The MJ Show #101 (Guests Series - Sona Mohapatra's Top 10 Songs)

Good to be back!!!
And for the 101st show I have someone really special for you :)
She is an extremely beautiful woman and a great singer/performer as well and today she is going to share with you, her favourite songs. The first time I met her was a few years ago when she had recorded a version of a song called "Afterglow" with a band called INXS!
Check this out:


So here we go! Here are the top 10 (and a few more) songs that Sona has chosen for the show today!

1)Aruna Sairam - Paiyyada (Album - Let’s Talk)
Sona Mohapatra:Some vocalists amaze you with technique & virtuosity. Aruna Sairam is way beyond that. She sings the story & makes me cry, with her incredible storytelling gifts. This song is in an ancient language of the Devdaasi’s cult that I cannot understand, but believe me, I do know what that song is about! Again , just a voice & a guitar & Ram Sampath’s production . I fell in love over this album.
Mihir Joshi: Sona, I'm sorry I couldn't find this song, but I wanted people to see your first choice in any case.
I'm sure you guys can find this song somewhere out there in the market...but for now, let's listen to another song by Aruna Sairam just to see how she sounds :)


2.)Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Michael Brooks - Ghoomta Aa Raha Aai Kyun Badal (Album - Nightsongs)
SM: The whole album is absolutely brilliant. It’s a journey that I embark on at least once a month. Hugely inspiring & timeless & the brilliance of a vocalist whose an inventor of notes and scales.
MJ: Another song that's not on youtube. Wow Sona! Two rare songs in a row.
Okay, here is song from the Nightsongs album though.
Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Michael Brooks - Tere Bin (Longing)


3.)Farida Khanum - Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Naa Karo
SM:Few artists have the honour of singing a song so perfectly crafted. Her voice gives you gooseflesh with it’s depth. All my growing up years were spent being ridiculed for a strange low ‘bass’ voice. Women singing were meant to be ‘birds’ and finding this song was a discovery and affirmation of sorts. I do a jazz version of this song with my band in my concerts.

MJ: This is one of the few songs that I think everyone manages to hear growing up. I've always loved this song myself...and I know what you mean about the bass voice singing. It's not just women is it these days. Most of the men singing in Bollywood/hindi music also seem to have really high pitched voices. Like you, I found solace in the voice of another old hindi singer who doesn't sing high. Actually a lot of singers back then didn't sing high...but of them all this gentleman was my favourite.
Hemant Kumar - Jane Woh Kaise Log The


4)Pt. Kumar Gandharva - Ud Jayega Hans Akela
SM: He was the perfect combination of folk soul & Hindustani Classical rigour. The Indian Blues. Totally gut wrenching and elevating at the same time. A style & league of his own.

MJ: I have said this many times before. In fact, if you see my facebook profile you'll Panditji is listed as one of my favourite singers too. Here's one of my favourite songs by the legendary Pandit Kumar Gandharva.
To think that the man sang this song with one lung! (He had one cancerous lung surgically removed!)
Pandit Kumar Gandharva - Runanubandhachya

MJ: One more bonus song. While searching for Panditji's version of the song, I chanced upon this and thought I'd give it a listen and holy momma! What a voice. Okay, admitted that he's not like Panditji, but what a brilliant rendition! Brilliant!!
Aniruddha Joshi - Runanubandhachya


5) Estrella Morente – From the Soundtrack of Volver
SM: Spanish music is amongst my favourite and this song has a voice straight from the guts.

MJ: I think Spanish music is brilliant. Very romantic ... really really mesmerizing stuff. I know the next video is probably the perfect response to your song...but check this out. I fell in love with it the first time I saw it. :)
Check out the chemistry of the boy and the girl doing this song. Stunning! This is what music is about isn't it :)
Fernando and Cecilia - Tico Tico


6)Frou Frou - Let Go
SM: My favourite highway drive . I can hear this quirky magic voice & killer production a million times over. Makes me float...& feel like Alice in wonderland :)

MJ: Lovely song Sona. I hadn't heard this one before either. Really nice!

7)Shamshad Begum - Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar(Aar Paar)
SM: Funky song & the attitude and lyrics just blow me away . Time hasn’t taken away any cool factor in this song.

