While listening to some songs from 40's, 50's and 60's, I felt that the quality of today's lyrics has gone down compared to old HFM.

Please give your opinion for the possible reasons for this..


Thanks

Parag

Now a days, mostly the tunes are set first and them songs are written to fit the tune. Exception to this case is SDB's time, when we had very good lyricists who could write good poems even to fit a tune.

Compared to MDs and singers, less recognition and money for lyricists. Therefore, don't have good lyricists. Exception is Gulzar who is also a very good film maker.

Hari Ram

(1) English is replacing Hindi / Urdu. Upcoming generations don't even bother to learn to read Hindi. Hindi / Urdu are superior medium for lyrics IMO.

(2) Music isn't as important to current masses as it was 60 years ago. Today there are so many more options of entertainment whereas in the 50s music was the soul of the country. Less dedication / artistic care is put into today's music.

(3) Poor quality films don't require quality lyrics. Who pays attention to today's lyrics anyway? Most of the time I can't even understand the words that are being said in your typical MTV style videos in the middle of a movie. Trash movies today require trash music. Does the movie "Paap" need a song like Main Kahin Kavi Na Banjao?

(4) Shortage of quality MDs. Today's tunes are simply not suited for poetry / good lyrics. Can you put poetry in the song "Aashiq Banaya" where the entire song is just those two words being repeated over and over? Besides, without talented MDs like OP Nayyar - there's a lack of leadership to bring lyricists and singers together.

(5) We go back to #1 - the globalized, English speaking audiences have fallen for the MTV junk. Can't blame the listeners - they were born with this being presented to them so they adopted. This morning I was listening to Dekho Dekho Tum (OP Nayyar, Qamar Jalabadi, Amit Kumar & Kavita K in 1992!!!) and what good music! I can't believe that music went unnoticed (as I'm told). Sure, you may laugh at that song not being quality of 40s and 50s - but we're speaking on relative terms to music today.

(6) My favorite era is the 60s but I do like the 50s too - 60s was so versatile with just the right amount of hulla gulla

Hari Ram,

Thanks for sharing your views. Yes, the money for lyrics is less than that for a singer or MD, but I believe that this has always been the case. Except for say Sahir, who, as per the information on net, used to charge 1 Rs more than the MD, most of the lyricists were probably paid less and did not get into much of limelight.

Forget about the popular ones like Sahir, Majrooh,Shailendra,Rajinder Krishan..even the lesser known (to today's generation) like S H Bihari, Shewan Rizwi, Bharat Vyas wrote excellent lyrics in films after films.

I think the change in the society, social and family values, fast-pace of life has more to do with this...

Parag

The quality of lyrics has fallen due to various reasons:

1. Poor grasp of urdu and hindi by all involved in the process including the audience
2. Falling standards of music
3. No emphasis on quality
4. Poor scripts - mostly begged , borrowed or stolen
5. To much influence of westen culture, ir should I say pub culture
6. No singers like Rafisaab around, hence no motivation for lyricists (or musicians or producers or anyone interested to produce some quality work.


Regards
SS

Parag...this is a hot topic indeed, which keeps on lingering in our minds often.
Most of the decay in my opinion is the loss of subtlety in our films. If we take any old films, the songs come in situations where one needs to convey a heart felt feelings of love, despair, happiness, devotional..you name it and we have it. The songs used to convey so eloquently the feelings of true heart.. which is so difficult to convey otherwise...Hearts havent changed, nor the feelings but the situations went out of the films.. and along with it, came the tradition of songs with umpteen dancers pirouetting all around, which sounded the death knell for those beautiful songs.
Trust me, when i see a song like ..Choudvin ka chand ho..or Chandan sa badan..., though i feel mesmerized, i also feel like a voyeur.. those moments are so beautiful private moments which are conveyed in divine way...
And added to that the degeneration of Women's role in our films contributed in it's own way. We had to listen to the likes of " Yeh cheez badi hai mast mast.." or " Sarkai lo takiya". ..Unfortunate indeed.
But i still believe that if someone can come make a film with good lyrics and nice music...they would be accepted by any audience. Because after all, human emotions doesnt change and even a street loiterer would like to think in highest terms about those whom he love..either it might be his mother or fiance...

