Classical Fusion Music – The way forward?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0NIWMFE0EQ]

The above song ‘Taaye yeshoda’ from the movie ‘Morning Raaga’ is one of the best Classical/Carnatic fusion songs that I have heard till now. The first fusion song I heard was ‘Krishna Nee Begane’ by Colonial Cousins. That was a brilliant fusion of western and classical. I have always wondered why there have not been many fusion songs after that. Carnatic/classical music has never appealed to me earlier, and I thought it was boring, when I was young. But of late, I seem to love music with a classical touch in them – which makes me wonder if age/circumstances influence our musical tastes…

Carnatic music, which is the classical Indian music popular in South India has been kept quite exclusive and as my friend says, even a rasika needs to know the nuances of raagam/thalam etc to appreciate its real beauty. May be that is one reason, they don’t carry mass popularity. But there are some real gems that even a common man (like me, for example) can enjoy and I was lucky to listen to a couple of them during a recent December music festival in Chennai. Western music and film based pop music seems to have a much wider appeal.

So, if more fusion songs like the above are made, probably a lot of people could enjoy and carry forward the versatile musical tradition that we have developed and nurtured over centuries. And if you know any fusion songs like this which are good (in any language), please do suggest them in the comments.

Destination Infinity

22 thoughts on “Classical Fusion Music – The way forward?

  1. Sandhya

    Will come back with the songs, Destination Infinity!

    Yeah, sure…

  2. vishesh unni raghuna

    not bad..but Sudha raghunathan's voice is better in the original song…some how when you hear one artist sing it, you are used to it that way, even if that person changes it, it sounds wrong… ๐Ÿ™‚ carnatic is amazing, in fact any type of music is…Krishna nee is damn good as well ๐Ÿ™‚ I am no expert, but I guess know enough to understand it ๐Ÿ™‚

    I heard the Unni Krishnan's version also… the originals were definitely good…

  3. vishvak saen

    there are millions of fusion songs made.very few are marketed commercially. shivamani's mahaleela is one excellent album.then there is trilok gurtu..most of the stuff i have are concert versions..but totally brilliant.. have you heard about the laya project??check that out..free

    I will get to know about this laya project shortly, thanks for the suggestion…

  4. hitchwriter

    I love Krishna by the colonial cousins.. this I need to hear… I cant hear here…

    there was another very good song from a movie that had Dimple and Vinod Khanna.. where Vinod Khanna was a classical singer and a guy plays guitar…

    wait lemme find it… its sooper..

  5. hitchwriter

    Found it…

    [youtube =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u30E8GX-oyk&hl=en&fs=1&]

    Nice song, thanks for the linking it here…

    1. vishesh unni raghuna

      Where is the like button? Damn this ain't FB ๐Ÿ˜›

  6. kanagu

    I somehow never liked Carnatic music… will hear this one soon ๐Ÿ™‚

    Generally the songs are quite boring, but there are some gems in Carnatic music, which you will certainly enjoy at some age…

  7. Indian Homemaker

    I am all for fusion songs to make sure everybody gets to enjoy them and only those who have the talent for and interest in may happily follow their wish ๐Ÿ™‚

    Yeah, talent for the makers and interest for the listeners ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. oorja

    love the Krishna song of Colonial cousins…..

    will listen to this one now…

    generally fusion songs are great… i like them very much..

    Well, I thought Carnatic songs would be much more popular, if some fusion versions of them are made… like how the remixes are kallakkifying the tamil film industry now…

  9. BrownPhanatom

    Nice song
    And I particularly like the fusion songs.
    You would find many of them in fact on British Radios. Listem to them on their bbc iplayer if you have the inclination.

    For quite some time, I wanted to check that BBC iplayer… i think now is the time, will do it soon…

  10. Indian Homemaker

    Heard and loved both the beautiful videos!!

    Thanks IHM, you are the only commenter who listens to the songs…

  11. Man of Roma

    Awesome. I adore this music!

    Thanks MOR, for listening to it, even I was taken by surprise when I first heard it ๐Ÿ™‚

  12. sakhi

    ‘Krishna Nee Begane’ by Colonial Cousins is one of my fav. Can't listen to ‘Taaye yeshoda’ from here. will have to wait till eve ๐Ÿ™‚

    There is something in that song from Colonial Cousins… I was very young when I first heard it, but still instantly liked it…

  13. vimmuuu

    Oh ya, this is an awesome song. Heard it during its release. Thanks for reminding me the song again.

    Wait, you will love this fusion for sure. It infact, got the state award for Vidyasagar.western fusion with Endoru Mahaanu.

    [youtube =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx3OcWjjVps&hl=en&fs=1&]

    Heres one more from Vidyasagar (the actual video isnt there). western fusion with Maha Ganapathim :

    [youtube =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTKBPkedkX4&hl=en&fs=1&]

    The Maha Ganapathim song was really good… I like the classical version of it too…

  14. Nita

    I confess I am not a classic music buff but at the same time I think I would enjoy something which is pure classical rather than a fusion. Somehow I am not a fusion fan, but I think I am not the norm. People usually like fusion stuff.

    I think classical music at its core, requires a certain mindset to enjoy… Fusion might make it more enjoyable to a larger section of the people…

  15. An alien Earthling

    The song is great! I don't understand the nuances and intricacies of Carnatic music either but I enjoy intrumental music of most genres. I agree that fusion music is a good way to reach out to more people.

    Instrumental music is another gem, especially when they are based on classical music… I recently saw a video on youtube on the top western classical instrumentals – a good collection and very nice songs…

  16. Quakeboy

    no words.. just plain superb song… thanx.. thank u very much !

  17. Indian Avant Garde Bloggies Awards. MoR has been now nominated (and is moved) « Man of Roma

    […] add – I think it to be appropriate – some Indian ‘fusion’ music from the Destination Infinity blog. Here we are. “The songย  โ€˜Taaye yeshodaโ€™ from the movie โ€˜Morning Raagaโ€™ [I am […]

  18. VASUCHANDRAN
    VASUCHANDRAN says:

    PLZ GIVE THE NOTES OF KRISHNA NEE BHE GAHANI

  19. viddev

    Classical music is a lil complex, yet complex in its own way. Lay people refuse to listen and call it drab thinking they wont be able to understand it. Here comes fusion music to make them accept and listen in the first place, then to appreciate it.
    Also, it is a very healthy phenomenon that we have grown up from being a rigid art form ๐Ÿ˜› hoping it doesn’t get diluted in the long run though…
    You can also listen to Sikkil Gurucharan sing with Anil Srinivasan’s piano – a sample:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUoM5Ajd9P0

    1. Rajesh K

      This comment doesn’t have your WP URL. Comment once again with the URL and I’ll approve it. Thereon, you can continue commenting with your URL.

      Destination Infinity

      1. Rajesh K

        The video which you linked above is dominated by the Carnatic rendition of Sikkil Gurucharan. No doubt his rendition is very good. But the piano instrumental has less (almost background) effect.

        Certain songs have a separate carnatic line and separate western line. They do fuse with each other after sometime, making it an excellent combination.

        Destination Infinity

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