Sonu’s song: Rafi Saab is my God, an article from Hindustan Times Options

[Pradeep]

Music’s an addiction, my lifeline. Apart from doing riyaaz every day, I also listen to music extensively. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t just admire Mohammed Rafi, I also worship Mukesh, S.D. Burman and Kishore Kumar, musicians who’ve inspired me since I was young. Rafi saab, of course, has been the one big influence on my life. To me he is nothing less than God. I could keep listing my favourite Rafi numbers and you’d run out of space.

I used to emulate him since my childhood. I started off doing cover versions of his songs, and if I’m taken seriously as a singer it’s because of Rafi saab. He was always someone whose footsteps I wanted to follow.

The versatile Kishore Kumar has also inspired me. He had so much vitality, you could almost feel his vivacity trickle through his music. I’d have liked to have known and worked with him. The problem with our generation is that we’ve never worked with legends and I don’t know if any of us will ever come to be as respected as Kishore Kumar or Rafi saab.

I also listen to a lot of western music. ABBA, Boney M, Grateful Dead, Eagles, Pink Floyd are the kind of music I like. I usually listen to music when I am driving or when I am home alone and my wife has gone shopping. When I am partying, any kind of music will do. Given an opportunity, I’d like to work with Stevie Wonder, who has always inspired me.

I am moving to the US and doing an international album. Hopefully I’ll work with people I admire.

— As told to Somashukla Sinha Walunjkar

[Chitralekha]

Ab mujhe raat din tumhaara hi khayaal hai
Kya karoon pyaar mein deewano jaisa haal
Deewaano jaisa haaaaaal hai
Tumhara hi khayaaaal hai

Kya aawaaz hai kya adaayen hai.. Sonu is... I'd say hotttt!

Pradeep jeeeee, thanks for sharing this. I thought he was planning to buy huge piece of land away from city, buy some cows and sheeps and make a farm house and move there with family. Yeh babu pardesi kab se ho gaya? Hain?

[kcp]

These days I like the mukhda of his song : Sooraj Hua Maddhyam...wah wah kya gaana hai !!!

Yaaa...I also didn't quite understand his statement : moving to US !!!!

[Pradeep]

Best till date of Sonu I liked the song...

Mitter Peeyare Noon.... errr .. peheli peheli baar baliye dil gaya haar baliye.. rabba mainu pyaar hogaya.... haaaye... dil ka karaar khogaya... hayee dil ka karaar khogaya..

[ffew2002]

i say him real "Jaanasheen" of Rafi Sahab.he has verstaity.i have his interview book which was gifted to me by my cousion.
in that book,when he was asked,wat u will want to be in ur next birth?
he repleid,"i want to be Rafi Sahab only in my next birth.He Is god(Farishta) to me.i'm proud of being his fan & will copy him always.KIA HOUA TERA WADA was the first song of my life.i wish i were work with him."

[Pradeep]

Strange, here he seems to be a different person!

[ffew2002]

i also surprised to read.i read from his interview book.basically, i prefer Udit Narayan over Sonu.he has magical voice.i found him humble like Rafi Sahab.isn't it?
ffew.

[Pradeep]

Udit has a good voice as of now comparing to all the current gen of playback singers. Sonu is indeed more versatile than Udit. Sonu sounds great as long as he is the lower and middle scale. His voice generally loses the artificial charm that he injects into his vocals, in the upper scale.

I was shocked to listen to Sonu in the recent release from LOC - Kargil. Pyaar Bhara Geet is a duet by Shreya and Sonu. Shreya maintains her pace. Sonu sounds bad when he travels upper scale.. for a moment we need to wonder whether its really Sonu or some lame singer?

[Pradeep]

From the same movie, LOC - Kargil, Ek Saathi Aur Bhi Tha by Sonu is such a marvellous number sung with a great amount of tenderness.

[extenok]

[Pradeep]

Imran, in Waqt Ka Saaya from Filhaal I feel sonu is imitating late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. I don't like listening to Sonu if he sings in upper scale.. its kind of a screatching feeling. It would have been better if this song was given to Sukhvinder singh.

[Pradeep]

Here is the Pyaar Bhara Geet by Sonu and Shreya Ghoshal. Its a light classical titbit song. Shreya indeed has a great potential for anytype of song. I hope she releases some light classical ghazal album soon.

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This post has been edited by Pradeep: Sep 13 2004, 07:32 PM

[Pradeep]

I havent seen the picturization of any of these songs. May be from the song.. it seems they have won the battle.. but with this victory they have lost a soldier, a friend. Sonu has indeed managed to portray a mixed feeling in this song.

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[ffew2002]

Pradeep Ji,
i haven't listen to LOC's Music.i've Sonu's Audio Interview.In this interview,when he was asked to tell something about Loc's Music.He Said,"Is mein aik aisa gana hai jo meri zindagi ka buhut mushkil gana hai,jaise Rafi Sahab k liye "O Duniya Ke Rakhwale(Baiju Bawra)" Tha,ye mere liye aisa he hai,lakin Rafi Sahab to Rafi Sahab The aur woh buhut high pitch par buhut easily ga sakte the.Meine Jo Rafi Sahab k ganoon se sikha hai,woh sab us gane mein implement kiya hai.Aur aapko bhi sun-ne k baad andaza hoga."

Pradeep Ji,Thanx for uploading songs.Sun-ne k baad he pata chale ga k kahan tak sach kaha hai. Udit's voice remains same at low & high pitch,thats y i like him & i fell magical effects in his voice.
ffew.