Here goes my list of Top 20 Indi- pop songs and albums . Every one’s bashing them up so I thought why not have a list .
*[1] Album – Kandisa / Band – Indian Ocean / released by – Times Music / Lyrics & Music – traditional / Vocals – Asheem Chakrovarty / Album recommendation – 5/5*
*Ma rewa** - The song is based on traditional hymns from MP about the Narmada river, it’s original beauty & it’s planned destruction .This earthy, fluent song is sure to enthrall one and all . IO’s best till date.
*[2] Album & Band – Colonial Cousins / Released by – Magnasound/ Lyrics – Rajesh Johri / Music – Leslie / Vocals – Leslie & Hariharan / Album Recommendation – 5/5*
*Sa ne dha pa** - This song has many firsts to it’s credit . This one’s probably India’s first ‘trilungual’ song, first to enter the Billboard charts and the first to win the viewers choice award for the best foreign entry . Neverever one might have witnessed this perfect blend of Indian classical vocals and western beats. This song rocks!
*[3] Album – Sunoh / Released by – BMG crescendo / Vocals & Music – Lucky Ali / Album recommendation -5/5*
*O sanam** - The man who was refused a break by all the music companies did exactly what no one expected him to do . The song hooked the nation & the album went on to break many records. Trademark vocals & music, perfect looks, philosophical lyrics, cool video set in hot deserts . This one’s a song for all times.
*[4] Album – Boondein / Band – Silk Route / released by – BMG crescendo / Lyrics – Prasoon pandey /Music – Band Silk route / Vocals – Mohit / Album recommendation – 5/5*
*Dooba-dooba** - And the first thing that comes to your mind is the path breaking under water video and then it dawns upon you that it was a great song . The guys from Himachal rocked the music world with their debut.
*[5] Album – Rising from the east / Released by – Pan/Sony music / Music – Bally sagoo / lyrics & vocals – unknown / Album recommendation – 4/5*
*Tum bin jiya udaas** - Lately bally Sagoo is buzy churning indifferent stuff, check this out and you won’t believe he’s the same guy . Exceptional music arrangement, haunting music well complimented by a very unusual video this song is a winner all the way .
*[6] Album – Vande Mataram / Released by – Sony Music / Music & Vocals – A.R.Rehman /Lyrics – Mehboob / Album Recommendation – 4.5/5*
*Vande mataram** - The only question I want to ask is, have I done a crime by including this song in the ‘pop’ category? This song was simply outlandish!
*[7] Album – Piya Basanti / Released by – Sony music / Music – Sandesh Sandilya / Vocals – Sultan Ali Khan & Chitra / Album recommendation – 4/5*
*Piya Basanti** - Long live melody . Thank god they went for a’different’ voice for this song.This song simply transports you to a different world .
*[8] Album – Mrityunjaya / Released by – Kosmic music / Band – Agni / Lyrics – Sanjay Mukhrejee / Music – Band Agni / Album recommendation – 4/5*
*Mrityunjaya** - My sanity never seldom permits me to go for a rock number, atleast never for an Indi-rock . Screaming & forced use of electronic guitars apart the band has some wonderful music to offer . The song show it’s utter contempt for death, which it says can never end an story .
*[9] Album – Pal / Released by – Sony music / Music – Leslie / Lyrics – Rajesh Johri / Vocals – KK / Album recommendation – 2/5*
*Pal** - Can’t agree more with the lyrics . The jingle-singer KK marked his debut by Pal . The song has some great music & lyrics . The video was cool . Listen to this ‘melancholic’ song and remember those days.
~kal rahe ya naa rahein yaad aayenge wo paal~* Can’t agree more.
*[10] Album – Aks / Released by – Sony music / Music & Vocals – Lucky Ali / Album recommendation – 5/5*
*Sandesh** - You can’t find fault with his vocals, his philosophy or his music . And this song tells you – all’s well with the world, keep moving .
sawera chale, jaise milne aa gaye muhjse sab dost mere
*[11] Album – Pehchan / Released by – BMG crescendo / Band – Silk Route / Music & lyrics – Band Silk Route / Vocals – Mohit / Album recommendation – 4.5/5*
*Phir wahin** - Their second album sank without any trace, wonder what went wrong . trust me it was equally good . The song has a wonderful story to tell, easily one of my fav videos . Easy going lyrics and vocals . Check it out, you will surely grab your copy if you havn’t yet.
tere dastaan, mere dastaan, hum toh reh gaye, phir wahin
*[12] Album – Phir Dhoom / Released by – Archies music / Band – Euphoria / Lyrics & music – DJ & Palash / Vocals – Palesh sen / Album recommendation – 4/5*
*mai re** - Unlike other pop songs Euphoria always has some meaningful lyrics to offer . Excellent vocals and fitting video . This one’s undoubtedly Euphoria’s best .
*[13] Album & band – Partners in Rhyme / released by – Sony music / Music, lyrics and vocals – Band PiR / Album recommendation – 2/5*
*Chandni raatein**This song is everyone’s fav . Excellent music & vocals, well complimented by excellent music arrangement . Though the video was quite mediocre the song remains fresh in our memories . A song for all times .
*[14] Album – Tum yaad aaye / Released by – Plus music / Lyrics – Javed Akhtar / Music – Raju Singh / Vocals – Hariharan & Alka yagnik / Album recommendation – 3.75/5*
*Tum yaad aaye** - One melodious love song for you . A feel good number . They came out with their second album recently which was just an average stuff .
*[15] Album – Breathless / Released by – HMV / Music & vocals – Shanker mahadeven / Lyrics – Javed Akhtar / Album recommendation – 1.5/5*
*Breathless** - The song left us gasping for breathe . So what if it was not sung in one breathe, it was exquisitely edited . This was experimentation at it’s best . Well supported by racy video(by Farhan Akhtar, DCH fame) and classy lyrics . With it also check Brethless II, equally good .
*[16] Album – Jhini / released by – Kosmic music / Band – Indian Ocean / Lyrics – Sanjeev sharma / Vocals – Asheem & Amit / Album recommendation – 4.5/5*
*Desh mera** - I don’t know what went wrong with their second album as well! The earthiness of Indian folk & the fluidity of jazz merge in an expanse of passion & innovation . That’s IO for you .
~India, sir, ye cheez dhuraandhar/jeeb daalidaar dil hai samundar~
.continued in the comment section .