MJ: I know what you mean. Heh :) See this.

and

MJ: Sorry :) I couldn't resist it. Remixes baby!!
Hahaha :D These are possibly the first two remixes to make it to The MJ Show. Maybe I should do a "Best Remixes Special" soon :)

8)Angelique Kidjo - Djin Djin
SM: An amazing woman . Great music from the roots of Africa . Makes me groove

MJ: Beautiful. Just a beautiful song!

9)Richard Bona - Munia
SM: Voice from the heavens & the first live gig I caught of him was at Bluefrog and I remember having an out of body experience, right there, in the middle of so many people, in the middle of the chaos and madness that is Mumbai.
MJ: Okay, I didn't get a video for this song either...but it looks like he's written a song for you ;) Let's see that?
Richard Bona - Sona Moyo


10)Zeb & Haniya - Paimona
SM: Moving song from the northern frontier lands. A duo from Pakistan I hope to hear more of.
MJ: I just did two specials before the 100th show on Coke Studio from Pakistan. That's where these guys did this song. This song incidentally was my favourite song from the entire show.
The drummer for this song, Gumby, is someone I had befriended when he had come to India with the incredible Mekaal Hasan Band. Through him I've just gotten in touch with Zeb. I hope to give you a lot more of their music right here on The MJ Show...very soon!!

And here's the other songs that were really brilliant for me from the Coke Studio Sessions.
Javed Bashir ROCKS!!! :) (Incidentally, he is the singer of the Mekaal Hasan Band and I've had the pleasure of meeting and hanging out with him as well. What a man!)
Javed Bashir - Aj Latha Naeeo


Zeb & Haniya and Javed Bashir - Chal Diyay


Zeb & Haniya & Javed Bashir - Rona Chor Dia



11)Cheb Mami - Bladi
SM: When a virtuoso singer gets a beautiful flamenco laced gem like this, magic happens.

MJ: Beautiful song. I think the world in a way was introduced to him thanks to this Sting song. Just thought I'd remind you all of this one :) When it was released, you couldn't go to one party without listening to it eh? :) Remember?
Sting & Cheb Mami - Desert Rose


12.)Nina Simone - Sinnerman
SM: This song captures all that is great about Gospel music & soul music in general.

MJ: Stunning song Sona!! :) Rock on!!
Want to share another Nina Simone song with everyone. You think Michael Buble did this one right? Well here's one of the original covers of the song :)
Nina Simone - Feeling Good

MJ: But I've got to admit that I do like Buble's version too. So here you go. Have a look at that too :) BRILLIANT live version of the song. Don't miss this one :)
Michael Buble - Feeling Good


13.)Girija Devi - Rasike Bhare Tore Nain
RM: Shes a goddess
MJ: Another Indian legend whose music isn't on youtube in a big way I guess.
Here's another song by her though. Hope you like it.
Girija Devi - Deewana Kiye Shaam


14.) Michael Jackson – Beat It
SM: Was my childhood fantasy....catching him in rehearsal in Central Park. Just like that ...and then there was a long story that included his Red Thriller jacket ....ha ha ha ..We've all had one of those I guess..
MJ: Sona, see my initials here :) Kinda hard to not love Michael Jackson, growing up in the 80s and 90s and having my initials :)
I love this song. Incidentally, my band, The Works is doing a small tribute to the man at Not Just Jazz By The Bay this friday (25th June) on his 1st death anniversary and we'll be doing this song as well. If you're free come down and we'll jam on it :)
For all of you reading this...come down to Jazz this friday for a gig that I hope will be really special :)
Here he is though...the big man...doing the song the way he does it best...LIVE!

MJ: And here's my tribute to the man :) He was one of the greatest performers ever...without a doubt!
This is a video of my band, The Works doing a medley of Beat It and Black Or White at Hard Rock Cafe, Mumbai.



MJ: And that's about it for tonight.
Sona, thank you so much for being my first guest after the 100th show...and thank you for taking me through some really incredible songs.
Hope you all liked her songs and my response songs too :)
Do write in, in the comments down here and tell us what you thought :)
Also, the 100th show contest is still on so make sure you take part in it.

Right then...it is now time for me to say...take care...and Good Night! :)
This is your Musicman Mihir...signing off!