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MUSICBOX: Beyond boundaries
In Sarhadein — Music Beyond Boundaries, legendary singers and musicians from both sides of the Indo-Pak border come together and express their emotions fuelled by the rending asunder of the subcontinent. The album features names like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, Jagjit Singh, Javed Akhtar, Gulzar, Mehdi Hassan and A. R. Rehman. The phrase ‘An in-depth emotional experience’ can best summarize this compilation. All the artists seem to truly be in their element and deliver their pieces in a style that is exclusive and genuine.
The album starts off with an anecdote narrated by Gulzar, based on a dream in which he sees friends from across the border coming to meet him. Jagjit Singh’s wonderfully rendered ghazal Eik Purana Mausam Lauta is a continuation of this narration. In this moving piece he reminisces about the bygone days. Abida Parveen makes a very impressive appearance in this album, and her numbers are one of the main highlights of the record. She renders Oh Des Say Aanay Walay Bataa in her unique style and her voice strikes an emotional chord as soon as she starts singing. Here she inquires about the norms of the city which she has left. She is concerned about both the Masjid and the Mandir equally to show that both Hindus and Muslims should respect each other’s values. Abida also expresses herself in Kith-i-Mehr Ali and Sade Waere.
The late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan combines his vocals with those of the acclaimed Indian musician A. R. Rehman in Dosti. The chorus, sung by a group of children, delivers the message of peace. Nusrat Fateh Ali, who is remembered for the originality of his voice, sheds light on the grievances that have engulfed the people of the world in Is Dunya Keh Gham. He has used the magic of his voice quite effectively to etch a vivid picture of a world full of sadness. Mehdi Hassan also sings a sad number Dil Jo Rota Hai, which gels well with the rest of the songs in the album. Well-known Indian poet Javed Akhtar uses the charm of his sublime poetry to render a soliloquy Sach Yeh Hai where, again, the emphasis is on sadness.
In a nutshell, Sarhadein is full of passion and is a compilation worth treasuring.—-Azeem Haider
A material life
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It’s slightly scary when you think it’s been almost 20 years since Madonna first became famous in 1984. While other artists have come and gone and had their 15 minutes of fame, this diva is still making headlines. Mega artists like Britney Spears and Faith Hill cite the Material Girl as their inspiration and Spears even studies Madonna’s most recent concerts before planning her own. Madonna of Like a Virgin might inspire modern artists, but it’s her current work that excites, challenges and motivates them. Her latest album American Life has the diva’s signature daring attitude and innovative envelope-pushing sounds. While it falls far short of its predecessors (Holiday through Ray of Light) it’s not nearly as bad as many have labelled it.First single and title track American Life is a rather bold and brutally honest look at the state of the world, as well as a strong commentary on America’s decision to engage in a war with Iraq. When the original video (featuring dying babies and innocent civilians) was scrapped due to the political and media backlash, the simplistic video Madonna chose to replace it with – the singer standing in patriotic gear in front of a flag while singing and rapping criticism of her nation’s choices – unfortunately loses much of the intended effect. The weakest part of the song, however, is the horrible rap. It’s even worse than her acting performance in Swept Away. Still, the beat has potential and the song merits a second listen.
Hollywood, on the other hand, is where the disc begins to get interesting. It’s a sharp, stinging attack on tinseltown, set to the background of a funky beat and a catchy tune. While many have rushed to praise this track, much in the manner they did for the overrated Music, it is disappointing in a way. While it is the strongest single on the disc, the song is not very memorable. It’s unfortunate when the best song on a Madonna CD is forgettable. The rest of the album, including the emotion-packed Nothing Fails is equally ponderous.
Nonetheless, one doesn’t doubt for a second that the diva will bounce back with something new and exciting on her next disc. Either way, the world will be listening.—-T. U. Dawood
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