(Repost)Remembering The Unforgettable! Jagjit Singh on his Birthday! Written by Vijay Bhatt: (repost) for Feb 8, 2020 Blog posting.

Remembering The Unforgettable! Jagjit Singh on his Birthday!
Written by Vijay Bhatt: (repost) for Feb 8, 2020 Blog posting.

Remembering one and only Jagjit Singh on his Birthday! He learned classical and performed classical at young age in college. Won prizes. Then re-invented world of Gazals..! His choice of Gazal ( lyrics/poetry) had a great insight. His uniqueness was that he touched hearts of legends like Pt. Jasraj ji and Lataji, and at the same time he was so near and dear to millions of regular music lovers who do not understand intricacies of music. Many great musicians appeal to only elite music lovers who know music. Common people always have hard time relating to the music of some our great legends artists.
Jagjit Singh was a bridge between top quality classical based music and popular ( including Bollywood) music. Jagjit ji proved that Bollywood music is not the only music that can be made popular.
His prominence in non-filmy music rose since release of his and Chitraji's album - 'The Unforgettable'. To-date, in my humble opinion, his the best album is 'The Unforgettable'. This album had all the ingredients of being truly unforgettable ( pun intended!).

Later on, his another remarkable work is his compositions and singing ( with Chitraji as well) for series 'Ghalib' (written-directed by Gulzar).

If I have to choose another one, I will also choose his album 'Come Alive with Jagiit and Chitra Singh'. This was his experiment with creating an album as if it is being performed live in front of audience. In fact it was a studio recording with fake audience noise. Nevertheless, each composition was fantastic with unique 'Jagjit signature'. One unique set of Gazals he had in this album was set of two gazals 'HUM RADIF', meaning both Gazals have similar RADIF (RADIF means rhyme of last word of each line of Gazal). He and Chitra ji sang alternatively each (sher) line of each gazal. There were some jokes also in this album in between two Gazals.

Later, in my opinion, his gazals music compositions, though very good, had a slow-medium lullaby type LAYA (speed). This slower LAYA was not found in his earlier albums. Instead, his earlier albums were more upbeat. His slower rhythm of 4 beats slower Kaharva Taal style rhythm-THEKA) stayed consistent in all his all albums. In music world many call ( unofficially) this beats / THEKA as Jagjit Taal.

Since personal tragedy in life of losing their son, Chitraji stopped singing altogether. Like Tagore's poem Ekla Cholo Re, he continued his musical journey by himself. Apparently, his music grew even slower in rhythm, but soothing, and at times selection of his lyrics were sad. One cannot blame him for what he went through!. Still his later music had/has equal appeal regardless of the somber moods, but not as much as his earlier ones!

As his tribute to his predecessors in film music he launched a live performance in front of (real live) audience of many celebrities and cut an album of that performance and called it - ' Close to my Heart'. It is a unique album. Similar to Lata ji's 'Shraddhanjali'. He sang some of the greatest old melodies of Talat, Mukesh, Rafi, Lata, in his own ANDAZ ( own style). A worth listening to album.

List of his remarkable albums is a very long one, however, one must give him all credit for transforming Gazal genre from a Mogul or only Urdu canvas to main stream Hindustani/Indian/ Modern music which can be understood and enjoyed by people who are not well verse in Urdu language. He is almost the first musician singer to have used Spanish Guittar, Santoor, and piano in Gazal singing. He poured pure Hindi Kavita ( like Kagaz ki Kasti) and many more in to Gazal genre.

Some of his compositions are as popular as Indian National anthem! ( with little exaggeration- I would say!)

Jagjit ji, the songs which touched your lips have become immortal ( HOTO SE CHHU leeya TUM ne wo GEET AMAR...ho gaya). Pranam to such a musical genius Jagjit Singh ji!'
Remembering The Unforgettable- Jagjit Singh: written by: Vijay Bhatt: (repost) for Feb 8, 2020 Blog posting.