Western Music Taking Indian Music by Sto

Western Music Taking Indian Music by Storm?

India is home to one of the popular music industries in the world. India churns out different songs and music every single day. Typical Bollywood and classical music are quite a rage back, but every now and then there are some western influences heard in Filmi songs. Back in the 1940-1950s, classical music, like Hindustani, were quite popular in Film songs. Great singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, and Asha Bhonsle churned out memorable songs. Come 1960-1970s, there was a heavy influence of retro and hippy in film songs, like Dum Maro Dum from the film Hare Rama Hare Krishna. The western influence could be seen in Zeenat Aman’s attire and look too. The 1980s was the decade of disco and rock-and-roll. There was a heavy influence of disco in Hindi Films, shown in the actors apparel and hairdo.

These days, many teenagers and youngsters are parading through the streets listening to tunes churned by Christina Aguilera, Shakira, 50-Cent, Eminem, Beyonce Knowles and many more. There is a diversion from the old classical element to the new age music. The western influence is also seen in some recent Hindi movies like BluffMaster, with AB Jr. singing a hip-hop element. More and more music directors are adopting western music beats and contemporary style and voice.But, not just India, the west has also had a great influence of Indian music in their songs over the period of time.Selena Gomez recently ignited conversation and got tongues wagging when she debuted her new single "Come and Get It" at the MTV Movie Awards in April. The song begins with tabla and a man singing in Punjabi, and in her MTV performance she adorns her forehead with a bindi and struts through a Bollywood inspired dance routine. Gomez has been criticized for cultural appropriation for wearing the bindi during the MTV awards in April, and again this past weekend at the Billboard Music awards, but she says: “The song kind of has that almost Hindu feel, that tribal feel. I kind of wanted to translate that. Plus, I’ve been learning a lot about my seven chakras and bindis and stuff. I’ve learned a lot about the culture, and I think it’s beautiful.” Truth Hurts had a massive hit with a song that blatantly stole from Bollywood and caused a $500 million lawsuit. Her song “Addictive”featuring Rakim, samples a song sung by Lata Mangeshkar in the 1981 movie Jyoti.In the 1990s, the band Cornershop had a massive hit with their tribute to Asha Bhosle, “Brimful of Asha”.The band got their name from the stereotype that British Asians owned the corner shops. Brothers Tjinder and Avtar Singh and the rest of band mixed their Indian roots with Britpop and electronica. Fatboy Slim had a big hit with the remix of their song. In the song, the names of playback singers Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi are also dropped.

- Praniti Bhadouria