SimplyBhangra.com don't really do Bollywood but Singh Is Kinng is a film which we could not ignore, featuring an A List line up, we got our Mumbai correspondent Akash to review the official Singh Is Kinng soundtrack!

I’m sure all over people want to know what this "Bollywod meets Bhangra" has got to offer for the globally spread Bhangra community of which even I’m a part. One thing is sure that whatever Critics have to say about the Music, crowds have already stood up to listen. I guess that makes it pretty obvious what some hype and a lot of Bollywood Masala can do to something that is just a chip above the ordinary. And while I'm writing this review news has been confirmed that the Music rights for 'Singh is Kinng' have been sold for highest amount ever for a Bollywood film's music rights. 

 The album comes packed with a host of artistes and not just from the B-town. Although the movie hails from the movie factory called Bollywood International acts of the likes Snoop Dogg have been roped in to make sure that eyeballs actually bulge out when one looks at the Album Cover. Also the music marks official entry for 2 very popular international Bhangra groups; RDB and Tigerstyle hailing from UK. RDB who take charge of the Title track with the badshsah of Rap - Snoop Dogg and second group is Tigerstyle who have remixed I don’t remember how many songs (The whole album contains 6 remixes.).

The man in the control room is Pritam or the 'Hit Machine' as he is popularly known after giving non-stop hits and every single album out doing its forerunner.  But I tell you he is really good at Punjabi tunes, and you would know this unless you had locked up yourself somewhere in the Himalayas while people down below were dropping their heads on the beats of "Mauja Hi Mauja" and "Nagada" of "Jab We Met". Of Course His Inspiration from various sources leaves a scope for discussion in a different forum.  

  All said and done, even before I start to give you a review of this album, everyone would agree to this fact that an album with 6 remixes gives you a feeling of being partially cheated unless you are planning a house party in which case you may be glad that you can cut your expenses of a DJ; coming to the original tracks and do they live up to the expectations???? You are just a few scrolls away!! 

The very first track 'Singh is Kinng' produced by RDB feat. Snoop Dogg and teaser rap by Akshay Kumar has got names that anyone would want to listen to the track with undivided attention. Snoop kicks off the song with his trade mark style of medium paced rap carving way for main lyrics which are nothing more than ordinary; And honestly speaking, no one would care to listen to the lyrics as the track is meant to be played in Pubs and clubs. The Production style is typical RDB with no major percussion instrument in the whole song except when the 3/4th of the song is finished and dhol beats come in from nowhere. You expect that the song will reach another level and just when you are done with the thought the dhol beats fade out leaving you again with the line "Singh is King" and steady heartbeart pulse rate like graph for the rest of the song. The song is not sizzling even with Snoop Dogg and the only high point is Akshay Kumars rap in his own voice where the lyrics point out the valiant spirit of Singhs. Irrespective, the song will be played in cars, trucks, planes and jets; basically I mean everywhere.  

Labh Janjua sings the second track called ‘Jee Karda’. If you haven’t heard his name, then Bhangra is just another music genre for you. We already know that his voice reached millions not just in India or U.K but echoed in the clubs across with Mundiya to Bach ke . His success was followed by Pappe Pyar karke (Priatm at his Punjabi best). This song starts with a sweet voice of a Lady "Suzie Q”. And she does good job with English lyrics. Even without the video I can visualize Katrina lip synching and dancing as the voice and expression of the song fits her perfectly. The song maintains a solid pace from beginning to the end. Labh sounds the same but not boring as his vocals do justice to the lyrics. It is not an everyday Bhangra song and I can very easily say that the song sounds very fresh even with the much-heard voice of Mr Labh. Well-done Pritam & co. 

The third track is one being aired on all the channels and radio stations by the name 'Bas Ek King'. Sung by the industry's self-proclaimed proud Punjabi Mika, This song is all about attitude, which is well reflected in Mika’s singing. The lyrics hardly make any sense and come back to the punch line i.e. ‘Singh is King’ but somehow one doesn’t seem to mind that. HardKaur makes her presence felt more in the Tigerstyle remix version than in this original, which I will cover later, with all the other remixes. Overall the song does the decent job with easygoing hip-hop beat that should appeal to the masses. Again this song should not be deprived of Music Systems and I pods. 

At Number 4 comes the track 'Bhootni Ke' that might just blow you away with its energy level. The credit goes to none other than our very Own Daler (Mehndi) Paji. The song begins with traditional bachelor boliyan and keeps you engrossed with its unsophisticated lyrics. There are enough highs in the songs that can keep you going even after song is over. I speak about Daler Mehndi’s ability as a thunderbolt because this track makes a comeback as ‘Tigerstyle mix’ with Mika lending his vocals in the remix version. There you can definitely feel something missing and Mika himself is not short of energy by any means. Musically one will not know what to make out of this song but will keep coming back for the crazzzy element. 

Next track is 'Talli Hua' with hindi lyrics (finally) and Neeraj Shreedhar (Bombay Vikings fame) doing the singing bit along with Labh Janjua who makes a guest appearance. The song is fast paced Bollywood affair. The song is not bad by any means but does not steal your attention. The lyrics are situation based so there is not much anyone can do there.  I would like to credit Neeraj Shreedhar for very correct pronunciation of Punjabi words which make occasional presence in the song. I make a special comment about this because in the past it has observed the Punjabi words really being messed in Bollywood. Hope they take care of this even in the dialogues of the movie. Overall, strictly a Good song but not great. 

 'Teri Ore' is the next in the list. This song certainly deserves more praise than most of the songs not just from this album but also from recent times.  The song is not Bhangra or a Punjabi track and is a very typical Bollywood track of higher standard. Shreya Ghoshal never fails to impress the critics much less the listeners and to make things better Rahat Fateh Ali khan shares the mic. The sufi styled number will impress anyone who cares to listen to it completely. Also, this love ballad with meaningful lyrics and soulful music comes as a welcome change from the 'dhoom dhadaka songs' 

 Talking of remixes; The remix of 'Bas Ek King ' is done by Tigerstyle. Anyone will know that even without reading the credits, as it has got Tigerstyle written all over. The tumbi flows throughout the song. The MCing part by HARDKAUR is very upbeat and fresh. Among the remixes this one has podium position. 'Bhootni Ke' has two mixes; both the mixes are ordinary, however one of the song has been re-recorded in Mika’s voice and the mixing part is done by Tigerstyle again, but it fails to out-do the original. For anyone familiar with Tigerstyle’s way of mixing, the remixes will just be another one of theirs', but taking neutral viewpoint it will be fresh for audiences in the Subcontinent. The 4th remix by the name 'Talli Hua (JAY DHABI mix), for a first few moments I was unsure whether that is a type of remix or Jay Dhabi is an artiste, nothing much to mention here except that the tempo has been raised; (Is that known as re-mixing), next is the Lounge mix of the Song 'Teri Ore', to keep it short and simple, I prefer the original version.
 

 The major downside I see with the UK groups is that I can’t visualize RDB, TIGERSTYLE becoming crowd pullers unless, there are videos featuring them. No doubt they have a dedicated following in UK but they definitely must be looking to bank on this 'Bollywood Break' which doesn’t come easy everyone’s way. 

 This album has hit the market with confidence and why not? There is no reason why a Punjabi music lover should keep themselves away from this album. I say it again that remixes is not what the audiences look forward to hear. Another original RDB or Tigerstyle production was certainly welcome. It would have left me with no choice but all praises. For now I give it a 6.5/10 even with 6 mixes.  One more remix and I think I would have thought of moving onto the next album on the shelf.

Singh Is Kinng (Soundtrack) gets a 6.5/10

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