Krish Ashok Classics

An acapella 4-voice arrangement of Thiruppugazh number 100 
Lyrics here - http://www.kaumaram.com/pdfs/pdf_thiru/tppdT0100.pdf
Raga: Kalyani
Tala: Misra Chapu (7/4)

Vindhadhil Uri

An a cappella 4 voice arrangement of Thiruppugazh nr 6, Mutthai Tharu (in Raga Shanmugapriya), largely inspired by the brilliant rendition of the late TM Soundararajan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzFmnq0p5ik

Lyrics and meaning here - http://www.skandagurunatha.org/works/thiruppugal/thiruppugal-0006-muthai-tharu.pdf (Warning: PDF link)

Mutthai Tharu

When I first heard Lungi dance from the movie Chennai express, it's incredible peppy catchiness only meant one obvious thing - someone needed to make a Western classical remix version. Imagine frilly dresses, wigs, Austrian nobility and state-of-the-art Erode lungis. 

The Violin and Cello were recorded on the really impressive Yeti Blue microphone, which is so sensitive that if you listen really hard, you can occasionally hear the pigeon on my window sill making enquiries about the local availability of pretty single pigeonesses. 

In addition to the tracks I recorded on my instruments, some software layers were used to expand the soundscape to do justice to this most excellent song. 

Danse Macabre De Lungi

The genius Carnatic vocalist Madurai Mani Iyer (1912-1968), possibly the greatest exponent of live improvisation in Carnatic classical music, popularized this "English Note" composed by Harikesanallur Mutthiah Bhagavathar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNjl5w8Prw0) to showcase his autodidactic (self teaching) talent in expanding beyond his strictly classical training. This piece was extremely popular with an independence era audience that felt pride in one of their own "getting" western music while no Englishman could perform a Thodi alapana. 

Obviously as a Indian classical musician, Mutthiah Bhagavathar only composed the main melody, an incredibly catchy and hummable tune that would have worked in the best courts of Vienna. But Western classical music is about harmony layered over the melody and I was surprised that no one had taken a crack at taking this really catch melody and writing a String quartet around it. 

There were some interesting challenges. Mani Iyer clearly did not keep harmony in mind when he wrote the piece so there are places where the melodic sequence presents quite a hard challenge to harmonize, but all in all, I think it turned out okayish. 

Again, I am quite an amateur and It will be great if more talented musicians take this melody and set it to even better background scores :)

English Note (by Madurai Mani Iyer) - String Quartet

A Chennai recontextualized version of The Doors' Riders on the Storm, with lyrics by Gurunarayana Ravi (https://twitter.com/raghuthaatha). This song is about the Auto drivers on the Chennai storm, wreaking havoc on the roads but they too have their side of the story to tell, a story of poverty and exploitative usury. 

It also features a Carnatic violin lead in the Raga Karaharapriya (Dorian mode) and the quintessential sound of a Chennai auto recorded by @mdeii 

Guitar - Fender Stratocaster recorded through a Boss ME-25 with a vibrato effect
Violin - Electric violin through Boss Me-25 with a delay
Percussion, bass and Wurlitzer organ - programmed on Logic Pro X

Lyrics (with translation)

Autokaran naan (I am an auto driver)
Chennai Autokaran naan (A Chennai autodriver I am)
MGR peran naan (I'm MGR's grandson)
Baasha machaan naan (I'm the Badshah's brother-in-law)
Auto tune thaan (the pitch perfect sound of the autotune)
Enga engine sattham thaan (is the sound of our engine)

I'm a terror on the road 
Vaanga come aboard (Please come aboard)
Anna Salayil (On Anna road in Chennai)
Seerum morattu kaalai naan (I'm the rampaging wild bull)
Police paathaakka (If the police happen to see me)
padhugum paambu naan (I'm the slithering snake that evades them)

