ABC Wednesday - K is for ....

The song I have chosen this week is truly a beautiful song and beautifully sung.

It brings back many memories of the past.



Killing me softly - by Roberta Flack

Composed by Charles Fox and written by Norman Gimbel. this was originally sung by Lori Lieberman but became a number 1 hit for Roberta Flack in 1973.  And it was her version that I first heard and loved. This is a song that is unforgettable. So many songs have "killed us softly".

In 1999 Roberta Flack's version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and is ranked #360 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is also ranked #82 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of all Time.


Youtube - Killing me softly.


My Bollywood choice this week is

Kora Kagaz from the super hit movie Aradhana. Starring Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore and sung by the legendary Kishore Kumar.

This is one of the super hit romantic songs of Bollywood.



Youtube - Kora Kagaz


Wish you a day when the Universe is truly kind.

Check out some other K entries at ABC Wednesday


Warm Regards

ABC Wednesday - J is for ...

Just the song for the J prompt

One of my favourites and sung by none other than Billy Joel




Just The Way You Are

written and sung by Billy Joel was released in 1977. It reached number 1 on the US Billboard Easy Listening chart and won the 1978 Grammy Awards for Record of the year and Song of the year.


Youtube - Just the way you are



And my Bollywood choice is

Jis Gali Mein Tera

from the movie Kati Patang starring Asha Parekh and Rajesh Khanna and sung by the legendary Mukesh.

One of the most beautiful songs from the Bollywood films. They don't make songs like this anymore.


Youtube - Jis Gali Mein


Have a jolly jewel of a day and check out some other entries at ABC Wednesday


Warm Regards

ABC Wednesday - I is for ...

I thought a lot about this prompt as there are so many songs that I would like to post: Il Mondo,  I'll Never Find Another You,  Isa Lei, I'll Meet You Halfway and many others.

In the end I chose ....



Imagine - John Lennon

I'm actually recycling a post I did nearly a year ago.

"Imagine" was written and sung by John Lennon himself and released in 1971.

In 2004 "Rolling Stone" ranked it 3rd in it's list of "500 Greatest Songs of All Time"

The main theme of the song was Lennon's message of giving peace a chance - imagining a world that lives in peace.

I didn't quite understand or appreciate it as a child, but now it definitely features on my top 20.

I think it's a very spiritual song.

Youtube - Imagine



My Bollywood choice this week is ...

It's The Time To Disco - from the movie Kal Ho Na Ho (2003)

starring Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan, and Shahrukh Khan

The music is conducted by Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa. The lyrics are by Javed Akhtar. The soundtrack became one of the most successful music albums of the year.


Youtube - It's the time to disco


Check out some other entries at ABC Wednesday.

Wishing you a day when imagination runs wild or maybe it's the time to disco!  In other words, enjoy your day and have a blast.


Warm Regards

ABC Wednesday - H is for ....

How could I not post a song that features on the Rolling Stones list of the 500 greatest songs of all time?





How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees

Written and recorded by the Bee Gees in 1977 and used as part of the soundtrack for the film Saturday Night Fever. It is listed at No 20 on the Billboard's All Time Top 100.

It is one of the most covered songs (performed / recorded by several artists) in the Gibb catalogue of song.

And it's my favourite Bee Gees number.

Youtube - How deep is your love




My Bollywood song choice this week is

Humein Tumse Pyar Kitna (How much do I love you)

From the movie Kudrat starring Rajesh Khanna and Hema Malini.

The song is sung twice in the movie first by Parveen Sultana and then by Kishore Kumar.

The lyrics of the song are beautiful and written by Majrooh Sultanpuri with music by RD Burman.

Here is Kishore Kumar's version

Youtube - Hamein tumse pyar kitna


Have a happy day and check out some other H entries at ABC Wednesday


Warm Regards

ABC Wednesday - G is for ....

My choice for G is






Georgie Girl  by the Seekers.

Georgie Girl was written by Tom Springfield and Jim Dale and released in 1966 by the Seekers. It is the title song for the film of the same name.

It was a No1 Australian hit, No3 on the British charts and No2 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100.

I enjoyed listening to the Seekers and Georgie Girl was a kind of "me" song. Whenever I listen to this song it's like they're describing me!

It has a nice happy tune too.


Youtube - Georgie Girl



And my Bollywood choice this week is

Gata Rahe Mera Dil from the movie Guide starring Waheeda Rehman and Dev Anand.
Singers - Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar.

Waheeda Rehman is so graceful and so beautiful.

When I was little, we used to vacation each summer in Mahableshwar. And on one of those vacations, Dev Anand was at the same hotel as us - in fact in the room next door to us. He was very friendly and charming.



