B-town's Musical Inspirations - Part 1

How many times have you ever considered the inspiration behind the song? Where did the songwriter ...

Published: Monday,May 30, 2011 22:12 PM GMT-06:00

Garima M.

How many times have you constantly listened to one song, just that one song, over and over again because it seems so perfect? How many times has the music of a song made you want to get up and dance? Undoubtedly countless times!
But how many times have you ever considered the inspiration behind the song? Where did the songwriter and composer come up with this idea that you so love? Some people would say a few times while for most of the rest of us? Not at all!
We've picked a number of songs in an attempt to be creative and entertain. Yes, we have that much free time! Here's part one of 'Bollywood's Musical Inspirations'.

1. Haan Haan Yeh Pyaar Hai (Dillagi)

Music Director: Jatin-Lalit
Copied From: Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You - Frankie Valli
Note: Some might say the copied version sounds much better than the original, even though it is a direct-lift.

2. Dil Le Le Lena (Auzaar)

Music Director: Anu Malik
Copied From: Macarena - Los Del Rio
Note: For whatever it may be worth, Anu Malik does admit in the beginning of the song that he was inspired from a different song!

3.Tumne Jo Kaha (Laawaris)

Music Director: Rajesh Roshan
Copied From: Barbie Girl - Aqua
Note: Everything besides the tempo and lyrics seems to have been copied.

4. Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaaye (Jurm)

Music Director: Rajesh Roshan
Copied From: Five Hundred Miles - Peter, Paul, & Mary
Note: This song seems to be a dubbed-in-Hindi version of the original.

5. O Mere Sapnon Ka (Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin)

Music Director: Nadeem-Shravan
Copied From: Bachelor Boy - Cliff Richard
Note: The theme of the song is immensely different from the original but the music is pretty much the same.

6. Kaun Hai Jo Sapnon Mein Aaya (Jhuk Gaya Aasman)

Music Director: Shankar Jaikishan
Copied From : Marguerita - Elvis Presley
Note: If you hear both the songs together, you'll realize only the lyrics seem to be modified.

7. Pehli Baar Mile Hain (Saajan)

Music Director: Nadeem-Shravan
Copied From: Solitude Standing - Suzanne Vega
Note: You can definitely hear the likeness between these two!

8. Chaand Sitaare (Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai)

Music Director: Rajesh Roshan
Copied From: Voices - Vangelis
Note: Brace yourself; Rajesh Roshan's ugly history of blatantly stealing from Vangelis for his themes is evident.

9. Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya)

Music Director: Sandeep Chowta
Copied From: Exorcist II: The Heretic - Theme
Note: Et tu, Sandeep?

10. Kambakth Ishq (Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya)

Music Director: Sandeep Chowta
Copied From: Eireann - Afro Celt Sound System
Note: Interestingly Chowta was initially accused of using an unoriginal beat, a fact he defended saying that he took the beat from a public website. But what about the tune that he copied from this song?

11. Yunhi Kat Jaayega (Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke)

Music Director: Nadeem-Shravan
Copied From: Lovely Lady Of Arcadia - Demis Roussos
Note: Both versions of the song have delighted listeners worldwide - but copying remains a crime, doesn't it?

12. Roundhe Hai (Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya)

Music Director: W. Killar & Sandeep Chowta
Copied From: Vampire Hunters - Bram Stoker's Dracula
Note: Why did Killar need help from someone else - maybe just to copy a tune? (Chowta seems to be unable to not copy for his songs.)

And those were the first 12 songs we've put under spotlight! What do you think? Were the composers and music directors being lazy? Or should we take it as imitation being the most sincere form of flattery?

Editors: Anhdara & Gunia
Graphics: Zunni