I fell in love with his voice at a very early age, and Vision was the album that started it all - back in 1991. Had heard a few of his ghazals, didnt know much about the albums, and went to a music shop and asked for one of his cassettes. I brought home Visions that day.
Have not parted with it ever since, even though the original cassette wore out, and got replaced with a CD.
The first track - ’’Jhoom ke jab rindon ne pilaa di’’- sets the trend. The wonderful music and the mellifluous voice wows you. Maine not so ’’chupke, chupke dua di’’ - for the wonder that is Jagjit Singh.
’’Kisne bheege hue baalon se yeh jhatka paani’’ reminds you of a lazy Sunday afternoon, of love, of playfulness.
’’Na keh saaqi bahar aane ke din hai’’ has great advice for young lovers.
’’Kuchh na kuch to zaroor hona hai ’’ sings of love hoping to be requited. The lover looks forward to meet his beloved, and expects sparks to fly.
One more beautiful number is ’’Aapko dekhkar dekhta reh gaya’’
And is not all fun and frolic. The maestro gets serious too, and lonely - in ’’Kabhi kabhi yun bhi humne apne jee ko behelaya hai’’ reminds you of loving and longing. One of my favourite lines from this album are in this song: ’’Unse bichde barson beete, lekin aaj na jaane kyon, aangan me hanste bachon ko - bekaran dhamkaya hai’’.
My favorite from this album, of course, is ’’Tere nisar saquiya, jitni piyun pilaye ja’’ It is wonderfully rendered, and conveys so much.
For anyone who loves ghazals, this is surely a must own. And must listen. Again, and again.