We used to be able to recognize voices. Voices for what they could do in a song or with their spoken style. Even after being longtime lovers of Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar’s music, many people had no idea what a Mohammed Rafi or a Lata Mangeshkar looked like. They didn’t want to be caught off guard by a little, blurry photograph in a newspaper or magazine. Sonu Nigam is most likely the last of the generation of studio wizards who could light the stage on fire with their voice alone. We’re looking at some of his best songs, where he stands out as our generation’s ultimate monarch of melody.
Sandese Aate Hai (Border)
When he performed alongside Roopkumar Rathod in Anu Malik’s version of a soldier’s wait for a letter from their loved ones, it rocketed him to national prominence.
Tanhaayee (Dil Chahta Hai)
Sonu Nigam will nail this song about loneliness with a moody Aamir Khan at the forefront, accompanied by Ehsaan Noorani’s bass riff. This song stood out on an album full of great songs because of Sonu’s incredible vocals.
Kal Ho Naa Ho (Kal Ho Naa Ho)
Sonu Nigam, once again singing for Karan Johar, channeled all of his inner wisdom into this one song, which encouraged everyone to live in the moment and stop worrying about the future.
Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna (The Legend of Bhagat Singh)
The high point of Sonu Nigam-AR Rahman’s collaboration, in my opinion, was when he recorded this gem for Rajkumar Santoshi’s film. It’s difficult not to tear up as the crescendo grows and the music swells.
Main Agar Kahoon (Om Shanti Om)
With the help of composers Vishal-Shekhar, Nigam rolled back the years to the classic RD Burman era, creating the ultimate song where a guy serenades the woman of his life. Nigam resurrected the old-world elegance of Mohammed Rafi tunes, of whom he is a huge fan.
Jaane Nahi Denge Tujhe (3 Idiots)
If there was ever any doubt about Sonu Nigam’s grasp of films, characters, and situations, this song from Raju Hirani’s film put it to rest by infusing it with a quiet sadness and anxiety that elevates a substandard composition to the heights that it accomplishes.
Abhi Mujh Mein Kahi (Agneepath)
It was a sort of rebirth for the vocalist, as he returned in some ways with Ajay-song Atul’s and demonstrated how no one knows emotion and melody like he does.
Keep reading IWMBuzz.com for more such updates on your favorite celebs.
