Saieen Zahoor’s Rabba Ho
(Ost Tere Liye)
The sufi tradition continues strongly, heavily influenced by Saieen Akhtar of yesteryear. The mentionable newer sufi experience is Saieen Zahoor’s latest number Rabba Ho, presented for the soundtrack of the drama serial Tere Liye. Whatever perspective we hear this sufi song from it comes across as an excellent serving of a musical meal in all its musical splendour. Not one soul who has heard this track came across not liking it. Some things are likable universally. Rabba Ho is such a track. Listenable and likeable by any age group.
The song begins with string sounds and the vocals of Saieen Zahoor. The rustic sound of Zahoor’s voice then gets the dressing of a beautifully pumped bass sound till the drums reveal themselves to the crescendo of every stanza. A seriously good number Rabba Ho has all the right mixes and sounds to it.
Basically the producer and Saieen Zahoor have used the music as a pure accompaniment to Zahoor’s voice. The only oddity is the non-blending sound of the solo on the guitar. But that is mostly due to the incorrect editing of the sound. So far so good, the song takes Zahoor’s voice as a solo and then begins the true crescendo of the track with Saieen Zahoor’s strains and alaaps harmonising in the most effortless and creatively beautiful manner. At this particular point the track reflects its true spiritual and devotional nature. Hightened by Saieen Zahoor’s high-scaled alaaps (don’t mistake for Saieen Akhtar’s higher scales) the songs ends in a near perfect finale.
Saieen Zahoor does not need an introduction as such. He has been popularised in the sufi genre by media in an exemplary fashion. This is not without any due credit. Zahoor’s rustic and searing vocals have the longing of devotion and the devotion of longing – put anyway – in it. After we are once through with Rabba Ho, we inevitably want to run it again as the want remains. This is a unique element to any music piece. Where the singer/producer has to make sure that it, far from drags, rather is left a little just before the full flavour sets in. There, the music sense of every person wants to hear a bit more of it. Get enough of Rabba Ho, but it isn’t till you can actually sing along with it. So there you go, off to buy, download burn and transfer this song to your carry around music. Another great listen and a collectible.
While the play Tere Liye seems to be gripping the song nevertheless makes it even more interesting. The blend of a programme and song always makes it a good experience for the listener/viewer.
Grammy Organisers Want Rihanna For 2011
Grammy Awards organisers have dismissed suggestions Rihanna was denied a chance to perform at this year's 2010 show because she pulled out of the 2009 event at the last minute.
The singer was due to sing at the prestigious ceremony last year but scrapped her appearance following a vicious fight with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown, which left her battered and bruised. Rihanna recently confirmed she won't be taking to the stage at the 2010 event, and hinted producers deliberately shunned her because of last year's furore. She said: "We messed their show up pretty bad last year. They might be a little mad at me."
But Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich insists there are no hard feelings towards the Umbrella hitmaker.
He told media: "How can you be mad at Rihanna? Rihanna is a lovely person. No, we're not mad at her."
And Ehrlich envisions Rihanna will be the star of the 2011 ceremony: "We actually talked about possibly doing something this year (but) I think probably next year will be Rihanna's year."
Racy Cheryl
No sooner has the most recent series of the X Factor finished and British pop princess Cheryl Cole is throwing herself in to her next project.
It was announced that the Girls Aloud star is preparing to embark on her first ever solo tour.
She will be appearing as a guest act for the Black Eyed Peas on the UK leg of their world tour, performing tracks from her 3 Words album.
The fact that the 27-year-old chose to star alongside the chart-topping US group will not come as a surprise to her fans.
Black Eyed Peas member Will.i.am produced her hit record, which earned her both the title of biggest selling UK artist of last year and a Brit nomination for her debut single, Fight For This Love.
And according to reports Cheryl is really going for it when she gets on stage in May, with an array of revealing outfits. "Cheryl's costumes on tour will be all about slashed-to-the-thigh numbers, plunging corsets, racy leather and PVC outfits and plenty of bling."
"Girls will be jealous and guys will be drooling. It will be fantastic sexy, but classy." The UK leg of the Black Eyed Peas tour kicks off in London on May 5 and will also visit Manchester and Birmingham.
The Internet Ruined Proposal
Katy Perry has blamed the internet for ruining Russell Brand's New Year's Eve proposal - because she knew the funnyman was preparing to pop the question.
The pair became engaged on a romantic trip to India over the holidays, with the British comic asking the singer to marry him during a moonlit outing on 31 December 2009.
But Perry admits the proposal wasn't a surprise, because she read about her lover's plans online. She told media that she still finds out about herself sometimes on various search engines.
