I’ve occasionally groused about how bad I think a lot of Bollywood music is today, so it seems only fair to say a little about a soundtrack I actually like, Singh is Kinng. I picked up the CD in New Jersey recently, along with Dr. Zeus’s “Welcome 2 Da Club,” a CD I would also recommend, for those who like hip hop mixed with bollywood hits.
First, I should admit that after Googling the film’s title quickly, I still can’t quite figure out why there are two n’s in “Kinng.” (Does anyone know? Is it some astrology/numerology thing?)
The standout track is of course the title, with the O.G. westside signature synth sound, and a contribution of a rap from Snoop Dogg. Alongside Wyclef Jean (who had some great lines in his contribution to DJ Rekha’s “Basement Bhangra Anthem”), American hip hop suddenly seems to have gotten a lot more interested in directly participating in Indian pop music (not just via remix or sampling anymore). My favorite lines from Snoop are the following:
Ferraris, Bugattis, and Maseratis
Snoop D O double G, the life of the party
Lay back, stay back, i’m in the Maybach
This aint James Brown, but it’s the big payback
Watch me zoom by, make it boom by
What up to all the ladies hanging out in Mumbai
Cheese make dollars, east west masala
Singh is the king, so you all have to follow
(Not that there is anything that exciting to rapping about expensive cars. But I do like the way he pronounces “Moombai.”)
The British Bhangra/remix group RDB produced the album (and they appeared alongside Akshay Kumar at the IIFA awards a few weeks ago); this is by far their biggest mainstream Indian release — good for them. Tigerstyle (whose “Nachna Onda Nei” was used in a recent dance number on “Britain’s Got Talent”) are also involved with some solid remix tracks on the album. It’s also cool to see Hard Kaur in action again in Bas Ek Kinng, though once again it seems like it’s all about the punchy way she uses her voice — there’s not much going on in the lyrics.
Finally, Daler Mehndi is solid with “Bhootni Ke,” a catchy wedding number. I always like it when DM gets to really work the power in his voice.
Not that every track is memorable. If you’re buying tracks off of ITunes, I would recommend tracks 1-4, and the Daler Mehndi track (#10).
Who knew Shri Doggy Dog was not afflicted by Irony and the Tragedy of the
modernpost-modern condition, which infiltrates a lot (but not ALL) western music? I speak/understand zero jive, but that shouldn’t prevent me from having an opinion, right? There seems to be a lot of optimism/fantasy in Snoop-ji’s music…American rappers have learnt that there is $$$$$$ to be made from the Indian market. Chamillionaire and 50 Cent both did gigs in Mumbai, I’m pretty sure others have too, and will continue to do so.
Don’t really dig the Snoop track myself, and don’t really rate RDB at all.
Apparently Singh is King is about a chilled out Punjabi guy who is sent to Australia to bring back one of the guys from the village called Lucky who has been abroad for years. He’s meant to be a very simple, hard working type of the kind so beloved in Indian pastoral imagination. When Akshay arrives in Oz he discovers that Lucky in the few years he’s been away has become the number one gangster don of Australia’s gold coast, the Michael Corleone and Tony Montana of Australia. It happens. So when Lucky refuses to come back to the pind, and he is shot and paralysed by a rival, Akshay decides to take his place and get revenge and take over the controls of the firm.
Dontcha just love bollywood.
Can we get the picture of Snoop in a turban up in here? 🙂
Amardeep- yes, king became kinng numerologically.
I’m guessing it is Bugatti and Maserati.
Spelling bee on the prowl. 🙂
I love the materialism in rap music, and the fact that this extends out to novelists like terry mcmillian indicates that this is a larger cultural phenomena. Much better than the impotent, guilt-ridden anti-commercialism that once dominated serious white pop music, like the clash and pearl jam. But now bono has a hedge fund and bob dylan sells underwear. the good guys won.
I’m a bit disappointed–the “Singh is Kinng” song is actually pretty bad. The beat sounds unimaginative, not really deviating much from that synth beat that made Snoop famous, and the chorus is lame. “Singh is King (or Kinng if you wish), Singh is King” repeated over and over again does not a good record make.
I don’t know, I thought RDB would have taken advantage of actually getting snoop to rap on one of their productions, but this song is quite bad. That being said, I think having snoop on a record alone will help with sales. Another opportunity sqandered. My hope is that the forthcoming Panjabi MC and Raghav albums will offer some redemption. Raghav’s new album Identity has a decent track with Redman, My Kind of Girl.
Snoop Doggra ?
7 · Sajit said
i agree with you here. It is pretty bad. But will do well in India, the market they are catering for. Overall the rap that indians imitate sucks really bad.
Now if Snoop Dogg-ji can crossover in music in India, then should Will Smith be able to crossover in Bollywood? Inquiring minds want to know.
the only track from Singh is King I liked somewhat is Teri Ore from Rahet Fateh Ali. But I’ll watch it jus to see SNOOP in a turbizzle
6 · Manju said
Don’t generalize. It’s only a feature of mainstream rap not the real stuff
4 · Reema said
Thanks! I knew that there had to have been some method to the madness. Despite its superstitious and thus, very questionable reasoning, I’m just glad it wasn’t a typo.
On a related topic, can anyone shed any light on Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham?
Would “Kingh” not have been just a bit more cleverer?