When Shah Rukh Khan danced atop a train carriage in Dil Se to Chal Chhaiyaan Chhaiyaan, Sukhwinder Singh, the voice behind the song, became an overnight sensation. Like the train in the song, Singh kept up the momentum of his singing career following up with chartbusters such as Oscar-winner Jai Ho, Marjaani, Layi Vi Na Gayi, Dard-e-disco, Dil Dance Maare Re and Hud Hud Dabangg Dabangg.
“I always choose celebratory songs, rather than soulful or sad ones,” Singh told tabloid! ahead of his performance at the Taal concert this weekend at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Also in the line-up is award-winning Bollywood singer Alka Yagnik. “I love all the songs I get to sing. In fact I love not just my songs but those sung beautifully by other singers too.” He opened up on the business of Bollywood songs for tabloid!
Choice of songs…
The first thing to consider is the song situation, which should be aligned to the story. If you try to force a song into a situation — however good the music and lyrics may be — it spoils the storyline and is totally unnecessary. So that’s the first instruction the music director receives from the film director and then the music director decides who should sing the song. In the industry, people have often told me that I’m everyone’s favourite and I respect and love all of them. We are all friends and this is what creates a very comfortable work environment.
What makes a hit song…
You have to understand that when we go shopping, whether for vegetables or clothes or anything else, we want to get stuff which is of good quality and the right price. The same thing applies to the film industry. When you go to the market, you will find a variety to choose from but only 10 per cent will sell, the rest will rot. Recently in the industry we’ve got some new singers who cannot stop at anything to get work. But that’s their style of working. However the basis for a hit song is only three things: One, lyrics that have been written truly from the heart. We all know every song cannot be Gulzar’s or Anand Bakshi’s, but there have been hit songs by other writers too. Two, the composition has to be genuine, really simple and sweet. Lastly, the singer has to be really good because he is the final step in the process and brings the music and words to life. If the singer is not good, even if the music and lyrics are great, it will not come through. But such special people are far and few between, take the work of A.R. Rahman or Vishal Bharadwaj where the lyrics, music and singing come together perfectly.
Music evolution…
I think people are now more dependent on technique. The best singer nowadays is an auto-tune device that converts the voice of people singing totally out of tune into a melodious one. And everyone seems to own one. Singers hand it in to the recordist when they reach the studio and don’t want to record with people around them.
New talent…
For me Udit Narayan is still the best. He sounds so young. It is a blessing for any singer that even if he is 80 years old, he can still sing for an 18-year-old. Lata Mangeshkar sang Didi tera devar deewana in Hum Aapke Hain Koun. She was over 70 but the structure of her voice was so young. And Udit Narayan is way senior to me, yet I consider him better than many younger singers. So it’s not a matter of what generation you are from, what’s important is how good your voice is and how you are singing. As I’ve already said, today’s talent is dependent on the auto-tuner but there may be one or two who can succeed despite this. I own a recording studio and it’s not like I haven’t used this device but then I stopped because if the use of this isn’t stopped completely, at least for the next 30-35 years no good singer will be able to really emerge.
Reality talent shows…
I’ve done one — Voice of India. These are excellent platforms but I feel they are more tamasha (farce) than showcasing of talent. Some of the contestants sing beautifully but then the format changes to a farce again.
Understanding music…
Change will happen of course, that’s part of life. What’s important is we have to adapt and understand what change we want. What one should not forget is you may sing any type of song — item, romantic, whatever — but, especially in Bollywood, an emotional touch is necessary for it. Emotion is always bigger than change. This was true a thousand years ago and is the same today. And to have emotion you should not have stress, exertion and insecurity. What you need to have is a passion for music. You need to listen only then you can understand and do. You need to have an understanding of poetry, both film and non-film. This helps bring a vision to you then you can sing with that in mind and you are sure to feel satisfied and be appreciated.
Journey in Bollywood from Chhaiyan Chhaiyan to Piya Milenge…
I’ve had an excellent time. I’m still enjoying it. You get to learn a lot. Learning is so interesting, meeting new people is interesting. It’s like when you are thirsty and you are given a drink.
The show…
Taal is a new concept. We have created a look that will remind you of an opera. We’ve combined Bollywood and desi (indigenous) opera. This concept has been very well received in India and not just in the big cities. Internationally this is our first show. Alka Yagnik will be performing in the first half and I shall carry it to the finale thereafter. She’s herself a superstar with excellent songs. I’m getting a really good vibe with this show, for this show, as it is a new and more energetic concept as compared to my previous ones, with a mix of my new songs, including Raanjhanaa, Policegiri, Zanjeer and Yamla Pagla Deewana, and old hits.
Box: Don’t miss it
Taal with Sukhwinder Singh and Alka Yagnik live in concert
Venue: Shaikh Rashid Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre
Time: Friday, June 14, from 9pm (doors open 6.30pm)
Call: 050-2254010/04-4337607
Box: Taking care of the voice…
One should not worry because if one does then there’s no cure. The only thing that you need to practise apart from rehearsing your music is that if you eat anything oily or deep fried, make sure you have warm water after eating. As far as I’m concerned I eat ice too. But I won’t advise this to others because it may work for me but not for anyone else.
What a singer needs to be careful is not to go anywhere where painting is going on. But if you still can’t avoid it, say if it’s in your home, sip on soda regularly. Else you can have sour, bitter, cold, red, green or yellow — everything is fine.
What’s really important is as a singer you cannot just imagine and you’ll become Gulam Ali. You have to work towards it. You need to rehearse regularly, without it you cannot succeed, however blessed you may be.
