1) I don't know if anything was deliberate, planned or just plain kismet but Krishnakumar Kunnath (KK), his vibe, his style and his songs - he OWNS a theme!
NOSTALGIA
'Beete Lamhe'
'Pal'
'Yaaron dosti'
LOVE
'Tu hi meri shab hai'
'Khuda jaane'
'Zara si'
SAD
'Tadap tadap'
'Abhi Abhi'
'Zindagi ne zindagi bhar gham diye'
In a space where you had legends like Sonu Nigam ji, Shaan, Udit Narayan, Kumar Sanu, KK was able to carve out his own space with his own inimitable style and the purity of his soul that shone through his voice, in his expression. He is like the Rahul Dravid in a star studded batting lineup.
Yaaron dosti badi hi haseen hai
2) He proved that you didn't need to do a lot of vocal gymnastics, just singing with the right intention was more than enough.
Emotions are complex to understand but with a delivery so clear and truthful, he made us feel everything the lyrics were trying to convey. KK had never undergone any vocal training. He is the voice of truth, the voice of love.
Hai junoon
3) All of us have our own favorites but he sang for everyone.
Even though, Emraan Hashmi + KK was the combo everyone talks about, but he is also the voice for Shahrukh Khan in 'Aankhon mein teri', Akshaye Khanna in 'Koi kahe' , Ranbir Kapoor in 'Khuda Jane'. He worked the entire jingle circuit and then worked with Pritam, Vishal Shekhar, A.R. Rehman, Shankar Ehsaan Loy and everyone else. He had something to offer to everyone, even his audiences. Always a live-wire, super-energetic. He is built for this life.
Beete lamhe humein phir bhi yaad aate hain
4) The hit machine
I can't for the life of me think of one song that I don't like in his voice. The favorites would actually keep changing based on moods, seasons, occasions but one thing would remain constant - KK and his songs and that's why he was the favourite choice of so many.
Hum rahe ya na rahein kal, kal yaad aayenge woh pal
4) (PERSONAL) I have tried and cried while singing Tadap tadap for 3 years for my Bollywood Broadway Musical
I would sing always Yaaron, pal and koi kahe at my gigs. These were my staples and I'd obviously prepare chords, lyrics and think about how to perform etc. but while I was doing the Broadway musical Balle Balle, the climax is where my character realises that everything that he has planned, that he has worked for, was for nothing and his demeanour shifts from a jovial, happy go lucky guy to a distraught lifeless, soul-less bag. Absolute hopelessness in a matter of a few minutes. The change in his mental state, the pain he was carrying, I only had one verse and chorus to communicate all of that through the song 'Tadap tadap'. The amount of pain, emotions, the way I emptied myself through the years to spontaneously combust while singing that song LIVE on stage - I am a horcrux in a way (more on this soon)
Let me be very clear, this is not me trying to show off. I am only trying to establish why I probably have a not-so-obvious reason for loving KK.
I love him for keeping the standard so high that I succeeded every time I failed on stage.
And that is why, KK was… no.. IS SPECIAL!
I, for one, have a really tough time dealing with loss. In general, I am not a good loser. I just don't like losing. I hate it and I don't want it. It gets me all worked up.
I am human. I got my flaws (and floss) okay?
KK and every other musician, they live on through their music. Their songs, their voices, the lyrics they've sung are like horcruxes that have a bit of their souls trapped in them.
Also, take a moment to cherish all those around you that you might have taken for granted. Thank them, wish them well, bless them. An artist above everything else craves love and respect. Also find out the guys who wrote the song, who composed it, people who produced who mixed and mastered (drop down menu on Youtube) and thank them too.
We all know our Shaan, KK, Sonu Nigam but do we really know who penned 'Abhi mujhme Kahn' or sang backing vocals in 'Jab se tera Naina' or played/programmed the flute in 'Beete Lamhe'. Find them and leave a 'thank you' in their DMs. Don't be creepy okay?
I am also an artist. Tell me what you like about me, about this article, what you don't like, share your favourite songs, etc.
Imagine if you discover new interesting facts about your favourite musicians that you weren't aware about before. That's a good way to start/end the day.
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