Youtube - Gata rahe mera dil


Have a grand day and check out some G entries at ABC Wednesday

ABC Wednesday - F is for ....

F for my bollywood choice was not an easy one to do.

I really had to think hard about this one.

But Michael Buble's Fever was an easy choice.



Fever - Michael Buble

Written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell. It was originally recorded by Little Willie John in 1956 and has been recorded by many artists including Elvis Presley, Ray Charles and Madonna.

But I like Michael Buble's version. So here it is.

 Youtube - Fever



My Bollywood choice this week is the title song from the movie  Fiza, Tu Fiza Hai

The music in this movie is by Anu Mallik, AR Rahaman, and Ranjit Barot, who incidentally was my classmate in school.

Some of the scenery in this song (at the start) looks like Wellington.  

Youtube - Tu Fiza Hai


Have a fabulous day and check out some other F entries at ABC Wednesday


Warm Regards

ABC Wednesday - E is for ...

Time to post a "dancy" number I think.

So here's one I enjoy.





Eso Beso (That Kiss) by Paul Anka

was written by Noel and Joe Sherman and released in 1962.  It was released as a single with Puppy Love in Germany and with  Give me back my heart in the UK.

 As a side note (and nothing to do with Eso Beso but ...) Puppy Love was not such a big hit for Paul Anka but became Donny Osmond's signature song.

But here is Eso Beso ...


Youtube - Eso Beso



My Bollywood choice this week is ...

Ek Pal Ka Jeena - from the movie Kaho na pyar hai. Starring Amisha Patel and Hrithik Roshan.

I chose this one because I like the song and because the movie was partly filmed in New Zealand.


Youtube - Ek pal ka jeena


Have a fun weekend and check out some other E entries at ABC Wednesday 


Warm Regards

ABC Wednesday - D is for ...

This was an easy one this week.

One of my favourite singers and one of my favourite songs.

How can you not like ...


Delilah by Tom Jones

Written by Barry Mason with music by Les Reed, it was recorded by Tom Jones in 1968.
It reached number 1 in many countries.


Youtube - Delilah


It's amazing what you find on youtube. Here is Delilah in Korean. Wonder what Tom Jones thinks of that.

Youtube - Delilah in Korean


Wonder why Bollywood hasn't come up with a Hindi version of Delilah


And here's Tom Jones with Pavarotti - an interesting combination.


Youtube - Delilah - Pavarotti and Tom Jones



And now onto Bollywood

Dost Dost Na Raha from the movie Sangam - a classic song and a classic movie.

Starring Raj Kapoor, Vyjayanthimala, and Rajendra Kumar, it was released in 1964 and was the second highest grossing film of the decade.

A sad but beautiful song.

 Youtube - Dost Dost Na Raha


Check out some other D entries at ABC Wednesday

Have a delightful day

Warm Regards

UBC 31 - ABC Wednesday - C is for ...

Post 31 - The last one - for the Ultimate Blogging Challenge is ABC Wednesday's C prompt

Okay so I cheat a little, it isn't Wednesday yet but in 5 hours it will be.

Although I'm doing a music round, C is also for challenge so I'll write a few lines about the Ultimate Blogging Challenge.

Yay, I made it, but it wasn't easy. There were days when inspiration and motivation just flew out the window. But I got there eventually.



And now onto the music ...

My choice this week is Careless Whisper

Written by George Michael and Andrew Ridgely, it was George Michael's first solo single and was released in 1984.

It reached number one in nearly 25 countries, selling about six million copies worldwide.

I love the saxophone riffs in the song.

It's always fun to watch a live performance so here's George Michael singing live in Rio.


Youtube - Careless Whisper


And my Bollywood choice this week is  Chal Chal Chal Mere Saathi
from the movie Haathi Mere Saathi released in 1971 starring Rajesh Khanna and Tanuja and sung by the legendary Kishore Kumar.

The movie and the song were both big hits with the kids.

This song always makes me giggle as in 1993 our mini van (our "khatara" - usually applies to an old car that's falling to pieces) wouldn't start in Heidelberg. So while the kids and their grandparents sat in the car, my cousins and I pushed it down the road to start it up. And to entertain ourselves, we sang this song. The first verse was very apt for us as well!


Youtube - Haathi Mere Saathi


Have a chipper day.


Warm Regards

 

UBC 22 - ABC Wednesday - B is for....

Post 22 for the Ultimate Blogging Challenge is ABC Wednesday's letter B


So B is for ...

Besame Mucho 

One of the most beautiful love songs ever written (in my view of course). 

The original version was written in Spanish in 1940 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velazquez and the English version was written by Sunny Skylar but it's not a direct translation of the Spanish version.

