Re-analysis of IR post 2000
I would like IR "fans" to describe what they meant lost hope on IR after the 2000s. Exactly what are the albums that caused you to lose hope, lets see if it is viable or just you guys not liking it personally. This is just to see whether fans really evaluate IR's music properly before saying such stuff. :exactly:
Where has the rhytm gone ?
Recently, I came across a IR hits CD in my stash and played it in my car with the bass and treble turned all the way up. I got a very vague feeling of deja vu. Pardon the affront, if you take it that way, it all sounded like Rahman songs. And these songs are iconic hits of IR. These songs were infectiously rhythmic and groovy. THe rhtymic texture is maintained throughtout the pallavi/charanam, if not in the interlude itself.
Below is the list of songs and what I feel is the major rhythm component -
1. Germaniyin - bass line
2. kaadhal oviyam - bass line
3. puththam pudhu kaalai - loop/groove (notice the chalangai metronome)
4. meen kodi thEril - bass (?) + loop
5. andhi mazhai - bass
6. iLamai enum poongARRu - bass
7. oru thanga radhathil - bass
8. raamanin mOhanam - bass
9. idhu oru pon maalai pozhudu - bass
10. poongathavE thaazh thiravaai - drum loop (congos+mridhangam)
IR aficianados might say, it is not right to look at a song only from the rhythm perspective, that these songs have good chords, interludes, harmonies and possibly even strict adherence to one single rAgam. But it is undeniable that these songs are catchy and groovy and will be a total hit even today.
So somewhere along these years, the bass guitar, tambourine and other such rhythm instruments have taken a backseat in IR's songs. I dont think they all vanished overnight or just after 2000. I would like to see a timeline of the kind of songs and rationalize it to a conscious if not unconscious shift into a pattern that fell out of favor with the masses.