Rendu pullakutteenga (I have 2 young children)
Saettu vaddi thollainga (the local pawn broker bleeds me with high interest loans)
Petrol velai thaan (The price of petrol)
eri pochunga (has risen skyward)
Meter pottaakka (if you insist on metered fare)
Vootla patnithaanunga (my family will starve)

Manja colouril (Of yellow hue...)
senja thanga therunga (is my golden chariot)
Ulagam pooraga (all over the world)
namma vandi odumga (my auto will run)
Ella oorilum (in every town)
namakku nalla perunga (I have a good reputation)
Nambi erunga (believe me and let's go for a ride)

Riders On The Auto

A kutthu garage rock remix of the White Stripes' classic "Seven Nation Army". Lyrics in collaboration with https://twitter.com/raghuthaatha written from the point of view of someone who ignores tradition and superstition only to face an anticlimactic response from the establishment at the end. 

I'm in a barbershop
Amavasai couldn't hold me back
I'm going to flag it off 
Middle of rahu kalam, that's my knack
And I'm sleeping in my bed at night 
While I'm facing north
I ask for kovil prasadam
left hand extending forth

And i dont give astrologers money, yezhara naattu sani

Don't wanna hear about it
Kili josyam’s got a story to tell
Everyone knows about it
Don’t need no drishtipottu as well
And if I touch it with my ecchai patthu
I'm gonna serve it to you
And that ain't what you want to hear
But that's what I'll do

And the message from my horoscope, it’s sevva dosham bro

Ava aappu vecchuta
Enters left leg first I swear
And when I’m going out
she always has to ask me where
And I'm sneezing, and she's sneezing, and we're sneezing
when there’s good news  
All my pages filled with real bad words
sri ramajayam's no use

And even then the message from my elders, is “nee pozhacchu po"

Lyrics explanation: For those not from South India, every line refers to a superstitious belief held strongly by many here, like 
* not visiting the barbershop on auspicious days (like Amavasai - new moon day)
* Avoiding kicking off things during Rahu kalam
* Head facing north while sleeping
* Sneezing when good news is announced

The title is a reference to an astrological belief that the 7.5 years of Saturn transiting through the 8th house from the moon in one's horoscope. 

The guitar parts were recorded on an Ibanez SA-120 through a Boss ME-25 FX processor and an amplified fuzz effect was used on the vocals to make it sound like Jack White's. 

The percussion and drums were sequenced & programmed

Seven and a Half Years Of Saturn

An adaption of Ramin Djawadi's Rains of Castamere on the Violin and Cello. The raga is Natabhairavi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natabhairavi) although the phrases used sound like Bhairavi and occasionally Anandabhairavi. 

The notes of Natabhairavi match with the Western Natural minor scale. For fans of the book, think of it as a Dornish version of what they would like to do to the Lannisters



Rains Of Castamere

A Carnatic adaptation (and improvisation) of Adele's Skyfall from the Bond movie soundtrack. The raga is Keeravani. The instrument playing a solo around 4:05 is a bass guitar. 

The chords are Cm Ab F Gsus4 and G

ps: The chap in the photo is not entirely Daniel Craig. It's mostly Sanjay Subramanyan (https://twitter.com/sanjaysub)

Skyfall Keeravani

A Tamil adaptation of Bo Diddley's classic "Before you accuse me" (made famous by Eric Clapton)

Vocals: @ranjani-shanker
Lyrics: Subhashini Vinay (twitter.com/neelavanam) 
Piano: @hariflute
Guitars, Violin, Bass, Arrangement: @krishashok

கேளாயோ நீ, சொற்கள் அம்புகள்,
கேளாயோ நீ, சொற்கள் அம்புகள்.
நம் காதலே பெரும் கனா,
விடையிலா ஒரு வினா!

Have you heard, (your) words like arrows pierce.
Have you heard, (your) words like arrows pierce.
Our love,  like a perfect dream, 
(ended like) A question without an answer.