I cite the song " pal pal har pal " from Munna bhai lage raho...No outstanding vocals there...except fine melody with meaningful lyrics. a pleasure to listen in these days of cacophony..

mixture of the above I'd say.

Musiclover ji

I do agree with some of your points, but
1) Lyrics can be and have been written in simple Hindi and loved by generations (e.g. Shailendra, Neeraj). So IMHO, lack of knowledge of Urdu should not matter that much
2) Yes, Internet and other avenues have diluted importance of HFM
3) LOL, very true..
4) Yes, as every one feels, more emphasis on the beats (Dhak chik dhak chik)

Thanks for writting in with great details.

Best Regards
Parag

I agree. Absolutely, excellent lyrics have been written in Hindi. Sorry if I wasn't clear - when I wrote "Hindi / Urdu" I meant BOTH languages are being replaced by English. Many children today start immediately with English and are not taught to read Hindi and this isn't good for the Hindi medium in lyrics.

SS ji, thanks a lots for listing out the reasons. I really appreciate.

Looks like the days of lovely poetry are over..only what we get is the same word "Ohhhh huzoor...." repeated 100 times in the song..!



Parag

Dear Parag

My pleasure. always happy to contribute

I higly appreciate the "ji" part but I would be equally glad if you just call me SS.

All of the above but primarily Lack of good lyricist, MD, singers.

Try looking for Shailenra or Sahir or Rajenrdra Krishan's in this day and age then Mukesh or Rafi or Lata to render it and above all if the appreciation/demand for quality is not there then motivation will lack too !!

- Producer is the main reason a movie is successful or not.
From 70s onward producers want quick results which means copying.
- Synthesizer and computer obsolete genuine artistry and just relies on beats
and some god awful rapping.
- The old Lyricist were mainly revolutionary socialists trying to write about idealism.
corporations and their executive do not need those subject to be presented to populace.
- old movies were targeted toward general populous, today it is teenagers and NRIs.
- In todays world, corporations determine what is cultural and what is not.

Now that we know all the varied reasons, it is time to take out our old albums and enjoy the treasures we already possess.

Venkat, thats so true. Expression of subtle feelings has given way to means of instant gratitude in every walk of life. So overall quality of every aspect of life has gone down..the HFM music and lyrics are just an indication of the same.

Thanks for putting across your thoughts in such a great details.

Best Regards
Parag

Dear Parag

Without going into the merits whether today's lyricists can match the output of those of the bygone era, the prime reason is the lack of variety in song situations in the films. 99 out of 100 song situations are group dances . Every film maker is guilty of that. No variety whatsoever. If you have seen one, you have seen them all.

Regards
Sukesh

ROFL..too good Sukesh !!

Hi Ramesh,

Thanks for your message and vote. Another observation from my side...

In the old films, even if the situation was not so great/important, the lyricists would come up with very initiative and enjoyable lyrics. (Not necessarily poetic, but very decent and entertaining). Even that is lacking in today's songs..

Best Regards
Parag

P.S.

Unfortunately this topic has been sighted as an example (even if it is considered subtle and non-derogatory in nature) as criticizing the current lyricists. To be very honest, I have to take up the responsibility for this, since I intiated the topic. The intention was never to criticise any one but to compare certain things and possibly do an analysis for the reasons thereof.

I apologize if any sentiments are hurt due to this.

This thread is being closed now.

Parag

You are welcome Parag. It is a very interesting and passionate topic you initiated specially for pepole
attached to the music of golden era.

Other than the fact that the lyricst of the past were naturally gifted, they were a very passionate about
thier craft and also very spontaneous. This was very true of Shailendra. There are a number of songs he
had come with at spur of moment.