It's always interesting to see the ways in which western musical styles manifest themselves in non-western countries. The first volume of The Bombay Connection explored Hindi funk music featured in Bollywood films of the 70's and 80's, and it's an understatement to say that the results were unique. They were also a breath of fresh air to a genre that has not seen much innovation since...well, the 70's and 80's. One needed to look no further than the world's second most populous country for fresh ideas in funk music.
In volume two of The Bombay Connection -- Bombshell Baby of Bombay -- expert crate digger Edo Bouman has again collected an esoteric mix of Bollywood music, this time focusing on swing and rock and roll music created in and around the 1960's. As with volume one, western listeners shouldn't expect anything completely familiar sounding. The sound is laced with various elements of traditional song and instrumentation that have been a staple of Bollywood film music since the advent of "talkies", but it's no less energetic than its western complement.
The most accessible song of this collection is given to us by Mohammed Rafi -- "the voice of Indian rock n' roll". "Jan Pahechan Ho" has already been brought to the attention of western listeners through the movie Ghost World, which is why it's better known to some as "the song that Thora Birch's character was rocking out to during the opening credits". With a memorable surf riff and an absolutely killer brass section, it's easy to see not only why it was chosen to open the film, but also why it's included on this compilation. Rather than give more of the same, Bouman goes for variety. "Ek Bottle Hogal Mein", Kishore Kumar's drunken ode to booze, incorporates a mildly middle eastern feel to the mix, while Asha Bhosle's "Sambhalo Sambhalo Apna Dil" brings a bit of a Latin flavor.
There's something about Bollywood movie theme songs that are just more fun and appealing than those of Hollywood. Perhaps it's nothing more than the fact that the western-style compositions are familiar to me and their Hindi counterparts are not. Either way, it makes me want to familiarize myself with the films more so than the five minute "Indian Superman" clip I've seen on Youtube.
Score: 8/10
"Jan Pahechan Ho" by Mohammed Rafi (composed by Shankar-Jaikishan)
"Pretty Pretty Priya" by Anand Prayag & Chorus (composed by Kalyanji-Anandji)
Monday, March 30, 2009
Bombshell Baby of Bombay: Bombay Connection Vol. 2 (2006)
Monday, September 22, 2008
Various Artists - The Bombay Connection, Vol. 1 (2006)
The Bombay Connection Volume 1: Funk from Bollywood Action Thrillers 1977 - 1984 (2006)
I had a feeling that this album was going to be great before I even heard it. Why? Mainly because of the word "Bollywood". I'm convinced that you can take pretty much anything, make a Bollywood version of it, and it will automatically make that thing more ridiculously awesome than it previously had been, or that it ever could have been:
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video? Pretty great. Bollywood "Thriller"? Epic!
Superman? America's most recognized superhero. Bollywood Superman? American Superman + dance moves (+ Spiderwoman??) = no comparison.
Funk music? I'm down. Bollywood funk music? Amazing.
James Brown and Sly Stone might have created and innovated the funk music scene, but even they probably couldn't have imagined how India would've interpreted it. The Bombay Connection is a compilation of songs from Bollywood action movies that gives us the answer. Composed by some of Bollywood's most famous musicians, including R.D. Burman and sibling duo Kalyanji & Anandji, these songs combine elements of funk, exotica, jazz, and traditional Indian performance to create some of the strangest music in my collection.
Just try to get through this album without laughing. It can't happen, unless you just have no sense of humor whatsoever. R.D. Burman's "Music" is the worst (best?) offender, starting off modestly enough with hypnotically rapid, fluctuating guitar picks and establishing a frame drum-driven funk rhythm before introducing a hilarious exchange between a mother and her whiny son, who doesn't want to be bothered. It gets even better when the chorus ("JOHN IS A BIG BOY. LONG LIVE JOHN!") starts. It's absolutely bizarre and incredibly funny, even after repeated listens.
Even though my interest in The Bombay Connection had more to do with it's novelty value, there really is great music to be found on here. And it's the quality of the music that will keep bringing you back. Can't wait to get my hands on volume two.
Score: 8/10
"Music" (RD Burman)
"Yeh Dhuaan" (Laxmikant Pyarelal and Asha Bholse)
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