நம் வானிலே, நிலவேன் இல்லையோ,
நம் வானிலே, நிலவேன் இல்லையோ,
வாழ்கைப் பூந்தோட்டத்தில், மலர்களே பூக்கவில்லையோ.

Why is it we have not had a moon to brighten our eventide?
Why is it our life did not bloom in a garden of flowers? 

வாராதே திரும்பி, நினைவுகளில் சுகமிலை,
வாராதே திரும்பி, நினைவுகளில் சுகமிலை,
துள்ளியாடும் மீன்களென வேண்டும் ஒரு வாழ்கை.

Don't come back, memories cannot be cherished.
Don't come back, memories cannot be cherished.
(I feel like a fish out of water and this is not what I want.) 
I want to swim in this vast expanse of life, happily. 

Abheri Blues

A Bromance Waltz adaptation of the Tamil film classic. 

Flutes, vocals - @indian_music_fan
Strings, vocals, arrangement - @krishashok

Lyrics
Pon ondru kanden peN angu illai 
ennendru naan sollalaaguma 
(I only saw Gold, I didn’t see a girl
How do I explain what I saw?)
ennendru naan sollavenduma 
(Is it necessary that I explain?)
poo ondru kanden mugam kanavillai 
(I saw a flower, but I didn’t see any face)
yen endru naan sollalaguma 
(How do I say why is that?)
yen endru nana solla venduma 
(Is it necessary for me to say why?)

nadamaadum megam navanaagareegam 
alangara kinnam alai pola minnum 
(She is a walking cloud, very modern
She glows like a new flower vase, she glitters like waves)

nada maadum selvam panivana deivam 
pazhangala chinnam uyiraaga minunm 
(She is a walking treasure, a humble God
She is a sign of traditions, she is soulful)

thulli varum velli nila (2)
(She is like the bright moon)

thuvandhu vizhum kodi idayaaL (2)
(She is very delicate)

vinnodu vilayadum penn andha penn alavo 
(She is the girl who plays with the sky)
sendrEn (I went) hmhmhm 
kandEn (I saw) humhum 
vandhEn (I came)

naan partha pennai nee pArka villai 
nee partha pennai naan pArka villai 
(You haven’t seen the girl that I saw for you
I haven’t seen the girl that you saw for me)

un parvai polay en paarvai illai 
nana kanda katchi nee kaana villai 
(My viewing wasn’t anything like yours
You have no idea what I saw)

en vizhiyil nee irundhaai 
(You were there in my eyes)
un vadivil naan irundhane 
(I was there in your form)

nee indri naan illai 
naan indri nee illaiye
(I don’t exist without you 
You don’t exist without me)

Pon Ondru Kanden

A Cello and Violin adaptation of Chammak Challo. There are a total of 5 separately recorded Cello layers and 5 violin. The percussion was programmed using the "Indian and Middle-eastern kit" on Logic Pro X. The raga playing at the start is Thodi but the song meanders into melodic & harmonic minor keys. 

ps: Based on a suggestion by Abhishek Upadhya (https:/twitter.com/_logik)

Chammak Cello

A kutthu remix of the Game of Thrones theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53c8reh_uh0)


Game of Thrones Theme- Kutthu remix

A Sanskrit adaptation of Eric Clapton's acoustic version of Layla (as लीला - Leela) with lyrics by SP Suresh (https://twitter.com/vajrabhrt) & Vaishnavi S

Vocals, Guitars (Ovation acoustic) , Violin (Yamaha), Piano, Bass, Drum programming, mixing & mastering by @krishashok 

Lyrics

त्वयि एकाकिन्यां किं करिष्यसि  (What will you do for your loneliness)
Tvayi ēkākin'yāṁ kiṁ kariṣyasi 
यदा सहचरः कोऽपि नास्ति  (When for companionship there is no one)
yadā sahacaraḥ kō̕pi nāsti 
चिरम् धावन्ती गुप्ता असि त्वम्  (Time has past, you have been hiding)
ciram dhāvantī guptā asi tvam
जानास्येव तत् गर्व इति  	(You must know that it is your pride)
 jānāsyēva tat garva iti 

