I chose Bole Chudiyan, sung by K3G featuring Amitabh, Shah Rukh, Kajol, Kareena, Hrithik, Udit Narayan, and Karan Johar. The song is sung in Hindu and has more than 77 million views on Youtube. Bole Chudiyan is one of the iconic songs, and many people love its dance worldwide ( Sony Music India, 2022). This song impressed me because the classical mixes have been mixed with folk sounds from the traditions of India and current interpretations, resulting in a beautiful, unique bubblegum pop sound. The slower composition of the song grabs the listeners’ attention, heart, and soul. The tempo rises unpredictably, making it even sweeter. The classical Hook, Line, and Sinker analogy can be used to explain how good the song is.
The Hook: The song begins with a slow and simple tune. Then The Line comes when the song picks the tempo, the melody becomes more recognizable, and the dancers start moving. The listener can see the foot tapping and fast-paced beats as the dancers adapt to the rhythm. Additionally, there are sharp transitions of beats from slow to fast, then back and forth. The cycle proceeds in an unpredictable fashion. The dancers and actors flow with a rhythm that is eye-catching and entertaining. The Sinker: is the last part of the song; the listener can hear a slowing tempo and apparent disappearance of beats. The sharp transitions in this song make the listener want more. The catchphrases, for example, “Leja Leja” in this song, stick around the head for quite some time. The phrases, even if the listener does not understand Hindu, are like earworms, very difficult to fail to notice.
Regarding Brendolyn’s discussion post. First, the reviewer should start with a general music introduction when writing a review or discussing a song. The introduction should include the title, the artist, and probably the studio that produced it (British council,2023). Brendolyn has not introduced any specific Bollywood song but reviewed a generalized one. Furthermore, she has yet to credit the artist or music studio that produced the song she is referring to. An introduction tells the reader what song is being reviewed or discussed. A discussion that misses the introduction is blind and doesn’t serve the reader well.
Secondly, after introducing the song, the reviewer should give detailed observations and feelings about the melody, beats, and tempo. The reviewer should use specific music vocabulary (British council,2023). Brendolyn provides anecdotal observation but doesn’t give particular music terms. For instance, she says, “the singing was something I have never heard before,” instead of describing how the song sounded. Furthermore, she explains the song rather than reviews it; for instance, she writes, “Throughout the music video, you can see the progression between the ‘couples’ love. That is something American music videos do not have.” A reviewer needs to use vocabulary like lyrics, catchy melodies, and fast-paced beats to give an opinion on a specific piece of music or part of the song.
The reviewer can also add the song’s context, like linking the musician’s life to the music, the musician’s inspirations, and the socio-political context where relevant. Bredolyn gives context but rather just in-passing. She recognizes the musicians in the song are couples. She also associates the cheetah in the music with India; this needs to be corrected because the cheetah is found in many parts of the world, not just in India. The reviewer is required to make the review interesting and relevant to the reader and avoid being biased but rather be objective in the analysis of the song. Brendolyn is biased in her review because she criticizes American songs instead of focusing on the music she has chosen to discuss. Drawing comparisons to other arts is not recommended. Brendolyns review only addresses some aspects of what a good review should look like.
References
British Council. (2023, March 20). A music review. LearnEnglish. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/writing/c1-writing/music-review#:~:text=Include%20the%20title%2C%20artist%2C%20and,also%20important%20to%20give%20context.
Sony Music India. (2022, May 24). Bole Chudiyan | K3G | Amitabh, Shah Rukh, Kajol, Kareena, Hrithik | Udit Narayan | Karan Johar | 4K. YouTube. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b54oABKKV7E
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