Disappointing Sonu Nigam at London on Rafi songs
This article is written by Mr. K.S. Ramachandran
Sonu Nigam, much to my expectations, sang Rafi songs very normally. In fact, I would rate him much much lower than what he used to sing when he came in about 13years ago through Saregama. His voice has conspicuously deteriorated with his singing all types of medlee/Hindi pop songs and of that sort.
He was always a fast singer and now-a-days with his singing Hindi pop and medlees, he is even faster. His first song Yaad Na Jaaye from Dil Ek Mandir was like traveling in Nilgiri Express, while the original song by Rafi is slow deep expressive and extremely emotional. This was the general pattern in which Sonu has been singing these days with his impatient attitude to sing slow numbers very fast is very painful. “Muje Teri Mohabbat Ka” from Aap Aaye bahar Aaye” was again a deep number with full of rhythm and Sonu sang like a breeze..
Rafi songs are predominantly slow with rhythm and with so much of labour in his singing – be it depth, dard, range, voice modulation, expression, emotion and what have you.
I was however amazed with the orchestral excellence with the british national giving interlude music to the T. The 75 piece orchestra was par excellence and I could not find anything different from the original music by the composers. Indian orchestra bands doing shows should take this as an example to see how well the symphony was directed and delivered. Another wonderful experience – nothing like original and natural instruments – playing with a 30 team violin for the right interlude music was way way ahead of playing the same tunes today on a key board.
I thoroughly enjoyed the orchestra and was really a treat.
July 18th, 2011 at 9:36 am
Sir Veenth, Yesudas is great singer but I don’t think you have right information about the song where mohd rafi is not be able to sing it!! Because people like madan mohan said when you want to try something new you will not get better than mohd rafi voice,SPB said I feel that I am not a singer when I listen to mohd rafi off course that is his greatness,I remember long time ago one of kishore said the same thing that mohd rafi was not able to sing and music director changed it the song for mohd rag to be able to sing it but that kishore fan but he never sAid us which song was!Ravi music director said there no song where mohd rafi was not able to sing it but there are many songs where mohd rafi was not able to sing it, yes as opn said after the song was recoded in Manna da voice he wanted to rerecord to mohd rafi voice but said I will not be able to sing it better and same OPN said In a classic song for which Manna da is famous he tried 3 times but mohd rafi sang it first time, who said you that yesudas and SBP are not famous?both singer they feel that mohd rafi is there guru, there tree tape of singer 1 god gift as mohd rafi,2 good singer as lata ji,yesudas,SPB and many other 3 human made singer,in human made singer I mean he is not really got but media made him great…….if mohd rafi will not be able to sing a song that mean no one one this earth will be able to sing it, Naushand is one of music directors who made many songs where only mohd rafi was able to sing….
August 20th, 2011 at 10:52 pm
why are we discussing sonu? this forum is about mohd. rafi. while we appreciate sonu’s efforts to sing rafi’s songs, lets acknowledge that he is just another ordinary singer trying to ape rafi saab. so just leave it at that. there is no need to attach any importance of sonu nigam and others like him.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:44 am
mohammed rafi was a legend. he was the best singer produced by India till date.
who the hell is this sonu nigam????
why are we insulting rafi saab by comparing him with some joker?
August 29th, 2011 at 12:54 am
Boss, Sonu Nigam is the worst singer I have heard in my life. He has a groaning voice which is extremely irritating. He needs a lot of training on voice control and modulation.
September 8th, 2011 at 2:27 am
sonu nigam’s is an awful singer. even i can sing better than him.
September 8th, 2011 at 2:30 am
@vikas, why only you? anybody can sing better than sonu nigam. he is not a good singer like mohd. rafi.
September 11th, 2011 at 12:05 am
most people do not have good knowledge about music and singing. so they feel that sonu nigam is a good singer. those who have real knowledge about it would detest sonu nigam. he is a terrible singer.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
only if a voice is good, can you train it to sing better. sonu nigam’s voice is so horrible that it is untrainable.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:02 pm
sonu sucks!
September 12th, 2011 at 11:04 pm
hello guys,
mohd. rafi is a great singer. sonu nigam is disgusting singer.
September 13th, 2011 at 11:59 pm
sonu nigam is a bad singer. period.
September 15th, 2011 at 1:03 am
Sonu Nigam can learn how to sing if he undergoes training and practice.
September 18th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Music composers should impose a lifetime ban on bad singers like Sonu Nigam, Abhijeet, Shaan and Udit Narayan. Their bad voice quality and lack of singing ability is simply an assault on your ears.
They should rather approach good singers like Kumar Sanu, Adnan Sami, Suresh Wadkar, KK and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.
Even among female singers, they must ban awful singers like Alka Yagnik, Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal and Anushka Manchanda.
Where are the great singers Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Sadhana Sargam and Alisha Chinoy these days?
October 1st, 2011 at 2:37 pm
hi guys,
sonu nigam is the best singer with his singing style,range, emotion n expression. none can as him.
December 13th, 2011 at 11:48 pm
why are you all insulting sonu ? musicians need to be respected dear . don’t compare them … both are good … but it is true that no-one can be mohd. rafi because he was a god-gift …. and sonu has an artificial touch in his voice … but still he is not too bad .
December 14th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
Sir entirely agree with you Sonu has started singing in a hurried fashion. Earlier he used to sing normally but as of late he is singing in this fashion I too have noticed it . But he is not a bad singer I have heard him live on stage just 10 years back he was a very promising singer but suddenly this change is saddening
He considers Rafi saheb as his Guru and sang many songs of Rafi saheb under T series banner with title “Rafi ki Yaadein”. It has more than 15 volumes and when i had heard those songs I felt at least there is someone to carry forward Rafi saheb’s legacy. I feel reason for this change in singing style apart from what you stated singing all sorts of songs medley and Hindi pop. I feel it is because he experiments too much with his voice. He should sing in his normal voice I think that will be better for him also.
January 25th, 2012 at 9:45 pm
sonu nigam is tha best singer in this world