लीले, साष्टाङ्गं प्रणमामि  (Leela, I fall at your feet)
līlē, sāṣṭāṅgaṁ praṇamāmi     
लीले, प्रिये, त्वम् याचेऽहम्  (Leela, my love, I implore thee)
līlē, priyē, tvam yācē̕ham 
लीले, चित्तव्याकुलम् शमय  (Leela, pacify my troubled mind)
līlē, cittavyākulam śamaya 

तव शोकम् अपहर्तुम् अयते  (I tried to remove your sorrow)
tava śōkam apahartum ayatē  
त्वत्पिता यदा निराशाम् (अजनयत्)  (When your father let you down)
tvatpitā yadā nirāśām (ajanayat) 
मूढोऽहम्! त्वयि अनुरागो जातः!  (Fool that I am, love for you was born)
mūḍhō̕ham! Tvayi anurāgō jātaḥ! 
लोक एव अधोमुखीकृतः!  (My whole world was turned upside down)
 Lōka ēva adhōmukhīkr̥taḥ! 

उन्मादात् प्राक् मम (Before I become mad)
Unmādāt prāk mama  
मां पुनरुद्धर (Bring me back to normalcy)
māṁ punarud'dhara 
गतिर्नास्तीति मा वद (Don't tell me that there's no hope / way)
gatirnāstīti mā vada 
व्यर्थमिदम् प्रेम मा ब्रूहि  (Don't tell me that my love is in vain)
vyarthamidam prēma mā brūhi 

thanks to Kenneth Adair for the romanized version of the lyrics

Picture credits: Raja Ravi Varma's Urvashi & Pururavas

Leela

A cover of the Late M S Viswanathan - Ramamurthy - Kannadaasan Masterpiece from Pasamalar.

Credits:
Main Melody Originally composed by Late MS Viswanathan and T K Ramamurthy
Lyrics by Late Kannadaasan
Arrangement, Vocals, Flute, Mix and Master - Vijay Kannan (@indian_music_fan)
Vocals, Violin, Acoustic Guitar, Slide Guitar, Cello - Krish Ashok (@krishashok)

.
YT: https://youtube.com/AboutIndianMusic

Malarndhum Malaraadha - Vijay Kannan And Krish Ashok

A Malayalam adaptation of The Beatles' Yellow Submarine that turns out to be a nice tongue twister "Manjha Munghi Kappal"

Original Lyrics: @HariRamNarayanan
Modified Lyrics: Mythili Menon (https://twitter.com/mythmenon) & Vipin Nair (@vip-nair)
Vocals: @ashwinvinayan
Guitars, Bass, Backing Vocals, Arrangement, Mixing & Mastering: @krishashok


Manjha Munghi Kappal

Kishore Kumar & Louis Armstrong share birthdays, so it's about time they collaborated on a song too. 

This is a mashup of "When the Saints go marching in" and "Eena Meena Teeka" with the Trumpet solo from "Hello Dolly" thrown in for good measure. 

Mashup consultant: @maidenofrohan



When The Saints Go Eena Meena (EDM)

A moderately Chennai tamil revolutionary adaptation of Nirvana's Smells like Teen Spirit 

Lyrics: Raghuthaatha (https://twitter.com/raghuthaatha) & @krishashok
Drums & percussion sequencing: @mediumcoffee & @krishashok
Violin, guitars, bass, vocals: @krishashok

Ration arisi, queue la ninnu (Ration rice, we stand in a queue)
Vaangarom, vera vazhi illa (to buy, we have no choice)
Fulla Kushtu, black la ticket (fully drunk, tickets in black)
eduthu, padam paatha (we buy & when we watch the movie...)

