuff..the Jhum Thak style , except IR.
  
  
• From: pg (@ client-116-111.bellatlantic.net) on: Wed Oct 29 17:27:15 EST 1997
  
  To Rex :
  Yesterday I listened to 'aasaiyile paaththi katti naathu onu nattu vachen' from Enga Ooru Kaavlkaran. What a song ! A simple melody with a simple Jhum Thak beat. It is a beautiful song. kuthaala aruviyile kulichadhu pol irukkudhu adhai ketkum podhu !
  
  But there are many IR songs in recent times where the melody/tune is listless backed by these type of energyless tunes - for example Thaalaatu as I mentioned. It is these types of song that I hate and I hope IR would refrain from.
  
  
• From: r.ravi (@ m_33_67.pppmad.vsnl.net.in) on: Wed Nov 5 14:41:46 EST 1997
  
  GUYS Please remember that IR's composition is in real instruments amd not in synthesised ones. What difference would it make to listen BACH or BEETHOVEN in digital form, NOTHING. Its the violin that speaks not the recording. But guys like ARR and M.JACKSON have to depend heavily on non-music stuff to get their act together.Thats the making of a real musician(RAJA). Of course a better recording may add to the excitement but then for raja its not necessary.
  
  
• From: pg (@ client-116-13.bellatlantic.net) on: Thu Nov 6 08:20:25 EST 1997
  
  To r.ravi :
  That's not true. IR too uses quite a lot of synthesized instruments. In many of his songs the mrudangam sound is synthesized - it sounds much crisper than the actual real sound. It lacks in lower bass notes. Better recording is not an option nowadays. You may have a great song but if the recording is lousy nobody is going to listen to it. IR is not averse to technology - he was the first to introduce stereo recording, he was the first to use computers in composing (in Punnagai Mannan - ironically with help from ARR !). His recording quality is not bad - my cassttes of Poomani, Guru, Raman Abdullah, Pooncholai sound excellent. But the fact is ARR's songs are better recorded than IR's songs. Another fact I notice is that the absence of lower bass notes in IR's songs. I mean the real thump of drums - where is it ? Most of IR's songs have beats in the mid-frequency range.
  
  
• From: r.ravi (@ m_33_66.pppmad.vsnl.net.in) on: Thu Nov 6 16:16:01 EST 1997
  
  Mr.pg , i do agree with you but what i meant is that IR can compose a song in a click and he cant afford to sit down in the studio cutting and pasting the same music for months(like some people do , in fact its become some kinda fashion to drag the composition time).Ilayaraaja has always maintained that he has never been able to bring out all that was in his mind. For example some member from our forum said that IR has taken back the tapes from ROYAL PHIL
  ORCHESTRA just because he wants to redo it.So thats the nature of IR he just cant wait.Because the output is more than what time can afford.I am basically commenting upon the restless nature of IR and not that good recording is unnecessary.But mr.pg songs that are released these days have good recording by default( thanks to tech) but tell me you enjoyed IR's latest songs or the old rustic and classic songs where recording had taken the backseat.
  C'mon think for a while (no its not nostalgia).If ARR has distinguished himself as a good sound engineer then i am sorry to say that he no longer is a musician. A musician must be busy thinking about notes rather than computers and other electronic junk !!!. ARR can very well record IR's songs afterall IR was his GURU in teaching the nuances of film music isn't it
  
  
• From: kumar (@ 148.5.30.79) on: Fri Nov 7 00:23:32 EST 1997
  
  
  Its true that IR's songs doesnt
  have the sounds that many other
  musicians use. But havent you
  noticed many IRs songs have
  some unique sounds, beats etc,
  ex: pottri padadi penne...
  
  
• From: IR-rasigan (@ webgate4.mot.com) on: Fri Nov 7 01:56:49 EST 1997
  
  check out GURU (mallu) songs.The traditional 'yazh' was used in that movie.Check the song second song in side B (Aruna......kadalil udhayam agunnu....).the prelude is simply superb (probably
  a piece from the SYMPHONY!!!)
  
  
• From: r.ravi (@ m_33_66.pppmad.vsnl.net.in) on: Sat Nov 8 12:22:44 EST 1997
  
  Just back in the net after hearing "GURU" wow , what a classy work. Probably IR was just fresh from thoughts about his symphony. The recording quality, the orchestration( Have you people ever thought about the people working under IR ? Oh my ! they seem to be the most talented musicians otherwise how come such a orchestration), the songs, IF people are dreaming of IR making a comeback then please check this out.
  
  

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