The population of India is currently 1.38 billion and rising. In the west, we are all very aware of this great and populous country with its rich and chequered history, its mysticism, its beauty, its joys and its sorrows. Yesterday, almost the entire Indian population shed collective tears over the death of Lata Mangeshkar at 92 from COVID19.
She was a very famous "playback singer". This term describes recording artistes whose singing is pre-recorded for use in films. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs on camera; the actual singer does not appear on the screen. Lata Mangeshkar's voice was familiar to generations of Indians for she sang countless songs for the ever expanding Bollywood film industry in at least thirty six Indian languages.
She received many awards in her long career. In 2001, in recognition of her contributions to the nation, she was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.
Visitors to this blog are nearly all westerners and I guess that most of us feel disconnected from the soundtracks of Bollywood. We don't understand the lyrics and the singing styles are strange to our ears. Nonetheless, I think it is good to pause for a little while and give Lata Mangeshkar a listen as she departs this life for the "seventh heaven" of Hinduism.
While I understood almost none of that, it really is quite beautiful and soothing to listen to.
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I agree with you Bob.
DeleteI knew nothing of Lata or her death, but I do understand that anyone who can look back at a career in music spanning so many decades must have had great influence on other musicians, and countless people will have memories associated with specific songs sung in her bright clear voice.
ReplyDeleteOne might say that hers was the true voice of India - ever since it gained its independence in 1947.
DeleteI wish that I could listen to it as I am sure that it must be beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSorry Jasmine... I said SORRY JASMINE!
DeleteLata Mangeshkar is universal in her appeal.
ReplyDeleteNehru revered her. James Cameron said Nehru was the greatest man he ever knew.
Cameron's memoir as a foreign correspondent, Point of Departure, is his masterpiece.
He married an Indian woman.
The former editor of The Financial Times, Lionel Barber, described his first visit to India:
*Never in my life have I seen so many people.*
Lionel Barber's diaries *The Powerful and the Damned* cover the rise of India and China, the financial meltdown of 2008, Silicon Valley, globalisation, Trump, Brexit, Apple, Facebook, Google and Big Tech .. and the new world order of the 21st century.
See him on YouTube.
Thanks for setting me more homework Mr Haggerty. It keeps me off the streets.
DeleteI think that what Librarian said is quite eloquent and true.
ReplyDeleteShe is a very thoughtful commenter.
DeleteI actually met her back in the 90's wen I worked for York University here in Toronto. We were starting an Indian Studies (as in India) programme and she agreed to appear at a couple of fundraising events. I'm barely 5'2" but I remember how tiny she was - but what a presence! We were not prepared.
ReplyDeleteWhen we tried to get her out of the lecture hall where she had done a Q&A we were swarmed - Security had me stand holding the elevator open as they tried to get her through the crowd - it was insane! We had to hire all kinds of extra security for the dinner - people were crying as they met her and going down on their knees to kiss the hem of her sari! She remained lovely and calm throughout.
That is one hell of a memory Margie. Thanks for sharing it here.
DeleteI like to listen to cultural music like that even if I don't understand it but up to a limit. I enjoy hearing a culture's music but after awhile, it unfortunately becomes elevator music since I don't understand what it being sang about.
ReplyDeleteIt is sometimes difficult to find translations.
DeleteInteresting! I hadn't heard of her death but she was certainly hard working -- according to IMDB she has 1,568 film credits as a musician! The piece from the video is beautiful. I'm sure it takes a lot of skill to sing like that.
ReplyDeleteThis kind of singing arose from traditions that are unfamiliar to the western ear.
DeleteAh merely want a new logo too.
ReplyDeleteSorry! That really is wonderful, although it may need several listenings for unaccustomed ears to get it, which is no different from William Walton or Miles Davis.
Were they "playback singers" too?
DeleteAgree with Librarian's comments.
ReplyDeleteNot someone I have ever heard of, but parts of this are quite haunting. Just the high notes sound jarring to my Western ears.
I am glad that you gave her an open-minded listen Carol.
DeleteI had heard of her death though I had not known of her. It is understandable the success she had and the respect in which she was held. She had a beautiful young angelic voice. Now, some will say, she is singing with the angels.
ReplyDeleteThey may say that but I am not sure that angels are part of Hindi belief systems.
DeleteWhat a beautiful, ethereal voice. Music is universal. RIP, Lata Mangeshkar.
ReplyDeleteThe more you listen to her, the more hypnotic her singing becomes.
DeleteI’m not a fan of this type of singing and music but it does have a hypnotic quality about it
ReplyDeleteNot many westerners are fans of such singing because it is not familiar to us.
DeleteIt's a haunting piece of music. Singing in a large number of languages is an achievement of it's own, she was quite a force!
ReplyDeleteSuch a familiar voice to so many millions of Indians and people of Indian descent.
DeleteMost interesting. Someone should start a blog, posting about very famous people in the world who westerners may never have heard of.
ReplyDeleteI nominate you Andrew!
DeleteSometimes these types of singers don't receive the recognition they deserve.
ReplyDeleteQuite nice to listen to although I had never heard of her. I do love to watch Bollywood style dancing in movies though and have heard similar in those sequences. Maybe it was Lata I heard, I'll never know. She had a wonderfully long career.
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