Ayyo Ayyo Ayyo ayyayo x 3
Ayyo Ayyo Ayyo

TASMAC kadaila, appan mabbu (Dad's drunk at the TASMAC bar)
Kelvi ketta, periya thappu (if we question, it's a problem)
Current cut, yeppo padippom (power outrage, when do we study?)
Kerosene light la padicchu mudippom (we will study in the light of a kerosene lamp)

Naanga ezhai (We are poor)
eppadi vaazha (How do we live)
Kelaya pudichu (holding on to a branch)
Yeri vaarom (we will rise up)
Yeah, hey, yay

College Saentu, edho padichi (we joined college, studied something)
kizhichi, kadla potu (hit on girls)
vela thedi, gaandayi, (searched for jobs, frustrated)
Ola cab ottina traffic jam (drove Ola cabs only to get stuck in traffic jams)

Ayyo Ayyo Ayyo ayyayo x 3
Ayyo Ayyo Ayyo

Nirutthi ottina, horn tholla (If we drive slowly, everyone honks)
rash-a ottna, mama tholla (if we drive rashly, the police trouble us)
adaki vaascha, pammureenga. (If we stay docile, we are oppressed)
nimundhu keta, amuthareenga (If we question that, we are oppressed)

road-u illa (there are few roads for us)
medu pallam (roads full of obstacles)
ellam thaandi (we will cross all those)
yeri vaarom (we will rise up)
Yeah, hey, yay

Mayila pudchu, kaala keela (if you catch a peacock)
odachu aada sonna (break its leg & ask it to dance)
Kuyila pudchu, goondla geendla (if you catch a songbird)
adachu, paada sonna (cage it and ask it to sing)

Ayyo Ayyo Ayyo ayyayo x 3
Ayyo Ayyo Ayyo


Aana ippo Murattu Kaala (But now we are raging bulls)
Seeri paanja, merusal aava (as we pounce, you will be dazed)
Cykil gap la, Auto pola (in a narrow gap for cycles, we will drive an auto)
nozhanju vaarom, odhungi nillu-a (and come through, give us way)

Vasadhi illa (We have no opportunities)
Asadhi illa (No laziness)
muyarchi senji (but we will try)
yeri vaarom (we will rise up)

Yeri Vaarom x 9 (we will rise up)

Smells Like Kerosene

Darth Vaadhiar Theme

GET THE CALLBACK TONE here - http://i.imgur.com/B5Wpz.png

Mozzarellasura Linguini Stotram

Based on an idea generated by a cricket match victory, beer and lunch (in that precise sequence) by @onejubb, Visesh and me

Words entirely from the menu of the excellent Tuscana restaurant (http://www.tuscana.in/pdf/tuscananewmenu.pdf - Note:PDF download)

Lyrics

Ai Funghi Linguini Foccacia Capellini Pizza Fettucine Lasagna Penne
Spinaci Bolognese Pesto Minestrone Cannelloni Porfirio Asparagi

Ravioli Spaghetti Alfredo Pescatore Fresco Pomodoro Tagliatelle
Tiramisu Arabiatta Farfalle Stagioni Calzone Gamberi Pepperoncini

Ai Frutti di Mare Quattro Formaggio Risotto con Pollo Paesana Roma
Napolitana Fagioli alla Checca Gorgonzola Gnocchi Carbonara


Mozzarellasura Linguini Stotram

One warm summer morning in a cafe in Guadalajara....

Next installment in the "Menusic" album by @onejubb, @arabjabam and myself. 

Credits:
Opening flamenco bit is from AR Rahman's "Jumbalaka jumbalaka" from the movie En Swaasa Kaatrey

Translation:
Good day, What would you like to eat? What dish would you recommend?

Lyrics:
Tortilla Fajita Sopa Flauta Salsa Guacamole
Tostada Chalupa Torta Quesadilla Margaritam (poetic licence to make it rhyme with mahnikam)
Burrito Torta Gordita Tequila Carne Guisada
Mojito Tamale Taco Poblano Pico de Gallo

Krish Ashok Classics

VenkatV