Both versions are beautiful.

I love Andrea Bocelli's version so here it is in Spanish

Youtube - Besame Mucho Spanish

And here is the English version by Dean Martin

Youtube - Besame Mucho English

B is also for Bollywood ...

A few days ago, Bollywood bid farewell to it's greatest superstar and king of romance Rajesh Khanna. For all of us who lived through that time it was a sad day. Check out my post on a tribute
to a great talent here. 
And as I showcased some Bollywood songs in that post, I thought I would also add a Bollywood twist to my ABC Wednesday posts as well.

So here is the first one ... 

Baghon Mein Bahar Hai

featuring Rajesh Khanna and Farida Jalal from the movie Aradhana my favourite Bollywood movie

At a time when it was fashionable to be very skinny and when chubby was considered extremely unattractive and often a source of mean ridicule, it was a breath of fresh air to have a not so skinny Farida Jalal star opposite a mega superstar. I thought she was very pretty and charming and she made us chubby girls feel beautiful.

Youtube - Baghon Mein Bahar Hai

Bindiya Chamkegi 

Featuring Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz from the movie Do Raaste

I was going to post only 1 song but I just couldn’t choose between these two. And as Mumtaz was my favourite Bollywood actress and Do Raaste one of my favourite movies, I had to share this one too.

Youtube - Bindiya Chamkegi


Check out some other B posts at ABC Wednesday and have a beautiful day.


Related Post: A Superstar of Bollywood Says Goodbye

Warm Regards

UBC 16 - Another Ending - A Superstar of Bollywood says goodbye

Post 16 for the Ultimate Blogging Challenge and another one for the prompt Endings from The Writers Post


This post will probably appeal more to my Indian readers, but I hope you can tolerate a radically different post from the stuff I normally write as this is about Bollywood and one of it's legendary stars.

Rajesh Khanna the mega superstar and king of romance of Bollywood died at the age of 69 on 18 July 2012. 

And though the man who was a phenomenon, a superstar, and unlikely ever to be surpassed (at least not in my lifetime), is no longer with us, he lives on in the hearts of many Indians and will forever be remembered as the greatest ever of the Bollywood screen. He was the only Bollywood star who has had 15 consecutive golden jubilee hit movies.


The following and adoration that he commanded was the stuff that stars dream about but never achieve.  He just drove the girls wild. I wasn't that crazy about the guy but I loved a lot of the movies he starred in and I loved his songs. 


My first Rajesh Khanna movie was Aradhana, a diamond jubilee hit for him. I was 9 years old when I saw it at the Roxy Cinema at Marine Lines in Bombay and it remains my favourite Bollywood movie. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen it.  Some of my other favourite movies that he starred in are Kati Patang, Amar Prem, Anand, Do Raaste.

But I guess the best way to showcase Bollywood and the legend that was, is via some videos of some of my favourite songs and some that trigger some memory.


Roop Tera Mastana (You are beautiful) from Aradhana with Sharmila Tagore, my absolute favourite Bollywood song. 
I believe this song was also voted the song of the century (though I don't have any documented clarification of that). It was the song that gave Kishor Kumar his first Filmfare award and established him as the leading playback singer in Bollywood.

Youtube - Roop Tera Mastana



Gunguna Rahe Hain - also from Aradhana with Sharmila Tagore

Just about every song in Aradhana is just great and it was a hard choice but I eventually chose this one as I love the tune of this song and it's such a happy song. You also get a glimpse of the beautiful Himalayas.


Youtube - Gunguna Rahe Hain



Chup Gaye Saare Nazare - from Do Raaste with Mumtaz, my favourite actress

If you have never seen a Bollywood movie ... yep this is Bollywood!

Youtube - Chup Gaye Nazare


Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana - Life is a beautiful journey - from Andaaz (197) with Hema Malini.

Rajesh Khanna only appeared for 5 minutes in this movie and made the song a hit - such was the RK mania.

I chose this song because you get to see my beautiful city of Mumbai and because my class saw this movie together as part of our Hindi subject "excursion" when we were in standard 7.


Youtube - Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana


Jis Gali Mein - from Kati Patang with Asha Parekh

Such a beautiful song, they don't make songs like this now and in my view the actors of today simply could not pull off a song like this.


Youtube - Jis Gali Mein



Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli - Life is a riddle - from Anand

I think this movie (in my opinion) was Rajesh Khanna's best acting performance ever. And tragically the end for him in reality came in the same way as in the movie.


Youtube - Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli

Zindagi kaisi hai paheli, kabhi to hasaye, kabhi ye rulaye
Life is a riddle, sometimes it makes you laugh and sometimes it makes you cry.

RIP Rajesh Khanna.



Warm Regards